"Reader's Chat" with Haddie

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     Since I started the "Reader's Chat" posts in my blog, I ​discovered that I can't wait to get responses to my questions. To me, it's similar to the anticipation of a mystery to be solved, and wondering if I will come anywhere close to guessing the answer. So far, I have been pleasantly surprised by readers' answers. After all, who wants to always solve the mystery, without the preferred plot twist and an element of surprise?

     This interview is with Haddie, who you'll soon learn, has grown to love reading from an early age. See which of her responses reveal reading preferences similar to yours, and which ones differ. 

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Me:  How do you think you developed a love for reading? 

Haddie:  My mother used to read to my brother and I every night, great stories like the Narnia series and Tolkein. I I think because of that I was eager to learn to read and discover other magical worlds in books.

Me:  Has the COVID-19 pandemic affected how often you read, or your ability to focus on a story?

Haddie:  I've really been enjoying the extra time to find new, exciting books. Friends have been sharing what they are reading and I have used our LIbraries Overdrive account to check them out, as well as placing a few curbside pickup orders to support our local bookshops. Having a young child means there isn't a ton of time to sit and read my own books but I sneak in chapters here and there. Having such heavy things happening in the world also means I am drawn more to lighthearted novels for escape, rather than heavier pieces of literature. I've also been reading even more with my daughter, we're participating in the 1000 books before kindergarten program through our local library and have already surpassed that! It's also fun to revisit the classics with her like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Winnie the Pooh, I hope to pass along a love of literature to her like my mom did for me.

Me:  What is your favorite time of day to read? 

Haddie:  Whenever I can sneak it in! If I can find a few moments in the morning before my daughter wakes up, or I sometimes stay up too late if I have a good book and can't put it down.

Me:  What genre do you enjoy the most? Can you name any authors you like to follow in this genre? 

Haddie:  I like a wide range of genres (is that like saying you like all music?!) I enjoy biographies about unique childhoods and overcoming adversity, like Glass Castles, Educated, and Chasing Space. I also enjoy a good suspense novel, some science fiction and even the occasional young adult dystopian novel. I don't necessarily follow individual authors, but if I enjoy their writing style I will check to see what else they have written. 

Me:  How would you rank the following in importance when you read?

• characters - I would rank characters first, if the characters aren't well developed I find it hard to get invested in a story
• plot - I can be critical if there are holes in the plot, although I'm willing to overlook it if the characters are interesting, so I would rank plot third.
• setting - Especially now, when my setting has been my house for months, I enjoy travelling new places in a book. I'm not picky on where I 'go' though so setting is least important.
• tension - I feel like this is second because if there isn't an element of tension it's too easy to set down and work on more pressing real life things.

Me:  How do you feel about humor in a novel?

Haddie:  I love a book that can make me laugh out loud, or a character that has a great sense of humor. I am always impressed with how authors can create characters with such a great sense of humor that you would want to befriend them in real life.

Me:  Is it important to you if a book is traditionally published or self-published? Why or why not?

Haddie: If I can find it and I like the writing style I will read it! I don't even normally check to see the publisher information.

Me:  What is the first thing that piques your interest when browsing for a book?

• title - I like poetic titles, when I used to be able to browse our local bookstores *sigh* I would pull a book from the shelf first based off it's title.
• cover art - Is it terrible that I judge books by their cover? This is the second one that catches my eye, if the cover looks stock or unoriginal I am less likely to read the blurb.
• story blurb - Even though I am shallow and first judge the book by title and cover, if the blurb doesn't catch my interest I won't bother. I also have to peek inside to check the authors writing style.

Me:  Since a reader is required to have purchased their book on Amazon in order to leave a review for that book, where else might you consider leaving a review?

Haddie:  Goodreads

Me:  If you could play the part of a character in a book you've read, who would you choose and why?

Haddie:  I never have a good answer for these types of questions! I've read so many great books I would like to dive into but they all flee my mind when asked a question like this!

Me:  Is there anything you would like to add?

Haddie:  When is the next M.A. Koontz novel coming out?!

Me:  Thanks for asking, Haddie, and way to turn the questions back on me! How about a short story?  My story, "The 20/20 Club," was published this summer in an anthology titled MURDER 20/20. It includes stories from seventeen Indiana authors, and is available on Amazon in both ebook and paperback formats. 
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    Thank you, Haddie, for your input on both your tastes in reading, as well as insite into how you still manage to fit reading in during these difficult times. It's not an easy task for many parents who are home with their kids 24/7. It seems to be that necessary escape, which is one of the main reasons many of us enjoy reading. It stretches our imaginations, which is my kind of exercise! Thanks again, Haddie, for your candid replies. Stay safe, and keep reading!

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