What makes you buy a book?

I have emerged from a very long tunnel and am blinking at the milky winter sunshine. The last two and half months have been so insanely busy, I'm actually considering abandoning the use of the word 'busy' altogether as it just seems woefully inadequate.

I'd like to say it was all exciting things to do with writing my own books and recording audio books, but alas, a great deal of it has been due to huge amounts of client work and the fact that my husband was away for a lot of November, meaning I was spinning the "being a Mum" plate more than usual. Something immensely exciting did happen actually, but I'm not ready to talk about that yet…

Now I have some much needed breathing space before Christmas, and I find myself thinking about next year. All being well, I should be getting a launch date for "20 Years Later" in about a week or so, and that is going to shape what 2011 will be like for me.

Needless to say, it makes my chest constrict with fear. And excitement. I keep trying to remind myself that physiologically, there is very little difference between how massive excitement and massive fear actually feel. As a person who struggles with anxiety, I tend to label that fluttering in my chest as panic way before it might occur to me that I am excited – and more importantly that excitement is a good thing.

My thoughts are turning towards the challenge of having to go out there and sell 20 Years Later, much in the same way as a dental appointment looms on the horizon. I know it is coming, I know it's really important, and most probably good for me. But really, me, go out there and sell my book? I have plans for book launches in various places in England, and a few ideas for online shenanigans, but it's all still unreal on a deep level. It feels like dream I am struggling to wake from, rather than an impending reality. And I still can't quite believe how lucky I am to have a publishing deal.

So it's got me wondering about what makes people buy a book. After all, if I want to make my life all about the writing I love, I need to earn a crust from it. And that means selling books (wow, that feeling is so hard to re-label as excitement) and as many of them as I possibly can.

When I think about the books I have bought this year, the decision to buy them has been down to two major influences:

1. Knowing the author on Twitter, e.g. I recently bought "Must Love Dragons" by one of my favourite fellow Twitter-loving authors Monica Marier (@lil_monmon)

2. Having the book personally picked out for me by one of the best independent bookshop owners in Christendom. That's Mr B, of Mr B's Emporium of Reading Delights in the lovely city of Bath, and yes, he did hand pick them for me as part of my latest book spa. Sheer, unadulterated bliss. And I have loved every single one he recommended. I wrote about my first book spa here, in case you're wondering what on earth one is.

So I'm spoilt now, as I know the next time I run out of books, I'll beg an early birthday / xmas present of a Mr B's book spa, as they have got it right every single time. I'm so spoilt, I've forgotten how I bought books before…

Actually, I lie, I do remember buying The Book Thief because the cover captivated me so – but that is the only time in my life (that I recall) that has ever happened.

So, dear readers, I was wondering if you could tell me what made you buy the last few books added to your shelf. Has knowing the author online influenced you in any way? Have you been swayed by reviews on book blogs, word of mouth, people raving on Goodreads.com or impulse buys at your local bookshop? All of them? None? Can you hear the sound of panic in my voice?

I'm hoping that if I start to think about this here, in my safe place, the prospect of my book being out there in the world will seem that little bit less scary…

… and just as exciting as it should be.