Paranormal Romance & Urban Fantasy discussion

Try the website "Bitten By Books". They have tons of reviews and author interviews. They also have a contest going one to win a copy of Angie Fox's newest book The Dangerous Book for Demon Slayers. I loved the first book in this series, The Accidental Demon Slayer and I'm looking forward to this sequel. Here's the link for the contest: http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=6621

I, like Adrienne, go through other's reviews. This helps me learn of new authors. In addition, I have a GREAT second hand book store nearby. I also ask them for recommendations. Jill just hired a new employee who loves PNR so she and I swapped authors AND favorite books. From her, I learned of Nalini Singh Guild Hunter series. OOOHHH! So excited to find a new author which I enjoy AND has a novel new world to explore.

I purchase a lot of ebooks, so I use the iPhone app "Next Read" to find new books and authors. Based on my library on the ipod Touch, Next Read will search amazon for recommendations. For imprint books I use Amazon and B&N

To choose a new book I use the title or cover or I look up my favorite books on FantasticFiction and use the author's recommendations or the If you liked this book... feature underneath the summary.

I usually go on recommendations from fellow readers. I've joined alot of book related websites. The forums at Laurell K Hamilton's website being one, http://www.smartbitchestrashybooks.co... for another. I don't usually pick up a book unless I've seen it recommended somewhere else.

For me, I go to the bookstore, and see what cover does catch my eye and read the blurb, but mostly I go for the recommendations from my reader friends or forums in different groups I'm currently in.

Most of the time I scan the new releases display at the bookstores (that's usually my first stop when I go). Unfortunately, all the Borders in my area have done away with their new releases display and with only the spine showing on most books, it pretty hard to browse the books there anymore. The internet is great, but there is nothing better than browsing the bookstore for books.

Since I started GR, I have had no lack of new authors to read. I usually look for suggestions from my GR friends or look at those with the highest ratings.

There's been a few authors that I've come to love, just because there was a hot guy on the cover.

Now that I don't buy books, but buy e-books, I really look on here and see what friends like, see what groups recommend, etc. With the Kindle, you can get free samples, and that's been helpful too.

Like a lot of others here, I use Amazon, Goodreads, & Paperbackswap to find books. I check out others lists and recommendations. I also subscribe to RT Booklovers Magazine that reviews all Romance, Mystery and SciFi/Fantasy and Teen releases each month.

For me it's been this website, I've found so many new authors from here.. Has played heck with my finances but that's OK. There could be worse addictions.

I didn't actually read all of these posts so if I just repeated someone's research, I apologize. But what I usually do is I get on amazon.com and just type in one of my favorite authors, and then not only does it pull up all of their books, but books that are of similar readings and that, based on the nature of your search, Amazon thinks you might also be interested in. And from there I got on the author websites and read the synopsis' and decided whether or not I wanted to read the series. I also made myself a list and checked off the books as I read them.
I'm a huge list maker, and if you are a list maker like myself, you knpw how it feels to check something off a list!
Also, when you read the authors websites, most of them will promote other authors every now and then. Like Charlaine Harris will read a book and review it and post a blog about the book and the quthor, so that can be very helpful.

I find new books here on Goodreads or a number of blog sites that review paranormal books. Also Amazon recommendations. But my favorite way is to browse through a bookstore and see what catches my interest.

I find most of the authors from browsing Goodreads.

TDF Pamela wrote: "@ Karen: I'm also finding that many of the books I'm reading now are actually falling into the scifi/fantasy section. Which is annoying, because I feel so OLD when I'm browsing next to the manga/gr..."

On a Star Trek forum I just found this morning, because someone mentioned my name and google flagged it for me:
http://trekbbs.com/showthread.php?p=3...
there's a thread where they're discussing AVATAR, and someone mentioned how that huge box office success is an example of the way genre lines have been blurring and dissolving.

Genre mixing has been my main topic for years!

Well, you've illustrated the point they're making on that forum. Your comment about how so much romance is turning up labeled SF or Fantasy or shelved with SF among the books guys are searching for is a perfect illustration of a trend in publishing.

And in that image of you standing there next to the kiddie-fare (and even reading kiddie-fare!) with a guy peering over your shoulder, I also see how the lines between Age Groups of readers are blurring.

Thank you for this very illuminating comment.

Shannon wrote: "This is actually the only genre by which I've been reading almost exclusively as per people's recommendations - mostly from you lovely people! This is probably because a) I'm still relatively new t..."

Shannon: One of the biggest events in publishing the last decade or so in the USA was the total collapse of the independent bookstore, especially the specialty shops (such as SF bookstore, mystery bookstore). There are a few left here and there, but whole publishing houses have gone bankrupt because of the collapse of the non-chain bookstores.

Independent stores went to online selling on amazon and e-bay etc. Some became multi-genre stores (we have one in the Phoenix AZ area that has SF authors come to speak and sign!) Most are simply gone.

So the landscape of book distribution in the USA has shifted suddenly and devastatingly. All that happened in the space of less than 5 years.

Now, in this recession, chain stores are collapsing or changing their inventory drastically. I expect the free public library system to shrink too, because so many cities are bankrupt (our libraries are supported by local taxes).

With libraries not buying books, publishers will be struggling even more. Here's an article in Publisher's Weekly showing how publishers think about book marketing and e-books destroying their profitability.
http://www.publishersweekly.com/artic...

In this chaotic marketplace, PNR is growing and thriving because of places like goodreads.

I didn't read the whole thread but to find out if this is already on here so sorry in advance if is. I noticed Abrown wrote about RT Booklovers Magazine and I was wondering where I could find it. I looked in Amazons magazine subscription list and it wasn't there unless I missed it. Does anyone have any suggestions for good magazines on books? Will you send me the link please?

Rebecca wrote: "I didn't read the whole thread but to find out if this is already on here so sorry in advance if is. I noticed Abrown wrote about RT Booklovers Magazine and I was wondering where I could find it. ..."

Rebecca, you can find subscription information for RT (Romantic Times) Booklovers Magazine at their website www.romantictimes.com or before I subscribed to it I would buy it at Barnes & Noble or BooksAMillion. Hope this helps.

Thanks!

I usually use Amazon, Goodreads (now that I have found this site), Bittenbybooks.com, also I go to my fab authors sites and see what they recommend. Goodreads has brought me a whole bunch of author I haven't heard of and some that I was wondering about (Black Dagger Brotherhood)

Alicia wrote: "I usually use Amazon, Goodreads (now that I have found this site), Bittenbybooks.com, also I go to my fab authors sites and see what they recommend. Goodreads has brought me a whole bunch of author..."

The Black Dagger Brotherhood series is one of the best series out there.

Not gonna lie, I'm a fan of the covers with the halfneked people on them.
Hahahaha.
Then you know it should be good.

And I just sorta browse. Short story anthologies are really good, if you know at least one of the authors. Plus, I always check out a book by the author at the library before I consider purchasing it.

I try not to just "browse" at a book store. It takes too long and it costs way too much in the end (poor self control, that.). I look on Goodreads/Amazon so that I can see the cover, title and synapsys all at once - plus the average ratings help. I am a sucker for a pretty cover, though ;)

Stephanie wrote: "Alicia wrote: "I usually use Amazon, Goodreads (now that I have found this site), Bittenbybooks.com, also I go to my fab authors sites and see what they recommend. Goodreads has brought me a whole ..."

I am finding that out. I just started the second book and I'm hooked.

I have found many new books to read through goodreads and also browsing through other peoples book lists and recommendations. I also visit many book blog review sites, bittenbybooks, bookvixen, tigriseden, bookworming in the 21st century...I can go on and on. Also, hooking up with those same gals via Twitter you can find out about books new/old asap, in real time!

I find the groups that like the same books as me (I'm in 4 or 5 right now) and go to the "what are you reading" thread. Then just look for something that pops up a lot & gets good reviews. Warning - my TBR pile is growing at an uncontrollable rate!

A bright shiny cover can having me running across the store to read. lol Im easy like that.
Then I read the back.
I belong to some book blogs that I read for reviews.

I like to go onto Amazon.com and enter in a book I've already read. Then I go through the books they suggest to me and see what they are about. I hardly ever just pick up a book and hope it is good. I like to go to the author's website and look around and if they have any other webpages I like to see what others wrote about the series before I add the book or author to my TBR pile. It seems like a lot of work but it is rare that I buy a book that I really hate and regret ever getting