Wellll, I have a few authors whose work I will read, full stop, without really bothering about the subject matter, blurb etc. We click that well. If I see a statement on someone else's book by one of those authors - or someone else has co-authored something with one of those authors - then yes, I am more likely to give the unknown's book some time and thought. Doesn't mean I'll buy the book, but I might think about it.
Frankly, though, my current method of paper-book-buying involves a charity secondhand shop, going to the littlies section and picking out some classics or well-illustrated ones for my toddler - then wandering over to the sci fi and fantasy sections (didja notice the PLURAL?) and grabbing a near-random selection of titles that look as though they could be interesting, plus any by an author I've read and liked. 10 minutes max per trip. Weirdly, it works quite well
