"Reader's Chat" with Ann

      Readers are the ultimate necessity for authors who write to entertain them. As much as I enjoy writing, I can't imagine doing so without the readers who are willing to invest their time to cozy up to one of my stories. Because of this, I thought it would be fun to interview one of these readers and get some insight into their favorite past-time. Today, I'm chatting with Ann, who graciously volunteered for my first "reader's chat."

Me:  Would you consider yourself an occasional reader or an avid reader?

Ann: Avid.

Me:  Do you have a favorite genre?

Ann:  I love mysteries, with a little bit of love sprinkled in throughout the story line.

Me: I think you just answered my next question. When you read a mystery or thriller, what is your favorite subplot? For example, romance, personal struggles, family conflict, employment issues, etc.

Ann:  Romance.

Me:  What time of day do you usually find time to read?

Ann:  First thing in the morning, generally when the kids aren't up and asking for this or that!

Me:  Since I know that you have a full time job, that's a definite commitment. Are you a fan of series or stand-alone novels?

Ann:  Both, honestly. I enjoy series that are well written as such that they could be read as a stand alone novel as well.

Me:  What do you crave most in a story?

Ann:  Well developed characters and story lines.

Me:  Do you prefer a great deal of description, action, or dialogue? Why or why not?

Ann:  Description, because I feel like it allows me to imagine the scene better. I get very vested in my books, and try to picture the scene in my head.

Me: As someone who enjoys reading, what would you like to see less of in current books? More of?

Ann:  Too many characters. Often a story can get lost when a writer incorporates too many characters in the story. Develop only the main characters to allow for a reader to connect at a deeper level.

Me:  Do you think most readers are willing to review a book they've read? Why or why not?

Ann:  Avid readers, yes. I feel like we use the reviews to help us decide if this book is one we would enjoy or not.

Me:  One last question. If you were a character in my next novel, what type of character would you be, and what name would you give yourself?

Ann:  I would likely be a crazy sister-in-law named Jade, haha!

Me:  Love the name. Now I'm wondering if she could be the killer, or the character who gets killed? Hmmmm . . . I make no promises! Ha! Thank you, Ann, for your candid answers, and for taking precious moments out of your day to chat. Stay well, and keep reading.

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M.A. Koontz

Author of SHARDS OF TRUST and THE CRY BEYOND THE DOOR.