Survey Results Revealed
So, last newsletter I posed the proverbial question: are you a ‘glass-half-full’ kind of person or, like me, is your glass not even half-empty, it’s well on the way to running dry?
As a crime writer, it seems only natural that I look at the dark side of life, but as a human I know I do this to shine a torch in the shadows and restore order to the world (or at least, that’s the excuse I’m sticking to!)
How about you?
Well, thanks to your overwhelming input, now I know! What an intriguing bunch you are. I received hundreds of responses from right around the world and so many of you had such thoughtful insight into why you love crime books and what your outlook is like. And — here’s the bit that surprised me — so many of you (about 60%) admitted to being empty glassers, like me. And you’re fiercely unapologetic about it!
I also got some interesting reasons why you love and devour crime novels, including this from an Irish reader who told me the Irish are naturally both light and dark: “I read crime because I want to know why we are dark and why crime happens.”
Another reader said she believes us half-empty types are there to “give some color, dimension, and depth to our glass is half full pollyanna people!”
One half-full respondent told me she reads crime for “the thrill of the chase” and another because she likes the “happily ever after” that comes with the final denouement.
Many of you read both ‘cozy’ and “hard core blood and guts mysteries”, as one reader described it, while another said she can’t read anything too dark or she’s up all night (and by the sound of it, she’s in good company).
And I particularly liked this comment from a ‘glass is three-quarters full person’: “I read crime because I enjoy a puzzle, I enjoy the intrigue and it’s good to see the bad guy get caught. I do enjoy humour in my reading so some levity is appreciated.”
I hearily agree, which is why I always add a few laughs to every mystery I write.
Now For the Winner! (Drum roll please…)
This is the fun part (and the hard part for me, because there were lots of names to pop in the hat this time!) This fortnight’s winning respondent is: Renee*! If you’re the winnng Renee, I’ll be in touch via email shortly.
As for the rest of you? A giant THANK YOU for taking the time to share your thoughts, however dark or light. I do read each email that comes in, and I value each and every comment. They inform me as a person and they most definitely inform my writing!
Thanks again, everyone, for taking part and happy (dark or light) reading.
xo Christina
* Full name has been reserved for privacy reasons
This week I’m putting my latest e-book, Do Not Go Gentle, on sale for just 99c, starting from today. It’ll be discounted at all good e-stores for two weeks, or just click on the links, below.
DO NOT GO GENTLE is a fun, fast-paced DIY mystery that implores the reader to help solve the crime before the victim is dragged, kicking and screaming, to the light. (She has a dreadful, sinking feeling her beloved 13-year-old son is the culprit and wants to know for sure before she heads off to eternity thinking she spawned a killer!)
This lightly written yet deeply moving whodunnit/coming of age story will be on sale for just two weeks, with the follow-up—Do Not Go Alone— on the stands in August.
COST: 99c FROM: June 16—June 30
LINKS: @Amazon
@iBooks
@kobo
@nook
@smashwords etc |
