Triumph and Treasure Short Historical Category Winner
Mini-Muse Monday Award-Winning? Bestselling? Do Readers Care?
As you can see from the lovely image prominently displayed, I was just honored with the Wisconsin RWA Write Touch Readers’ Award for Triumph and Treasure in the Short Historical Category.
Naturally, I was thrilled, especially since both Triumph and Treasure and The Earl’s Enticement are 2015 RONE finalists and The Earl’s Enticement is also a Aspen Gold Finalist.
Okay, it was awful more than once.
Now, I only enter an occasional contest for published authors, which are judged by readers, librarians, and bookstores, rather than other authors. I’ve also judge a good number of contest entries, but contests are not what these week’s mini-muse is about.
What I’d like to know is, do readers care if an author is an award-winning writer, or for that matter, care whether authors have made bestseller lists? Does the award itself make a difference?
Personally, I know authors who have never entered contests, yet are extremely successful, some having hit the “big” lists: Amazon top 100, USA Today, and The New York Times.
I also know immensely talented authors, whose work I adore, who’ve either placed or won numerous contests yet remain unpublished. Then, there are the ones like me, who have entered a few contests and had varied results.
So, when readers grab an author’s book, are they noticing the “Award-Winning” label?
Do they search for that tag or “Bestselling” ?
Does it make a difference in the quality of writing—meaning, have you noticed a significant difference in the works of award-winning and/or bestselling authors versus those who haven’t achieved either status yet or aren’t pursuing them?
Tell me what you think.
Thanks, Collette. And congratulations!
You asked, “Do readers care if an author is an award-winning writer, or for that matter, care whether authors have made bestseller lists? Does the award itself make a difference?” You also inquired whether winning awards or acquiring bestseller status make a difference in the quality of writing.
I can speak for only one reader, myself. And here are my answers.
1. No
2. No
3. No
4. No
It should surprise nobody that I’m not a fan of contests and awards. In ANY creative field. If a romance novel wins a RITA, that matters to me precisely as much as it does if a movie wins an Oscar. None whatsoever.
I could go on and on about why I think contests and awards have no rightful place in the arts. But don’t worry, I won’t. Not here, anyhow.
I realize they matter to many if not most authors. So when an author I know (in the online sense; I don’t know any in real life) wins an award, I do the civilised thing and congratulate her. But that’s it. As far as selecting my own reading goes, I stick to my principles.
Oh, and as for entering my own works in contests—well, first it’ll have to get very cold where it’s now very hot!
Hi Mary Anne! I have to agree that contests and bestselling status don’t always reflect quality (though, some authors come to mind who do deserve both).
I swore off contests for unpublished works years ago when most of the feedback wasn’t helpful, and actually was plain nasty at times. A total aside here, and I’m sure it might ruffle few feathers, but there is a huge difference between contests judged by readers, booksellers, and librarians and those judged by other authors.
When I judge a contest entry (usually only for my local RWA chapter) I am very careful to word criticism constructively. Probably the teacher in me!
it doesn’t matter if an author is award -winning author ,my answer is no , if i like the author’s writing i am gonna buy it
Me too!! In fact, I was forced to read “Award-Winning” literature while studying for my bachelor’s and master’s degrees and some of that reading was absolute *&^%!. I HATED most of it; truly hated.
I buy what I enjoy reading, award winner or not ?
A girl after my own heart!!
I read because I enjoy it. I do not care if they are award winning or not.
Exactly!!
I am happy for the authors when they win the awards, but it will not affect my purchases. Congratulations, Collette!
I know I get excited for my author friends who make the lists or win awards, but I’m already a fan of theirs. For authors I’m not familiar with, neither awards or lists influence me.
Though I am open to reading books from most any genre and/or writing level, I find more often than not, I am not as impressed with the NY Times best-sellers as I am with the unknown or up-and-coming authors. However, I am always happy when one of my favorite authors, such as yourself, wins an award for their writing.
That’s sweet, Kim. But I have to say I agree with you about the lists. Two particular authors spring to mind, one whose work is truly fabulous and one IMHO, not so much, who stay on the lists.
It does not make any difference to me (although always thrilled when one of my favorites wins an award). What I look for is a story that I can lose myself in. If an author (ex: Collette Cameron!) can make me do that then THAT is an award winning author to me. – Dee
Okay, I’m blushing, Dee, and I truly wasn’t fishing for compliments. I know that as a long-time romance reader, I never paid any attention to awards or lists. I read what I liked.
I do pay attention to those things as well as reader reviews, but they only contribute to my decision to buy a book or not. Congratulations! You deserve to win! I do like and appreciate the contests that are offered by you authors! 🙂 I was also wondering if you use beta readers for your books. If you do, I would love to sign up! 🙂
Yes, I do use beta readers!! Contact me via the contact link above and I’ll tell you how to become one!! Thank you!
I don’t really care whether or not an author is on the “whatever best list awards”. The important thing for me is that something in the book will spark interest for me, whether through the story itself, the blurb, the overall feeling I have when I read the story… the attention to details, the historical background (in the case of a historical novel – whether it’s a romance or not). What I’m looking for, really, is a book that will keep my attention till the end, a book well-written without too many typos or grammatical errors. Having worked in the edition field, I’m perfectly aware it’s next to impossible to have something that will be totally error-free but when there are too many errors and it hinders my reading experience, I don’t like it. That said, I’ve loved what I’ve read from you so far, Collette, and I’m glad I’m part of your team.
I know what you mean about errors …impossible to catch them all. I’m come across them in my books after publication and several rounds of edits. Gads! I want to pull them off the shelves and fix the mistakes, but my publisher isn’t so keen on that.
I’m all about a great read too. I know it’s nice for authors to finally achieve their letters (NYT, USA) but that doesn’t guarantee a great read nor does not having them mean a book (author) isn’t fabulous.
I like authors who write great stories
And, neither Award-Winning or Bestselling guarantees that!
I think readers are aware of NYT and USA Today lists. A few years ago, the readers might not have known USA Today, but because of all the communication between authors and readers, I believe that readers are aware.
Early in my career, I won a couple of well-known contests, and I triple finaled in the RITAs with my first two books, but other than the RITAs, I haven’t entered any contests lately. My focus is on the writing. 😉
The RITAs are definitely something to be proud of and recognize writing excellence! I agree, there are those readers who aware of the lists, and might even have favorite authors they regularly read, but I also think there are a readers who don’t pay any attention to the lists. I know I didn’t before I became an author, though some of my favorite books were written my list makers.