A question to authors please

[Wendy]

Heavily Edited per Felix's Questions

I am currently doing a Good Reads World BOOK Challenge that requires the main plot be based in a Country. It is on another Group. It is called "UN international mystery challenge. https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/.... The object of this challenge is to read books that take place in different countries of the world.Books must actually take place within the country.
It originally was based on UN Countries. For my challenge, I expanded it.

It has occurred to me that my last three novels I have read, (based in the Isle of Wight) have had their terminology as a Glossary. British vocabulary, language translations etc.) As much as I really appreciate them, on a Kindle, scrolling back to it is rather irritating.

What works for ME as a Reader, has been italics or notes within the actual page explaining. To stop, Scroll to the end (with a ereader, or flip pages to the end with a print book) is irritating.

My QUESTION: Is the choice of a Glossary (beginning or end of novel), italicized or footnoted a choice of the writer or editor?

[Feliks, Moderator]

Wendy,

Your post raises several questions for me --which I must point back around to you --in order to help me answer your overall inquiry

1) What exactly is a 'GR World Challenge'? Do you mean a Goodreads' "word challenge"?
2) Your 'last three novels' --do you mean the last three novels you've read? Or, the last three novels you've written?
3) What exactly is it which requires, 'main plot be based in a country"? Is this some kind of book game?

To skip over these puzzles and answer you as best I can --

1) A glossary can be either at the start or the end of a novel. It is usually found at the end; but that is not law.
2) A numbered 'notes' page is always at book's end; corresponding to footnotes in the novel body.
3) Yes, there are also many books with copious notes in the text body itself. As an author you're free to decide this. However --
4) Notes/footnotes in the body might still require an index of those notes at book's end. This is in addition to the subject-index at book's end.
5) Notes/footnotes in the body may still require a bibliography at book's end, for any note containing a citation.
6) Rules for citation are a much more serious matter, than are rules for a glossary. Especially so, for academic works (the "guidelines" are called 'formats' --example, MLA Style Format; Chicago Style Format).
7) "Style Formats" governing academic content are not the author's whim to ignore; however --
8) In a completely self-published book, the author can conceivably do whatever they wish.

All of the above, is purely just an informal answer from me.

I certainly defer to any of our 'in-house' authors (boasting true publishing industry expertise), to answer you in detail.

[Thomas]

Wendy and I are doing the same challenge-- reading a mystery from every UN country..

[Pat]

I find to look up a glossary on the eReader far too difficult and generally just search answer on internet. If you are looking for a crime novel set in South Korea I thoroughly recommend Martin Limon though American military really does have a reasonable insight to the country.

[Wendy]

Feliks wrote: "Wendy,

Your post raises several questions for me --which I must point back around to you --in order to help me answer your overall inquiry

1) What exactly is a 'GR World Challenge'? Do you mean a..."

I edited and corrected my question

[Wendy]

Pat wrote: "I find to look up a glossary on the eReader far too difficult and generally just search answer on internet. If you are looking for a crime novel set in South Korea I thoroughly recommend Martin Lim..."

I do the same. I was simply wondering if it was Author-choice or Editor-decision.

My South Korea book wasThe Commander Patrick A. Davis

[Feliks, Moderator]

Interesting. So, Wendy --you are very familiar with South Korean culture? If so, I will note that down. Might come in handy someday.

[Wendy]

Not at all. That is why I enjoy the Book Challenge so much. I learn so much about other cultures.

[Feliks, Moderator]

H'mmm. I admit to some confusion. How can you write a mystery story set in a culture, yet not knowing anything about the country?

I must be mis-understanding you somehow.

Another point: when did your novel come out? Remember, this group features new releases.

All an author need do, is inform a moderator when they're publishing a book --we highlight that event to the rest of Goodreads.

[Thomas]

Feliks
I can't speak for Wendy, but here is a link to my UN challenge https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Wendy]

Where did I ever say I wrote it?
i READ it

[Wendy]

Thomas, am I not making myself cleat?
When I say my "S Korea book" I meant the book I used for SK was....

[Thomas]

Wendy wrote: "Thomas, am I not making myself cleat?
When I say my "S Korea book" I meant the book I used for SK was...."

It could be interpreted both ways.

[Feliks, Moderator]

Wendy wrote: "Where did I ever say I wrote it?
i READ it"

No need to rear up on your hind legs. It's usually better not to.

As an American --when I read this sentence --my first impression was that you wrote this book.

"My South Korea book was The Commander Pa A. Davis"

You re-wrote your post, but nevertheless I didn't know any details about this 'reading challenge' a few messages into this thread.

[Wendy]

Got it