Reader vs. Writer
Hello everyone, and many thanks to Jenny for having me as her guest today. I was really stumped for a topic when a discussion on my newsgroup provided some inspiration. (Ok, so I asked and they pointed me to the discussion… J)
A fellow author had asked for a critique of something she was writing, and she got back two very different responses from the two readers to whom she had sent the work. This obviously led to some mixed responses and some questions, namely when do you listen to the reader, who is after all the audience you are working for, and when do you trust your instinct as the creator of the work, when the two come into conflict? Do you, as readers, ever stay with a book if you feel it’s flawed or not written in a way that you generally find enjoyable, or are you willing to stay with it to the end to see if there’s a change in the author’s style or your response to it?
What makes a book good, in your opinion? Story, of course, but are there certain styles that you enjoy more than others? I’d like to know what appeals to the audience as a whole, so please tell me if you were to have the chance to shape the book, what would you recommend?
All creative or artistic work is subjective, and no two people will ever really see it the same way, despite reading the same words. So, as an author, I tend to write what I enjoy. If it “feels” right, then I trust that it is right. However, I now wear another job title, that of Acquisitions Manager for a new publishing imprint, so I also need to know how to pick the books that will appeal most to readers. Now’s your chance to tell me what you really do prefer, and help me do my job better in that regard. What do you think??? You willing to step up and tell me your thoughts? We’ll have a random drawing of names from the comments, and reward your efforts with a surprise gift!
Shameless promo time now, you’ve been warned! J
Absolute XPress is the company I work with/for now. We are running some very cool promotions to launch our press and get to know you all better. If you register at our website, you will automatically receive a 5% off discount coupon for an purchase you make. We have a FREE newsletter you can sign up for, so you are in the know about all titles we offer and what our authors are getting up to! Also, the company blog is up and running, as well as our CONTEST blog – we’ll be running a new one every month, and often with a theme. The current contest is “New Year, New Publisher” and runs through January 31st, so drop over and enter to win this month’s prize!!
Also, don’t miss my fabulous feature in the debut issue of Sable Grey Magazine, coming February 3rd. The magazine will be offered as a free PDF download, and it will feature an interview, a short story, (see the banner), and lots of other great stuff! Well worth checking out, Sable’s site is amazing.
Looking forward to hearing from you!! Thanks again, Jenny, for the opportunity to chat with your readers and fans. I’ll pop back throughout the day.
Denysé
Denysé Bridger
Website: http://www.denysebridger.com
Blog: http://fantasy-pages.blogspot.com
Amore Senza Confini: http://amoresenzaconfini.blogspot.com
Acquisitions Manager/Editor-in-Chief
Absolute XPress, Romance Division
E-mail: romance@absolute-x-press.com
Website: http://absolute-x-press.com
Blog: http://absolute-x-press.blogspot.com
Contest Blog: http://axpcontest.blogspot.com
“There was no time for flight. The only option was to fight. Something ugly was about to go down. Sarah braced herself for a fight. Adrenaline kicked in hard and time was marked by the heartbeats that reverberated inside her ears.
Sarah scanned the area quickly for anything she could use as a weapon.
Nothing. Not even a rock!
Sarah eyed the biggest guy there. “You might take me down, but I guarantee I’ll take at least two of you down with me.”
It all happened in the blink of an eye, but it seemed like slow motion for Sarah.
She was surrounded.
Someone grabbed her around the waist from behind.
She jammed her heel as hard as she could into the arch of his foot. Her attacker screamed and let go.
Another man lunged at her from the side and grabbed her arm.
She reacted automatically and threw him to the ground.
He landed flat on his back and groaned as the breath was knocked out of him.
Another one jumped behind her and grabbed her around the waist while the fourth came at her from the front.
The flash of a blade registered in Sarah’s mind.
Knife. Kill or be killed.
Muscle memory and instinct took over and Sarah high-kicked the one with the blade, catching the knife as it was thrown from his hand.
The man behind her let go. Sarah took advantage of the moment and turned on him with the knife in hand, ready to pounce.
He threw up his arms and shrieked like a little girl. “This isn’t worth a hundred bucks!” He ran into the alley and disappeared, leaving the car behind with the engine still running.”
My name is Lisa Pietsch and I’m a writer.
I haven’t found a ten step program for getting that monkey off my back so I’m hoping people will just keep reading my books.
I write what I like. I like action, adventure, travel to exotic locations and romance. I like strong, take-charge women who know what they want and go get it with no apologies. I like guys who are strong, competent and make things happen. I like cute guys who don’t always know they’re cute but always make me laugh.
As proof of that, I’ve written The Path to Freedom. The first in a series of books I plan to write centered around Task Force 125, a special task force created for clandestine counter-terrorism operations. This task force is made up of Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine, FBI and CIA personnel so there are a great deal of interesting specialists from diverse backgrounds.
In The Path to Freedom, Sarah Stevens is a washed-up military cop whose life is a shambles until she is offered a position on an inter-agency anti-terrorism task force by the CIA. The thirty-year-old, overweight, down-on-her-luck Stevens goes to a secret training camp where she is transformed into a sexy and deadly agent whose mission is to find and stop, by any means possible, the financiers of terrorism against the
“Sarah turned to smile at the men, knowing full well her mission wasn’t to win a popularity contest with the hens. Charming these guys would inevitably add to her value as a showpiece. As she turned back to Tony, the tall man turned around and, to her amazement, he was magnificent! She smiled broadly.
Oh, baby! Those photos didn’t do you justice. This job is going to be significantly less unpleasant than I expected. We’re going to hit the sheets and you’re going to spill some secrets, honey!
Oh, you have got to be one of the most attractive men I’ve ever seen!
He stood at least six-foot-three, had a well groomed, short haircut that could have passed for a military cut but looked stunning on him. His chiseled facial features were the kind that would make a
His eyes were a dark brown and so alert and focused they brought to mind those of a predatory bird. His jet-black hair, eyebrows and trimmed three-day beard and moustache only accentuated the power of his gaze. The only thing that served to soften his face was the sensuous curve of his lips. But once he smiled, his perfect teeth proved danger lay there as well.
Sarah couldn’t help but be entranced with his beauty. Were it not for the touch of gray at each temple, he would be a dead ringer for a Chippendale’s dancer. His shoulders were broad and the chest under his black silk shirt and jacket, though not overly thick, was clearly well muscled. His suit jacket was unbuttoned, showing off his trim waistline. His smile captivated her like watching a cobra as it prepared to strike. So beautiful Sarah simply couldn’t take her eyes away from him.
If Satan were to take a human form to sell condos in Hell, this one would do the job nicely.”
The Path to Freedom is available in ebook format through Sapphire Blue Publishing (http://www.sapphirebluepublishing.com). For more information about Lisa Pietsch’s books, visit www.LisaPietsch.com. To get to know more about Lisa Pietsch, visit her MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/lisampietsch.
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