Comments on: Portion Control http://www.murdershewrites.com/2009/02/09/portion-control/ Ten Authors. Five Genres. One Blog. Because the only thing scarier than a loaded gun pointed at your head....is writing about it. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 07:39:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Holly http://www.murdershewrites.com/2009/02/09/portion-control/#comment-226368 Holly Tue, 10 Feb 2009 06:43:29 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=1792#comment-226368 I love excerpts. I think my joy of them borders on an addiction. The last book I purchased after reading one was <i>Dark Need At Night’s Edge</i> by Kresley Cole. The story was very interesting, but not nearly as intriguing as the excerpt led me to believe. The last two I read were yours - <i>Eve of Darkness</i> and <i>In The Flesh</i>. They did the trick, and now I'm eagerly awaiting their release. :) I love excerpts. I think my joy of them borders on an addiction. The last book I purchased after reading one was Dark Need At Night’s Edge by Kresley Cole. The story was very interesting, but not nearly as intriguing as the excerpt led me to believe.

The last two I read were yours – Eve of Darkness and In The Flesh. They did the trick, and now I’m eagerly awaiting their release. :)

]]> By: Edie http://www.murdershewrites.com/2009/02/09/portion-control/#comment-226365 Edie Mon, 09 Feb 2009 23:23:25 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=1792#comment-226365 I buys books after reading excerpts. Last week, I directed two friends to a Barbara O'Neal's website to read her first chapter of The Lost Recipe for Happiness. She thanked me for giving her the link and she's going to get the book. I buys books after reading excerpts. Last week, I directed two friends to a Barbara O’Neal’s website to read her first chapter of The Lost Recipe for Happiness. She thanked me for giving her the link and she’s going to get the book.

]]> By: Terry Odell http://www.murdershewrites.com/2009/02/09/portion-control/#comment-226364 Terry Odell Mon, 09 Feb 2009 20:19:35 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=1792#comment-226364 I'm usually one for beginnings. As a reader, I don't like spoilers. And stuff later in the book usually requires the reader to have been on the journey with the characters to understand the dynamic at that point in the book. I had a heck of a time when my editor wanted a scene that showed interaction between hero and heroine for my latest release, because they aren't together for the first couple of chapters. The one we agreed on does show them both, and hints at their personalities, but it seems a bit too 'out of context' for me. I'm still not all that thrilled with it, and tend to post things from my opening scene when I have to supply an excerpt. I like the idea of positng little bits and changing them more often. Maybe I'll try that one. I’m usually one for beginnings. As a reader, I don’t like spoilers. And stuff later in the book usually requires the reader to have been on the journey with the characters to understand the dynamic at that point in the book.

I had a heck of a time when my editor wanted a scene that showed interaction between hero and heroine for my latest release, because they aren’t together for the first couple of chapters. The one we agreed on does show them both, and hints at their personalities, but it seems a bit too ‘out of context’ for me. I’m still not all that thrilled with it, and tend to post things from my opening scene when I have to supply an excerpt.

I like the idea of positng little bits and changing them more often. Maybe I’ll try that one.

]]> By: Karin Tabke http://www.murdershewrites.com/2009/02/09/portion-control/#comment-226363 Karin Tabke Mon, 09 Feb 2009 20:01:14 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=1792#comment-226363 Sylvia I loved the Sapphire excerpt you posted on the Wicked loop! Can't wait to read that book because of it! I think excerpts, good excerpts, are a great way to hook a reader. I know the good ones hook me! I need to update my website! Sylvia I loved the Sapphire excerpt you posted on the Wicked loop! Can’t wait to read that book because of it! I think excerpts, good excerpts, are a great way to hook a reader. I know the good ones hook me! I need to update my website!

]]> By: Amanda http://www.murdershewrites.com/2009/02/09/portion-control/#comment-226361 Amanda Mon, 09 Feb 2009 19:20:56 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=1792#comment-226361 I belong to an online book club that offers an excerpt of a particular book for five days. I read one today that let me know just one day was all I needed to want to buy Any Given Doomsday by Lori Handeland. The excerpt had the author's voice, style, and the character's lifestyle and life, all tied together in one short scene. I belong to an online book club that offers an excerpt of a particular book for five days. I read one today that let me know just one day was all I needed to want to buy Any Given Doomsday by Lori Handeland. The excerpt had the author’s voice, style, and the character’s lifestyle and life, all tied together in one short scene.

]]> By: Silver James http://www.murdershewrites.com/2009/02/09/portion-control/#comment-226360 Silver James Mon, 09 Feb 2009 19:20:05 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=1792#comment-226360 ACK! My keyboard was hijacked by my lolcat and the previous was posted before I was finished. Sorry. Why I bought the book? The blurb made me laugh, gave me a taste of Bardsley's voice, and the premise was something new and different in the paranormal genre. Now if I can just learn how to do it for myself. <i>*sigh*</i> ACK! My keyboard was hijacked by my lolcat and the previous was posted before I was finished. Sorry.

Why I bought the book? The blurb made me laugh, gave me a taste of Bardsley’s voice, and the premise was something new and different in the paranormal genre.

Now if I can just learn how to do it for myself. *sigh*

]]> By: Silver James http://www.murdershewrites.com/2009/02/09/portion-control/#comment-226359 Silver James Mon, 09 Feb 2009 19:17:55 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=1792#comment-226359 Oh man! I so need a course in Excerpt 101. I totally suck at picking them and/or writing a blurb. As a rule, I don't pick up a random book and check the excerpt or blurb to see if it interests me. I tend to pick books based on recommendations and from author blogs. Rocki, I like the idea of "taste testing." Hey, if it works in the deli, why not for books? Okay, I just went to my TBR pile and pulled off a book. A friend had mentioned it and after checking it out, I bought it more or less based on the back of the book: Michelle Bardsley's I'M THE VAMPIRE, THAT'S WHY. Oh man! I so need a course in Excerpt 101. I totally suck at picking them and/or writing a blurb. As a rule, I don’t pick up a random book and check the excerpt or blurb to see if it interests me. I tend to pick books based on recommendations and from author blogs.

Rocki, I like the idea of “taste testing.” Hey, if it works in the deli, why not for books?

Okay, I just went to my TBR pile and pulled off a book. A friend had mentioned it and after checking it out, I bought it more or less based on the back of the book: Michelle Bardsley’s I’M THE VAMPIRE, THAT’S WHY.

]]> By: Roxanne St. Claire http://www.murdershewrites.com/2009/02/09/portion-control/#comment-226358 Roxanne St. Claire Mon, 09 Feb 2009 18:55:45 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=1792#comment-226358 Syl, how funny you would post this as I was just updating my web site today and decided to try something new..."bite sized excerpts" of my next book. It's a long time until the release (Aug) and I don't want to have one excerpt up for so many months. But readers keep asking for a "taste of Dan Gallagher" (I *think* they mean an excerpt, but I could be reading that alllllll wrong.) So I've decided I'd launch something new and post a few lines and leave that up for a couple of weeks, then change it. Of course, I lost an hour re-reading the ms trying to find the perfect "taste test" that shows his fabulosity in less than ten or fifteen lines. I can't remember a specific excerpt that made me buy the book, but I think readers like openings better than "middles" - so I usually try to stick with something close to the beginning. Good post! Syl, how funny you would post this as I was just updating my web site today and decided to try something new…”bite sized excerpts” of my next book. It’s a long time until the release (Aug) and I don’t want to have one excerpt up for so many months. But readers keep asking for a “taste of Dan Gallagher” (I *think* they mean an excerpt, but I could be reading that alllllll wrong.) So I’ve decided I’d launch something new and post a few lines and leave that up for a couple of weeks, then change it. Of course, I lost an hour re-reading the ms trying to find the perfect “taste test” that shows his fabulosity in less than ten or fifteen lines.

I can’t remember a specific excerpt that made me buy the book, but I think readers like openings better than “middles” – so I usually try to stick with something close to the beginning.

Good post!

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