contest is now closed. winners to be posted next week.
hey guys… we’ve got a guest with us today… Jennifer Estep and she’s talking spoilers… no, she’s not sharing any. Although I want to ask her a question or two myself.
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Greetings and salutations! First of all, I want to thank Shiloh for having me here on her blog today. Thanks so much, Shiloh!
As some of you know, I’m the author of the Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series. The books focus on Gin Blanco, an assassin codenamed the Spider who can control the elements of Ice and Stone. When she’s not busy killing people and righting wrongs, Gin runs a barbecue restaurant called the Pork Pit in the fictional southern metropolis of Ashland. The city is also home to giants, dwarves, vampires, and elementals – Air, Fire, Ice, and Stone.
Spider’s Bite, the first book in the series came out in February. The second book in the series, Web of Lies, was released on May 25, and the third book, Venom, will debut on Sept. 28.
Today, I thought that I’d talk a little bit about spoilers. With two books out in my Elemental Assassin series now, I’m starting to get a lot more reader requests for spoilers – especially for who my heroine, Gin Blanco, is going to end up with. (For the record, Gin is going to get her happily ever after at the end of book five, since that’s how many I’m contracted for right now.)
I don’t have anything against spoilers – I love them myself. In fact, I surf sites like Entertainment Weekly to learn what’s going to happen on my favorite TV shows. But I’m kind of hesitant to give out book spoilers to readers because I just never know how much to say – or how much a reader really wants to know.
Do readers want broad hints about what’s going to happen? Specific details? Something in between? Is there a spoiler that, well, completely spoils a book for a reader? These are the kind of things that I’m asking myself every time I get a request for a spoiler.
Now, some of the stuff is pretty easy to figure out. The back cover copy for the books that I have posted on my website gives lots of hints as to who Gin ends up with and when she meets her long-lost sister, Bria. But beyond that, I just don’t know. I think that I’ll keep on doing what I’m doing, which is playing it safe – small spoilers but nothing that I think would ruin someone’s enjoyment of my books. It seems to be working so far.
What about you guys? Do you like spoilers? Why or why not? How much of a spoiler is too much? Share in the comments.
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Me again…jennifer’s offered up a signed copy of Web of Lies, open to US/Canada. Winner’s name will be drawn from comments. Please make sure you read my disclaimer if you’re new to my blog. You MUST check back to see if you’ve won-I do NOT notify winners.
I hate spoilers! So much so that if there’s a book I know I want, mostly a subsequent book in a series, I won’t even read the synopsis on the back. Since I read so many series, I’m often a book behind, so when I read an author interview, there’s often a ‘doh! Didn’t want to see that!’ moment.
(Incidentally, I never snooped to find out what I was getting for Xmas, even though I knew what closet my mom put my presents in every year.)
Me, I HATESSSSS spoilers! LOL. Srsly, I read a book recently that a friend had “spoiled” on her blog, and I was so disappointed because she never referenced that she was giving anything significant away, so when I read her blog and found out something major about the plot, I felt incredibly deflated. And I know I didn’t quite enjoy the book as much because of it. (Of course, that’s my own hangup, now isn’t it?) I wanted to discover that specific secret for myself.
I have no problem if people wish to provide spoilers as long as they let us know beforehand. I’m big on those big old Spoiler Alerts so anal geeks like me can avoid them like the plague.
Now there are circumstances where I will hunt for spoilers, so I do understand the attraction. But if it’s something I really want to read/watch, please don’t ruin it for me! *g*
I’m okay on spoilers as long as it’s not something major. That goes for both TV, movies, and books. The little ones are fine but if there is a major event happening or whatever, I hope to see in big letters, SPOILER ALERT. My friends always know to ask if I finish something before they ask, “what did you think of this or that.”
Jennifer, Hi. Wow you’re all over the place, but it’s all good because for those of you who haven’t read Web of Lies let me tell you it’s sensational.
I review books for a number of places and for my own blog and I NEVER give away spoilers in them. If it’s not mentioned in the first fifty pages it doesn’t appear on my reviews, that’s my rule.
Seeing spoilers however doesn’t bother me too much because I read a lot of mystery/thrillers that start off where you know who did it and goes on to show you how the cops etc prove it.
So no I don’t like spoilers but for me half the fun of the read is the writing style of the author and the humor she/he puts in the novel and the character development, knowing the end doesn’t spoil it for me. It’s the journey that I enjoy.
Great seeing you here too Jennifer.
Deb
Oh and one more thing Jennifer, seeing Gin falter through love makes her all the more well human, more like the rest of us mortals who really want something but don’t always get it. I’m enjoying the battle with Donovan and now the new guy in town Owen.
thanks sorry for the double post.
Deb
I don’t like having anything spoiled. I typically won’t even read back covers on a series unless I’m about to start that book in order. lol.
So when a blog gives away too much, I usually don’t continue reading reviews there (well, unless they warn me & I can just skip that review, of course). I just don’t like having the plot/surprised spoiled because I like to figure it out myself or actually be surprised! : )
Thanks for the giveaway.
I generally don’t like spoilers. I rarely read excerpts from a book unless it’s already been released.
There are a couple exceptions. In a series, I like to know who the upcoming book(s) is about and what it is about. Also, in a continuing series (same characters), I like to know if there is a HEA or happy for now and how many books there will be. You answered both of those questions for your new Elemental Assassin series – thanks!
I like some spoilers. I don’t want to know major events, but I am a total sucker for small snippets and little hints here and there, especially once I get sucked into a series.
Bethany — How did you control yourself? I was the girl with the nail file slitting open the ends of the presents so I could get a look at the boxes. LOL.
Stacy — Yeah, if I’m really interested in something or if I know there’s a twist in a movie, then I’ll avoid reading spoilers or reviews until after I see the movie or read the book for myself.
Robyn — I like small spoilers too. But if it’s a big twist, like the ending of The Sixth Sense, then I generally want to be spoiler-free and be surprised by it.
Debbie — Thanks! I’m glad that you are enjoying the series so far. I actually like the mysteries/thrillers where you see the bad guy’s POV and then follow along as the cops solve the crime. John Sandford has written a few books that way.
Christa — I do try to put spoiler alerts on my blog posts, just in case anyone doesn’t want to know all the details before they read the book.
Katy — No problem. When I start a series, I like to know the same things too.
Minn — Me too. That’s why I’m over at EW all the time. LOL.
Jennifer, thanks for replying. John Sanford is exactly who I was thinking of having his latest Storm Prey in my hands as we speak.
Thanks again for replying and have a great day.
Hi Jennifer. I am ok with spoilers as long as they give away the major elements of the story.
Oops,I meant to say I am ok with spoilers if they don’t give away major elements of the story.
I like having the choice, so having the “SPOILER ALERT” up is very helpful. I’d rather have some small stuff than big plot points (like exactly how Gin will kill the big, bad “person” {wanted to use another b word there}). Thanks to Jennifer for giving us hints and not big secrets.
Debbie — I really like Sandford’s Prey series, but I think I’m about five books back now. But one of the things I like about him is that he often gives you the bad guys’ POV.
Crystal and Xid — Yeah, I think major spoilers can take away from someone’s enjoyment of a book so I try not to reveal many of those, and I never give up how Gin defeats the big bad at the end. 😉
Small spoilers are okay, major spoilers would be a big no-no. If I’m interested or it’s one of “my” series, I’d read the book anyway, even knowing what is to come, because I like seeing how things happen. Thanks for visiting today. Long live Gin!
I don’t purposely seek out spoilers and I try not to include any if I’m writing a review, but on the other hand, if I come across one, it doesn’t ruin my enjoyment of the book. I’m one of those people who spoils myself by reading the ending of a book, often before I’ve even gotten halfway through. Too much suspense makes me anxious, especially if I know I’m going to have to put the book down before I can finish it. This is the main reason why I rarely read straight mysteries or thrillers, although I love a good mystery weaved into a UF book.
Interestingly, my Kindle has made it easier NOT to spoil myself because it takes effort to manually punch in the last pages to get to them whereas with a hard copy book, it’s almost too easy to just flip to the last page LOL.
GSM — Thanks! And I agree, sometimes just the journey of reading along with the characters is more important than what happens in the end — unless the author does something crazy or unexpected. LOL.
Jen — That’s interesting about the Kindle. I would think that you would just be able to type in the page number you wanted to go to.
absolutely loathe to learn the main points of a book ahead of time. That is unless I go looking for that info myself. It just like watching a movie and someone coming and telling you the ending without your persmission. I am on page 280 of spider’s bite and this book is fantastic. Would love to have the 2nd one as soon as I finish lol. My bubby stayed up sunday night until 3:45 reading this one and then promptly bought the 2nd but she has a sony reader so she has access to immediate gratification darn her. She’s already read the 2nd and keeps asking me where I’m at in the book and rushing me so we can discuss it after I finish lol.
I actually love spoilers–but not when I’m currently reading the book. XD;;; Which means that any time BEFORE I read a book I’m fair game, but if I’m reading the book already (and it takes me a few hours, tops) I just want people to be quiet and let me read. …Which, uh, is pretty much just particular to me.
So in general, I like spoilers (especially who the person ends up with, if they all die in the end [which really, really pisses me off, but that’s another story]). 😀 But when people post spoilers, there should be a SPOILER ALERT or something similar so that they’d be able to avoid it if they want to.
I just love surprises. I’m hoping one day I will have finally trained my husband in what constitutes a good gift so that I won’t have to pick out my own presents anymore.
Not knowing what’s going to happen keeps me absorbed and turning pages. If I already know how something’s going to turn out, I’m definitely less interested. But I realize as an author, especially if you’re starting a new series, you have to give potential readers SOMETHING, or how else would they know if they’d be interested or not?
I hate spoilers. I like the build up in a story and the foreshadowing built in by the author in contrast to a simple plot summary that removes all the surprises!
In fact I just read a Tuesday Teaser the other day from the 5th book in a series that I am only 1 deep into… and totally bummed ’cause now I think I know the ending!
Pam — Well, I hope you are both enjoying the books. There are some free short stories on the Excerpts page of my Web site you may want to check out too. 😉
Jamie — Yeah, I think spoiler alerts should just be a common courtesy these days. Let people decide if they want to be spoiled or not.
Bethany — That is true. You’ve got to at least give folks a cover blurb or a little pitch to let them know what your book is about.
Miranda — Oh, yeah, that would annoy me too. Especially if I didn’t like what the spoiler hinted at!
I don’t like spoilers. I don’t even read excerpts .
You know, I do like spoilers. I’ll admit, I like to know if the story has a happy ending. I won’t read it if it doesn’t! My friends know how I am. If they go see a movie, the first thing they will say is “It has a happy ending!” or “It doesn’t have a happy ending. Don’t watch it!” LOL 🙂
Howdy Jennifer! Thanks for visiting my blog.
Gee, spoilers… Hmmm. I dunno. Depends. And speaking of which, if I email you, will you tell me who Gin ends up with? *G*
I really don’t like spoilers, and even pass on some reviews that give out too much detail. The only thing I like to know is if it has a hea or cliffhanger ending.
Estella — Really? Not even excerpts. That’s pretty hardcore!
Chelsea — I’m okay if there’s no happy ending if it’s urban fantasy or another genre where it’s not necessarily expected. It’s when something is billed as a romance and there’s no happy ending that annoys me.
Shiloh — Howdy, Shiloh! Thanks for having me. Maybe. But only if you really, really want to know. 😉
I hate spoilers! If I know what’s going to happen I’m much less likely to read a book. I don’t even like reading the back of a book because that usually gives almost everything away. How do I choose what book to read? The cover, a known author, a blurb by a known author, section of the store it’s in, word of mouth…..
I hate spoilers! If it is in a series that I like I will not even read the back of the next books in the series.
honestly spoilers are ok if i wanna know whats next in the next chaper of the new book butr eally ill skip it and not read it
and Jeennifer I LOVE Gin and this series is my fav one of urs yet keep up the awesome work cant wait to read web of lies
I’m ok with a little spoilers, something that will get me itching to get my hands on the book and find out how they got to that point and what happens next.
Oh. I HATE spoilers. The worst thing is just getting into a book, checking up on the author through their websites, reviews, or contests, and read a big fat end-of-the-book spoiler. A little one isn’t bad, but I usually stay away from anything related to that author or book online until I finish it, just in case.
dont like spoilers, my kids are always trying to tell me how something ends, book/tv show/movie, im like, nononono
i want to see it myself or finish the book and be surprised
the excperts are ok, they mostly are in the middle or bginning of the book
As much as I want to know what’s going on all the time; as curious as I am…I really think it’s best not to know the big spoilers. That would really ruin the book for me.
While I do read excerpts, sometimes that has backfired on me, as I’ll pick up the book at the store later and think that I’ve read it when I actually haven’t. Kind of torn on that, as I love the excerpts so much! 🙂
I LOVE spoilers. There can not be too much detail for me. I’m a “gotta know all now” type of girl, especially when it has been months and months since the last book in a series came out and there are still months to wait yet.
Cathy — Yeah, I like to know is something has a cliffhanger ending or not. If it does, sometimes I’ll wait until the next book is out before I read the first one.
Cathie and Elizabeth — Oh, I have to read the back of the book … just to get a little glimpse of what’s going to happen next.
Beverly — Thanks! I’m glad you are liking the series so far. 😉
Adelina — Those are the kind of spoilers I like best too — ones that make you eager for the next book.
Lisa — I try to avoid posting any end-of-book spoilers for my books. Although I will admit that sometimes I flip to the last few pages of a book I’m reading just to see what will happen …
Tami — I like to be surprised too, sometimes.
Sara — I’ve done that a time or two myself — read something online and then went to the store thinking that I’d read the whole book when I hadn’t. And of course, I don’t realize it until I get home … and want to read the book that I left at the store and didn’t buy. LOL.
Cathy — I hadn’t thought about that, but spoilers can be a good way to keep readers interested in a series — or refresh their memories about what happened in the last book.
Jennifer, I read Shiloh’s question. Shame on you Shiloh. And do you know who Gin ends up with yet or is it still in the future.
pssst – if I email you will you tell me 😉
Deb
I reviewed Web of LIes on my blog today. Enjoy everyone. And Kudos to Jennifer
http://thereadingfrenzy.blogspot.com/2010/06/review-of-web-of-lies.html
Debbie — I know who Gin ends up with since I’ve already written and turned in book 5. LOL. Actually, if you read the cover blurb for Venom on my website, it’s pretty clear. Hope that’s not too much of a spoiler. LOL.
not at all too much information I love it when true love happens, even to assassins.