I was pondering some of the books I’ve read recently, and wondered about something: do you notice if there are source materials or reference books mentioned in the back of your romance novels, in what I believe is called the “end matter?” Sometimes, I’ve seen author’s notes about books that rocked the author’s world during writing, or additional sources for more information about real people who appeared as characters in novels, and I always find that to be very cool. I have looked those books up online and peeked at them.
But I wondered if there were readers who didn’t like (or never really noticed) source materials or works cited in a fictional novel, and whether they had defined feelings against the practice. I personally am pretty nosy and if a book really grabs me, I love to learn more. I’ve Googled all manner of things after finishing a book, from skiing lessons (Instant Attraction by Jill Shalvis) to language instruction (Twelve Nights of Christmas by Sarah Morgan). However, I’m definitely not the only type of romance reader out there.
With the relative ease of adding material to digital books (and by “ease” I mean not facing additional costs of adding more paper to the finished product), would you want to see more source material, references, or suggestions for further reading at the end of a book? I don’t necessarily think every book demands a reference or cited section, but I’m curious – would that be something which would grab your interest?
I hope I didn’t give the impression that I thought end matter with source material would cost extra. HELL NO. Sorry if I did!
@Mary Anne Graham:
You said:
There may be some digital readers who prefer shorter works, but interestingly I’ve met an increasing number of readers who adore reading ebooks that are HUGE in paper format simply because they do not have to lift up a hardback in order to read. Nice thing about digital: it all weighs the same.
And with study results like this one reported in FastCompany last year, stating that digital readers consume up to 40% more than paper readers, it seems that the ease and customization possible with digital reading has led to a general increase in reading – though there isn’t a study I’ve found that measures the length of the books being read.
Readers tell me they like my notes about source material, so I’ll continue to mention them in my author notes when appropriate. Some of it is all about the love. I’ll read a particular history while researching and just want to share it with people everywhere. I figure if the reader doesn’t want to read the author note she doesn’t have to, but others may enjoy it.
I’ve been pondering this idea of adding source material at the end of a book. I have a romance fantasy novel based on the life of Cleopatra coming out in August and I have SO much great stuff I could add at the end. It’s a fun idea!
I answered “meh.” As a librarian, I am always pleased to see citations. As a reader…meh
I have occassionally read the end notes from an author in a romance novel, but only because the notes were short and had a few fun facts. I would be irritated if a romance novel had footnotes on pages because they are distracting.
I see additional materials added to a digital book akin to getting a dvd with a ton of extras. Something I have to buy in order to get the thing I really wanted. I can certainly see a historical romance author going crazy with additional notes/references at the end, especially if the story took place during a signifcant period of time. I would not be happy if I bought a 300 page book, to find that 100 pages were end notes/references.
What might be more helpful is a link that would take you to the reference material, if you want to check into the back story.
I should think that educating the reader sufficiently about Ptolemaic Egypt just in the course of the story would be very, very difficult. Few people know much about it. Background information would be by far the best way of giving context there.
I admit to be slightly prejudiced on this matter but having just finished referencing my masters thesis I really don’t every want to see another reference again – particularly not in a work of fiction.
Bronte, your comment made me laugh – congrats on finishing!
I love notes on historical events/eras in books, whether it’s historical fact or fiction. A list of other books to read about a topic is a plus.
Amber, I don’t think anyone was suggesting Harvard-style references, that is, in-text ones. As it happens, I detest them in scholarly work as well, and much prefer the traditional footnotes or endnotes, precisely because neither of those interrupts the flow of the text (which is just as important in non-fiction as in fiction); both can be referred to as and when the reader chooses. The reader does not have to jump straight to a footnote the moment it occurs.
I have to admit to loving and adoring source/end/author notes. Why? Because I get to use that info to do a little digging and then stump the ill-informed peons that try and use those very topics to “put me in my place.” HA! You can’t put me in my place if I’ve done the research, way more than the other person at that. Like when I did some researching after Jo Bev listed some things that gave her the background for the Malloren series. I got to give my little I’m-Never-Wrong heart a great big gift.
…I might be a tad ruthless, however. I shoulda been a character in an 80s Michael J. Fox movie, I swear.
That said, I don’t need footnotes, hate those because they distract me in academic texts. But the little 2-4 page? Like the ones Esther Friesner puts in her Princess series? Love them! So much more digging to find out what the schools have purposely left out.