Author Blurbs: Yeah! or Meh.

“This book is the best thing I’ve ever read.” - Popular USA Today Best-Selling Author

“Breathtaking! Don’t miss this rising new star!” - Even More Popular New York Times Best-Selling Author

Does the above really do anything for you?

When it comes to book promotion, it is probably easier to catch a fly with vinegar than it is to figure out the return on your investment. However, of all the unknowns regarding publishing and promotion, the one that really sticks out for me is the influence of author blurbs. Personally, I’m not convinced there is one. Will a reader really be more likely to buy a book if another author has given it their stamp of approval?

In my opinion, a more interesting question is whether or not an author blurb can potentially harm a book’s sales? What if someone chooses not to buy a book because they don’t like the work of the author who wrote a blurb for it? Would it have been better to simply not have a blurb at all?

I suspect I’m in the minority on this. There would not be so many authors blurbing books if there was no credible reason for it, right? Still, for me, the author blurb takes me back to high school. Remember when you wanted the cool kids to like you, so you tried to glom onto the really cool kid in hopes their coolness would somehow rub off on you? Sounds a bit harsh, but hey, I’m being honest here.

There’s a huge chance that I’m also being remarkably naïve by not recognizing the importance of author blurbs, but as of right now I’m just not convinced it makes a huge difference. (Side note: I’m making a list of potential authors I’d like blurbs from if it turns out that there is evidence that it will help book sales. I have no problem eating crow. I just throw a little Cajun seasoning on it and swallow it down.)

I want to know your thoughts. For those of you who believe wholeheartedly in the benefit of having a well-known author’s praise on your book cover, let me know why? For readers out there, who has bought a book because of an author blurb? Or, better yet, who hasn’t bought a book because of one?