⭒What do you like to see in the backmatter of books?⭒

[M.H.]

For example, a cover image of the next book? A snippet? Glossary? Maps? Character Art?
What do you like to see?

[Clare]

Maps are usually really handy, so most of the time, probably a map.

[M.H.]

Clare wrote: "Maps are usually really handy, so most of the time, probably a map."

I always think the map belongs in the back, too, but some people like it in the front.

[Sharon, ⭒botm leader⭒]

Hey!👋 Just checking to see if you asked a mod before setting up this thread. If you didn't, it's ok, just remember to in the future, ok?😊

I love glossaries and maps, but I prefer maps in the front and glossaries in the back. A sample chapter of the next book, if it's a series, would also be great.

[M.H.]

Sharon wrote: "Hey!👋 Just checking to see if you asked a mod before setting up this thread. If you didn't, it's ok, just remember to in the future, ok?😊

I love glossaries and maps, but I prefer maps in the front..."

I'm sorry, I didn't realize that. I'm so sorry! You can delete this if it's not allowed.
Thank you for the information.

[Sharon, ⭒botm leader⭒]

No worries! It’s not like everyone memorizes the rules when they join!😁

[Elizabeth]

I like name pronunciation guides and glossaries, plus maps. Or Tolkien's LotR extravaganza. XD

[Elisabeth (Bets), ⭒assistant mod⭒]

I also like maps and name pronunciation guides. But I definitely prefer my map in the front (you can’t go somewhere and then look at a map, you need to see the map and then go there. Lol) and the pronunciation guide in the back. I also really like when there is a timeline of the books story in the back.

I don’t like when it has a chapter from the next book in the series since it makes me really impatient sometimes 😂

[Elisabeth (Bets), ⭒assistant mod⭒]

Also I realize this is asking about the back matter but one of my favorite things to see in the front of a book is a list of the main characters and their families. All of George MacDonalds books, that I’ve read, have that.

[Sharon, ⭒botm leader⭒]

Helena wrote: "I like name pronunciation guides and glossaries, plus maps. Or Tolkien's LotR extravaganza. XD"

Ohhhh! Yes--name procunciation guide for sure! But in the beginning...🤭

[Elizabeth]

Sharon wrote: "Helena wrote: "I like name pronunciation guides and glossaries, plus maps. Or Tolkien's LotR extravaganza. XD"

Ohhhh! Yes--name procunciation guide for sure! But in the beginning...🤭"

They are probably needed in the beginning considering that I have to switch pronunciations in my head 🤣 I also like relation lists, with all the characters noted and who they are and who they relate too. More important for bigger books though.

[M.H.]

I love hearing everyone's opinions! I like family guides, too. But what about a cast list?

[Elisabeth (Bets), ⭒assistant mod⭒]

Yeah that's what I meant by character list. I love it when books have them!

[Alison]

Hmm... I like seeing a snippet of the next book if it's a series. And yeah I do like character lists! And like descriptions of different races/species if it's a fantasy book.

Pronunciation guides are great but they have to be at the beginning! I'll also keep flipping back there like ten times before I have the names mastered in my head XD
And I think I prefer maps at the beginning, too :)

[M.H.]

I'm curious about the pronunciation guide: how many character names do you want to see it? All of them? Or just the main characters?

[Elisabeth (Bets), ⭒assistant mod⭒]

All the characters with names that aren't necessarily easy to pronounce

[⋆ b r e z ! ⋆]

I love maps

[Elizabeth]

M.H. wrote: "I'm curious about the pronunciation guide: how many character names do you want to see it? All of them? Or just the main characters?"

All of them.

[BooksNCrannies, ⭒assistant mod⭒]

I love to see maps in the back of books! I also like to see maps, maps, maps, and more maps.... I always say you can never have enough maps! (I think I got my point across! Lol! (⁠•⁠‿⁠•⁠)

[Elisabeth (Bets), ⭒assistant mod⭒]

I agree with BooksNCrannies. The more maps the better!

[Clare]

yeah, except sometimes I get confused about how big things are on a map so all books should come with a globe with all the places labeled.

[P. Pherson]

An issue that I think of more as an author.

I put maps in the front, cause its usually what I look for first in a fantasy book anyway ;)

In the back, I expect to find About the Author, upcoming or additional books. A glossary if needed, and a pronunciation guide if I want it.

In my own book, I included some extra world building material for the hard cover (as a reward for those who want the big one), and a sample of the opening of Book 2.

I also included an extra bonus scene (which was one that was cut from the story, but is more for those who wanted more. My plan is to make most of those available on the website, if I ever get it all running, or in a newsletter.)

Last....is an appeal to leave feedback on amazon, or goodreads. I don't know if readers really know the importance of that to an author, especially a new author. Having others read and enjoy the book, and say so is like the only thing that can get it off the ground. With low reviews, a book wont get traction. A general rule is a Book with less than 25 reviews will get passed over by 99% of those who see it. And if you have written one, its literally years of your life, and money and all that.

Readers probably hate the appeal, but its life and death to an author.


Also, you might be surprised how much of the production of a book is just the front and back matter. The whole story you just kind of drop in, but the formatting for the front and back is not a simple task. And sometimes, if its too much or too little, it can mess up the cover art, which is another issue...