Hello everyone. I'm just wondering what makes you choose a book. Is it a known author? Would you browse something that was based on your hobbies - i.e. music, travel? Would you be attracted to something different - with an unusual title or an unusual author's name?

I chose my title, When the Sax Man Plays, because it was both appropriate and unusual - same with my decision to write under my maiden name - Yvonne Marrs.

What are your thoughts?

I look for new books by my favourite authors, or because I come upon the titles in another book. I do browse a lot in bookshops and if there is a cover that stands out or a title then I read the copy on the back to see if it would interest me. Also if I meet someone I know who has similar tastes to me or if the people in the bookshops who know what I like suggest something, then I will take recommendations from them. I hope this is of some use to you.

Plot. Pure and simple. If it's a story that sounds good I will read it. I have favourite authors and will always buy their latest offering but I will basically read anything which sounds good. I like lots of the popular fiction such as Penny Vincenzi (my favourite) but will read recommendations from here or from friends or family. Having been a life long reader I have read lots but generally don't tend to like the 'hyped' books such as The Time Traveler's Wife. These forums are great for discovering new authors; I have recently discovered Paullina Simons and quite like her plus I have a massive 'to be read' pile. So big I have started to hide how many books I have ordered!

i've almost stopped reading the blurb on book covers - worthless hyperbole
apart from favourite authors whose books i will continue to buy as they are published
i get many of my ideas and recommendations from Amazon reviews and these here forums

In a bookstore, a book must grab me via:

1. an interesting or unusual tile on the spine (i.e. 'Something Rotten' by Jasper Fforde, with its Hamlet reference or 'The Horrific Sufferings Of Mind-Reading Monster Hercules Barefoot, His Wonderful Love and His Terrible Hatred' by Carl-Johan Vallgren); this makes me pick it off the shelf.

2. an appealing cover (i.e. 'The City of Dreaming Books' by Walter Moers, adorably illustrated by the author or Neil Gaiman's 'Stardust', which is black with a sparkly but not garishly blinged-up design); I simply won't buy a book with an ugly cover.

3. a grabbing blurb (i.e. the one for Keith Miller's 'The Book of Flying', all I needed to read was 'duel with a mad painter' and I was sold, or 'Hell and Earth' by Elizabeth Bear, how could I resist Shakespeare, Marlowe, Lucifer and fairies in the same book?); this makes me open up the book at random to get a feel for the author's style.

4. An engaging writing style; this, coupled with recommendations from authors I respect will usually clinch it (i.e. Terry Pratchett's praise of Jasper Fforde and Stephen King's praise of Reif Larsen, 'The Selected Works of T.S. Spivet').

5. If still unsure, I'll see what Amazon reviewers have to say; if still unsure, I'll see if anyone on my book forum's read it and seek their informed opinion.