Friday, February 3, 2012

A Reader for Life by Dawn Roberto or How to hook me into buying your books

Since my guest author is sick and was unable to be here today (get well Em Woods), I decided to talk about how an author can hook me into being their reader for life. It's just my two cents and of course your thoughts are always welcome.


What makes a good book?

I love to read. You never find me without a book (print) or my Nook Reader that has so far 28 pages of books in my library there. I never stopped loving reading. There was something about books that took my imagination to places I never would imagine seeing or believing in. Authors are very special people to me. They let the voices in their heads out to the public in stories that can completely captivate you or make you want to scream in frustration.

Don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of really, really good books out there, waiting for readers to explore their pages but then there are those 1% that feel like they were cookie cutter stories. Same type of characters, similar stories just different cities, states, places, etc and if I happen to pick up one of those stories, they are put down in a heartbeat. After reading and reviewing now for several years, I learned what I enjoy and what I don’t. Here are a few items that guarantee an author a reader for life:

1)       Make me love your characters as much as you do (hate, pity, want to murder, etc). To me that is the best part of a story-where I can invest myself in with characters and find myself wondering in the end if this author is going to write sequels or a free story.

2)       PLEASE don’t make the characters act all stupid. *sighs heavily* ‘Too Stupid To Live’ characters will make me put the book down and never pick it up again. Give them some layers, make them act all bitchy or arrogant but also make me care about them. Please don’t make them act one way then half way through the book then turn around and act someway else. Drives me batty.

3)       Please for the love of the goddess- do NOT give me sex just because you think it helps the story. If I wanted to read about countless sex acts, I would read porn or watch it. What I want is a story that shows me the emotional connection between the main characters that is what has me sighing in happiness. Definitely not sex three pages in and then no plot.

4)       I love a good hook in a book. Give me something to sink my teeth into, to care about, and to jump my honey with later on (giggles).

For me, a good book is a combination of all of these or most of them. Yes I will give new authors a try, especially if their book sounds like my cup of tea. Give me something I can escape into after a hectic day filled with day jobs, kids and my honey man, who can drive me bonkers some nights. I love a good book and if you hook me with your work, then you got a reader for life. J

Dawn Roberto is the owner of the LR Café yahoo loop and enjoys a good book or two on her downtime, what little there is. Dawn enjoys giving support to all authors the chance to get their books out to readers and enjoys pimping her favorites to friends. J

You can find her at the following places:
Dawn’s Reading Nook Blog: http://lovesbooksandmore.blogspot.com
Senior Reviewer at Love Romances & More Reviews: http://loveromancesandmore.blogspot.com
Dawn loves to hear from readers and you can contact her at dawn_roberto@yahoo.com


6 comments:

An Open Book said...

Agree completely Dawn on every point here. An avid reader since I can remember, I also am never without a book.

Great 'fill-in- blog post

Dawne

andys said...

I agree as well. If a character does something stupid, make them have a reason for it - distracted by something big, trusting someone they really shouldn't - but most time a character does a stupid thing just to move the plot alone. Argh! Hate it. (Hate it even more in movies.)

Andi Anderson said...

Great post, Dawn:)

As an avid reader myself, I couldn't agree with you more. The TSTL characters drive me batty! I think that's the one element that will make me want to throw the book across the room and into the garbage quicker than almost anything else.

Sue Brown said...

I shall bear this in mind as I write my books.

I loved the idea of Two Stupid To Live *snort*.

Sue Brown said...

And sigh, that should be Too DUH!

DawnsReadingNook said...

Sue I love your books, don't change. :-) You already have me as a ready for life. :-)

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