What causes you to be loyal to a specific author?

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Sees Love in All Colors]

I was just curious. Most of us have favorite authors we continue to read. What makes an author become an autobuy author, one from which you will continue to buy and read books?

[Arch , Mod]

I don't really have a favorite author, but there are some authors work, I like reading. I like their writing style and I will buy their books at a booksale.

I could even buy an author's book, because of a character or characters that I like. I know that this sounds strange, but I tend to be a fan of characters.

[A.M.]

Consistency in writing, story telling and bringing to life charcters that literelly to jump off the page are what keeps me going back to certian authors.

A.M.

[Chaeya]

What Brenda said. Some authors just have a unique voice that shines and you can't get enough of them.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Sees Love in All Colors]

This is what causes me to be loyal to an author:
I know I am going to get a good story
I am comfortable/used to/enjoy their writing
They write the kinds of stories/characters/themes I like to read
They pour their heart and soul into what they write
They entertain me and keep my mind occupied fully for however long it takes to finish the book.

You have all mentioned some good things. Arch, I am definitely a fan of certain types of characters, and if an author has written a character I love, I make note to keep reading her.

[Arch , Mod]

Yes, Danielle. :)

[Debbie]

What makes me loyal to an author is likable characters, interesting plots and storylines, and the ability to make me believe that it's all real,,,,with every book.

[Bekah, Mod]

I agree Danielle .. what you said! :-) But the first thing I thought of was consistancy. They have to consistantly put out good work.

[Stacy-Deanne]

Hi Danielle,

Interesting question and it's made me reevaluate authors I used to love to read. Guess you can put me in the character with Arch because I honestly can't say I have a favorite author anymore.

I agree on the consistency. This is the main reason why I no longer have a favorite author.

Up to about five years ago I was a fan of a couple of writers to the point where I bought every book they released. Then guess what happened. The more I bought the more disappointed I got in their writing and their stories. It's like they were just throwing up stuff. Their earlier books were much better than the latest ones they were putting out. One of my favorite writers' books started to sound like she wasn't even writing them so I just got out of buying her books.

What makes me loyal is an author who stays true to themselves and their style of writing. I like to read series a lot and if I'm reading a series, if the series gets silly or ridiculous down the stretch that really makes me ditch the author. I can be a loyal reader but these days I'm finding that I'll read an author and by their third book they are no longer clicking with me. I don't know why. Used to be I could read every book some authors put out and now it's like everyone they write is worse than the last.

So what makes me loyal is just good writing and a good story. Simple as that. But these days it's hard for me to find folks to be loyal to. I find good writers but they are not where I am reading all of their books you know? I might read one or two of their books then move onto someone else in the genre. I used to be able to stick with an author but the authors I used to love aren't doing it for me anymore. I find it harder to stick with a lot of newer authors coming out for some reason. The writing is not holding my attention from some new people I've tried lately. I guess it's their style or form, it's some reason a lot of new writers aren't clicking with me these days.

Oh well.

Best Wishes!

http://www.stacy-deanne.net

[Cherie]

For me it's good writing. I like a writer who brings their world, whether PNR, historical, contemporary, etc, to life. I like interesting, likeable characters. A good writer will create a character that is almost real. I know I've found a good writer when instead of saying I'm going to read a certain book again, I say I'm going to visit those characters again. :) I think there are very few writers that have that level of skill, they weave their story.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Sees Love in All Colors]

@Stacy-Deanne: I've had pretty good luck with my favorite authors. Most of them haven't let me down. They have preserved what I love about their work. I think any author can have a book that isn't their best. I don't let go of an author just because their book wasn't as good as some of the others (not that I'm saying you're implying that). But, then I haven't had to fire too many authors. I know I let go of a few authors several years ago, but they weren't favorites.

General comment: What I've learned is what I like and what I don't like in literature. I tend to stick with authors who write things I enjoy, and have the writing styles I like. So, it works out for me.

CeCe, I agree with you on what you've said, although I like a lot of authors. I like authors for different reasons. The only commonality is that they entertain me and write books I enjoy.

[TinaNoir]

When I think of why my favorite authors are my favorites, I realize that the thing they all have something in common.

They all create distinctive main characters, put them into interesting situations, surround them with memorable people and then they show and tell me about it all.

I will say that it is quite difficult to stick with an author over a very long time. Some authors lose that certain *it* over time that attached you in the first place. I can name about 20 authors who I will unabashedly name as a favorite author right this very moment but whose works I have not bought in the last 5 - 10 years. And still others who are no longer autobuys but who I will still read to find the ones that are hits rather than misses.

I am always thrilled to discover a new author voice. But I think it is more difficult to find an autobuy favorite new author nowadays. The genre has exploded and I sift through a lot of 'eh' sometimes before I can find a gem. Of my favorite authors, probably only about 10% of them first published in the last 10 years.

[Stacy-Deanne]

Hi Danielle,

The thing is that a lot of my favorite authors are writing series and it's like the books are just going downhill with each release. I think it's a case of these authors being established and now it's like they are just writing anything and trying to go off their name. Then there's some authors I've enjoyed in the past that I used to always read but lately they don't release a book but every 5 or 6 years so I forget about them. By the time they do release something, I'm either not in the mood to even try it or got something else on my radar. There are still some writers I enjoy but I don't like to say "favorites" anymore. Lately it's been a crap shoot for me. I've been author-jumping a lot these days.

With some new authors, I'll read their first book and really like it. Then the second one just won't click with me or the writing doesn't feel the same. That's why I'm not feeling some new writers either. Not all, but some of them. I feel like some writers put everything into the first book then when they come to the second or third, it's like they just don't put in the same effort. I've come across a lot of authors on Goodreads that I've checked out their work and a lot have been good, even the self-published books (no offense anyone). But then they don't have books coming out close enough so I don't get a chance to read more from them.

Best Wishes!

http://www.stacy-deanne.net

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Sees Love in All Colors]

I completely get what you're saying, Stacy-Deanne.

[[deleted user]]

For me it is the writing style. Some authors just have a certain flair that sets them apart from others. It is one of those feelings that we used to get when music was good and there was just a must have artist no matter what they were doing on the album. But I have been in the same boat as Stacy-Deanne, you have gotten all riled up by a series and it just seems as though it goes downhill the more you read. The problem is that now you are hooked like a drug addict. Do you drop the habit and go into 'author rehab' and quite the series cold turkey? Or do you grit your teeth and try to get through the series just to find out what happens?

[The FountainPenDiva, Old school geek chick and lover of teddy bears]

Great question.

The most obviouus answer is that an auto-buy author writes what I want to read. They write the themes I enjoy or the pairings that I prefer. I admit to being extremely picky about what I read, especially when it comes to certain genres. If I pick up or see a book and within seconds I'm muttering "been there, seen that", it stays on the shelf.

Interestingly enough, I tend to auto-buy in fantasy and sci-fi than I do romance, but that's because I've never left my geek roots, LOL.

However, I also like authors who take risks, who go against the grain. I like edgy writers because they're the ones who are in the business because they LOVE what they do. In my lexicon these are "selfish" writers because they write what feels real and true to themselves first and that passion shows in every word, every detail.

Every so often I'll give a new writer a shot just to see what they're about though. Sad to say that some of my favorite romance auto-buy authors just haven't been up to par, and I blame a lot of that on the fact they're bored. They want to do something new, but are locked into contracts or just like all the money--either way, the writing suffers. I wish I could tell some series writers to write one more book where they kill off every single character, call it THE END, take some time off, then come back refreshed and as excited as they were when they forst started writing that series.

[Cherie]

Vivienne, I'm with you. I've read some series that for some reason have gone on too long. I'll of course stop reading the series at that point, but I wan tto tell the author to stop pushing themselves. If your tired of writing about the series stop. Explore other ideas- that's okay.

[Delaney]

In the romance genre, there are a number of authors that I think are just really good at what they do. They have a way with words and their work is emotionally charged. The sexual tension builds up nicely, and the love scenes flow smoothly. If I know I'll get all that from a book, I'm more likely to buy that author again.

In the mystery/thriller genre, twisted plots, evil antagonists, and writing that makes my skin crawl are great ways to make me go back to an author over and over again.

[Justine]

good writing,interesting plots,consistency of details in the story.

I'll read anything by Giselle Carmichael and Cyrstal Hub for instance; and at the same time I've stopped reading others who are some members here favorites.

[Davina]

I find that I tend to stick with authors who, through their characters, appear to have the same world view as me, and this can be in any capacity: M/F dynamic, sexual tension, humour, political views, etc. I'm also attracted to crisp, sophisticated writing that borders on lyrical.

[Firstlady]

At the moment, I'm a true LATRIVIA NELSON fan. Her writing style is brilliant.

[Leah]

their. ability to make a story funny touching and sexy and their. appreciation. for supporters of their. art