Preview of Next Book at End of Current Book

[TromboneAl]

When you finish a book and find that the author has included a preview chapter from his/her next book ...

 

[2017ish]

I tend to dislike it. If I liked the book, I'm probably already planning to search for more by that author to put on my wishlist.

If the book isn't out yet, reading the preview makes me want it now, which is frustrating. OTOH, I don't recall if it has ever made me not buy the second book; thus, as an author interested in selling more to me, there apparently is no real downside...

E.T.A.--didn't see the poll when I first clicked/posted. Sorry for the tangent!

 

[Walt34]

There's no poll option for "other".

If there is a preview I'll read it, but tend to dislike it because it smacks so much of advertising (which of course it is) and I try as hard as I can to ignore advertising.

 

[Beldar]

I read books for the subject content, not because of any particular author. I don't follow any author's particular genre, such as romance novels or cooking. Its the subject, not the person writing about it, that interests me.

_B

 

[Amethyst]

As a big fan of serial novels, I appreciate preview chapters. If I liked the first book, it's great to have proof that more of the story awaits. When I finally get Book No. 2, I enjoy "recognizing" the preview chapter.

Amethyst

 

[Moemg]

If the book was good I like it . If the book was so so I ignore it .

 

[TromboneAl]

There's no poll option for "other".

If there is a preview I'll read it, but tend to dislike it because it smacks so much of advertising (which of course it is) and I try as hard as I can to ignore advertising.

Yes, I should have put an Other option, because that's the option I would have chosen.

I'm trying to decide whether to add a preview to my upcoming book.

Pros:

• It's fun to do (just like a "real" author).
• I'm excited about the ideas in the next book, and it would be fun to share.
• It doesn't add to the cost (eBook) or adds minimally to the cost of the print book.

Cons:

• The next book won't be out for a year
• I, too, am anti-advertising
• It could be smarter to just have a link to the Amazon page (when it is available) and the reader can download a sample.
• It adds another chapter's-worth of proofreading.
• I will have links to my author web site, and readers can sign up for notification of new releases (You can sign up too: AlMacyAuthor.com).

 

[growing_older]

I like it. A favorite author was doing that with a series and it helped anticipate the next book, and gave a satisfying little hint that more was to come and favorite characters wouldn't be stuck at the end of the old book. Somehow added to the closure of the old book to know they they had new adventures ahead of them.

On the other hand, one of her books may not have been ready so instead short excepts from another of the publishers authors was included in the last book. Except was great, I was happy to try an author I never heard of and motivated to get the whole book. It was massively disappointing. The thrill of the excerpt was the highlight of the book. The rest was a bothersome slog and I was not just disappointed in the book and the new author - never wasting time with him again - but I'm also peeved at the publisher. I'd rather have had no excerpt than this commercial trick and I'm disappointed in my original author for allowing it (which maybe was out of her control, but I'm still mad at her).