I have pretty eclectic tastes in reading, so I’m up for almost any genre or format. But there are some things that turn me on or off a book.
To start with turn offs, I read to be inspired or entertained, not to be brought down. So I don’t like it when protagonists are killed off or the book ends in total devastation. I also won’t read about women or children in great danger—my imagination is too vivid, and I get enough nightmares without that kind of stimulation. I admire people who can write harrowing suspense, but I’m not your target audience.
On the other hand, there are many genres I love to read. I often dip into nonfiction history and biography. I enjoy novels that entertain me and teach me something, so give me your historical fiction or cozy mysteries about interesting people, places and professions. I also love romance, and books about teens finding their place in the world. And as a retired English teacher, classics and spin offs on Jane Austen, William Shakespeare, or other literature favorites will catch my attention. I also want well-developed characters that feel real (at least on some level). Authors, if I love your characters, I’ll follow you through any of your books!
Knowing my preferences, it’s no surprise that my current writing project is a young adult romance series set in Alaska during World War II including riffs on Shakespeare plays. In the future, I hope to share it with readers who have similar tastes in reading!
Lynn Lovegreen has lived in Alaska for almost fifty years. She taught for twenty years before retiring to make more time for writing. She enjoys her friends and family, reading, and volunteering at her local library. Her young adult/new adult historical romances are set in Alaska, a great place for drama, romance, and independent characters. See her website at www.lynnlovegreen.com. You can also find her on Facebook, Goodreads, and Pinterest.
