Connecting with Readers

In this newsletter, I’d like to introduce you to a few VIP readers who have read and reviewed all of my books. I took the opportunity to ask Dan Klein, Kathleen Sukiennik, Paula Trost, and Glen McGlothin a few questions about their reading habits. Maybe you’ll agree with them, or maybe you’ll gain a few insights into your own reading habits. At any rate, I hope you’ll enjoy reading what each of them has to say. (And if you’d like to be interviewed in a future newsletter, please let me know. I’d be glad to feature you!)

Here are the questions I asked them:

1. How would you describe yourself as a purchaser of books? Do you tend to go for best-sellers, debuts, favorite authors, recommended books, combinations of these, or other?

Dan: Definitely a combination of these things. I keep a list on my iPhone of books recommended by others, often in casual conversation. I also tend to buy the latest books of my favorite authors. At the digital library I often get in line to read some of the current best sellers (sometimes a long wait).

Kathleen: I buy for different reasons, though I am inclined to go to favorite authors. I respond to a combination of inviting covers, interesting titles and great opening sentences. I don’t look to best sellers. 

Paula: I love to sometimes just walk through a little local bookstore and buy something that just catches my eye. Sometimes it is something that employees of the bookstore recommend and sometimes something recommended by a friend. I do tend to gravitate to mysteries. I love a book that keeps me guessing until the very end. I definitely have some favorite authors.

Glen: I always look at suggestions that people make to me and am always on the lookout for new books from my favorite authors. It doesn’t matter to me if a book is a debut book or if it’s been on the best sellers list for several years, if the book sounds good I’ll pick up a copy.  

YOUR ANSWER?

2. How would you describe yourself as a reader of books? Do you tend to read fast, slow, or a combination? Why?

Dan: These days I am a slow reader. That’s because reading after I get in bed is one of my favorite things; however, too often I fall asleep. So, it takes a while to complete a book. In recent years I have been borrowing library books which have a deadline for returning. Sometimes, I have to just sit down during the day and binge read to get it finished in time.

Kathleen: I generally read rather quickly, though a particularly good writing style can make me slow down to better absorb the words and content.

Paula: I am a "combination" reader. If I am by myself, I tend to read fast but if I have family around or if I am working, I will sometimes put my book down until I can really devote my mind to reading. 

Glen: I read both fast and slow. It depends on how the book is written. If it really has its hooks in me, I finish the book rather quickly, although sometimes if I really like the book, I tend to read it slowly to spread it out. 

YOUR ANSWER?

3. How would you describe yourself as a reviewer of books? Do you post reviews regularly, only when a book steals your heart, only when begged by the author, never, or other? Why?

Dan: I rarely review books. In fact, the only books I can recall reviewing are those written by friends of mine. I have been privileged to be asked to write blurbs or testimonials for the back covers of a few books.

Kathleen: I generally don’t write reviews. However, if a book or writer really strikes me, I will say something about it on social media.

Paula: I do post reviews but mostly for books that have stolen my heart, have entertained me and made me laugh, or those (particularly a good mystery) that keeps me guessing "who done it"

Glen: I usually review books if I’ve really enjoyed them or hated them. Most of the time I don’t bother with reviews unless they fall into one of the categories stated previously or if the author has begged me nicely. Outside of that I don’t really review.

YOUR ANSWER?

4. What attracts you to a book? The cover, title, blurbs by other authors, book description, word of mouth, or other?

Dan: It depends on where I am. If I am at an airport looking for something to read in the terminal or on the plane, it is almost always the cover that first attracts me, combination of colors and graphics, and the title. At the library I almost always start with the author, except I love to browse the new releases. Recommendations of friends is a factor, too.

Kathleen: What attracts me to a book is the cover, title and opening sentence.

Paula: I am most attracted to scenery on book covers - colors and visual clues as to what is inside. I do like loud covers that are calling to be read but sometimes a quiet cover that begs to be understood.

Glen: For me it’s a combination of the book description, the cover and word of mouth. I always take the word of mouth with a little more value if I’ve known the person for a long time and I get along with said individual. 

YOUR ANSWER?

5. What is your favorite genre and why? Who is one of your favorite authors and why?

Dan: Really hard to pin down a favorite genre, but probably mysteries and thrillers, particularly legal thrillers and detective mysteries. I also like to read biographies.
A favorite author? Besides Saralyn? Really difficult to decide. Probably John Grisham, because of consistently good writing, very interesting characters and compelling plots.  

Kathleen:  Mystery. I enjoy the feeling of curiosity that a good mystery generates. I never try to figure out the ending. I like the surprise. I have thoroughly enjoyed Saralyn Richards’ books, so she is definitely on my list of favorites. Can’t narrow it to one, though. I love old-school mystery writers like Ross McDonald and Raymond Chandler, and quirky fiction writers like Augusten Burrows, Tom Robbins, Carl Hiassen.

Paula: I like so many different genres - from quirky memoirs to sweet feel-good stories. From scary stories and mysteries to true accounts of historical events. I find myself these days reading mysteries the most because every turn is something new that leads me to try to figure out the answer. I have a few favorite authors. My friend, Saralyn Richard has for the last few years been my favorite. I love her style and how she keeps me guessing. I love the descriptions of the characters that become so familiar that you feel like you know them personally. And I love that some of those characters, I did know personally.  

Glen: Overall I like to read a little bit of everything, for the most part I like mystery/thrillers, history and humor novels. Why? I like a thrilling mystery and a good laugh while I’m at it. History is always something worth learning if it’s on a subject I enjoy. I have several favorite authors. If I had to choose though, I would say it’s a tie between David Baldacci, Saralyn Richard, John Grisham and Clive Cussler. Why can I not choose between them? They all write wonderful thrillers that I have a hard time putting down even to sleep. 

YOUR ANSWER?

6. Which of Saralyn Richard’s books did you enjoy most and why?

Dan: This is another very difficult decision. Probably A Murder of Principal. I really was able to relate to the characters and the setting. Sure do like Detective Parrott, though.

Kathleen: Bad Blood Sisters. The funeral home setting mixed with the underbelly activities of a small town created fertile ground for the story’s intriguing characters.

Paula: I always enjoy the one that I am reading at the time. I am particularly fond of the Detective Parrott books. All of the books are great, but Crystal Blue Murder might be my new favorite.

Glen: I would say so far Murder In The One Percent. Why? Well it was the first foray into Detective Parrott’s adventures and it opened with a bang.  

YOUR ANSWER?

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In other news, this month I was interviewed by Tracey S. Phillips of Blackbird Writers about my two most recently published books, Bad Blood Sisters and Crystal Blue Murder. You can watch the interview here.

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Thank you to last month’s readers who suggested titles for the next Detective Parrott mystery (that starts with an abandoned baby). For privacy reasons, I won’t list your names, but I’m grateful to each of you for your creative ideas, and no, I haven’t selected the title yet. (Thanks, DG, GM, LA, MP, DK, MC, SB, LB, JS, NG.)

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Wishing you a happy and healthy May with lots of fun reading! Thank you for reading and reviewing my books and recommending me as a book club or organization meeting speaker.

If you haven’t done so already, please follow me at my Amazon author page.

And don’t forget to support your local independent bookstore this Saturday, April 29. Mine is Galveston Bookshop.