Angelia Vernon Menchan

Angelia Vernon Menchan is an author, publisher and public speaker who owns two publishing companies, MAMM Productions and Honorable Menchan Media. Mrs. Menchan is also a Budget Officer and former Job Corps Counselor. To date she has published twenty-three books of her own work, both fiction and non-fiction and more than eighty ebook novellas on amazon.com. You can access her bibliography on www.amazon.com search words: Angelia Vernon Menchan




Contact information:
Website: http://acvermen.blogspot.com
Email: acvermen@yahoo.com
Phone numbers: 904 714 2272 904 303 2679

Thursday, February 21, 2008

What Inspires One To Purchase A Book?

I have been asking myself a lot lately what is it that inspires one to purchase a book,
Is it the cover, the blurb, word of mouth, the author's blog, website, what is it...
These days, for me it is mostly word of mouth and continually purchasing those writers I have always loved...
I check out websites, I read a few blogs, and I can honestly say that alone has never inspired me to purchase a book, not even the newest thing which is trailers, I view them, find some of them very entertaining, others less so, but to date I have yet to purchase a book based on that,
Then I pondered what used to inspire me,
And truthfully I purchase a lot less books than I used to,
Mostly because I review books and that makes up for a lot of what I am reading....
But before that I was pretty much inspired by the same things,
Word of mouth and purchasing books by authors I knew,
The word of mouth made up for the new authors,
I can remember when black authors started to fill the bookstore shelves,
It was the early nineties and I would go to the Waldenbooks in Millilan, HI and fill my arms with whatever books that came out by Black authors, during those times it was Terry MacMillan, E Lynn Harris, Connie Briscoe, Gwendolyn Parker, Sheneska Jackson. Eric Jerome Dickey, J. California Cooper...and the list goes on...
We didn't know what a webpage, blog or any of that stuff was, but man did I love books...
Today I asked a friend at work, (nonAA) what inspires her book purchases,
She told me, referrals and authors she has always loved, she also told me she browsed bookstores, used and new ones, looking for jewels...she also told me that other than my blog, and only because I tell her when I post it, she never looks at stuff online about her favorite authors and I tell you she has a lot of them, this woman purchases 10-12 hardcovers a month!
Then a bulb went off in my head, I thought about all the bookstores, particularly Black bookstores that are closing and I wondered if our desire for technology and bells and whistles is what led to their demise...because it is certainly easier to check out something on line and stay on line to purchase it....hmmm...
As an author we also wonder what it is that inspires people to purchase our books...
Is it the website, the blurb, the blog, the cover or is it old-fashioned word of mouth, or continued support of your work by those who have read it before....For me it's mostly the latter, word of mouth and continued support...and referring my work to others...I guess that makes me an old school bookseller in an everchanging world...I can live with that!

Blessings,
angelia

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

For me, I enjoy browsing through the bookstores, definetely looking at the back of the book to see what it is about. Of course you never judge a book by it's cover but some of that does apply when I am picking out a book as well. Then I take a look at the author, try to see if they look humorous or very serious.( I know that's weird), Then there is the dialog.
How much dialog is included in the book. If I like all of that, I buy. If not, I just move on to the next one. But what I love the most is meeting an author, speaking to an author, getting to know what inspired him/her to write their story and 10 times out of 10 I will purchase the book.
Cynthia (KUDO's Book Club of Rockledge)

Anonymous said...

I have loyal to authors that I've read and loved...I usually pre-order their books. I will try someone new when they are recommended by a good reviewer or friend. I love browsing book stores and usually covers attract me first then I read the back. I usually purchase books online. Since I review books, I don't buy half as many as I used to.

Angelia Vernon Menchan said...

Hey Cynthia,
I am so glad that I was one of those authors you met, spoke to, got to know and SUPPORTED...and I know that makes you BUY because you are always the first person to purchase my work, and for that I thank you...

Smooches,
angelia

Anonymous, (Queen I?)
That word of mouth is a powerful thing...

smooches,
angelia

Anonymous said...

My reasons for buying books varies:
I buy new releases from authors I'm familiar with (met online or in person).
I buy new releases of those authors who are my favorites.
I buy books "just because" its on sale.
I buy books because when I'm in the store, something about it captures my eye and when I read the blurb its one that makes me want to know more.
I buy books from new authors because the info I received in the email intrigues me.
I buy books because some one recommended a book they feel I just can't do without. Etc...

Angelia Vernon Menchan said...

Thanks Shelia...

blessings,
angelia

Anonymous said...

Hi Angelia, enjoyed your thoughts. I personally feel modern technology is taking the soul out of art and messages. Word of mouth and sharing in group settings is what I feel allows natural connections to authors and readers. Often times I feel too much of anything is not good for you. In some cases, reviews can tell the whole story taking me away from the book and some covers have steered me away from them. To me natural down to earth communication brings things to full circle. Take care.

Angelia Vernon Menchan said...

Thanks Linda,
I am hardly ever moved by being inundated by anything, if I know and enjoy and author I will purchase almost everytime, I also respect the opinions of other readers, just this week my book purchases were based on recommendations...

Blessings,
angelia

Gwyneth Bolton said...

I'm a book junkie so I don't need inspiration to buy a book exactly... With my book jones just give me any excuse and I'm in the book store getting that book and a few others. Typically all the things you list in this great post will get me in the store purchasing or on-line ordering. If I'm in the store I browse and read blurbs. I seldom read the first few pages. But I think I will start doing that. I've had too many experiences lately of getting excited by a cover and blurb only to go home and start reading and lose the excitement. Great post!

And I LOVE the new blog look. The color is so vibrant! Kudos on the new digs!

Gwyneth

Angelia Vernon Menchan said...

Thanks Lady Gwyneth,

Smooches,
angelia

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