Sample chapter at the end of a book...love or hate?

[tamaraheiner]

As a kid, I loved it.

As an adult, I skip them. I'd rather wait until I have the actual book.

So it can't hurt to put it in. If people don't want to read it, they won't!

[Neil Ostroff]

I prefer a short synopsis/teaser instead of an actual chapter. I'm more apt to be curious with the right teaser.

[Lursa (aka 9MMare)]

I prefer a short synopsis/teaser instead of an actual chapter. I'm more apt to be curious with the right teaser.

I agree...if I'm shopping.

But in this case, I'm probably less motivated to evaluate. To me it is a sign of a good writer if they can grab you in the first sentence or paragraph and keep you.

[Mark Young]

I always skip over this, even when I really enjoy the current book I just read. Just don't want to get drawn into a story that will not be finished anytime soon.

[Jenna Bayley-Burke]

I like the teaser page better...but as long as the excerpted story is similar to the story I've read, I tend to read it. But when it skips genre and author? 

[Harriet Schultz]

Discussion is going on as to whether or not an author should add a sample chapter at the end of a book. Some readers love it; others hate it. What's your take on this? J. Ortolon discusses in her blog and got it me wondering...to add or not to add?  http://www.juliesjournalonline.com/?p=1658

If I've enjoyed a book and it's part of a series, then the sample chapter at the end might tempt me to continue on to the next book, so it's a good sales tool. If the sample has little to do with the book it's attached to, I rarely even look at it. AND if the book's ending is a cliffhanger instead of a completing the story, and then the writer tries to suck me into buying another book to find out what happens...it turns me off to that writer forever.

[HeidiHall]

I used to like them in paperbacks, but then I'd be at a bookstore, flip to the first chapter, and not be able to remember if I'd read the book or just a sample . I do like to be alerted to upcoming books by authors I've enjoyed, but with my kindle I'd rather just have a quick list with abbreviated blurbs and a buy link. On a side note, the way some books end at 99% with nothing more is frustrating... I keep hitting forward thinking my kindle must be frozen or something.

[Istvan Szabo, Ifj]

I never read the sample sequel teaser chapters, nor unreleased or coming soon teaser chapters and samples. I don't know why, I just skip them. The actual book is always about the story between the first chapter / prologue and last chapter / epilogue. I used to read the special thanks pages and the bios as well, but I don't like sample advertisements.

[Nulke]

I'm surprised that so many people don't like them. I confess, I don't usually read them, but I don't really care if they are there or not.

Same here, it's a total non-issue for me.

[Sean Patrick Fox]

I suppose it's a nice option to have, but I almost never read them because I don't want to get sucked into an engaging story and then not be able to read it because it hasn't been released yet. I can't think any many things more frustrating than that!

[Rick Gualtieri]

I enjoy them. I look at them much like the bonus tracks on DVD, nice little extras for my dollar.  I read them, but they tend to be irritating especially if they're good. One of those "Dammit! Why isn't this out now?" things.

[Krista D. Ball]

I always skip over this, even when I really enjoy the current book I just read. Just don't want to get drawn into a story that will not be finished anytime soon.

The sample chapter should be of a book that is either out (in the same of DIY authors) or has a release date (in the case of publishers).

[Harriet Schultz]

If I've enjoyed a book and it's part of a series, then the sample chapter at the end might tempt me to continue on to the next book, so it's a good sales tool. If the sample has little to do with the book it's attached to, I rarely even look at it. AND if the book's ending is a cliffhanger instead of a completing the story, and then the writer tries to suck me into buying another book to find out what happens...it turns me off to that writer forever.

As usual, I have an additional thought. If I don't want to let go of the characters at the end of the book, and the preview is of the sequel, I read it as a way to see what happens in the future. Many times my reaction is, "eh, who cares?" Nonsensical, but I continue to do this anyway.

[BowlOfCherries]

Not really partial to them.  Would prefer a list of the author's other books at the back of the one i'm reading (with links to the associated amazon page - where i could then download a sample now or later) and a short blurb (or tagline) about the book to tell me what it's about and get me interested enough to click the link.  The links would be organized by category -- Other Historical Romances by Mary Quitecontrary.

[Sherlock]

I don't care one way or the other, but I never read them.  Just not interested, however, if others enjoy them it doesn't offend me if they're included.

[Adonna]

I like them.  Including the samples that promote another author's work.  I always read samples before I buy the book anyway, so it's convenient to have it at my fingertips.

[Andrew Dzeguze]

I don't particularly mind samples.  Where I get annoyed is where the suggestion is made in the promo material that the sample work is going to be out shortly (otherwise, how would you feel confident that the sample will be in the book) only it turns out the book is nowhere near completion.  That happened with the last Game of Thrones novel, to a point where the Mr. Martin and/or his publisher felt the need to apologize for the delays in print.  So sample all you want, but be truthful about what you are putting in.

[MartinStanley72]

To be honest, it doesn't bother me one way or the other. I tend not to read sample chapters, because I usually have my next read all lined up by the time I'm halfway through my current one, so for me it's a waste of time. However, as a promotional gimmick I can totally understand it from the author's point-of-view, particularly if it's a series of books.

[Carl Ashmore]

I quite like them to be honest 

[Nana Malone]

I actually love it.  It gets me hyped to go and get the next book.

Nana

[FeliciaM]

I'm okay with these. They don't bother me too much. They're a tiny bit annoying, but they're not that big a deal.

[Kimberly Llewellyn]

I don't like them and don't read them. When I'm expecting the book to go to 100% and it ends before that, even if it's a good ending I still end up disappointed because I was expecting more.

I can see how that would be frustrating! You like to know what you are paying for, when it comes to that 100%. It could be quite frustrating if you didn't expect part of that 100% to be an irrelevant chapter to something else!

[Kimberly Llewellyn]

Based on what I'm reading, it seems most readers are overall accepting of a sample chapter at the end of a book, with some concessions. It's good to know these concessions in advance so we don't annoy or overwhelm the reader!

[Nana Malone]

I think it probably also depends on the length of the chapter at the back of the book too.

Nana

[Z.R.]

 I don't hate them or anything, but I don't read them. If the book isn't out yet I don't want to torture myself by heightening the anticipation, and if it is I'll just go buy it.