Scribblings on Whatever

What Are Americans’ Reading Habits According to Latest Survey?

5/24/2023

According to Pew Research Center, eBooks reached a decade high in 2021 with 30% of the American readers having read at least one book in this format. Also in 2021, the percentage of American readers who listened to an audio book also presented a new high of 23%.

It’s interesting to note that 33% of Americans read books in both print and digital formats (eBooks and audiobooks). Approximately another third only read print books. Surprise! Only 9% only read in the digital formats. Sadly, 23% read no books at all.

Although so many of us authors feel compelled to offer eBooks in this digital age, 65% of American readers read at least one print book in 2021. This was not the high of the decade, but it was a recovery from the Covid years. The average of books read by Americans in 2021 was 14 books, but the median number of books read by individuals was five. This is identical to the first year of assessing Americans’ reading habits in 2011.

Do Education, Income, or Demographics Affect These Habits?

The figures from the recent survey by PRC indicate that college graduates are more likely to have read books in all formats compared to other educational levels. Urban readers have a bit of an edge on suburban and rural although it is not a large gap.

Despite what one might assume from book clubs and readers’ groups, men read about as many books as women. According to the survey, the percentages in the “read a book in any format” category indicate that people read less as they get older. I have to confess that this is not the case for me (I fall into the 65+ category). I admit that I haven’t read as many books in the last several years as I did earlier in this millennium, but I believe I’m reading more in a year than I did in my twenties. To be fair, when I was in my twenties, print books were the only choice most of us really had. Audiobooks were available on cassette tapes in the 1960s and didn’t come out on compact discs until the 1980s. It was easier to just carry your book with you!

What About the Reading Habits of Kids?

In both 1984 and 2012 PRC determined that 53% of nine-year-olds read for fun nearly every day. In 2020 it was down to 42%. Those who reported they never or hardly ever read for fun was 16% in 2020 compared to 9% in 1984. In the 2020 survey, it appears that American girls are more likely to read for fun than their male counterparts.

The bottom line indicates that in 2020 compared to 2012, every group of nine-year-olds across the racial spectrum read for fun less in a range of 9-12% declines.

Do you think social media is having an affect on this decline? As an older adult with no young children in my life, I can only consider what I observe. It seems that really young kids I see at stores and restaurants are totally engrossed in their cellphones. Maybe they’re reading a book? I have no idea, but it does make me wonder if surfing isn’t having a deleterious effect on their reading habits now and in the future.

Thoughts On the Subject

If you’re an author, do you feel Americans’ reading habits are having an economic effect on your bottom line?
If you’re an author, how do you feel about only offering the eBook format?
As a reader, do you agree with the survey by Pew Research Center?
As a reader, how do you feel about the reading habits of kids being affected by online surfing?

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Can Sensitivity Reviewing Go Too Far?

4/26/2023

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An Example of Sensitivity Critiquing of Classical Literature: Roald Dahl

According to the BBC, below are some of the changes being made in Roald Dahl’s books.

• Augustus Gloop, from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is now described as "enormous."
• The word "fat" has been taken out of every book - according to the Telegraph.
• Mrs. Twit, from The Twits, is now described as "beastly" no longer "ugly and beastly."
• The Twits has removed the word "weird" from the sentence "a weird African language."
• "Crazy" and "mad" have also been taken out of the books.
A spokesperson for the UK Prime Minister used a word created by Dahl to support his opposition to the changes. “When it comes to our rich and varied literary heritage, the prime minister agrees with the BFG [Big Friendly Giant] that we shouldn’t gobblefunk around with words.”

If you’re interested, here’s a link to Roald Dahl: the best gobblefunk words: https://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2016/jun/14/roald-dahl-dictionary-best-gobblefunk-words

While Travis Croken, national co-chair of the Canadian Authors Association, believes using sensitivity readers to rewrite classical literature like Dahl is problematic he does believe employing them to work on in-progress manuscripts can be an important aspect of the writing process.

Examples of In-process Critiquing

A British Columbia sensitivity reader told an author of an unpublished manuscript that her autistic lead character, who spent her time hating herself and being a burden to her family, was a harmful characterization and needed to be changed. There was no mention of how the story played out. Did the character eventually evolve into a better state of mind or was her role to demonstrate to readers, even autistic ones, how unproductive her attitude was?

One sensitivity reader makes the point that often authors are writing about situations they know nothing about. She is non-binary and finds that despite their research, cisgender authors may tap into stereotypes or utilize damaging tropes. I understand that as authors we cannot always walk in another’s shoes, but I find it interesting that in reviewing a fantasy book, she found fault with a black character who turned into a Minotaur being described as monstrous and bestial. She saw this as a dangerous stereotype. My clinical observation is to ask: If the character were not black and still turned into a Minotaur in this fantasy novel, would you still consider it a stereotype?

Being a fantasy novel and the character being a Minotaur, having the head and tail of a bull and the body of a man, which has often been described in mythology as being monstrous and ferocious, doesn’t it seem like overreach to assume that the author’s descriptives were aimed at the character’s race rather than at the Minotaur itself? If one sees this as impossible to view other than as a “damaging stereotype,” it opens the door to authors being unable to exercise their imaginations or create characters that are anything but perfect by someone else’s standards. Censorship of societal issues should not be applied without context.

Authors often use their imaginations to present societal conditions as they exist in order to inform those who are uninformed about those situations. Not all instances are designed to express disapproval of someone or some way of life. Once again, context is important. I once had a reader who, after reading a couple of chapters in one of my books, felt the female character was not portraying the strength she expected. Of course, she didn’t read the book in which this female’s character evolved into a strong, independent woman.

Author Keira Drake had the release of her book postponed because early readers pounced on what they termed “racist trash.” The Continent is a fantasy novel about two warring nations. Apparently describing one nation’s warrior as having “reddish-brown skin and painted faces” is one of the things which set them off. I admit that I haven’t read the book, but it’s difficult to see exactly how imaginary peoples in a fantasy novel could offend anyone.

Writers’ Opinions

American author Francine Prose doesn’t believe authors and publishers need to hire sensitivity readers. “Few of us are working in so much isolation that we can’t find someone who we trust about a certain subject and say, ‘You know, you think I’m getting this wrong?’”

Award-winning author, Kate Clanchy, who went through the gauntlet with several sensitivity readers offers her opinion in an opinion piece. The title is “How sensitivity readers corrupt literature: They sullied my memoir to suit their agenda.” https://unherd.com/2022/02/how-sensitivity-readers-corrupted-literature/

Writer Hillary Jordan, author of Mudbound, told NPR.org the following: Literature “comes from curiosity about how other people live; it comes from the desire to break down the barriers between us. And I just don't know how you do that if you have someone looking over your shoulder and sort of coughing slightly to let you know when you're off."

Sensitivity reader Dhonielle Clayton says, "I'm not in the business of censoring people. I'm in the business of checking to make sure what they're doing does not have harm and repercussions for the people that they are writing about. Because people don't realize the power of words and the power of bad representation — it can haunt people."

Do Sensitivity Readers Have Value?

If all sensitivity readers approach their work like Lynn Brown in New York, then it can be a good thing. She believes her role to be pointing out if the character feels stereotyped or if the character from particular segments of society would speak the way the author has written. She also believes she should point out if the author is developing the character in a stereotypical way to the point of being offensive to those readers of similar backgrounds.

One sensitivity reader believes that any author writing across cultures should use a sensitivity reader, especially in books for kids. I agree that accessing feedback from persons who are in the population group of your characters if different from your own is as reasonable as accessing experts in periods of history or professions used in your book.

My Opinion

I think classic literature should be left alone. It smacks of trying to rewrite history, an offense on the lips of millions today.
Advising authors on a work-in-progress is fine and can perhaps rectify one-dimensional stereotypes as well as clichés as long as the author has the final word.
As mentioned earlier with the Minotaur example, context should always be considered. If a book is a fantasy or a science fiction, it is especially important to honor that they do not usually mirror reality.
Let us all remember that when talking fiction works, fiction is defined as “literature in the form of prose that describes imaginary events and people,” who I assume cannot be offended.
The difference between censorship, such as banning books, and sensitivity readers is that censorship is the suppression of content. As long as sensitivity readers’ opinions are held to the standard of suggestions, there is no suppression.

In today’s hair-trigger, hyperreactive social media landscape, as the New York Times describes it, readers can often assume it is their job to nitpick everything they read. Sometimes you have to wonder if they took the time to enjoy the stories in the books they post about. If such “heightened scrutiny” continues, many writers of fiction will refrain from including other cultures in their writing, resulting in a more homogenized body of literature.

We want to know what you think. Do you believe books should be altered and possible offensive words and content be removed, or should the books be left as they are?

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Book Publishing – Self-Serve or Full Service?

3/29/2023

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The debate continues. Is it better for an author to self-publish or go with a small independent press? A third option is to hire a literary agent and try to get in with one of the big guns. Unfortunately, the chances of this route being successful are not too good, so 99% of us will probably stick with self-serve or full service.

But before we delve into this discussion any further, there is another venue I must mention: pay-to-publish companies.

Pay-to-Publish
A Vanity or Predatory Publisher is in business to make money off the author. So they charge ridiculously high prices and don't care about their substandard products or the authors. Yet, as long as people willingly pay their fees, the industry flourishes.

Not all pay-to-publish presses are out to get you, though. There are some Service Publishers who honestly want to help authors publish their books. However, they must charge a fee to stay in business.

The problem is weeding out the good guys from the bad guys.

There is a difference between vanity and service publishers, but neither one is worth the sizeable investment necessary for their services. The best solution is to stay away from all pay-to-publish companies.

Self-Serve or Full Service
What is the most advantageous route for you? There are advantages and disadvantages to either selection. An independent press does all the prep work necessary to publish your book but takes half of your royalties as compensation. For some folks, it's well worth the monetary sacrifice to have someone else do the editing, formatting, cover design, and publishing! A drawback to an independent publisher is the time factor. Getting your book on the market can take a few months to almost a year.

If you have the funds to pay for the services you cannot do yourself and want to keep all the royalties as well as have total control of the whole process, then self-publishing is the way to go. It's a lot of work, but help is available whenever needed. Plus, you can work on it at your own pace.

Of course, an individual's preferences determine which path to take. What works for one person may not be suitable for another. You just have to do your research and decide for yourself.

I spoke with two established authors who followed different routes during their publishing journey. Hopefully, their experiences will assist you as you wade through all the information available on the internet.

Independent Presses
Sharon Ledwith never had any interest in self-publishing. Instead, she concentrated on finding the ideal small press that worked best for her. There are many out there, and even though they offer the same services (editing, formatting, designing a book cover, and publishing), they differ in the support and attention they give to the author, as well as the quality of the books they put out.

She has worked with two small presses. The first, Musa Publishing, went out of business in 2015. Sharon says, "I would compare them to a puppy mill publisher where they would churn out as many eBooks as possible in different genres. They were helpful as far as learning the ropes about being a published author and what is expected from their authors, but that's it."

The publisher she is with now, Mirror World is totally different. According to Sharon, "They are very supportive and grounded and only publish about six books a year." Along with the typical small press services, they also pay for a virtual week-long book tour, share marketing and promotion, and will print up advertisements when Sharon requests them.

Mirror World's earnings come from 50% of the eBook’s royalties. So, the publisher has plenty of incentive to put in the work and do it right!

An added bonus of living near Mirror World's headquarters, Sharon gets to join them at book shows and art markets. She is delighted with the choice she's made and recommends small presses over self-publishing. "I love to work with a team."

Self-publishing
On the other hand, KS (Kat) Brooks disagrees. She began her writing career as a traditionally published author. At the time, that was the only choice. There was no such thing as self-publishing. Kat comments, "You got published by one of the big publishers, or you didn't get published."

Nowadays, it's a different ballgame. There are choices, yet Kat highly recommends self-publishing. She says it's available to everyone. You do all the work yourself—hire an editor, make a cover, format the books—and keep all the royalties, as opposed to sharing the royalties with a publisher.

"With all the resources available online, an author no longer needs to rely on hiring a publisher. On Indies Unlimited, we have pages on editors, cover designers, and beta readers. There are also many other resources out there as well that will guide you through the process."

As far as sales go, Kat believes some small presses price things in a way that do hold authors back. "But a lot of them have smartened up and changed their models and now try to price ebooks more competitively, but many others will not."

With all the pros and cons considered, Kat always tell authors starting out to go with self-publishing. “I mean, the real question is, why go through a middleman? Why give someone a cut of your hard work when you can do the same thing and keep all the money?"

Decisions, Decisions
Whether you're publishing your first book or your tenth, the goal is the same – produce a quality product that is well-edited, has an appealing cover, and will please your prospective readers. How that task is accomplished is up to you.

Do your homework before making a decision. Then see what fits your style and go for it. Good luck!

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Paranormal, Supernatural or Both?

3/22/2023

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Although the terms paranormal and supernatural are used interchangeably in the literary marketplace, they are not exactly the same.

All things paranormal have the possibility of perhaps being able to be duplicated in a scientific study one day or for humans to understand how they work. These phenomena include such mental abilities for humans as clairvoyance, telekinesis, psychometry, telepathy, and even faith healing to name a few.

Although many scientists do not believe in psychic abilities, there is some interest in the theory that quantum mechanics can explain psychic ability. Because quantum mechanics focuses on the things in the world that we cannot sense, such as light waves, sound waves, and those mysterious spaces, it seems the perfect approach to understanding psychic ability as well as the subconscious mind. More and more scientists who have a passion for grasping the world beyond the physical are invested in proving that scientific experiments can indeed prove the existence of psychic ability.

For those not very familiar with psychic abilities, below are a few I’ve used in my novels.

Clairvoyance (clear seeing) – the ability to see things beyond the physical sphere, like auras, spirits, and visions in the present, past and future. Clairvoyants can also see and communicate with spirits or ghosts.

Telepathy – an ability that allows mind-to-mind communication, even with animals on occasion.

Telekinesis – the ability to move objects in the physical world with one’s mind.

Psychometry – an ability that allows a person to experience visions or emotions related to a place by being present there or an object by touching it.

Clairsentience - the ability to sense energy and emotions and/or to sense past, present or future events. To be clairsentient one also has to be highly sensitive and empathetic.

Claircognizance (clear knowing) - a sense where one knows something to be correct but may be unable to back up their statement with fact or how they came to know that information.

Clairaudience (clear hearing) - the power to hear sounds said to exist beyond the reach of ordinary experience or capacity.

Writers in literature in the modern age often prefer the term paranormal if their characters are human with enhanced mental abilities. Writers often favor the term supernatural if vampires, werewolves, zombies or other such creatures are the primary characters even if they possess enhanced mental abilities, which are common with supernatural creatures.

The supernatural world includes those things which can never be proven because science has no way to prove their existence. For example, many people talk about guardian angels, but it is only faith that serves to “prove” their existence. Even the existence of one’s soul is not provable by science. Nor can we duplicate a true miracle in the lab. The supernatural easily harmonizes with religion and mythology. Both concepts work to explain or make acceptable things that aren’t really explainable or scientifically provable.

The most popular supernatural novels today include vampires, werewolves, and zombies, although there are other supernatural creatures depicted in literature. Let’s consider the pseudoscience of cryptozoology to further our understanding of how complicated defining supernatural creatures can be.

Cryptozoology
Cryptozoology is considered a pseudoscience because it does not follow the scientific method. Its name means the “study of hidden animals.” It relies mostly on anecdotal information to search for folklore animals yet to be identified, such as the Loch Ness Monster, Mothman, and Big Foot. Such animals which have yet to be identified are known as cryptids.

In 1983 John E. Wall defined cryptids this way: Cryptids are, in the most limited definition, either unknown species of animals or those that are thought to be extinct but which may have survived into modern times and await rediscovery by scientists.

Obviously, we have all seen novels utilizing folklore creatures just mentioned as the central focus of their stories. However, with the fascination for vampires and werewolves, one may wonder if they are simply supernatural or are they “hidden animals”?

Most of the “evidence” for vampires are legends, which are often depicted through folklore or even in ancient paintings on cave walls. The existence of these legends range from Mesopotamia to Egypt, Greece, Rome, Mexico, and China. Not all the forms were the same, and some drank blood while others consumed human flesh.

What about werewolves? Mythology often relates that werewolves were actually possessed old females or witches having poisonous claws. The method of identifying a werewolf from other humans also varies greatly from culture to culture. As with vampires, evidence of werewolves, other than ancient drawings and tales, provides little expectation among most scientists that they ever existed.

Still, the question remains. Could they actually be “hidden animals” or cryptids? Well, if vampires and werewolves exist at all, they are certainly “hidden,” but perhaps not in the intended meaning of a cryptid. Despite most cryptozoologists insisting their existence is more likely supernatural than hidden, there are some who disagree. The dissenters believe they are extinct creatures, which does put them in line with the definition of cryptids.

Of course, who’s to say that one of these cryptids won’t emerge at some point? Folklore isn’t always tall tales. Are you ready to encounter a vampire or a werewolf anywhere other than on the written page or the screen?

For fun, here’s an interesting article about seven known species that used to be regarded as cryptids. https://blogs.iu.edu/sciu/2020/12/12/seven-cryptids-species/

SO WHERE DOES THIS LEAVE US?

Well, it doesn’t really change anything except to offer us some interesting information to store somewhere.

Supernatural novels with vampires and werewolves and zombies are great stories. Paranormal stories where human characters have enhanced mental abilities reaching beyond established norms are also great stories.

Whether an author chooses to describe their story as paranormal or supernatural usually depends on where the emphasis is placed in their story. Keep in mind, however, there are often shades of the supernatural in paranormal stories and vice versa. I’ve read many books where I was delighted to discover there was a healthy dose of the paranormal in their supernatural tale. Both are usually subgenres of other genres, such as speculative fiction, horror, fantasy, and even romance.

If you start researching the two terms in relation to literature, you will find so many contradictions among the resources out there, it will make your head spin. So, the bottom line is that you should make sure to read the book blurb carefully if you have an aversion to either supernatural creatures or enhanced mental abilities.

Many of my novels involve what I view as paranormal in varying degrees: Second Chances, The Threads That Bind, Center Stage, Chasing Shadows, Shattered Hearts, and Unraveling Memories. I enjoy the process of writing such novels because it opens one up to the metaphysical, that is, going beyond what is known and accepted. My first two novels might be considered to be supernatural by some due to the appearance of a wolf with whom the main character communicates. However, I view them more as paranormal tales.

So, whether you’re reading a novel labeled as a supernatural tale or a paranormal tale, you have to suspend your disbelief if you want to really enjoy the story because neither mirrors what most consider normal. If you’re ready to take a step into the unknown, both await you with the promise of a great adventure.

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Circles of Freedom: a Race for Survival

2/15/2023

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It’s probably not a stretch for you to figure out what influenced the storyline of Circles of Freedom in 2018. After two years of bully tactics in the national political arena, behavior considered suitable for those serving in public office as well as those enlisted to their turn of mind presented the American people with a series of situations that promised to tear the idea of a civil society to shreds. It opened the narrative in America to horror; in other words, to actions intended to frighten, scare, or disgust people as is typical in bullying tactics. These engendered loathing among those who favored a civil society.

I was no different than others in being shocked by the rise of such violent negativity. Circles of Freedom was my way of establishing a safety valve for my own frustration and perhaps putting my two bits out there. Despite one’s political preferences, the storyline here is about people who stand strong in their belief in the democracy of America and are willing to step outside their comfort zones to protect it.

As authors, we all get feedback from persons who don’t appreciate the development of our characters. This happened to me when a reader jumped to conclusions about my female character as being weak after reading only a couple of chapters. In truth, she was simply in one of those crossroads in her life that can make one feel uncertain. This was all right with me because I believe in allowing my characters to develop psychologically. Life is a journey after all, learning from each experience. If you were already at the finish line early in life, where would be the fun in that?

So, What Is the Gist of the Story?
When Brandon Boehle creates the Circles of Freedom blogs to strike a blow for truth, he has no idea of the loss, the love, and, the chaos it will set in motion. When the dominoes start to topple, there's a race to survive for friend and foe alike.

Brandon never imagines that a mercenary hired by the President of the United States would be out to kill not only him, but his assistant Alise Winston and the professionals who are writing the blogs. What started out as a simple, though carefully safeguarded, effort to get the truth out there has put all of them in the crosshairs. He quickly realizes that his expectations of the United States government have been naïve.

The contract put out on Circles of Freedom turns out to be the least of their worries for themselves and the country. A nefarious plot is uncovered to overthrow the government, and the players believe themselves to be untouchable. Circumstances draw Brandon and Alise and all those closest to them into this dark plot. Their only hope lies in a twist of fate.

What Are People Saying?
"You truly have a gift, I'm so blessed that you are sharing it with me. I've got a feeling about this book."
"I got so involved in the story, (you did it again)! I can't put it down ... I have to keep reading to see what happens next."
""I love it!! The story is fast-paced and very well-written.”
"A must read, Dannye. Thought provoking, intense, and topical." (a former member of U.S. Foreign Service)

Where Can You Find It?
Circles of Freedom is available for purchase through Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Circles-Freedom-Dannye-Williamsen/dp/1719178305.
You can read reviews and learn more about my other works at the following sites: http://www.DannyeWilliamsen.com and https://www.SassyScribblers.com/thrillers.html/

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Find Books Recommended by Other Authors

11/18/2022

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Just wanted to take a minute and share this site with you. https://shepherd.com. It's a great place to discover books that speak to a certain fancy.

I was contacted by by Shepherd.com to share my book Second Chances and recommend five other books in the same genre that would answer a certain need. I chose the topic "The best books for helping you think outside the box." I chose this because many of my books have a paranormal twist, and I've seen people dismiss a book if it is described as paranormal before giving it a chance.

Here's the link to the promotion of Second Chances along with the five reads I chose and why.
https://shepherd.com/best-books/helping-you-step-outside-the-box

Although I don't have a book in the category of Life Satisfaction, a new topic on their site, it is a genre in which I write. You may find something there you like.
https://shepherd.com/bookshelf/life-satisfaction

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Halloween, As Old as the Ghosts

10/26/2022

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On October 31, beware of munchkin monsters, pint-size goblins, and shrunken super-heroes knocking on your door asking for treats. Have you ever wondered where "trick or treat" came from?

On Halloween, jack-o-lanterns light up dark paths and peek out of windows. So how did this tradition start?

Have you ever tried bobbing for apples? I have. Why do we put ourselves through such torture?

The origins of Halloween date back as early as the fifth century BC. The ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (sow-in) celebrated a successful harvest and the beginning of the long, cold, dark winter.

In preparation for the celebration, the Celts allowed their hearth fires to burn out while the last crops were being gathered. After the harvest was completed, Druid priests lit a communal bonfire in the center of the village, where the residents prayed, danced, and offered sacrifices to the Celtic deities. Then, villagers rekindled their hearth fires with embers from the sacred bonfire to protect their families from harm during the uncertain days and nights to follow.

The Celts believed the veil between the worlds of the living and the dead opened during Samhain. Ancestors and other spirits were expected to cross over and stir up trouble. To keep the fairies away from their homes, the Celts left offerings outside the village. To prevent the ghosts from kidnapping any living beings, the villagers dressed up in animal skins and heads, disguising themselves as monsters.

After the Romans took control of Britain, they merged the Samhain festival with two of their own. On the last day of October, the festival of Feralia commemorates the passing of the dead.

The festival of Pomona honors the Roman goddess of fruit and trees. Her sacred symbol was the apple. Part of the celebration was to grab hold of a dangling apple without using any hands, hence the origin of bobbing for apples.

Many years later, the early Christians discovered they couldn't stop pagan celebrations, so they replaced them with religious alternatives. To replace the Celtic/Roman celebration of the dead, November 1 was designated All Saints Day to honor Christian saints and martyrs. The night before turned into All Hallows Eve.

I'm sure you can figure out the rest of the tale from there.

Other Halloween Traditions
I wonder if the first Celt who stuck an animal skull over his head ever realized he was starting a fad that'd still be practiced a couple of thousand years later. Of course, the celebration has changed over the centuries. I'm glad we've advanced from wearing animal hides and heads and no longer really believe that fairies and spirits come out to play on October 31. (They don't, do they?)

In any case, during its transition from a Druid ritual to a night of fun for the kids, Halloween has also picked up a hodge-podge of other traditions.

Trick or Treat came from the Irish peasants going from door-to-door begging for soul cakes. Failure to supply soul cakes resulted in fairies being set loose to play tricks and harass the unlucky victims.

According to Irish folklore, a character named Jack was a terrible person, always playing tricks and making trouble everywhere he went. He even tricked Satan into climbing a tree and trapped him there by carving a cross in the bark. Jack would not let the Devil out of the tree until he promised never to tempt Jack again for the rest of his life.

When Jack died, he was not allowed into Heaven because of his evil ways. He was not permitted in Hell either because of the nasty trick he played on Satan. Instead, Satan gave Jack a single ember to light his way through the eternal darkness. The ember was placed inside a hollowed-out turnip to make it glow longer. Jack now bore the name of "Jack of the Lantern."

When the Irish brought this tale to America in the 1800s, the turnip was replaced with a pumpkin. Then, somewhere along the line, a crude face was carved in the pumpkin creating the Jack-o-lantern we all know and love.

What I love most about Halloween are the ghost stories. Some of the tales, myths, and legends have survived for eons, like the story of Jack. Others are more modern and easier to believe. I mean, who would ever walk around carrying a turnip instead of a flashlight?

I like all kinds of spooky tales, except horror stories. They're just downright too scary for my taste.

Here are a few of my favorites:

For children
Patchy and Calico’s Ghostly Adventure by Greta Burroughs
Corduroy's Best Halloween Ever! by Don Freeman and Lisa McCue
The Berenstain Bears Trick or Treat by Stan and Jan Berenstain
Trick or Treat, Little Critter by Mercer Meyer
Peter Rabbit and the Pumpkin Patch by Beatrix Potter
What Was I Scared Of? by Dr. Suess
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Cara Stevens
Clifford's Halloween by Norman Bridwell

For middle grade, teens, young adults, and adults
Coraline by Neil Gaiman
Kiwi series by Vickie Johnstone
Dracula by Bram Stoker
Hallowe’en Party by Agatha Christie
Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
The Complete Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe by Edgar Allan Poe

How about you? What are your favorite Halloween stories?

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Writers Step Into Reality Television Genre

10/12/2022

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Kwame Alexander, Host

Full disclosure: I am not a fan of so-called reality TV. First of all, it’s not reality. Second, the plethora of these shows is all about competition. Some of the game shows are entertaining for those who like games. The productions which follow people in their private lives are pure theater, but their out-of-control behaviors, the backstabbing, and the emphasis on winning no matter what (all for ratings) do not create desirable role models whose behavior should be emulated.

The Real World in 1992 was one of the earliest “modern reality shows” when ordinary people were presented rather than characters. It was cheaper for the producers than what is usually involved in producing a scripted, character-driven show with actors. Survivor catapulted the reality show concept into a phenomenon in 2000, followed by Big Brother in 2001. It created a thirst for competition where winning is all that matters.

People watch and/or participate in reality shows for various reasons. Psychologists say wish fulfillment is a number one reason for many participants, either in terms of career advancement or financial gain. Many watch celebrity reality shows because it somehow makes the celebrities more relatable. Others watch the drama-driven shows because watching others being humiliated makes them feel superior.

So, What Does This Have to Do with Books?

Well, believe it or not, someone has figured out a way to join the fray by pulling in amateur writers (who are obviously desperate to be noticed) to audition for ... wait for it! ... America’s Next Great Author. That’s right! They will have one minute to pitch their book idea to a panel of publishing experts. The six winners all get to live together at the Writer’s Retreat for 30 days during which time “these talented amateurs have to start their books from scratch on day one of the Retreat and finish the novel by the end of the thirty days.” But wait, they also have to participate in storytelling challenges and work with mentors to develop their stories while learning how to market and promote their books. Not sure how much time the extracurricular activities leave for writing from the heart.

Okay, so Arielle Eckstut and David Sterry who are behind this new reality show also co-founded Pitchapalooza (Book Doctors) 15 years ago. It appears to be the model for America’s Next Best Author. With Pitchapalooza a hopeful writer gets 250 words to pitch their book. Twenty are chosen to have their pitches critiqued on a live webinar. The winner receives an introduction to an agent or publisher appropriate for their future manuscript.

I have no problem with Pitchapalooza. The issues I have with the proposed reality show are 1) being forced to write your book in 30 days while meeting all the other challenges noted, and 2) having to live “Big Brother-style” with five other writers while trying to find a creative space to write.

Being an introvert may color my perspective on the close quarters situation, but being forced to write a book in 30 days with all the interruptions going on is not something I could support. I do realize that some writers today believe if they spend more than six weeks working on a book that it’s a sign they need to pursue another profession (read this on a social media writers’ group).

Bottom line: This would not be my cup of tea, but I’m sure it will have as many participants and watchers as all the other reality shows gracing the airwaves.

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Literary & Character Tropes

6/30/2022

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We talked about story tropes last month, but I’d like to address literary and character tropes.

Literary tropes include tools, such as irony, allegory, metaphor, and metonym. These tools are utilized to elevate one’s writing. Metaphors occur quite often in fiction as a means of enriching a commonplace situation. They can help the reader see things in a new light and help the writer succeed in showing, not telling.

A Character trope is another type of trope. Certain character tropes allow the writer to build characters more easily because of the intrinsic expectations of the reader for that type character. We often hear people referring to a trope as a cliché. However, just because a trope has been used often does not make it a cliché. A cliché occurs when a trope is used poorly. In other words, the writer makes no effort to round out their character with his/her own unique characteristics, but rather displays a 2D version of a known trope.

Character tropes can be rounded out by having your character, who may be identified by a specific trope, be portrayed with an unexpected gender or race or displaying quirky passions usually not related to that character trope.

There are certain of these that are considered best left alone unless the effort is made to round out the character. Examples are the action hero, the hostile boss, damsel in distress, the woman looking for love. You get the idea. With these character tropes, it is so easy to fall into the expected format, which can leave a story flat.

Tropes are often mistakenly called Archetypes. The difference between an archetype and a trope is the difference between a role and a personality. Roles can utilize many personalities, whereas a trope is a personality. A good trope is a personality which has been rounded out to give it uniqueness.

An archetype is the “original pattern from which copies are made.” There are many archetypes from which character tropes are formed: the ally, the sidekick, the hero, the mentor, the nemesis, to name a few. Looking at these examples, it is easy to see how creating unique personalities to align with these roles, these archetypes, definitely enhances a story.

As a reader, the characters you encounter in books may seem familiar to you sometimes, but it is not always the fault of poorly-used tropes. The one thing which provides a commonality across most characters and readers is emotion. No matter who we are, we each possess similar emotions. We don’t necessarily all express them in the same way, which is a result of our unique personalities. However, I know I have encountered a number of characters with whom I totally resonated. The writers were not lax in rounding out their characters. I resonated because I could relate to their attitudes, their emotional responses to situations. Some characters I enjoy, but their personalities are worlds apart from mine. This also can play a role in why a certain book appeals to some and not to others.

Are you open to allowing a story to develop the characters or do you assume it’s the same old same old?

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Avid Readers: Do We Have to Read the Classics?

6/9/2022

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I consider myself an avid reader. I am addicted to the written word. Like others afflicted with the same disease, my obsession manifested itself at a young age. When I was a teenager, I greatly annoyed my mother whenever we had company. No, I didn’t hide in my bedroom and read, even though that’s what I wanted to do. Instead, I sat on the couch with my nose buried in a book, paying more attention to it than to our guests.

And to this day, the urge to hide behind the pages of a book and ignore monotonous chatter is still there. However, I have it under control – most of the time.

What kind of sickness is this? The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) quantifies an avid reader as someone who reads 50 or more books a year. Wow, that’s almost a book a week! Sorry, I read a lot but not that much. In a 2017 survey, the NEA discovered that not many people do; only five percent of readers met that requirement.

A more straightforward definition describes avid readers more realistically. It states that people suffering from this addiction read as much as they can, whenever they can. That’s more my speed.

A few months ago, I saw a comment in a Facebook reader’s group that insisted an avid reader should also be well-read. She questioned the validity of one reading only sci-fi or Harlequin romances as being equal to another person reading “real” literature such as Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, Les Miserables, or Frankenstein. She went on to say that readers need to have a selection of classics included in their “have read” collection alongside a mix of modern novels and nonfiction to be considered an avid reader.

Pardon me, but is there some kind of competition no one told me about? Does a person have to read Jane Austen or Louisa May Alcott to join the ranks of booklovers? How do you prove it? I could claim to have read Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, and no one would know if that were true or not.

Actually, a 2013 study uncovered that more than 60 percent of people lie about reading classic novels. Fortunately, in this case, I’m not one of them. I really did read Frankenstein. Other than that, though, I’ve been fickle in the traditional literature department. In high school and college, I waded through Moby Dick, Scarlet Letter, The Red Badge of Courage, The Brothers Karamazov, The Great Gatsby, and other required reading. However, I don’t remember one thing about them.
For pleasure, I’ve read an assortment of books by Mark Twain, Ernest Hemingway, Charles Dickens, and many other famous authors. Yet again, I couldn’t tell you anything about the books.
While researching this article, the idea occurred to me that maybe I should reconsider the types of books I devour. Instead of the cozy mysteries, fantasies, or historical fiction I generally turn to, perhaps I should try a classic or two.

According to expert opinions expressed on the worldwide web, the older literary works open a window to different worlds, cultures, and historical perspectives from the past. They’re more challenging than modern-day fiction and will make me feel better about myself once I have completed something more thought-provoking.

So, on a whim, I uploaded some old classics to my Kindle.

Little Women and Jane Eyre were pretty good. In Little Women, the dialog was unrealistic, and the plot moved along at a snail’s pace, but that was the writing style during the late 1800s. Jane Eyre was faster-paced and more interesting. At any rate, I did enjoy the stories.

One thing annoyed me, though. The attitude towards women bothered me immensely. So, when the same demeaning behavior repeated itself in the first chapter of Pride and Prejudice, I gave up on these classics and went back to solving crimes with Detective Chief Inspector so-and-so in my five-volume whodunit series.

I haven’t completely given up on the classics, though. I still have a few old tomes stored in my Kindle waiting for whenever I get the notion to expand my mind and dive backward into a forgotten dimension of time.

Until then, I’ll stick to my modern novels for my evening’s relaxation and entertainment.

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Writers Step Into Reality Television Genre

Literary & Character Tropes

Avid Readers: Do We Have to Read the Classics?

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