reading

Should I Blame AI?

Posted on by Brenda Poulos
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I read a book this week that had a torture scene in it that kept me from sleeping one night.

It was by an author I hadn’t read before. One that the internet had said was an author of Christian Fiction. I was more than surprised when it turned out to be anything but.

I don’t think the description was purposeful, so I wonder if there might be some glitches in AI- assisted writing. 

Nothing is perfect. Could it be possible that AI can misunderstand?

And, if so, can AI “think” and make mistakes?

If that is true, then AI is scarier to me than any story a fellow author might write.

It Was a Nice Trip, But…

Posted on by Brenda Poulos
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We just returned from a vacation up north, where we experienced a reprieve from the summer heat. It was a nice trip, but I agreed with my husband when he said he was “ready to go home.”

I thought about his remark this morning as I  completed another chapter of my book. I’m winding down. Writing it has been a good experience, but I’m ready to finish this latest book.

Although title, cover, publishing, marketing all lie ahead, I always feel I’m “home” once the writing is done.

If you’ve been looking forward to reading Sunset Pointe, you won’t have to wait much longer. It could be out by the first of the year, or perhaps it will find its “home” in the midst of this year’s Christmas releases.

Updated Trends in Reading Audiences

Posted on by Brenda Poulos
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It turns out that some of the “least-selling” books in 2024 were in the Romantasy category.

My husband often says I am always “a day late and a dollar short.” He was right in this case, I guess, because I had decided to follow the trend from 2023 and wrote my book, Remember Me: a Sonnet for Marigold, in 2024. It has performed below my expectations. This was partly because I published under the pen name, Mia Michaels, which was unknown to many of my readers. 

Surveyors say Limited Editions of premium books, such as J.D. Vance’s Hillbilly Elegy and Melania Trump’s, Melania are the biggest trends for 2025.

Following that, is a surge in Religious Books and in books about AI and its possible effects on the world.

So what am I doing? I’m going back to what I do best, Christian Fiction.

Where Do You Get Your Ideas?

Posted on by Brenda Poulos
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“Where do you get your book ideas?” people always ask me.

They don’t seem to believe me when I say, “They just pop into my head.”

But that is the truth.

Authors get their ideas many different places. There may be a news story that sparks a plot. It might be a place they vacation. Perhaps it’s a dinner companion that announces, “Hey, I’ve got a great story for you.”

Several years ago, as a Hospice Volunteer, I was sitting with a patient who had her walls literally covered with photos of herself and her husband. They had been in a troupe of dancers in the early days of their marriage. Story idea?

Once I was reading a children’s picture book to my granddaughter and it became a catalyst for an intense drama—nothing like the children’s story, but there must have been a thread there…

One of my books was sparked by a recurring dream.

Book ideas can come from anywhere. But if you’re in the middle of writing something else, do what I do. Jot the idea in depth in your idea notebook for later on down the road.

Authors, where have you gotten your book ideas?

Readers, do you have ideas you think would give rise to the next bestseller?

Care to share?

Reading and Writing Dreams

Posted on by Brenda Poulos
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When reading fiction novels, the reader often encounters dreams.

Authors like to include them for several different reasons:

  1. They can reveal our characters’ deepest desires, motivations, and fears. 
  2. They are often used to serve a narrative purpose, such as moving the story forward or revealing something about the character we did not know until that point. It could uncover an inner conflict or something the character feels guilty about. It could foreshadow a story’s future events or even change the trajectory of the story.
  3. Dreams are often vivid in color, sound, feel, and even smell. They are often fantastical. Objects may speak, pulsate, and make noises.
  4. Dreams may reflect a character’s subconscious emotions and thoughts. They are a great opportunity for authors to use metaphors. 

5)    Dreams can be magical. They can provide moments of clarity so that they influence the outcome of the story.

Readers: Enjoy dream sequences. They may help you focus and predict where the story is “going”—and why.  

World Book Day

Posted on by Brenda Poulos
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Friday was WORLD BOOK DAY. It is celebrated on April 23 each year to promote the love for reading and writing. Also called Copyright Day, it promotes the importance of protecting intellectual property via copyright laws. 

This year’s theme for WORLD BOOK DAY emphasized how literature inspires awareness of global issues such as poverty, inequality, hunger, and so on.

Next week is Teacher Awareness Week, recognizing the role of teachers in developing skills, such as reading, in our schools. 

As they say, “If you can read this, thank a teacher!”

Salaries for Book Editors

Posted on by Brenda Poulos
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Are you considering editing/proofreading manuscripts for fellow authors?

Last week’s post focused on certifications/requirements for book editors. This week, we focus on salaries.

My research says the average salary for book editors ranges from $45k to $85k, depending on the amount of time spent, the type of editing one does, and total business garnered. 

The hourly rate in the US is $30.

I don’t know about you, but a large percentage of authors never make that kind of money!

So, if finding and correcting other authors’ mistakes is “enjoyable,” you may want to consider becoming a BOOK EDITOR.

Want the best of both worlds?  Why not consider doing both??

Making a Go Of it With a Pen Name

Posted on by Brenda Poulos
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Obsessed for years with the movie, Somewhere In Time, and a 1862 poem by Christina Rosetti, entitled Remember, I set about writing a book in a genre very different from my own.

Since this book is unlike the fiction I have been writing for many years, I just relaxed and had fun with it. No expectations on my part. Only curiosity as to how it would be accepted by my reading audience.

I placed it in the category of Romantic Suspense. However, recent reviewers have suggested that it is better described as a “Psychological Thriller.” It has a touch of fantasy and even paranormal, but Psychological Thriller??? This blows my mind!

Wondering what to do with your afternoon? Here’s the Amazon link. Read a portion for free. You’ll be hooked. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DP5L58SD

Have You Heard That Word Before??

Posted on by Brenda Poulos
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An author-friend of mine and I often read each other’s work. Last week she used a word in her story that I hadn’t heard before. 

I normally use context clues to gain meaning of unfamiliar words, but in this case I still wasn’t sure. I had to look it up.

I ‘ve heard more than once that readers either skip over unfamiliar words (thus not gaining the express meaning of a sentence) or if the author uses too many of them, they put the book aside.  Sometimes they do look up the meaning. However, they become irritated if there are too many unfamiliar words in a book and most likely will not select books from that author again.

Readers, please share how you react to unfamiliar words in the books that you read. Authors really do want to hear from you. After all, we really do write for YOU!

Reach for the Stars

Posted on by Brenda Poulos
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Do you remember coming home from school with a tiny foil star for exemplary behavior or academic accomplishment?

The idea of receiving stars for “the remarkable” carries on to present day when they are even earned on the internet by people, products, vacations, songs, photographs, inventions, and so on.

We’re all aware of what they mean. We appreciate—even strive to—“earn” them.

No one is more aware of this concept than authors. Stars from reviewers translate into public awareness of them and their books, which ultimately mean sales.

We put forth our best everyday, keenly aware that our final product will be judged by our readers. Our end goal is a product worthy of those priceless five-star reviews.