[patrickt]

I went to a site I go to often looking for interesting books from new authors. The webpage came up and I went straight to the bottom and started scrolling up.

Why do I read it in reverse? Because they list the genre at the bottom of each entry. I filter the offerings for the genre I enjoy reading which is usually mysteries and detectives. I read other genre, such as history, but the site for new authors gets me mysteries.

Reading the genre entries doesn't bring a book to my attention. It has that by being in the mystery genre listing. But, the additiona genre comments can remove it from my interest.

For example, if the genre listing says, "Mystery, fiction, humor, romance." Oops. I have zero interest in romance novels. That includes romantic mysteries. Humor is okay. I thoroughly enjoyed Mr. Monk.

Other listings that make my interest fade would be paranormal, fantasy, occult, gritty, women authors, Christian, Science Fiction, Single Authors, Political, Legal, Courtroom Drama, Medical, Women's Fiction, Religion and Spirituality.

I get the impression that some authors think the more genre they can cover the more readers they attract. I don't know if that is the way it works and I'm just weird or if stacking on the genre loses potential readers.

I've been pondering this.