new authors - new friends

This week, inspired by our recent book-shopping, bemused book-buying Becca asks in this weeks Musing... What is your policy when it comes to new authors? Do you feel comfortable purchasing a book or do you prefer to borrow new authors from the library? How often do you 'try out' a new author? .

Becca gave a hint as to my answer...if I'm buying I'll go for a tried and true author over a new one every time. What she didn't say, kindly, is that I get a little excited (my kids would say that was a gross understatement) when a favourite author publishes something new. I was very uncool to shop with when I discovered the new Sharon Penman - ask my poor son who reckons he won't be able to show his face in that shop for a very long time (visions of 'oh look there's the man who was with the crazy book lady').

I'll buy an author I know anytime but, as mentioned in my last post, I do research before I purchase a new author, in order to keep my reading from stagnating. I borrow from the library and friends; take recommendation on board; and it was one reason for doing my degree in English lit. To find out what books I should/could read, you know what's out there and how to read outside my comfort zone. It's a great joy to find a new author to whom I can devote my attention - it's like making a new friend.

6 years part-time at uni? now that's research!