What is your *Favorite Book Bonus Feature*?

[Cristian YoungMiller]

Since the introduction of the Kindle and other e-readers more things have become possible. And certainly everyone makes their best effort to publish a well written story. But past creating a well written story, I think that there might be things that have made you feel like the book was even more of a bargain (think of the way that you can buy DVD's with just the movie and you can buy DVD's with actor commentaries and "the making of" videos and other bonus features).

So I'm wondering, what has been your favorite book bonus feature that you have seen in a book.

[Cristian YoungMiller]

Or if you haven't seen anything, is there anything that you might want to see in a book as a bonus feature?

[Ann in Arlington]

I just want to read a good story, properly formatted.

[Steph H]

Yup. I don't care about bonus features.  I just want the story.

[jmiked]

I just want to read a good story, properly formatted.

Same here.

Mike

[intinst]

I just want to read a good story, properly formatted.

Yup. I don't care about bonus features.  I just want the story.

Same here.

Mike

Me four. That's all most of us want it seems.

[nogdog~6op6ou]

Yep. While things like author's notes or excerpts from other books might or might not be interesting and worth a look, I've never made a purchasing decision because of them: they will not save a mediocre book, and a good book does not need them for me to want to buy/read it.

[MarionSipe]

Frankly, as a fantasy reader, I miss the maps.  They're in just about every fantasy book, right there in the front, so you can see where the characters are and where they're going.  I always loved the maps.  I'm not sure how practical that is for use on ereaders, though.

[JRTomlin]

In a historical novel I very much like author's notes and a bibliography or research noes. In fact, it annoys me if they're not there. Often a map is nice too.

[BTackitt]

I am refusing to answer this or any other market research questions when they are placed in the Book Corner. This is not in regards to a specific title, nor author, and does not belong here.

[anguabell]

It's kind of sad seeing more and more aspiring authors thinking about their book as a "product", concentrating on adding selling features and devoting their time and energy to excessive self-promotion. I don't want to dismiss these things completely, but as a reader I have only one thing to say - guys, please write the best you can, about things you know and care about, and make sure you really have something to say.  No bonus DVDs are necessary

[Cristian YoungMiller]

It's kind of sad seeing more and more aspiring authors thinking about their book as a "product", concentrating on adding selling features and devoting their time and energy to excessive self-promotion. I don't want to dismiss these things completely, but as a reader I have only one thing to say - guys, please write the best you can, about things you know and care about, and make sure you really have something to say.  No bonus DVDs are necessary

I would disagree with this assessment. For me, saying what you said would be like saying that it's sad that movie makers give some thought to what they are going to put on the DVD for their movie. And that directors should just stick to making movies. I have learned so much about the directors and movies that I love by watching the extras. Why would you want that experience as a reader?

The writing is what we all focus on. But if we can give readers something special that enhances the reader's experience, why shouldn't we as authors give a few minutes of thought into what that might be? With ereaders the possibilities are there. Why not take advantage of it if we can?

[Ben White]

Decent formatting.  It's certainly rare enough to consider it a 'bonus feature'.

As for other stuff, I like maps.  Glossaries sometimes, like in the Beka Cooper books.  Appendices if they're relevant or entertaining, but really all I'd actually want in the actual book would be a link to the author's website, where I could find all of these things.  For the book itself, I just want the words.  (And some formatting.) (Table of contents would be nice.)

[Alain Gomez]

So I'm wondering, what has been your favorite book bonus feature that you have seen in a book.

I don't much care for bonus material.  I'm one of those people who just buys the plain ol' DVD.  Sometimes I even skip the prologue if it feels pointless (which, sadly, it sometimes is).  If you have strange names in your book, I do appreciate knowing how to pronounced them.  I hate not being able to say names in my head.

[ilyria_moon]

Since the introduction of the Kindle and other e-readers more things have become possible. And certainly everyone makes their best effort to publish a well written story. But past creating a well written story, I think that there might be things that have made you feel like the book was even more of a bargain (think of the way that you can buy DVD's with just the movie and you can buy DVD's with actor commentaries and "the making of" videos and other bonus features).

So I'm wondering, what has been your favorite book bonus feature that you have seen in a book.

Nikki Sixx' last book Heroin Diaries had a n accompanying album. I love the album even more than the book. I had to purchase them separately, but I love how the subject matter ties in across both formats.

[BellaStreet]

I always include a link to a playlist that reflects the theme of my story. The link goes to my website and includes 10-20 songs, depending on the title. With a click or two, readers can listen while they read.

[telracs]

I just want to read a good story, properly formatted.

Exactly.  Actually, extras irritate me, because they take up file space.  I think a book is 5000 locations long, but actually, it's only 3000 and the rest of the space is stuff that has nothing to do with what I'm reading.

[BellaStreet]

My playlist link line is basically one sentence. Do you mean like html illustrations? I have a friend who wants to insert them into her book for Kindle--little illustrations between page breaks, new chapters, etc. Does that take up extra space? I'm html clueless. If such a feature is annoying to readers (I've never seen it in a kindle book yet), I'll let her know.

[jmiked]

I am refusing to answer this or any other market research questions when they are placed in the Book Corner. This is not in regards to a specific title, nor author, and does not belong here.

I'm getting pretty tired of the market research type questions, also.

Mike

[telracs]

I'm talking "extras" like excerpts from other authors' books or your upcoming work, or a long list of available works.  Your one line html link is not what I'm referring to. 

[kansaskyle]

Here are two things:

• Interview with the author - Water for elephants had an interview at the end with some background information on the book, which I enjoyed.
• Discussion Questions - I would really like to see author's and/or others include some good discussion questions that book clubs could use.

[Cristian YoungMiller]

What does everyone think about using this format for the chapters?

Chapter 1 (of 8 )

This would take away the surprise of a book ending with 10% of the book's content left. Would this work for you?

[telracs]

What does everyone think about using this format for the chapters?

Chapter 1 (of

This would take away the surprise of a book ending with 10% of the book's content left. Would this work for you?

sorry, but all that tells me is that there are 8 chapters.  that could mean 80 pages or 160 pages or 8 pages.  doesn't tell me length of book. 

[Cristian YoungMiller]

sorry, but all that tells me is that there are 8 chapters.  that could mean 80 pages or 160 pages or 8 pages.  doesn't tell me length of book. 

Or what about this:

Chapter 1
(10,000 words remaining)

[BellaStreet]

Words remaining would be good. When I see the file size I don't know what that means. Wonder why Kindle can't post word count like Smashwords does?

[Ann in Arlington]

FWIW, word count means nothing to me. Of course, if the book has an associated paper title I can see the number of pages.  I always compare that to the number of locations.  By doing this, I've come to an understanding of how many locations is a short, medium, or long book -- according to how I think of 'em.  So even if there are no page numbers I have a pretty good idea.

I've also gotten in the habit of checking the ToC to see if there's any end matter and if so where it begins. . . assuming there is a ToC.

[Cristian YoungMiller]

FWIW, word count means nothing to me. Of course, if the book has an associated paper title I can see the number of pages.  I always compare that to the number of locations.  By doing this, I've come to an understanding of how many locations is a short, medium, or long book -- according to how I think of 'em.  So even if there are no page numbers I have a pretty good idea.

I've also gotten in the habit of checking the ToC to see if there's any end matter and if so where it begins. . . assuming there is a ToC.

The question is, is having the words remaining in a book better than nothing? I think that including things like author interviews, discussion questions, promos for other books and excerpts are going to become more and more ubiquitous in time. The question is what would be the best way to let the reader know that the story is coming to an end and that the last 10% of the book is other stuff.

What would be more helpful to you to see at the beginning of each chapter:

Chapter 14 (of 14)

or

Chapter 14
(3,000 words remaining)

I would assume that if this were placed on every chapter you will very quickly get a feel for how many kindle pages 3,000 words represents. Do you agree?

[Cristian YoungMiller]

Also, as a bonus feature, I'm thinking about including an author reading of the prologue of one of my books.

What would happen would be that when you bought the book, the audio file would end up in your Kindle Media Library. It would then live there and if you wanted to listen to it you could and if you wanted to ignore it you could. The file wouldn't' take up any room on your kindle device. And you could chose to download it to your kindle like an audio file or you could listen to in on your computer. And if you have an iPad you would be able to click on a link within the book and play it instantly.

Would you all enjoy that bonus feature with your book?

[Ann in Arlington]

The question is, is having the words remaining in a book better than nothing? I think that including things like author interviews, discussion questions, promos for other books and excerpts are going to become more and more ubiquitous in time. The question is what would be the best way to let the reader know that the story is coming to an end and that the last 10% of the book is other stuff.

What would be more helpful to you to see at the beginning of each chapter:

Chapter 14 (of 14)

or

Chapter 14
(3,000 words remaining)

I would assume that if this were placed on every chapter you will very quickly get a feel for how many kindle pages 3,000 words represents. Do you agree?

For me, neither one would be particularly helpful.  I already know how many chapters if I looked at the ToC.  I suppose if there's no ToC having the "1 of 14" would at least give a clue. . .but, as scarlet said, you still haven't any idea how long the chapter is.

I still don't see the need for word count. . .locations work for me -- as long as it's reasonably easy to find where the end of the actual book is.

Also, as a bonus feature, I'm thinking about including an author reading of the prologue of one of my books.

What would happen would be that when you bought the book, the audio file would end up in your Kindle Media Library. It would then live there and if you wanted to listen to it you could and if you wanted to ignore it you could. The file wouldn't' take up any room on your kindle device. And you could chose to download it to your kindle like an audio file or you could listen to in on your computer. And if you have an iPad you would be able to click on a link within the book and play it instantly.

Would you all enjoy that bonus feature with your book?

Speaking for myself only:  it wouldn't appeal to me at all.  I have no interest in listening to music or books on my Kindle -- or anywhere else, frankly.  I play various musical instruments and when I want music I make it myself.  When I want to read, I read -- I don't listen.

Further, if it's a prologue of the book I've just read -- well, I hope the prologue was included so I've already read it, and don't really care to hear the author reading it.  If it's a prologue for some upcoming book, I'd ignore it as I do 'previews' of other books at the end of what I'm reading.

Again. . .the above is my opinion only. . . . .I don't claim to be representative of all readers, or even all KBer's.

[telracs]

Christian,  I applaud your efforts to add more value to books, but honestly, all I want is the book.  I don't want to read about why an author wrote the story, or how the whole thing came about, for me, that dilutes the magic of my imagination.  Put those things on your website if you want, with a simple link in your ebook file, so if people are interested they can look.  And those of us who aren't can just move on.

I do own some audio books, but those are ones I've specifically bought as audio files.  I don't want to buy an audio file that will live somewhere else just because I want to read a book.  And in truth, I prefer my audiobooks that were done by a professional actor, in fact, I've refrained from buying audiobooks based on the person reading them.

Again, it's great that you have all these ideas, but for me it's simple, write a good story, let me read it and then move on to the next one.