Reader Interview - Lynette M. Burrows

What Reader Holly Wants

Reader Questionnaire: What Reader Holly Wants

(With a tip of the hat to the Inside the Actor’s Studio)

First Name: Holly

Age: 43

Occupation: writer, editor, printing/publishing account manager

What occupation (other than yours) would you like to try? milliner

What sound or noise do you love? rain

What sound or noise do you hate? mouth noises

What is your favorite word? le bon mot, whatever that may be in a given moment.

Fiction or Nonfiction? Mostly nonfiction these days. Once I got fiction sufficiently deconstructed to where I could write it, it kind of lost its appeal.

Genre? What’s that?

Ebook, audio book, or physical book? Physical, always. For fiction I like paperbacks because they’re light and compact and I don’t have to worry about tearing them up. But for research/nonfiction books I like hardbacks because I want them to last. I will sometimes read short fiction or articles digitally but I find I don’t retain the content well.

What makes you choose a book to read? For fiction, the voice of the prose. I choose nonfic based on subject matter, but a more readable title is preferable over a dry flavorless title on the same subject. No need to suffer while I’m learning.

Recommendation? The Poisoner’s Handbook by Deborah Blum

What makes you put down a book? Clunky prose. Being talked down to. Gaffes in logic.

What are you reading now? White Trash: The 400‑Year Untold History of Class in America by Nancy Isenberg

Do you re-read books? Yes. Fiction-wise I mostly reread things I read years ago.

All time favorite book? Charmed Life by Diana Wynne Jones.

http://theliteraryassassin.blogspot.com/

I write gothic westerns, dark fantasy, and noir.

Literary representation by Jennifer Jackson at Donald Maass Literary Agency.

Hi, Lynette here. Thank you, Holly! Interesting that re-read books are ones you read years ago. Mine, too.

Readers, if you are into gothic westerns Holly’s prequel and book are sure to please. I love her main characters and their interactions. Click on one of the images below to check them out on Amazon. (No, these are not affiliate links)

Did you enjoy this reader interview? Have you read the previous ones? If not visit them now. Mine, Rob Chilson, Sarah Worrell, Jess Witkins, and Cindy Baker.

This finishes up the reader interviews. I hope you found it fun and interesting.

Thank you for visiting!

What Reader Cindy Wants

Earlier, I asked readers to fill out a questionnaire about their likes and dislikes. Several folks answered. This post is what reader Cindy wants.

Reader Questionnaire: What Reader Cindy Wants
(With a tip of the hat to the Inside the Actor’s Studio)

First Name: Cindy

Gender: Female

Age Range: 61+

Occupation: Teacher/Reading Specialist (retired from full time; have tutoring business)

What occupation (other than yours) would you like to try? Vet tech – something where I could work with animals

What sound or noise do you love? The sound of a Native American flute across the canyons in Arizona

What sound or noise do you hate? Voices filled with hatred, people yelling at each other

What is your favorite word? Jesus

Fiction or Nonfiction? I like and read both…If I have to choose, I might lean toward fiction.

Genre? Historical fiction. (for nonfiction, spiritual writing)

Ebook, audio book, or physical book? Physical book!

What makes you choose a book to read? Author? Cover? Blurb? I consider all of these. I’m a reading teacher with pre-reading skills. Lol. (Again, if forced to choose, I’d go with blurb.)

What makes you put down a book? graphic violence, glorification of what I believe to be lack of morality

What are you reading now? The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel

Do you re-read books? If it’s been a very long time since I’ve read the book – except for the children’s books I read over and over.

All time favorite book:? Although for older elementary to middle school, this is a powerful, moving statement about the tragic side effects of war (true story, WWII, Japan). I have never read it aloud without crying. Faithful Elephants, A True Story of Animals, People and War, by Yukio Tsuchiya

If heaven exists, what would you want St. Peter to say? I know heaven exists, and I want to hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” (Although I especially want to hear this from the Lord.)

Hi, it’s Lynette here. Apologies to Cindy for delaying this post by a day. Cindy and I have know each other for a few years. Well, it feels like high school was just a few years ago.

Great answers, Cindy. Your favorite sound is a lovely, lovely sound. And isn’t it interesting that Cindy is also hooked by the blurb (among all the other things)? Thank you for participating.

Did you enjoy this reader interview? Have you read the previous ones? If not visit them now. Mine, Rob Chilson, Sarah Worrell, and Jess Witkins.

Would you like to be included in this series? Click here to download the Reader Interview as a pdf. Click here for the Reader Interview as a word document.

Once again, thank you for visiting!

What Reader Jess Wants

Reader Questionnaire: What Reader Jess Wants

(With a tip of the hat to the Inside the Actor’s Studio)

First Name: Jess

Gender: Female

Occupation: Library Assistant, Writer

What occupation (other than yours) would you like to try? Voice over artist

What sound or noise do you love? The turning of a page

What sound or noise do you hate? My husband’s electric toothbrush

What is your favorite word? All of them

Fiction or Nonfiction? nonfiction

Genre? memoir

Ebook, audio book, or physical book? Audio book

What makes you choose a book to read? Author? Cover? Blurb? The blurb.

Recommendation? The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

What makes you put down a book? If I just really can’t get into it.

What are you reading now? Last Bus to Wisdom by Ivan Doig

Do you re-read books? Not really. Maybe parts of them.

All time favorite book? Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

If heaven exists, what would you want St. Peter to say? We’ve missed you.

Jess Witkins: Writer. Blogger. Sometimes funny. Making pathetic look cool since 1985. 🙂

Jess is a seasoned event planner, director, and producer. She is the owner of Witkins Productions, LLC.

Jess reads a lot and currently challenged herself to “A Year of Reading.” See more on her website here.

Hi, it’s Lynette here. Great answers, Jess. I love your favorite sound! And isn’t it interesting that Jess is hooked by the blurb? Thank you for participating.

Did you enjoy this reader interview? Have you read the previous ones? If now visit them now. Mine, Rob Chilson, and Sarah Worrell.

Would you like to be included in this series? Click here to download the Reader Interview as a pdf. Click here for the Reader Interview as a word document.

Once again, thank you for visiting!

What Does Reader Sarah Want?

Reader Interview: What Does Reader Sarah Want?

(With a tip of the hat to the Inside the Actor’s Studio)

First Name: Sarah

Gender: F

Age Range: 21-40

Occupation: peer tutor at the JCCC Writing Center

What occupation (other than yours) would you like to try? Fiction and poetry writer

What sound or noise do you love? Purring cat

What sound or noise do you hate? Insistent meowing of cat wanting to go outside

What is your favorite word? Bizarre

Fiction or Nonfiction? Fiction

Genre? Speculative fiction, but paranormal urban fantasy is a particular favorite.

Ebook, audio book, or physical book? Physical book unless I can’t get it that way.

What makes you choose a book to read? Author? Cover? Blurb? It has to look and sound entertaining. Being an author I’ve already read helps, but if the concept is intriguing that’ll do.

Recommendation(s)? Laurell K Hamilton, Kim Harrison, Writing the Other by Nisi Shawl, Fast Girl by Suzy Favor Hamilton, Impossible Things by Connie Willis, Troublemaker by Leah Remini.

What makes you put down a book? Boredom or slogging through a book like it’s a chore.

What are you reading now? Just finished Dancing and Wounded by Laurell K. Hamilton, which are only available as ebooks.

Do you re-read books? Yes, frequently. The more stressed I am, the more likely I am to be re-reading instead of reading a new book.

All time favorite book? Rilla of Ingleside by L. M. Montgomery.

If heaven exists, what would you want St. Peter to say? Glad you’re here or it’s good to finally meet you. Something along those lines would be nice : )

Sarah Worrel completed her associate’s degree at Johnson County Community College. She graduated from the University of Kansas, where Sarah enjoyed her job at the KU Writing Center. Sarah loves working at the JCCC Writing Center and also takes Digital Media classes at JCCC. Her short stories have appeared in Coal City Review and Ad Astra, while her poetry has appeared in 365 Days: A Poetry Anthology and at 150kansaspoems.

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Thank you, Sarah! I know I’ve added several titles to my TBR list. How about you?

Would you like to be included in this series? Click here to download the Reader Interview as a pdf. Click here for the Reader Interview as a word document. Or simply comment below, answering all or just one question.

As always, thank you for reading!

What Does Reader Rob Want?

Reader Questionnaire: What Does Reader Rob Want?

(With a tip of the hat to the Inside the Actor’s Studio)

First Name: Rob
Gender: Male
Age Range:61+
Occupation: Retired (very tiring)

What occupation (other than yours) would you like to try? Never gave anything but writing a thought, past the age of say 7

What sound or noise do you love? Many-many. Rain after drought. The onset of a thunderstorm in hot summer weather. The laughter of children.

What sound or noise do you hate? Whining, especially of children, but even of cats

What is your favorite word? Too many to list, I love words. Easier to list least favorite, but I can’t think what would be worst.

Fiction or Nonfiction? That I read? Both.

Genre? Usually SF/fantasy in fiction, sometimes a mystery; history, bio, autobio, and recent events in nonfiction

Ebook, audio book, or physical book? I still prefer a physical book, partly because my Kindle’s index is messed up. It only lists half a dozen books, though if I remember title or author I can pull up the others. But who can remember them all? Also, the physical book will still be readable, whereas magnetic memories are very frail.

What makes you choose a book to read? Author? Cover? Blurb? Any or all of the foregoing, and other things as well: reviews, recommendations, etc.

Recommendation? Anything by James Schmitz. I also like Jack McDevitt, Jack Vance, Matthew Hughes, and a whole bunch of classics, Heinlein and all that.

What makes you put down a book? Bad writing, lack of logic, inaccurate characterization or observation. If’s well-written but merely dull, I’ll probably go on, but I’ll never re-read it. A good book bears re-reading.

What are you reading now? Currently re-reading C. J. Cherryh’s “Chanur” series.

Do you re-read books? The good ones, yes.

All time favorite book? Too many to list. There are a hundred in the top ten, even.

If heaven exists, what would you want St. Peter to say? “Welcome! The library’s that way.”

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Hi! This is Lynette again.

I love that last answer, don’t you?

Now I have to confess, Rob Chilson is my co-author and a dear friend. He and I wrote three White Box novellas, two of which were published in Analog Science Fiction, Science Fact Magazine. He graciously agreed to take my little questionnaire. Here’s a photo of us from a few years back.

Want to know a little more about Rob? Here’s a portion of his bio:

I was born at home in Oklahoma, after my mother spent part of the morning hoeing in the garden. It was a pretty old-fashioned family even for that time (1945) and place. My father was a scarecrow. We subsequently moved to California, where my memories begin. I remember the first flake of snow I ever saw. (It disappeared before I got a good look at it.) Since then I’ve lost track of snowflakes; we moved back to Missouri (my mother’s natal state) when I was eight, and I have been a confirmed Midwesterner ever since.

I decided, about age six, that I wanted to be a writer. I even wrote a couple of stories. I concluded that I was not yet ready to be a writer, so postponed it until I was grown up. At age eleven, I concluded that I now knew enough to be a writer; for instance, I now understood improper fractions.

Read more on his website: http://www.robchilson.name

Better yet, buy one of his books. One of my favorites is his spoof on horror comics called Black as Blood.

You are a reader (or you wouldn’t be reading this blog). Would you like to be included in this series? Click here to download the Reader Interview as a pdf. Click here for the Reader Interview as a word document.