The Intersect

[sartorias]

Here's a question, based on my reading somewhere on my flist that someone or other (how's that for pegging sources?) insists that readers today google authors before they buy a book. (I'm not sure that's true, but that might be because everybody does it but me.) If I hear about a book, I google the book, not the author, but maybe that's my age

Comments

[anderyn]

I remember seeing that (but don't recall where either -- old brain is old).

My personal inclination is to (1) buy the book, read the book, then (2) google the author and/or the book title (if I liked the book) to see what else they might have out or when their next books are coming (I like to schedule these things if possible), then (3) if they have a cool blog or they mention other people who they think are cool, then I investigate further.

I do take notice if they seem to have an expertise, which makes me happier with the book if it's something like historical details, but most of the time, I read fantasy/sf/mystery/romance, which tends to limit the personal "lived experience" quotient. (Though I do find the Anne Perry/murder connection fascinating, I am not sure she's drawing on those experiences in her very Victorian series.)

I'm not sure I'm answering your question, exactly, because I do tend to separate the writer as person away from the book as shiny object to be desired -- even if I dislike someone's politics or opinions, I will still continue to read them *if I find their writing/storytelling/whatever to be satisfying* even if I totally think they themselves are totally wrong, wrong wrongetty-wrong in their personal opinions. The only person I have ever decided never to read again based upon something I found out about her personal life was MZB, due to her apparent attitude to her husband's sexual preferences. (Trying to be delicate here.) So I may not be a good point of data for this question.

[sartorias]

I was thinking about stories where you happen to know beforehand that there is an element of autobiography.