Diversity is Good

When we had family over for swimming during the Memorial Day weekend, I discovered my family has very diverse reading tastes.

I love this!

Not everyone will enjoy reading every author. Not every author can write in every genre.

That's the beauty of it--diversity. I didn't poll everyone, but we were discussing books and this is a short list of reading tastes.

--My mother (89) has been reading old classics on her Kindle: Little Women, A Tale of Two Cities, etc.
--One of my brothers (67?) has been enjoying Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot--and wants me to write cozy mysteries.
--One of my other brothers (54) has been reading Jean Auel's newest. He's been to the painted caves in France and is fascinated with her descriptions and research.
--My nephew (16) just finished reading The Ranger's Apprentice series
--My niece (11) is reading the Harry Potter books.
--My daughter (10) just started the Kane Chronicles
--And I just finished reading The Ranger's Apprentice, and I'm reading The Lord of the Rings, plus I'm going to read and edit TROLL (my middle grade) and write EVIL (a suspense).

And that was just one small sampling. At the next swim party I'll need to check back and see what everyone is reading.

Every reader had different tastes, therefore reading is subjective--just like artwork.
Ever hear, "I know what I like when I see it."  Reading is the same.

Just because I might not be writing a type of book that you like to read, don't dismiss me as an author.

Some writers can genre cross with ease. Others can't. For many writers, writing mysteries or romances is an innate talent, while others who excel at the short story might not be able to write novel length stories.

Just enjoy reading your favorite authors, but also open your mind and branch out with your reading.

Who knows?

You might actually enjoy a story that you had dismissed out of hand.

Later, Peeps!