Can I pick your brains?

[Michele]

I work for a small publisher and we are about to bring out our first mystery, crime, thriller novel. I am super excited about this because I've been reading this genre since I was very young - which is a long, long time ago.

Don't worry this isn't a disguised attempt at selling the book to you.

What I am interested in is what sort of blurb attracts you to a book?

Personally I am drawn to trigger words like:
mutilated corpse,
psychotic killer,
perverted desires, brutal, complex, baffling

are there words that trigger your interest when you see them on the blurb?

If so what are they?

I'd be fascinated to hear your answers.

[Rachel]

i like when a book is described as an edge of your seat thriller full of twists the reader will not see coming.

[Scout]

I usually only read the first 10 lines or so. I don't want to know too much about the plot before I read. I look for an interesting setting and a little bit about the major conflict. I want to know something about the protagonist - hopefully something that catches my interest. If the book is graphically violent, especially concerning child or animal abuse, I want to know ahead of time. Those don't usually appeal to me.

[[deleted user]]

What Scout said! I need to know if the book is violent, especially with children involved.

I especially don't want to know too much about the plot. I don't usually read the blurbs as there is always too much given away, not just spoilers, but things that I should be discovering while reading the story, not on the back of the book.

[Kerrie]

I agree with Scout and Hayes especially on the whole "giving too much away," front.
I don't have any trigger words as such. I read the book if the blurb interests me, without giving away the whole story line.

[Malina]

Agree, don't give away the story, but at least let us know that it is a "Can't put it down" kind of read. I like settings also, but that's just me. Words that get my attention are Psychological, thriller, edge of your seat, mesmerizing.

[Brian]

I'm drawn to words/phrases like: danger; baffling; mystery/mysterious; puzzle/puzzling; web of (deceit, lies, etc.); twists; race against time.

[Michele]

This is all very interesting stuff. Thanks - fascinating how some people want more and some people want less.

Just out of curiosity how many of you buy ebooks in this genre?

Does it make a difference to you if it is also available in paper format and do you notice whether it has been published by a 'proper' publisher and does that influence you when you decide to buy an ebook.

Or is price a more deciding factor?

[Bill]

I personally haven't gotten into the e-book phenomenon so having them available in that format would do nothing for me. I do realize I'm becoming a minority who just reads paper books. Price can be an issue but if I want a book, I'll buy it. The cover can be a factor in that it might catch my eye, but a well-written outline on the back or the dust jacket is what will ultimately draw me in. Good luck with your publishing endeavours, btw. :0)

[Michele]

Bill wrote: "I personally haven't gotten into the e-book phenomenon so having them available in that format would do nothing for me. I do realize I'm becoming a minority who just reads paper books. Price can be..."

Thanks Bill.

We've been publishing since 2009 but this is our first crime procedural - I wanted to wait until we found the right one to start off with.

All our books come out in paperback first and we even brought out a hardback then paperback followed by the ebook for one of them.

There is something very satisfying in seeing a beautifully type-set and designed book sitting there and knowing it wouldn't exist in that form without your input.

I am particularly excited about this thriller - the worst part was trying not to get engrossed in it while doing my part of the job.

When I was a little girl I loved Agatha Christie, Patricia Wentworth and P.D. James - helping to bring a crime thriller novel out is something I could not have imagined would be part of my future then.

I should be more blase I suppose - but it isn't in my nature :)

[Kerrie]

I don't buy ebooks in this genre often. I buy most of my mystery/thriller books in charity shops but if the book isn't too expensive than I will.
When buying an eBook, I don't really take into account whether or not the book has been published by a "proper" publisher.
I agree with Bill on price and cover.

[Michele]

Rachel wrote: "i like when a book is described as an edge of your seat thriller full of twists the reader will not see coming."
Thank you - that is most encouraging :)

[Michele]

Scout wrote: "I usually only read the first 10 lines or so. I don't want to know too much about the plot before I read. I look for an interesting setting and a little bit about the major conflict. I want to know..."

Which thriller writers do you tend to gravitate towards Scout?

[Michele]

Hayes wrote: "What Scout said! I need to know if the book is violent, especially with children involved.

I especially don't want to know too much about the plot. I don't usually read the blurbs as there is alwa..."

What would you say gets you to the point where you open the book or click on the look inside to read the first ten lines?

[Michele]

Malina wrote: "Agree, don't give away the story, but at least let us know that it is a "Can't put it down" kind of read. I like settings also, but that's just me. Words that get my attention are Psychological, th..."

Me too Malina - nothing worse than a whodunnit you can work out from the get-go. Although the Columbo tv series seemed to be one of the exceptions to that - always knew from the beginning yet it still gripped.

[Michele]

Brian wrote: "I'm drawn to words/phrases like: danger; baffling; mystery/mysterious; puzzle/puzzling; web of (deceit, lies, etc.); twists; race against time."

Hmm race against time is one of the things that puts me off a book :) I can't stand suspense - I always read the last chapter first if it is going to be one where I am nervous or anxious as to what will happen to a character I've got fond of.

I know lots of people love suspense though.

[Malina]

Michele wrote: "This is all very interesting stuff. Thanks - fascinating how some people want more and some people want less.

Just out of curiosity how many of you buy ebooks in this genre?

Does it make a diffe..."

I have bought books in this genre, and price is usually the deciding factor for me. Although if it is a tried and true author I love, I will pay the full amount. If it is a new to me author I will try to find it at the library or in paperback. Mainly because I am on a budget.

[[deleted user]]

Michele wrote: "What would you say gets you to the point where you open the book or click on the look inside to read the first ten lines? "

I almost never read the first paragraph or "look inside". I don't know why. I work as an editor and proofreader, so many of the things that catch me about a book are subliminal or subconscious, but it's usually a visual thing that gets me: the type face, the quality of the cover (image, layout, etc.), the way the blurb on the back is set out. Then the title, and then I look to see if the story outline matches my expectations from the other input.

As I say, most of my reactions are subconscious.

[Michele]

Hayes wrote: "As I say, most of my reactions are subconscious. "

I think that is true for most people. The trick for the publisher is to be completely aware of those subconscious influences and understand the psychology of the different genre readers so we can create a book that does what it says on the cover and says on the cover the right things to 'speak' to them accurately and also enticingly enough to stand out from the many other choices available.

It is quite an art. Maybe even a bit of black magic involved somewhere too ;)

[Rachel]

Michele wrote: "This is all very interesting stuff. Thanks - fascinating how some people want more and some people want less.

Just out of curiosity how many of you buy ebooks in this genre?

Does it make a diffe..."

i don't buy ebooks- still haven't bought an e reader- i know i'm in the minority though. many people like to have the ebook option- i get bummed when a book that sounds great is not offered in print form- starting to notice that from time to time.

[Vince]

I agree with many of the previous posts concerning blurbs giving away too much of the story. Some book jackets will tell you up front, that "Jill" is murdered. Invariably, the first character you meet is "Jill". I then find it difficult to care as much about the character as I already know she is not long for the book. Not to mention, the loss of discovery as you read.

As for key words... 'surprising plot twist" always gets my attention. Still waiting for one to top the "Roger Akroyd" surprise, almost 40 years after reading.

[[deleted user]]

Michele wrote: "It is quite an art. Maybe even a bit of black magic involved somewhere too ;)"

Black magic indeed:

"Do do that voodoo
that you do so well."
(with apologies to Cole Porter)

I think it's easier to say what I don't want on a book cover. Too much of the plot has already been mentioned, but I have one giant pet peeve: Quotes by other authors and/or reviewers.

"This is the best thing since sliced bread. A must read."
"You will enjoy every minute!"

I bet it isn't and I bet I wont! Far too cynical I am, and it clutters up the look of the cover. Far better to have a good clean image and a short well-written blurb. Less is definitely more, for me I mean.

Good luck with everything, Michelle.

[Michele]

The book I've been working with is just about to go up as a Goodreads giveaway. Is it ok to link to that in this thread or is there another thread to do that on this group?

[Donna, Co-Moderator]

Michele wrote: "The book I've been working with is just about to go up as a Goodreads giveaway. Is it ok to link to that in this thread or is there another thread to do that on this group?"

Hi Michele, That kind of post belongs in the Author's Corner folder.

[Michele]

Donna wrote: "Michele wrote: "The book I've been working with is just about to go up as a Goodreads giveaway. Is it ok to link to that in this thread or is there another thread to do that on this group?"

Hi Mic..."

That doesn't seem appropriate as I am not the author of this book. I am a person working with the publishing team of the publishing house bringing the book out as I stated in the first post of this thread. But thank you for replying. It looks like there isn't anywhere in this group to place this information given the situation so I will leave it to members to find the book or not in the general course of things.

Thanks to everybody who participated in this thread - I'll still be taking part in other discussions of course in my capacity as a reader of crime/thriller fiction.

[Ken]

Personally, when I see the genre buzzwords or phrases like 'page-turner', 'roller coaster ride', or 'action packed', it says to me someone is trying too hard.

I prefer something of a subtle nature that draws the reader in to the particular story, not the genre. There has to be an immediate 'that could be me' or 'it could happen to anyone' kind of connection with the character, scene, or story.

A mystery genre means that some poor shlub's life is going to be turned upside down by something extraordinary. the blurb doesn't have to give the story away but it needs to connect the reader with some commonality.
Just as an example, I get pretty tired of books about writers as the main characters. For that matter, if the book is about a lawyer defending an impossible case, I'll pass even if I am promised a crackling roller coaster of danger intrigue and mystery.

Just tell me enough to get me involved with the story or character without trying to grab my shoulders and shake me.

[Michele]

Ken wrote: "Personally, when I see the genre buzzwords or phrases like 'page-turner', 'roller coaster ride', or 'action packed', it says to me someone is trying too hard.

I prefer something of a subtle natu..."

Thanks for that insight Ken - very illuminating.

[Michele]

Hayes wrote: "Michele wrote: "It is quite an art. Maybe even a bit of black magic involved somewhere too ;)"

Black magic indeed:

"Do do that voodoo
that you do so well."
(with apologies to Cole Porter)

I th..."

Sadly when a book is a first novel by an as yet unknown writer a good quote can make all the difference to sales figures. Our new book does have a quote on the front cover but fingers crossed it is appropriate and placed appropriately and doesn't obscure anything.

[Michele]

Rachel wrote: "i don't buy ebooks- still haven't bought an e reader- i know i'm in the minority though. many people like to have the ebook option- i get bummed when a book that sounds great is not offered in print form- starting to notice that from time to time. "

We always bring out full length novels in paperback first and in one case even brought out a hardback before that. We always feel that if a novel is worth publishing at all it is worth bringing out in all forms to give the reader a choice of how they prefer to read it.

[C.A.]

I'm not crazy about buzz words, or being told how I will experience a book. I want to be pulled into the lead character and their circumstance. I usually read the first paragraph inside the front cover and stop because I want to be surprised. If there's a twist, I'd ratehr not hear about it!

I read cozies, procedurals, thriller/suspence novels, romantic suspense, historical, you name it.

[Michele]

C.A. wrote: "I'm not crazy about buzz words, or being told how I will experience a book. I want to be pulled into the lead character and their circumstance. I usually read the first paragraph inside the front..."

So what gets you to that first paragraph C.A.?

[Wendy]

Buzz words and mystery adjectives tend to be overused. I want to know who the protagonist is and somehow what kind of mystery. i.e. Joe the librarian in a small town in xyz finding out he can talk to fiction book protagonists i.e. Ahab and also solves puzzing happenings in town. That tells me it is possibly humorous with a little paranormal