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Emanuel
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Emanuel
Post Number: 248
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, September 19, 2006 - 03:39 pm: | 
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Have you ever purchased (or not purchased) a book based on an author's looks? Maybe you thought the author's photo was sexy so you purchased her poetry book. Or maybe you thought the author was too unattractive to write a fictional tale on relationships so you passed. I look forward to reading your posts. |
Jackie
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Jackie
Post Number: 216
Registered: 04-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, September 19, 2006 - 11:08 pm: |
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Hmmmmmm....If I were attending a book signing of a poet(male or female) and the male was attractive but his poetry wack, I'd buy his book anyway. LOL ! If the female is attractive but her poetry sucked I wouldn't buy her book.
I rarely read fictional tales on relationships so I'd pass anyway. |
Renata
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Renata
Post Number: 1348
Registered: 08-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 20, 2006 - 10:36 am: |
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No. If I can't read the work, there's no point in buying it. If it's great work, it doesn't matter what they look like.
I have, however, decided to buy/not buy depending on the name of the book, the illustration on the cover, or the short synopsis on the back. |
Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 6567
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 20, 2006 - 12:08 pm: |
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Renata,
Then what DO you go by?
Reviews of professional critics?
Referrals from friends?
Tea leaves? |
Chrishayden
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 2769
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 20, 2006 - 12:25 pm: |
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No. |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 5228
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 20, 2006 - 12:47 pm: |
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I have to say, Emanuel, that I never read the synopsis on the inside flap of a book because I want to approach it cold. If the book's title and its front cover catches my eye I may skim through it but I never pay much attention to the blurbs on the back cover. I do try to get a bead on the author from the bio supplied. How the author looks influences me in no way whatsoever. Your question is an interesting one to me because sometimes a book will immediately rivet me, and other times I stand in a book store, or in front of a library shelf thumbing through book after book and never find anything that captivates my curiosity. zzzzzzzzzzzzzz |
Emanuel
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Emanuel
Post Number: 249
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 20, 2006 - 04:32 pm: |
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I ask this question because I see more and more authors selling their own sex appeal and good looks in hopes of attracting new readers to their work. They say sex sells. I just wonder if people look at a sexy author and say "Oh yeah, I'm buying her book" even if they've never read the author's work. This refers to the authors' websites and their appearances at booksignings. |
Tall_brother
Veteran Poster
Username: Tall_brother
Post Number: 61
Registered: 08-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 20, 2006 - 05:05 pm: |
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I wont buy a book but I watch Kola Boof swim nakkid on Youtube every day. 
Vido part 1 and part 2 G!
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Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 6573
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 20, 2006 - 06:00 pm: |
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Emanuel,
I think an attractive author might be able to use his or her looks to draw some foks to purchase at least one of his or her books. But there WON'T be enuff of such foks to sustain the author if he or she really has no talent.
I do think, however, an especially engaging personality, one who's able to use his/her charisma to garner radio and TV appearances will do even better than will someone who's just handsome/beautiful. |
Renata
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Renata
Post Number: 1350
Registered: 08-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 20, 2006 - 07:46 pm: |
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ABM, if the synopsis is interesting and the cover doesn't make it look like a romance novel, I'll buy it. USUALLY, however, I like to read the first paragraph. If I'm not already hooked, I don't get it.
A lot of times, I'm just interested in the subject. I don't read very many fiction novels. |
Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 6574
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 20, 2006 - 08:30 pm: |
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Renata,
A novel, by definition...is fiction. |
Renata
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Renata
Post Number: 1351
Registered: 08-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 20, 2006 - 10:18 pm: |
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LOL....yeah. |
Troy
Regular Poster
Username: Troy
Post Number: 413
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 27, 2006 - 09:42 pm: |
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Emanuel
In general, Personality trumps Appearance and Writing Ability trumps Personality.
However initially, like the beginning of most relationships, Apperance may seems most important, but in the final analysis the quality of the book (or the person) is what really counts.
Now if Walter Mosley was fine he'd really be the M'fing man.
If Morrison had some charisma she'd be more popular than Oprah (well maybe not quite THAT popluar we are talking about authors)
And if __________ (fill in the blank with the name of a fine author with a winning personality that can not write - where is Thump when you need him) they would have the world at their finger tips.
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Sisg
Regular Poster
Username: Sisg
Post Number: 264
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 28, 2006 - 10:26 am: |
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I personally think men, whether they be attractive or not can sell more books than women...it just seems that because women read more, and we attend all kind of author functions, i can't help but notice that the fairly good looking brother with just the slightest bit of charisma and charm can outsell just about any female debut author. Now as for those authors who have a steady readership, they will always have their followers, but a fine man, can sell better than a fine woman, and a fine (attractive man who writes a good book, will outsell them all...ie EJD) Sometimes a man can't write and still become a bestseller...(i ain't mentioning no names)just how i see it... |
Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 6428
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 28, 2006 - 12:29 pm: |
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Sisg,
If what you describe is true, why are Black females sell more books than Black males? Why don't Black men use the advantage you describe to make a fortune? |
Emanuel
Regular Poster
Username: Emanuel
Post Number: 247
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 28, 2006 - 01:59 pm: |
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So fellas,
A butt naked or almost butt naked and beautiful female author who posts sexy pictures of herself on the web won't prompt you to buy her book? I'm asking the fellas because we're supposed to be the visually-stimulated gender. What if the same author flirts with you at her signings? Is this an example of how sex sells?
Sistas,
It's a fact that you buy the most books among African Americans. Does this mean African-American women are responsible for allowing street lit and erotica to be our current bestsellers among fiction titles? Not judging, just asking.
Regarding which black authors are selling now, I think it's equally divided among gender. Just check out the Essence Bestseller list at www.essence.com/essence/books. It does seem like the male authors tend to cater to the female audience though.
Thoughts? |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 5295
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 28, 2006 - 02:33 pm: |
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I would never buy a book based on how good its male author looked. For a fione, no-talented, brotha to entertain the idea that his looks will sell books is, to me, nothing more than some dude looking for a free ticket to an ego trip. This attitude is simply an insult to my intelligence. However, if a really-gifted author also looks good, this is a plus in my assessment of him. Talent, coupled with deep intellect, can be more sexy than the superficiality of good looks that mask shallowness. And, of course, as they say: "power is a great aphrodisiac". If I were young and single, the place for a sexy good-looking man would be in my bed, not on my book shelf. |
Crystal
Regular Poster
Username: Crystal
Post Number: 281
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, September 29, 2006 - 12:59 pm: |
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Books no. But I have been known to pick a sports team on the cuteness factor. Hahahahaha! |
Troy
Regular Poster
Username: Troy
Post Number: 419
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, September 30, 2006 - 02:11 pm: |
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Emanuel there are a LOT of fine Black women authors, but I have never purchased or read a book based upon that aspect of a author.
Meta Smith is fine as they come in the author world, and you can find her scantly clad on her my space site (http://www.myspace.com/metasmith), T.J Butler, Crystal Lacy Winslow, and many other are very attractive but I would never recommend their books on that basis alone... Actually I think that would be doing their work and you a diservice.
Honestly, I give their work no more consideration for reading than I would a woman who is less easy on the eyes.
Emmanuel I believe most readers do not consider the looks of an author. For example, Zane was a best seller before anyone knew what she looked like. Actually I've heard more than one person say once they found out what she looked like, they thought differently about her work.
Man, I'm telling you people place a higher value on the look of the cover than they do the appearance of the author.
If they meet the author it is the personality that matters most.
When they read the book the only thing that matter is the book.
Sure if the author is a celebrity or very attractive that is great but the "quality" of the book is most important (Quality defined as a lot of people enjoying the book).
Emmanuel, it is a fact women are buying and reading most of the Black novels published and, as a consequence, are driving the market.
Yes it does seem that the sexes of bestselling authors are more balanced, though even here I believe women have an edge -- increasingly so in recent years. As far as professionals in the industry (of Black books) Black women easily have Black men beat as well.
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Theroneshellman
First Time Poster
Username: Theroneshellman
Post Number: 6
Registered: 04-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, October 01, 2006 - 08:28 pm: |
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This is interesting b/c i'm a male author. And I basically pushed my first title "Love Don't Live Here" myself. After 10 months of the titles release I just signed a mainstream distribution deal-so I can speak on this somewhat b/c I have sold thousands of books face to face with people at signings. I say this to say that for a male with his first title out, and who is not signed to a mainstream house, or popular black publishing company a good book is great, so that people can spread the word to their associates and friends. But looks and personality will do alot for you as well at signings. Most of the black books are bought by black women. At a signing, you may be there for your book. But the fact is that you have to sell yourself before the book even comes into the picture. You may approach someone about your book, but if they do not like your delivery or appearance than its not gonna be good most of the time. I've been able to sell books to white women who I know probably never set their eyes on an urban fiction novel. And this was mainly due to dialogue and approach. And the fact that they may of felt comfortable speaking.
http://myspace.com/theroneshellman
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