Readers Become Vested While Authors Share

Susan Reichert

One of the greatest things’ authors do is share. They are generous in giving of their time to other writers by helping with writing techniques. . . especially the how, why, what, and when.

We are very blessed to be in an industry where there is sharing on how to write the different genres; what works and what does not.

Every author I meet, is always willing to tell other writers this is what worked for me, this is what did not. Every conference I have attended, I see beginner writers talking with published authors. If you watch, you will see the author is generous in taking the time to answer the questions, give tips and encourage.

The interesting fact about writing, is many people would like to write. However, most may not get around to putting words to paper. Instead they will read the genres they enjoy. Readers will read the author’s blogs, to learn more about the author and to see how the author writes the books they write. They love the background of the stories. How the author chose the settings, plots, created the characters––are they people the author knows or people they make up? The more they learn about the how, why, and who the more vested they become in the book the author published.

What happens when a reader becomes vested in the book? They want it. They have learned how it was created, you have given them snippets of the book, and now they want the book. They want to read it. They have an interest.

Readers are enjoying reading Suite T, because they get to read about so many different authors and the birth of their books. Authors like Suite T because they learn from each other. Beginning writers like Suite T because they read how published, successful authors do it.

Selling books is not an easy task . . .but the more the readers learn about the author, the birth of the book, the more opportunities for the book to sell.

Thank you all for sharing your stories, our readers love it!

Susan Reichert is the owner of Southern Author Services, retired Editor-in-Chief of Southern Writers Magazine and the author of God's Prayer Power and Storms in Life.

https://www.susanlreichert.com/

Passion In Writing

Susan Reichert

I have heard it said when you are writing a book, make it a labor of love.

Thinking about that remark made me wonder who would write if they did not love to write?

Writing is wonderful, yet it takes effort, from the beginning to the end. Sometimes the words flow other times authors pull and tug, even dig for the right words. But when all is said and done, they love it.

William Faulkner said, “If a story is in you it has got to come out.” And I believe that. For there are times our brains will not shut off until we get up and write what is going on in our brain.

I believe writing is a passion. The compelling emotion is you must write.

Sylvia Plath, author of The Bell Jar, said, “I write only because there is a voice within me that will not be still.”

But the question that needs to be answered is how do you put passion in your words, so your reader feels passion as they read the story?

Using sensory words is a definite help. You want your reader to feel, picture, and experience what you are writing. You want them to be transported into the story.

One of my favorite quotes is by Robert Frost who said: “No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader. No surprise in the writer, no surprise in the reader.”

Do your characters energize you and unfold the story to you as you hasten to keep up with them, putting to paper what they are saying, doing, and showing you?

Are you personally involved in the story? Is your enthusiasm, growing? Remember, enthusiasm is contagious. Your reader can catch it.

Everything we write in our story matters to the reader. It can be a key, or a steppingstone.

Your story must come to life for the reader. 

Susan Reichert, Author of Storms in Life, God's Prayer Power, Author of Nine Anthology Book Short Stories as well as writing for Southern Writers Magazine.

Retired Editor-in-Chief of Southern Writers Magazine. Head of Collierville Christian Writers Group, President of Southern Author Services.

She lives in the Memphis area with her husband. They have four grown daughters and three grandchildren.

Choosing A Cover?

Susan Reichert



When I was almost finished with my book, I started thinking about what cover would be perfect. I must admit, I was having a hard time deciding what would look good. I knew the cover had to be one that would grab a reader, but would also, give the reader an idea of what was inside of the book.


I want bore you with how many photos I searched through but will tell you it took a while. Finally, I found a couple that caught my eye...but by then, confusion was rampant. So, I narrowed it down to three I liked, and sent them to one of my daughters. She picked one, and it was perfect.


So, I bought the rights to it, but still something was missing. I called Kristie Koontz of KK Designs and told her I had my cover, but I also needed a sword to go on the cover. And she found it, a perfect sword.


Sometimes it takes more than one person to find the perfect cover for the book you are writing. I am glad before I started looking, I prayed about it. If I had not, I would have probably missed the perfect one and not included my daughter's opinion and Kristie.


Through the years of being with Southern Writers Magazine, I have seen a lot of book covers. Some were terrible, some were okay, but now and then you would see one that would grab you. Looking at those covers (by the way, some of those not-so-okay covers were from the traditional houses) I always tried to put myself in the shoes of the reader, wondering whether or not the cover would catch their eye, enough to pick it up and at least read the first paragraph.


Most of us are sensitive to what something looks like–be it a dress, color of hair, a house, a car, and yes, even a book cover.


That is why it is most important than an author do their best to make sure of two things: The cover of the book and the title. Those are the first two things that are going to grab a reader.


Happy choosing!!!

Retired Editor-in-Chief of Southern Writers Magazine. Founder  of Collierville Christian Writers Group, Owner of Southern  Author Services, Gallery of Stars, and Suite T. Author of Storms in Life and just released book, God's Prayer Power.