Demographics

So, I'm running a POLL inviting readers who liked Prince of Thorns and intend to read the rest of the trilogy to register their age and gender.

The numbers are fairly small (235 when I looked last) which means each category has only a few 10s of votes at most, which means we can't place too much meaning on the result. Additionally, it's not sampling my readership as a whole, just my readership who pay attention to my online ramblings and like to vote in polls.

However, it's still fun to take a look.

Two things are immediately apparent and both probably have some grain of truth to them.

- Firstly that the gender divide is closer to 2:1 in favor of males than the 1:1 in the population as a whole.

- Secondly the age break-down for women is the opposite of that for men.
      - For the men the readership is shaded toward the younger groups.
      - For the women the readership is shaded toward the older groups.


Once the results are gathered the speculation begins.

Does the slant toward older female readers mean that more mature readers are better able to shrug off messages they might get from society about what they should be reading?

It should also be noted that the majority of the response here comes from reddit which _is_ known to have far more male members than female, and that my publisher (who have much better market research) tell me my readers are actually closer to a 60:40 split with female readers in the majority.

How does the gender divide compare with that of:

a) readers as a whole
     - A US study showed 62% of women read a work of fiction in the previous year and 48% of men.

b) fantasy readers
    -  I don't have stats here, so I'm gathering them with a POLL -- obviously this will be skewed toward my readers unless I manage to spread the word widely.

c) epic fantasy readers
    -  I don't have stats here, so I'm gathering them with a POLL -- obviously this will be skewed toward my readers unless I manage to spread the word widely.

[we now have a couple of hundred votes in the fantasy/epic fantasy polls - I don't think the sampling was very broad though as the numbers are similar yet we know epic fantasy is only as small corner (sales-wise) of fantasy and so with a brosd sampling of fantasy readers we would expect many fewer voters in the second poll]

Quoster contest!

This contest has finished - check out all the entries below or the winners HERE

Note! There's a montage of entries HERE (thanks to Jonny Croft)

The POLL on which are the best entries is still open for fun but the prizes have been awarded.

Recently Voyager ran a series of online 'posters' based on quotes from the Broken Empire trilogy. Some were pretty good. In fact one (top left) had quite a few people wanting to buy it.

It was a really good idea and sparked the idea of running a Quote Poster (Quoster) contest on the blog.

It's easy - just take any quote from the trilogy - there are a shit-ton (imperial not metric) HERE if you're stuck for one.

Then make a poster. I took 5 minutes and made my own - look:

Get your entry to me via email:  empire_of_thorns@yahoo.co.uk  or facebook or twitter or posting a link in the comments here, and I'll add it to the blog. When we're done there will be a voted prize for 1st, 2nd and 3rd and a randomly awarded prize. If you're unable to make a poster put your favorite quote in the comments and you'll also be entered for the random prize (though actual posters count as 5 entries and plain quotes just 1).

Each person can enter up to 3 quosters - or one quote in the comments.

The prizes will be:

#1  --- I'll send you your quoster in a frame-mounted canvas print like the map in this picture, or the map itself if you prefer. Or the same as 2nd or 3rd prize if you want. Or a signed Emperor of Thorns.

#2 The 16 oz mug shown, sporting all three covers from the trilogy. Or the same as 3rd prize if you want. Or a signed Emperor of Thorns.

#3 A T-shirt. Or a signed Emperor of Thorns.

 #4 - the random prize will be something random, but good.

(deadline 27th August 2013)

Entries

#1 William W

#2 Mark C

#3 Mark C

#4 Aidan B

#5  Andrew C

#6  Michael S

#7  Michael S

#8  Michael S

#9  Gabe E

#10  Alex V

(I should note that the first part of this is a quote by Hector Berlioz (1803 - 1863), Jorg quotes Shakespeare, Marvell, Homer (Greek, not Simpson), Captain Kirk and various others on occasion.)

#11  Paul W

#12  Paul W

#13  Andrea M

#14  Trey M

#15  Agnes M

#16  Mia C

#17  Sarah C

#18  Sarah C

#19  David M

#20  Aaron M

#21  Sarah F

#22  Mindi B.

#23  Christopher P

#24  Kyle P.

#25 Jason Z

#26 Jason Z

#27 Jason Z

#28  Mick O

#29  Mick O

#30  Ilse R.

#31  Ilse R.

#32  Ilse R.

#33  Sebrina S.

#34  Sarah F.

#

#35  Jerome L.

#36  Aaron M.

#37  Kimberly K.

#38  Jerrid F.

#39  Jerrid F.

#40  Jerrid F.

#41  Connie D.

#42  Corey G.

#43  Mia C.

#44  Agnes M.

#45  Cece G.

#46  Cece G.

#47  Hilary T.

#48  Merrill C.

#49  Graham S.

#50  Nafiz U.

#51  N Thomas

#52  Maxim T-E (possible EoT spoiler)

#53  Mia C.

#54  Kurt S.

(I should note this is a quote by Hector Berlioz (1803 - 1863), Jorg also quotes Shakespeare, Marvell, Homer (Greek, not Simpson), Captain Kirk and various others on occasion.)

#55  Kurt S.

#56  Nadine K.

#57  Sam H.

#58  Santa R.

#59  Santa R.

#60  N. Thomas

#61  Kristin E.

#62  @BobbyD182

#63  Peter HV

#64  Botond S.

#65  Botond S.

#66  Alex R.

#67  Miku H.

#68  Pascal P.

#69  Chris W.

#70  Vince U.

#71  Merrill C.

#72  Merrill C.

#73  Pascal P.

#74  Shawn K.

#75  Leigh L.

#76  Roger B.

#77  Brandon Z.

#78  Mindi B.

#79  Mindi B.

#80  Shawn K.

#81  Jonny C.

#82  Jonny C.

#83  Jonny C.

#84  Caleb B.

#85  Agnes M.

#86  Alicia W.

#87  Josiah H.  (the quote is actually "the end pride is the only evil, the root of all sins.")

#88 Leonie H.

#89  Bloody Cake News

#90  Wendy dV

#91  Rebecca M.