Readers Say The Darnedest Things!

Every once in awhile, I’m blessed to receive a comment from a reader through the contact page on my website (www.christyhayes.com). I have a static website which means I don’t go there very often other than to update my books page when I have a new book coming out.

My most recent comment came from a man who identified himself as a married gentleman in his fifties with three sons. He downloaded one of my books because of the cover and, let’s face it, the price—it’s the one book I have permanently free on pretty much every online retailer but Barnes & Noble. He said he was pleasantly surprised to find that he enjoyed the book despite the fact that he was reading what he termed the book version of a “chick flick.”

I loved his comment and was so thrilled to find it in my inbox. I wish I could express to this man how much I appreciated his compliment. The components that make up a good chick flick are the same components that make up an entertaining novel—empathetic characters, an engaging plot, and a satisfying ending. I wonder if this man also enjoys watching a chick flick as much as my very manly husband.

This is what I love about reading outside my genre. Mostly through my book club, I discover authors and genres and books that I never would have considered reading if not for the peer pressure of finishing the book by the time of our monthly meeting. I’ve read memoirs, non-fiction, mysteries, and literary fiction that I would never have picked up off the virtual shelf if not forced to by someone else’s choice.

What about you, readers of women unplugged? Have you ever read a book and been surprised that you enjoyed a genre you didn’t think you’d like?

How Do You Connect?

Over the last couple of weeks I’ve been working on reaching out to my readers.  But outside Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, blogs and book signings, I’m wondering where to go next.  Where do authors and readers connect?  Online?  At book club meetings? 

Where do readers want to connect?  How do they want to connect?  Do they want bookmarks, recipe cards, swag of all sorts?  Do they want signed books, personal meetings, interesting tidbits of information gained via newsletters?  Maybe connecting isn’t as key as enjoying a good book.  Authors write, readers read.

But readers are my lifeblood as an author.  I write for myself, but I write for my readers, too, and I want to know what they want, what they care about…  I don’t want to waste their time.  So I’m asking, as writers, has there been an exceptionally wonderful way you’ve connected with your readers?

And readers, how about you?  What would you love to see from your favorite authors?  Inquiring minds want to know!  At least this inquiring mind, anyway.

My Best Friends

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I love books. They don’t talk back. There’s a never ending supply in the bookstore, online, or at the library. And if I’m lonely, they’re always there to keep me company.

Florence Fois’s March Bookfest inspired me to share a few of my recent and upcoming reads. If you’re interested in finding out more about these books, click on the links below.

Recently finished:

Against The Wind by Virginia Kelly
Romantic Suspense – a hurricane, a man on the run, and the woman who rejected him - Kindle

Backseat Saints by Joshilyn Jackson
Women’s Fiction – a woman on a journey to find herself escapes a dangerous man - Paperback

Next up on my to-be-read pile are:

Pushed Too Far by Ann Voss Peterson
Thriller -  “… nail-gnawing suspense, dark mystery, and a dash of romance.” - Kindle

The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins
Young Adult – “… stunning, gripping, powerful.” - Kindle

Where The Heart Is by Jenny Gardiner
Women’s Fiction – “… home is the only place she’ll ever be able to reclaim what’s most important to her.” -Kindle

On order and on their way, some writing books that sound interesting:

Something Startling Happens: The 120 Story Beats Every Writer Needs To Know by Todd Klick
Paperback and Kindle

Outlining Your Novel: Map Your Way To Success by K.M. Wieland
Paperback and Kindle

The Art Of War For Writers: Fiction Writing Strategies, Tactics, and Exercises by James Scott Bell
Paperback and Kindle

Plus, just for good measure, I ordered a Yoga DVD to keep me in shape.

What is the most recent book you’ve read? And what’s next on your reading list?

~~~

Connect with me on Twitter, Facebook and my website.