What We’ve Learned From Our Readers
This is the eleventh month of the eleventh year of our blog. That led me to reflecting a little and looking up things about the number eleven. First a fun fact about the number eleven according to https://www.thefactsite.com/number-11-facts/ — In the United Kingdom they have something called Elevenses. It’s a time for a small snack or drink between breakfast and lunch. I love it!
Wickeds, what have you learned from our readers?
Edith/Maddie: First, I’m all for snacks. Getting up as early as I do, elevenses often double as lunch! But back to the question at hand: one of the loveliest things I’ve learned is that my readers find solace and escape in my stories during really hard times in their lives. When they or a family member are hospitalized, they’re sitting vigil at a dying parent’s bedside, or they’re having troubles at home, readers have reported that my book took them out of those hard things and into a different world.
But maybe you meant our blog readers? I’ve learned that people love to hear about our personal lives, our travels, our travails and triumphs as writers, and our plans for the future. It’s been such a delight to hear from our backblog community about their preferences and opinions.
Jessie: I love this question! I have been tickled pink over the years to hear from readers of the blog and of my novels about the things they love. I am always so pleased to know what they enjoyed and how often what they like echoes my own preferences! It creates such a connection and one I have found so gratifying!
Sherry: I agree, Edith–hearing from our readers is so wonderful. As for our blog readers, wow, they have shared stories that have made me laugh and made me weep. They have given as much to me as I ever gave to them.
Barb: I’ve learned that our readers, and fans of mysteries writ large, are kind, thoughtful, and supportive human beings. You hear such awful things about human behavior in places like Goodreads and Amazon reviews, on social media, and in comments on blogs. I am present on some level on all of these platforms and 99.7% of what I have experienced has been civil and constructive. Here, we can disagree about candy corn, or costumes, or even things more core to our interests, like ebooks versus print books, or mysteries versus thrillers, and we can have those conversations in a positive way. Even the .03% of negative reviews or comments I’ve ever received have been from people who have clearly read the book or the blog post and just disagree or didn’t enjoy it, as is their right. Most people are good. On the very bad days, it is wonderful to come here and be reminded of that.
Liz: Edith, I feel the same – I’ve also had some lovely messages from readers who have read my books and found comfort and/or happiness in them and it means so much. As for the blog, I love that we have readers who come back day after day and have conversations with us. It really feels like we’re part of a family.
Julie: Readers are the soul of what we all do. And we’re all readers first and foremost. What I’ve learned from the Wicked readers is the value of community. We’re so blessed to have each other.
Readers: Have you heard of Elevenses? What would you have?
