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I Hate Excerpts

Okay, I make no bones about this. I hate excerpts, sneak peeks, previews, look aheads, whatever you want to call them. I don’t like them. I want to be surprised, amused, delighted as I turn the page of a book, watch a movie, check in on All My Children or lately, One Life to Live. I don’t want to know what day Angie’s baby is going to be born. I want to tune in and be part of the story, then and there. No Cassandras allowed in my life. I don’t want to know.

Sadly, I have had to come to the begrudging realization that I am nearly alone in this loathing. We live in an age where everyone wants to know, and they want to know it well ahead of time. I call this the playdate mentality. Too many people have grown up with their lives completely scheduled from the day they were born that we as a Society have lost/or never discovered the delight that is not knowing. But there it is.

So without further ado, and plenty of protests from my inner self, who is currently shouting, “Don’t let them look inside! Don’t give them even a glance!”, I give you an inside sneak peek at Lord Langley is Back in Town. If you can’t live without reading it, be my guest. If you would love to be utterly surprised when it comes out May 31st, I offer you a better place to go: Order it Now. You’ll be one step ahead of all the lookie-loos.

Do tell: Excerpts? Love them? Avoid them? Does it lesson the reading experience when you sit down to read the book?

10 comments to “I Hate Excerpts”

  1. Karen
    March 30th, 2011 at 8:44 am · Link

    I dislike excerpts. Don’t read them. Wish that authors would not do them. Give me an idea what the story is about but please do not do excerpts at anytime, anywhere, anyhow. TY for letting me share my view.



    • Elizabeth
      March 30th, 2011 at 9:11 am · Link

      Oh, Karen, I am so happy to have found someone who shares my views. Anyone else?



  2. Beth
    March 30th, 2011 at 11:30 am · Link

    I like them but only if they give a hint to the story not if they give anything away as that just ruins the whole book in my opinion but i also like reading a new book not knowing anything about it just having the spur of the moment “lets try this!” so am on the fence about excerpts



    • Elizabeth
      March 30th, 2011 at 3:40 pm · Link

      That’s fair. I just hate it when a story is ruined. So it is really hard to pick the right excerpt.



  3. terripatrick
    March 30th, 2011 at 6:20 pm · Link

    Nope to chapter excerpts because:
    1. I hate that they end with a cliffhanger and no way to turn the page.
    2. If I do read an excerpt, then when I FINALLY get the book, instead of being tantalized by the opening chapters I have this confused feeling that I’ve already read the book.

    I NEVER read excerpts of authors that are a must-read for me, so feel free to post yours because I won’t read a word until I have the book in my hand.



    • Elizabeth
      March 31st, 2011 at 5:39 am · Link

      Terri, I have had this happen! I read a friend’s first few early chapters–like a year or two before the book came out and then forgot that I had read them and when the book came out, I thought she’d plagiarized her opening. It was an awful feeling. Took me a week before I remembered, Oh Doh! I’ve read these.



  4. Laura T
    March 30th, 2011 at 6:56 pm · Link

    I used to read excerpts because I was so HUNGRY FOR MORE from my favorite authors, that I thought the excerpt would satisfy that hunger–but it never did.

    Now, I will only scan the first paragraph or two of the excerpt to see if the hero is someone from the story I just finished–and often, it is! Then I think, “Ah ha, it’s HIS (or her) story that I’ll get to enjoy next!” And THAT gives me a feeling of satisfaction.

    BTW: The cover of your upcoming book is YUMMY and only adds to my anticipation!



    • Elizabeth
      March 31st, 2011 at 5:40 am · Link

      Laura, I am like you–sometimes I just need to know there is going to be more and usually I just look for an upcoming date and then I am good.



  5. Hvitveis
    March 31st, 2011 at 12:56 am · Link

    I like excerpts. It is a good way to get a feel for author-voice in a book, and it can be what makes me by a book, more than rewiews. This is especially true when I try new authors. The only problem is when the book in question has not been published yet, and I have to wait months to find out what happens next..(or until the end of may in this case;))



    • Elizabeth
      March 31st, 2011 at 5:41 am · Link

      I am not good at waiting either! But I do like your point about trying new authors. Hadn’t thought of that. Good point!







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