A New Style of Reader

As a teacher and one who pays close attention to the learning styles of teens, I am noticing that there is a new style of reader. What do I mean by this? Teens need to be better SOLD on the books that they are choosing to spend their time reading. As they have so much more stimulus available, electronic devices, phones, internet, Facebook…their attention needs to be “caught.” Granted, there will always be the avid and die-hard readers that have to have books stolen from their hand with weapons of mass destruction, but not all readers (teen) are like that. The “on-the-fence teen reader and the reluctant reader needs some type of hook to be willing to give the time with the book while giving up valuable gaming time.

So what are the HOOKS? I have been watching closely. A teacher or adult that is well read and knows books and the student/teen so well that they can make the perfect matches is possibly the most effective HOOK. A great cover with a catchy title is always important…it is the commercial for the book at-a-glance. Peer reviews seem to be wonderful ways to get a book in the hands of another teen. Reading is an addiction (a good one) and is also very contagious. This is very much true for the readers that are on the fence.

So, the reluctant reader? The thing that I have seen to take these kids by their culture and slap them aside the head is….wait for it….The e-reader! YES!!!! I have seen so many…so, so many teens walking around with their e-readers begging for time to read. Sure, some take long breaks from words and find games or the internet. For the most part though…I am seeing reading, and lots of it.

Indie Authors…this is what seems to be making a market like never before. The more genres and more choices a teen has, the better. Amazon sellers and others…it appears the world is opening up. But Beware…the HOOKS still need to be there.

As for Adults…I believe the exact hooks are necessary! I also see the Kindles and Nooks among other e-readers in every corner of life. Starbucks is no longer a Laptop Only Zone for sure.

I have been taught to write from my heart and soul…and I always will. Keeping these thoughts in the back of my mind…maybe my soul will have more to say to those carrying a Kindle Fire or Tablet with the Kindle App? Either way, it is a nice time to be an author…so many readers, so many possibilities, so many support groups (Facebook, etc.) and so many ideas.

Enjoy your writing. Know your audience.

Peace. Mark

Crime in Lies - the start of a crazy ride

This story is telling itself. I am easily writing 10 pages per night. The story flows from the main character's emotions in a manner that I can sit back and read while she writes. She has me angry and in tears at times. I feel sorry for her, but more so, I am worried that I will not like her due to where the story is going. Lynda is 15 and in a bad blended family situation. Her only way to deal with it is to fight fire with fire. This isn't what she wants but her emotions are thinking for her now. Her brain and reasoning has shut down. The more life she takes from her family, the more grief she is going to give back. Can a child be bullied by her family? Lynda sure is being bullied and emotionally abused. I wish I could stop her from going where she wants to go...but then this story would never happen. Until tomorrow Lynda.

Painful Dreams, a YA Novel.

Cassi and Angela are not the most popular girls at Danville North High School. But they are popular for the wrong reasons, they are overweight and not part of the in-crowd. They are bullied daily just as they have been for most of their lives. They go home and cry each day after school. All they have is each other and no hope for happiness in their lives.
Cassi’s father is a Professor at the University of Illinois in the psychology department. He has been working on a project dealing with sleep for quite some time. Cassi and Angela visit the University over Winter Break and make an interesting discovery. Cassi’s father is working on Dream Invasion, where a person can enter another’s dream and help them to work through issues of their past. Cassi has another use in mind for this new psychological technology. Her and Angela plan to experiment with Brittany and Alexis, the two girls that make their lives unbearable everyday at school. The plan works too well and Cassi and Angela are not willing to stop now that she has the power.
This book is in its early stages of development. As I enjoy psychology and dream studies, I look forward to watching this story develop into something interesting!

My New Beginning, a YA novel.

This is a story about Donny, a 17-year-old who is about to hear an emotional decision from a judge. As he waits for his case to be heard, he reflects with in detail the steps that have brought him to this place in his life. There are many obstacles in the courthouse, just as there have been in his short life. He methodically reveals his path from innocent little kid to hardened gang member with connections in prison. Donny wants his life back and sees that he has to pay the price to get it.
This is a story based on many true stories. As a street counselor and therapist, I worked with many gang members that wanted in or out of the system. Donny take on the emotional ride that so many kids in this situation are confronted with.
This story is intended for 5th grade to 10th grade boys, but I can see older boys and even girls connecting with Donny. He wears the pain that so many poor suburban kids have in their lives.
This story will be ready for edit in the Spring.