I have to be careful what I buy. I do not like to read just anything. I know that is probably a bad attitude, but I hate romance novel!!!! I do not want to read about other people’s erotic moments, so I am super picky! I do feel like it is a good thing to read and find new authors that might be your taste, but as to your question I think we should buy books and read books that will appeal to us, not just random books because they are new authors. That is my opinion anyway. Thanks Suzanne

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By Brenna on 06.25.09 9:09 am | Permalink

Brenna! Thanks so much. I should have clarified that in the post! (Thank god for comments) I think we need to buy books we LIKE. Not just any old debut fiction. We can’t waste our money away… Out of the four I buy this year, I surely will be buying books that I think will intrigue me. Also, something else I forgot… if we do like something from a debut author we read, and we find it is not at our local library, we should encourage the library to purchase it. That is what the agents and editors said as well. Thanks for helping me clarify!

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By suzanne on 06.25.09 9:16 am | Permalink

It’s true that no one is going to buy our work if we don’t buy others, but it’s also true that you shouldn’t buy something ‘just because.’
I tend to buy a lot of debut fiction purely because I enjoy fantasy, and there is a lot out there by new authors. Especially in YA.
It’s quite lovely to purchase a book and realize that you are one of the first to experience a new author’s words & that you can then share it with others. I’ve never thought of asking the library to buy a copy. That’s definitely something I shall have to do, as my local library tends to not have a lot of the stuff I see at Target, B&N, or Borders (the main places I shop).

Thanks for this post.
And I’m glad you enjoyed your conference!
Isn’t it interesting how things we don’t see as relevant in our lives always seem to fit in somewhere later?

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By Eden on 06.25.09 11:24 am | Permalink

I buy things because they appeal to me. I don’t really care who wrote it. I only have a couple of authors that I follow and buy anything they write. Everything else is word of mouth or because it caught my eye. And I do buy debut authors. I hadn’t thought about it in this way, but I bought them b/c the caught my attention.

Great post Suz!

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By Sarah on 06.25.09 1:56 pm | Permalink

I like and agree with this post.

And to you Brenna…I’m hesitant to read things I know nothing about. That’s why I live for recommendations from others.

And it just so happens I have one! I just finished a book this morning by a first time author. The Hourglass Door by Lisa Mangum. I requested it at the library and now I’m anxiously awaiting the sequel next summer.

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By Liz on 06.26.09 10:58 am | Permalink

Buying debut fiction is exciting, if a gamble. There always seem to be oodles of new authors in my favorite field, YA fantasy. I’ll have to make a point of looking for first-time work in the future!

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By Anica on 06.28.09 11:09 am | Permalink

Interesting comment. This year, I’ve read two debut novels that I really liked, and I’m looking forward to reading more works by those authors. (However, I didn’t buy them – one was a review copy and the other was a prize.) Something to think about, however, when I do go browsing a bookstore…

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By Bonnie on 07.07.09 6:39 pm | Permalink