What do you look for before purchase of a book and have you ever publisher website purchased?

Question

Please do not tell me to improve our website. We publish books, and we do not design websites. Go to www.bellissimapublishing.com. Yes, we know the website is colorful and has music. Yes. We know we are different. We mean to be different. We like our look. We are trying to find out what motivates you to buy a book. And we do not want a critique of our website, even if you are a web expert. Be specific. Is it price? The cover? The story? What kids of books do you like. We know you want good characters-- Would you consider purchasing a book from our website, or do you prefer Amazon or another source. Tell us what you like about Bellissima Books. Would you consider buying and reviewing a Bellissima Book if you could win a free Bellissima book for best review? What things motivate you to buy a book? I own Bellissima Publishing, and I have tried asking this question, but I am hearing the same old thing. You can also send an email to us at [e-mail]

Answer 1

I've never bought a book on-line. To me, the experience of going to the bookstore and getting a chance to preview the book (scanning the whole thing if I want to) and compare it to the other books on sale is necessary. I suppose if I was involved in reading a series I loved and I saw the next episode on-line at a discount, I might buy it on-line. But the discount has to be pretty big to pay the costs of shipping.

As to kids' books, the only series which has been published recently that I like is Harry Potter. Other than that, I collect old children's books, especially ones that were written a hundred years ago or more. In those days, there was a considerable segment of the publishing industry that was producing books with a completely adult vocabulary, but with young characters and nothing too sexy or violent. Examples are the works of L M Montgomery, who wrote the Anne of Green Gables series and lots of other books, and Mark Twain, who originally wrote Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn more for adults than children. The idea was kids could appreciate it, but it was really for adults to remember being kids. I am also fond of the works of Louisa May Alcott and Frances Hodgson Burnett, as well as lesser known authors.

If a publishing company wanted me to write a review of a book for kids (of the sort I have mentioned), they would send me a free copy and ask for my review.