The website aboygoesonajourney.com recently ran a comprehensive survey on the reading habits of fantasy fans. Now admittedly, the sample taken wasn't huge (271 respondents), but it did come up with some very interesting results, like male readers prefer to read male authors as a rule, whereas women don't seem to mind. This didn't suprise me at all, because I often meet men who would not pick a book written by a woman if their life depended on it. Maybe they're afraid they'll get girl germs off it, or something. :)

Anyway, what did suprise (and give me a warm fuzzy glow, I have to say) was the answer to the question on readers' loyaty to a particular author...

Loyalty
Would you say you are loyal to any particular author? What author is it?

Assumption
When I see a new book come out by a certain author, I will jump at it. I don’t care what it’s about, I know that name and I know they are fantastic. This is just an idea of what I meant by loyalty to an author, but it could also mean things like if you read that author often or follow their blog or such. One respondent put “There are no good authors, only good books”. I had posted my survey on some Australian sites and some International sites, so I’m not surprised that a lot of Australian authors came up.

Actual
The two most popular authors, however, were Jennifer Fallon and Terry Pratchett...

You can read the rest of the survey here. Fascinating stuff.

and so you should be. Much loved *g*

Yay for Jen...

I love you, all your blog followers love you, so why shouldn't everyone else?

I find I'm very loyal to authors. For instance, I must get book 'b' by author 'x', because book 'a' was fantastic. Or I must get book 'j', because book 'a' was fantastic. Once you got me, I'm yours.

I don't hesitate to discover a new author... But that only happens when I own all my favourite authors works.

:)

I was one of those 271 participants, and of course I just HAD to vote for you Jennifer. :D

The age average didn't fit me. I'm one of other 44% of 30 and over (actually a year older than Jennifer).

His questions on writing where interesting, but with having to choose just one trouble spot, genre, etc., it was a very difficult choice to make. Multiple choice of maybe 3 or less (out of 5 or 6) could possibly have shown more difinitive results.

And Yes, when an author has proven him- or herself as one who can consistantly take me into another world, one in which I'd like to live myself (since this one seems to be falling apart at the seams), I tend to stick with them. So far only one female author that started out good has disappointed me with her later works. Happily, it isn't you.

Well now you have me concerned. At least about male readers prefer to read male authors. I just checked out my books and found I have seven male authors and six female authors. However, of those seven male authors I have four of those authors with only one book of their series, I just wasn't impressed enough to chase up the rest. Of the female authors, I have nearly all their books. Should I be concerned about my masculinity???

LOL Patrick, don't let your mate know!... Brokeback Bookshelf here we come!

I absolutely have Fallon loyalty. Now if the freaking Tide Lords would be released in the US...

I actually wrote an email to you through the website about that. Is there a better way to get ahold of you? The ask.jenny address, perhaps?