Topic 9 The Writer versus the Reader

                                                      Greetings,

Well, I'm officially off to the races for the summer season, not literally but figuratively speaking. Although I wouldn't mind taking in a great horse or dog race along the way. The excitement in the air gets everyone's blood boiling, including the racer.


Spectators on the sidelines become extremely engaged. Their heart rates go up and palms sweat profusely. One finds themselves yelling and scrambling from this spot to that to get a better view. In the end, you're jumping for joy or are disillusioned by the sport. Perhaps you even forked out too much on the horse who lost.

The emotions of an author selling their novels at a festival or other event are similar to a racer at a sporting event. There are highs and lows as each day progresses. Excitement if you reach your sales goal and disappointment if you didn't even sell one book. Sweaty palms when meeting each new customer/reader. The important thing to remember as an author is that everyone has their good days and bad days, including a jockey, and the good generally out weighs the bad. No matter how bad a sales day I have, I continue to remind myself  how many wonderful people I've met in that particular community. New ideas are generated by the one to one contacts I've  made for the day, no matter the sales involved.

You, dear readers, are the spectators. Your emotions are tied to the meeting of a new author and his or her novels. If the author's friendly and respectful to you, a genuine bond is formed, But will it last? When you have a great book in your hand, mystery or whatever, you react to the tale and characters accordingly: weeping, laughing, angry, happy. If the author's book truly engaged you, you'll return to gobble up  more of their writings or even chase them down at another event just to chat. You might Like them on Facebook or comment about their book on Goodreads. But if you're dissatisfied, you won't return for another look no matter what.

This summer plan to support your favorite author in some small way when they're visiting your hometown. They'll be pleased to see you and will gladly fill you in on what they've been up to. It'll be a win win for both of you.


***Here's a chance for author or reader to enter a writing contest, called "Fated Paradox" that just came across my desk the other day. I checked out the website and it sounds interesting :
http://inkitt.com/fatedparadox

 Until Next Time
This is Marlene Chabot