Do People Read Anymore? by Mary Davis

Mary Davis

With the advent of television, radio, computers, video games, and smart phones, do people read anymore?

Of Americans, 78% read at least one book a year. Only one? How sad. What’s even sadder is 22% don’t even read one! But the good news is 78% are reading!

The average number of books read or listened to by American adults in a year is twelve. Since this is an average, some adults were closer to the one book a year mark, while many others were reading far, far more than twelve to have this average as high as twelve, because this includes that 22% who read zero. Having so many voracious readers out there is good news for us authors.

How much time do those 78% of people spend reading? According to a 2017 survey, Americans spent an average of 16.8 minutes a day on leisure reading. This is how it breaks down by gender and age for the average minutes per day.

Gender
~~Women — 19.2
~~Men — 13.2

Age
~~15-19 — 8.4
~~20-34 — 6.6
~~35-44 — 9.6
~~45-54 — 12.6
~~55-64 — 18
~~65-74 — 34.8
~~75+ — 51

Those numbers seem low but understandable with our busy, fast-paced lives. The lowest number for the 20–34 age range makes sense because these are common years to have small children. It’s hard to find time to breathe some days, let alone read. As people’s children get older and move out (hopefully), there is more time to read for fun. Something to look forward to.

But for us writers, the number of minutes is closer to zero if not zero, zilch, zip, none, nada. Now before you get too upset, hear me out. What author can read another author’s novel and not analyze it or pick up some little tidbit to help them in their own writing? Reading fiction is no longer a leisure activity. It just isn’t. Same goes for reading non-fiction, magazines, or even a recipe. Everything goes into the writing mill. An author never knows from whence an idea will spring. Because we write, no activity is leisure, not even TV, or going to the movies. Not even a ride in an ambulance after a car accident. But that’s an entirely different story.

An author never knows what is going to spark into a raging flame of a story. Becoming an author means giving up leisure reading. I have tried to read just for pleasure, and I can’t. But that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy reading. It’s just no longer a leisure sport . . . but neither is it work.:)

Do People Read Anymore? by Mary Davis #amreading #amwriting

The Daughter's Predicament

The Daughter's Predicament
Book 2 in the Quilting Circle series

Can a patient love win her heart?

As Isabelle Atwood’s romance prospects are turning in her favor, a family scandal derails her dreams. While making a quilt for her own hope chest, Isabelle’s half-sister becomes pregnant out of wedlock and Isabelle—always the unfavored daughter—becomes the family sacrifice to save face. Despite gaining the attention of a handsome rancher, her parents are pressuring her to marry a man of their choosing to rescue her sister’s reputation. A third suitor waits silently in the wings, hoping for his own chance at love.

Isabelle ends up with three marriage proposals, but this only further confuses her decision. A handsome rancher, a stranger, and an unseen suitor are all waiting for an answer. Isabelle loves her sister, but will she really allow herself to be manipulated into a marriage without love? Will Isabelle capitulate and marry the man her parents wish her to, or will she rebel and marry the man they don’t approve of? Or will the man leaving her secret love poems sweep her off her feet?




MARY DAVIS is a bestselling, award-winning novelist of over thirty titles in both historical and contemporary themes. She is the author of The Widow’s Plight (Book 1 in the Quilting Circle series), “Zola’s Cross-Country Adventure” in The MISSAdventure Brides Collection, “Holly & Ivy” in A Bouquet of Brides Collection, The Prodigal Daughters series from Love Inspired, and Newlywed Games. Coming in 2019, The Daughter’s Predicament (Book 2 in the Quilting Circle series) and “Bygones” in Thimbles and Threads. She’s a member of ACFW and active in critique groups. Mary lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband of over thirty-four years and two cats. She has three adult children and two incredibly adorable grandchildren.

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Watching TV While God Builds My Life

God says a wise man builds a house on rock instead of sand. Sometimes I think God's talking about building the books we're writing. (Matthew 7:24-27)

The problem is, I’d much rather build my manuscript on sand. Hot sand. Under the blazing sun beside the ocean. With a sweating glass of sweet tea propped on the beach beside my blanket.

Sunday school’s indefatigable flannelboard ingrained the rock and sand illustration in my mind, but I've missed something big.

God wasn't talking about manuscripts. Okay, that's a given. But He is directing us toward two facts: What to build on, rock or sand, and just as important—

Both dudes in the story were building.

Jesus wasn’t discussing city building codes or radical engineering theory. These were lives He talked about building.

"Mr. Leavell, we're to wait on the Lord! Psalm 127—Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it!" Good point. Watch TV while God builds your life! I so wish that's what He means.

The message is clear. You let God inside your life, your soul, and God is actively working in you while you do the labor. 

In essence: This book isn't going to write itself.

And you're not getting any smarter—or more useful—sitting around waiting.

I see a lot of Christians waiting on the Lord. Waiting for something, anything, to happen. They're not building. 

Waiting through our trials is how waiting works (Psalm 27:14 and Isaiah 40:31). Trials are intended to strengthen your building efforts and deepen your character (James 1), like mosquito bites and eating healthy food and scratchy pajamas. 

Trials build, and it's you who decides if you're building on the rock or sand. 

Writing a manuscript is a trial. I think that's found in 3 Peter, but don't quote me.

What does building look like for a writer? Here's a peek into my life to show how I'm building, in case you wanted to pattern yourself after a 39 year-old male who's an award winning writer that can't find where he put the trophies.

—Turn off the TV. Unless there's baseball on, then work and watch.

—Study Christ's life with all the passion in your being. Christ says those who hear His sayings and do them are likened to the person building a house on rock.

—Write. The book isn’t going to come to you on golden tablets. Write something. Every day. A journal, a blog, a social media post, a short story, a novel. Write.

—Read. Read widely. Read the Bible. Read philosophy. Read theology. Read history. Read science. Read everything C.S. Lewis wrote. Read Notes from the Tilt-a-Whirl by N.D. Wilson and tell me what you think. Also read authors that use their first name instead of initials. Read classics. Build your mind.

—Build your body. Exercise. Walk. Run. Hike. Yoga. Go places. 

—Do things. Experience life. You get one. I've lived longer than my brother did, so every moment I get here is a gift. Cherish the people you love, and who love you!

—Market like Christ did while trudging through His life—go where the people are. Stop whining and connect with people on social media. Go to church. Be a witness to the entire world by talking about your book. Blog blog blog. Share the good news at conferences, at work, and in the gym. Sing your message at the top of your lungs.

—Use your God-given talent. Are you saying your only talent is writing? Nonsense. Are you a good organizer? Use that for your advantage. Can you problem solve? Focus on making things sticky for your characters and solve their problems. Do you like to cook? Cook! Then use your experiences in a book. Be a better person by working your other talents, and your books will reflect your efforts!

Carefully, thoughtfully build your career. Build your life. Make sure you build on the Rock, and keep building. Never stop learning. Never quit. And never take your eyes off Christ.

Ha! I just found my trophies. I'd moved them to make room for more history books.

~~~~~

Peter Leavell is an award winning historical fiction author.

He and his family research together, creating magnificent adventures. Catch up with him on his website at www.peterleavell.com, or friend him on Facebook: 

Peter R. Leavell.

~~~~~

If You’re Writing, You Better be Reading! by Susan Tuttle

I recently attended the writer’s conference Breathe in West Michigan where the keynote speaker was Stephen James. (Side note: if you ever get to hear him speak, don’t pass up the opportunity!) After the Friday night closing session, Stephen entered into a conversation with a group about whether or not writers should be reading the Classics.  

Now, I wasn’t there for this conversation—though a friend of mine was—so I’m not revealing his answer. I am, however, stating the overall answer everyone around that table agreed with: If you’re a writer, you better be reading. 

As writers we are all too often consumed by our writing. And rightfully so, it takes a huge bulk of time. If we have family, work another job, or basically have any other life outside of our writing desks, then finding the time to read on top of writing can seem impossible. Yet we need to make sure we are building that time into our schedules somehow. 

Why? Because reading feeds our imagination. It keeps us dreaming, and that’s a vital component to writing. Reading also allows us to widen our voice, whether through learning new tools we come across that we’d like to implement or steering us away from ones that didn’t work. It also deepens our vocabulary, both in actual words and style. If we see writers pulling off unique metaphors or stylish imagery, it pushes us to strive for the same. We dig deeper. Work harder. Edit longer.  

But best of all? When we continue the role of reader, we see words through another spectrum. We see their impact, and we know we want ours to be as powerful. Bottom line? Reading allows us to retain the wonder of the written word. When we’re filled with that, friends, we can’t help but pass it on to our own readers. 

So whatever you do, don’t stop reading. 

****

Susan Tuttle

Susan Tuttle is a homeschooling mom of three who is crazy about coffee, dark chocolate, and words—both reading and writing them. Combine that love of words with her passion for leading women to a life-changing encounter with Christ, and you’ll find her crafting Inspirational Contemporary Romance stories laced with humor, love, and healing transformations. When not cheering on her Ironman hubby, chasing the family dog, or tackling complex math problems to teach her kids (yes, even the third grader), you can catch Susan at her blog, Steps.

When You Need to Recharge by Dora Hiers

Dora Hiers

Struggling to find a job? Feeling stomped on by co-workers? Going through marital problems? Family discord. Rebellious children. Financial challenges. Medical issues. Or maybe you just lost a precious family member or friend. All while trying to write.

You name it, and we’ve probably all faced it at some point. Pressure gains momentum as a culmination of events and issues take turns with their punches. Or it could be one major incident that knocks us until we’re staggering backward like a fighter in a boxing ring, squeezing the breath from our lungs until our vision blurs, the voices around us fading into oblivion. And words? They tumble through our head, round and round, but no coherent strings make their way onto the page.

We each handle stress differently. Some people thrive on it. Others tug the blanket back over their head and sleep. I tend to...

Run! Not run away because that doesn’t solve any problems. But run to the mountains. 

Peace speaks to my soul here. Whispers that everything’s going to be all right, that life is more than writing and books. That God is in control and that He’s infinitely greater than anything I'm facing. Being here brings God more into focus, and the pressure lifts. I can breathe deep again, liberated from the chains of worry that squeeze my chest.

If we can’t break away for a weekend, this is where I run…

Sometimes all I can manage is this...

Not quite the same, but it’s nice to escape my desk and the mountain of tasks demanding my attention and slip away for a few minutes.

This year has been crazy busy. Long hours hunched over my laptop, trying to keep the momentum going with my current work-in-progress and the extra writing related to market five books. You know how, at times, events just keep piling on your calendar until suddenly you've lost control? That was me this year, somewhere about April. I definitely needed a recharge, so we headed for the mountains over a long weekend.

How do you handle stress? Are you a "runner?" Where do you go to recharge?
I'll be in and out of Internet service for the next couple of weeks (recharging! :) ), but will check back and respond to all comments when I return. Wishing you a glorious weekend!

He will keep in perfect peace all those who trust in him,

whose thoughts turn often to the Lord! ~Isaiah 26:3 TLB

He's my yesterday, my tomorrow, my today.

He's my redeemer, my hiding place, my refuge.

He's the grace who covers a multitude of wrongs, the beauty in my ugly, the bridge to forever.

He's the restorer of my soul, the quiet in my storm, the still water of perfect peace.

He's my champion, my hero, my rock.

He's the sweet spot in my day, my reason for being,

my very next breath. ~Dora Hiers

Purchase Link

Deputy City Manager Burk Harmon has always been the strong one for his family, but recently those responsibilities have dwindled. When Lacie Heatherton, Assistant Director for Parks and Recreation, ropes him into a city-sponsored trip to the mountains with fifty seniors, Burk has two things on his mind: considering a possible promotion and wooing Lacie past friendship and into a future. Lacie has emotional scars and a thirteen-year-old daughter to remind her that men can be cruel and unforgiving. Can Burk convince Lacie to relax her "no dating" policy or will he surrender his dreams of family and love?

Dora Hiers is a multi-published author of Heart Racing, God-Gracing romances. She’s a member of RWA and her local chapter, Carolina Romance Writers. Connect with her on Seriously Write, Fiction Faith & Foodies, Twitter, Facebook or Pinterest.

Shut it down! by Dora Hiers

I know, I know. I'm not Terri. lol. Hi everybody! Terri and I are swapping spots today. Look for her post on Thursday, June 25, and you got me today. :)

"Once upon a time..." in the Land of Nascarville lived a persistent writer who was enjoying happily ever after with her Prince Charming. She cranked out inspirational romances by day and dreamed of one day seeing her name on the cover of one of the many novels she blazed through in the evenings, sometimes two, three books a week with nary a blink.

Then, one day her dream came true. Oh, glorious day, that morning when she woke to find the email in her inbox. "We want your book!"

Suddenly, her workdays lingered into evenings. So immersed in learning the publishing lingo, diving into the world of social media, creating memes (what in heaven's name is a meme?), and writing blog posts, the books stacked up on her kindle with not so much as a sync to load.

She crawled through books at a snail's pace, dwindling to less than two books a month. Not so the list of books she wanted to read. Oh no, that list grew and grew, until it rivaled Jack's beanstalk. Many evenings the laptop replaced the kindle that used to perch on her thighs.

Items from her to-do list ricocheted in her head, refusing to shut down. Edits. Galleys. Memes. Social Media. Marketing. Publicity. Finding a home for her latest series, and ideas for the next, the characters crying out to come to life.

When she finally sank into her recliner most nights, she dusted off her kindle and caressed the cover, longing to fire it up, but a dozen items on that list jockeyed for position. Book? Blog post? Design a meme? Catch up on social media? So much to do, so much to do, but what to do first, and when?

She stole a glance at her prince, hoping for advice, but his head was bent over a laptop, too. :)

Does this hit home for you? In this age of constant connectivity with tablets and smartphones where immediate responses are expected, do you find it challenging to "shut it down?" Do you turn off the light in your office and lock the door or shut down the laptop and refuse to fire it back up until morning? And writers thrive on ideas. How do you turn off the "idea light bulb" for a time? Do you use a particular toggle to switch from "live streaming" to "on demand?" Leave a comment. I'd love to know!

May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; 

establish the work of our hands, yes, establish the work of our hands. ~Ps 90:17

****

Purchase Link

Still stinging from the publicity surrounding her father's death, social phobic Rori Harmon prefers the solitude of her animal sanctuary, accepting that marriage isn’t in her future. Racecar Driver Graham Decker refuses to be wrangled into a relationship by another money-hungry female. On a philanthropy mission, he arrives just in time to assist Rori with a llama birthing, but his appearance thrusts her into the media spotlight again. Has Graham found a woman who doesn't care how deep his wallet extends? Has Rori finally met a man who will stick around when times get tough? Is healing for a hurting heart finally within Rori's reach?

Dora Hiers is a multi-published author of Heart Racing, God-Gracing romances. She’s a member of RWA and her local chapter, Carolina Romance Writers. Connect with her on Seriously Write, her personal blog, Twitter, Facebook or Pinterest.

The Power of Story by Heidi Chiavaroli

Heidi Chiavaroli

Story is powerful.

I’m not the only one claiming this fact. Now, science is backing up the assertion that story has the ability to change the way we think, to change the way we even act.

At a writer’s retreat a couple years back, I listened to an inspiring presentation by author Tessa Afshar, in which she spoke of the incredible power of story. As I tried to pull together this blog post, I berated myself for not taking notes. Lucky for me a search online brought up a 2012 New York Times article by Annie Murphy Paul, in which she explores Your Brain On Fiction.

“The brain, it seems, does not make much of a distinction between reading about an experience and encountering it in real life; in each case, the same neurological regions are stimulated,” Paul writes.

When we read of metaphors, textures, and scents imparted to us in rich words, the same places of our brain that are stimulated when actually experiencing these things are roused when we read them. 

A powerful story can even go beyond this. The same way the brain responds to smells and textures as if we were truly experiencing them, so the brain also responds to a character’s heartaches, happiness, and frustrations as if they are our own. We can learn from make-believe characters. We can become more empathetic to those around us. We can hone our social skills simply by picking up a book.

Wow. Great news for those of us who already love a good story.

As I read this scientific evidence, I thought of the Master Storyteller. Many times, Jesus taught with a story. The Parable of the Lost Sheep certainly has a deeper impact on His listeners than if Jesus simply said, “God loves the lost with a passion you can’t imagine.”

Instead, we can see ourselves in that story—alone and afraid, and yes, as a sheep! It doesn’t matter. God made His point in this story and many others, as well as in His entire Word—one huge, beautiful story of His love for us.

So I don’t know about you, but next time I’m wrapped up in a good novel I won’t feel quite so guilty about the laundry not getting done. After all, I’m not just reading. I’m improving my social skills. I’m relishing a creation. I’m becoming a more empathetic person.          

And who can argue with the power behind that?

****

Heidi Chiavaroli writes History Woven in Grace. She is a wife, mother, disciple, and grace-clinger. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and has finaled in the Genesis contest and My Book Therapy’s Frasier contest.
 

Characters by Terri Weldon

Terri Weldon

A good character can make or break a book. Like most authors, I love to read – voraciously. A lot of the time how well I like the book depends on the characters. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying the other elements of a novel aren’t important, but a great plot with a dud or creep for a character just doesn’t do it for me. I’m sure the same is true for you.

Obviously we all want our story people to be memorable. So what do we need to imbibe our characters with to make people fall in love with them? Or hate them? Hey, like it or not some fictional folks stick with us because of how wickedly awful they are. Can anyone say Norman Bates? But I’m digressing here.

Years ago I read a book where the hero had helped out a restaurant owner with a loan. The owner kept the hero’s name on a special list, always had a table for him. That hero fell in love and at one point in the book he treats the heroine atrociously, accuses her of betraying him when everyone knows she’d never do such a thing. With no place to turn she goes to the restaurant and collapses. The owner tells the hero he’s off the list. It’s probably been twenty-five years since I first read that book. I still have it on my shelf and from time to time that story pops into my mind.

Why? Because of how wickedly cruel the hero treated her.

There are other reasons, good reasons, characters take up residence in our minds: fierce loyalty, quirkiness, animal lover, unusual hobbies/careers, and gentleness.

I can think of favorite books to cover all those traits. Needless to say, many of those books were written by favorite authors. Top selling authors. Two good reasons to pay close attention to the characters in your novels.

So, let’s have a mini-brainstorming session. Leave a comment and tell me who your favorite character is and why. Keep in mind, it doesn’t necessarily have to be the hero or heroine. I have a book where I absolutely love my villain – and he is bad to the bone.

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Purchase Link

Misty Winslow is determined to find her prince, and she meets the man of her dreams through an Internet dating service. Or is he, because the new dentist in town also sets her heart aflutter.

It's love at first sight for Tyler Davenport, but before he can finish his first root canal, Misty is involved in an exclusive online romance with Wes99—Tyler’s online persona. How can he tell her he’s the man she’s been waiting to meet, and how rational is it for him to be jealous of Wes99! Soon Tyler's pulling out all the stops to woo Misty.

As Christmas approaches, Wes99 and Tyler both ask her to meet them under the mistletoe. Which man will she choose?

Terri is a lead analyst by day and an author by night. She enjoys gardening, reading, and playing in the hand bell choir. One of her favorite pastimes is volunteering as the librarian at her church. It allows her to shop for books and spend someone else’s money! Plus, she has the great joy of introducing people to Christian fiction.

She lives with her family in Oklahoma. Terri has three dogs – a lovable mutt and two adorable Westies.

Terri is a member of ACFW and OCFW, a local chapter of ACFW. Her dream of becoming a published novelist came true in November 2013 when Mistletoe Magic, released from White Rose Publishing. To learn more about Terri visit her website at www.TerriWeldon.com.