What Would You Like To See On The Group?

[JJ]

What do you think would make this a better group?

Any suggestions welcome.

[Rachel Annie]

Everything so far looks good!

I like it when groups have a new discussion topic every week that covers a theme. I've seen topics range from favorite character traits in protagonists or villains to how people feel about changing up traditional ideas about vampire abilities and weaknesses.

Threads about specific books and series are great, but I like reading what others have to say about broader topics as well.

[A.L.]

Recommendations and why. Not author promos as authors can go to the specified forum for that but if someone has read a good book, or in fact a terrible one and why they think so. I know there are reviews but unless you check what individuals are reading then they get lost.

[A.L.]

:)
Maybe split it into "This is great"... and "This sucked!"

[Nikki]

I am trying to place my books in their proper genre so that I can pinpoint my readers--this is of interest to me and maybe others?

[Katie]

Okay, I'm not sure how appropriate this is,so if it's too off the wall just ignore me. I find what would be helpful/interesting would be reader feedback on book covers. Everyone has different tastes, and I prefer simple covers and even paid to have a simple one done, but I am finding that simple may not be what sells in my market. If there were a thread where authors could post their covers and readers say whether they would click on the book or not based on the cover, that might be cool. Not a huge discussion of each cover but just a yep, no, maybe. Just a thought.

[Nikki]

Katie wrote: "Okay, I'm not sure how appropriate this is,so if it's too off the wall just ignore me. I find what would be helpful/interesting would be reader feedback on book covers. Everyone has different taste..."
great idea, Katie...apparently it does make a big difference and when I'm in a bookstore it's what makes me either pick up a book or leave it...

[[deleted user]]

Hi everyone. I think book covers are quite important. For readers, what's on a book cover will often attract or disenchant before ever opening up the book. For authors, too, it's worth investing in a cover that will reflect what you've envisioned. I really appreciated it when the publisher of my first book consulted with me and asked me what I wanted (not all publishers are so flexible). With my second book, The Magic Manuscript: The Nine Companions, I was blown away when I saw the cover, because the artist, a highly skilled artist who actually worked on two of the Narnia movies, illustrated exactly what I had envisioned in my imagination. That's so rare, a real gift.
By the way, I've been looking for a place to introduce myself in this group and can't find it. So I'll put it here. Hi, I'm Barbara. I'm a book reviewer (www.burgesswrite.com) I've loved fantasy literature for as long as I can remember, and in the past two years put out two books in The Magic Manuscript series. I'm currently working on the third. I look forward to chatting with people and reading their posts.

[Kyra]

I think we should have a monthly RandR challenge, where people set a goal for how many books from the group they want to read and review.

[Katie]

Kyra wrote: "I think we should have a monthly RandR challenge, where people set a goal for how many books from the group they want to read and review."

Oooohhh. Good idea. That way it benefits both authors and readers.

[Kyra]

Katie wrote: "Oooohhh. Good idea. That way it benefits both authors and readers."

maybe everyone who makes their goal (minimum number of books, like 2, to qualify?) could be entered in a drawing for a book giveaway?

[Kyra]

I had another idea - maybe we could set up a place where writers who need beta readers and people who are willing to beta read can find each other.

Glad you liked my RandR challenge idea. Hopefully that will get more reviews going. :)

[chucklesthescot]

Is there a 'Currently reading' thread anywhere? Y'know, where every time we start a new book we tell the group about it? It's good for alerting the group to new books they can read and helps promote the author a bit.

I couldn't see one but maybe my brain just isn't working!

[C.M.J.]

I'm really new to this group and haven't explored everything it offers, but I was going to post something about needing beta readers. Thanks for bringing that up, Kyra. The book I have in mind is published, but I'd like to know how it goes over in this group without receiving reviews for it.