Christine Feehan's Blog, page 24
February 2, 2016
How Spoilers Can Ruin a Reading Experience
Even though I may think everyone has seen the movie Psycho, or must at least know about it, I would not, for the life of me, give away the ending. Same goes for The 6th Sense or any other movies or books with great plot twists. And even though we know that romance books inherently end with a “happily ever after” I wouldn’t tell someone HOW the couple got together.
All of those things are “Spoilers”, they spoil the experience for someone else. That person won’t get the opportunity to have a first-hand experience of the story, the way the author meant for it to happen, if someone gives part of that story away. It takes from the reader (or movie watcher), it takes from the storyteller and it takes from the story experience.
I understand people like to share their experience of a story and it’s so fun to do so. My online community has a place for each series, then each book, and people go there to discuss the books and characters. But, we always ask people to be certain they write “SPOILERS” if they are going to give anything away.
Reviews should also say if there’s a spoiler in them. It’s common courtesy. I do see reviews that warn people of spoilers and I really appreciate that.
Spoilers are just that, they spoil the experience. Maybe there needs to be a place specific for readers who have already read the book, like an online book club? Does anyone here know of a site that is only for book discussions AFTER the book has been read?
All of those things are “Spoilers”, they spoil the experience for someone else. That person won’t get the opportunity to have a first-hand experience of the story, the way the author meant for it to happen, if someone gives part of that story away. It takes from the reader (or movie watcher), it takes from the storyteller and it takes from the story experience.
I understand people like to share their experience of a story and it’s so fun to do so. My online community has a place for each series, then each book, and people go there to discuss the books and characters. But, we always ask people to be certain they write “SPOILERS” if they are going to give anything away.
Reviews should also say if there’s a spoiler in them. It’s common courtesy. I do see reviews that warn people of spoilers and I really appreciate that.
Spoilers are just that, they spoil the experience. Maybe there needs to be a place specific for readers who have already read the book, like an online book club? Does anyone here know of a site that is only for book discussions AFTER the book has been read?
January 26, 2016
Release Day and How It Feels
Spider Game released today. It's part of my Ghostwalker series which are very near and dear to me. I love writing this series and matching my alpha males to kick butt heroines. I love the science behind it all and all the research I do for these.
I have made so many trips to New Orleans and into the bayou for this series. So when you read the description of the bayou you can believe it's really like that. The sights, smells, flora and fauna. It's so intriguing to me.
I know I'm suppose to post things about the book and promote it, but you can get all that on Facebook and Twitter. I would really like my GoodReads blog to be different. It's more in line with what you find in my online community, for those who have joined up there.
I will tell you that no matter how many books I write, no matter how long I've been writing professionally, release day is special for me. It's part excitement, part nervousness, part curiosity. You work hard to bring those characters to life. And to make the places feel real to readers. And you hope the emotional journey as well as the adventure will thrill readers when they read it just like it did for me when I wrote it.
It never gets old, that feeling when a reader writes and says something in the book really touched them in some way. Or that the book helped them get through a rough time by allowing them to escape for a time. I do read my email. I do read comments left on social media. For that moment, I am connected to someone who shared a story, my story. And we shared an experience through those characters.
It's an exciting day for me and I sit here wondering how readers are feeling as they read the book. Spider Game
I have made so many trips to New Orleans and into the bayou for this series. So when you read the description of the bayou you can believe it's really like that. The sights, smells, flora and fauna. It's so intriguing to me.
I know I'm suppose to post things about the book and promote it, but you can get all that on Facebook and Twitter. I would really like my GoodReads blog to be different. It's more in line with what you find in my online community, for those who have joined up there.
I will tell you that no matter how many books I write, no matter how long I've been writing professionally, release day is special for me. It's part excitement, part nervousness, part curiosity. You work hard to bring those characters to life. And to make the places feel real to readers. And you hope the emotional journey as well as the adventure will thrill readers when they read it just like it did for me when I wrote it.
It never gets old, that feeling when a reader writes and says something in the book really touched them in some way. Or that the book helped them get through a rough time by allowing them to escape for a time. I do read my email. I do read comments left on social media. For that moment, I am connected to someone who shared a story, my story. And we shared an experience through those characters.
It's an exciting day for me and I sit here wondering how readers are feeling as they read the book. Spider Game
January 25, 2016
One More Thing...
I spend most of my time writing. I write every single day. Even on days I may not especially feel like it. But, I can't not write.
Social media has not always been my friend. I like interacting with readers and do a lot more on my website community and Facebook more than anywhere else so far.
But, more and more readers contact me here and for whatever reason they're not interested in going to Facebook or are hesitant to sign up for my community. So, I miss out on knowing that person.
I am going to try my best to come here more often. It's one more thing to do besides write, but it's important to me to have honest connections with readers. And since the readers are here, I want to spend time here, too.
I have a friend coming over next month and she suggested that I do exclusive little videos just for GoodReads. I can do Q&A or talk about a book I'm writing. I'll try to change it up and make it interesting for you. If those seem to be something you like I'll continue to do those.
Social media has not always been my friend. I like interacting with readers and do a lot more on my website community and Facebook more than anywhere else so far.
But, more and more readers contact me here and for whatever reason they're not interested in going to Facebook or are hesitant to sign up for my community. So, I miss out on knowing that person.
I am going to try my best to come here more often. It's one more thing to do besides write, but it's important to me to have honest connections with readers. And since the readers are here, I want to spend time here, too.
I have a friend coming over next month and she suggested that I do exclusive little videos just for GoodReads. I can do Q&A or talk about a book I'm writing. I'll try to change it up and make it interesting for you. If those seem to be something you like I'll continue to do those.
