Reader Question - Which is more important?

There is a balancing act in books between characters and plot.  In mysteries it is said that plot is king, in suspense novels plots with action rule, in cozies characters carry the day.

But what do you like - weigh in with your thoughts on the matter.  How important is plot versus characters in a stellar mystery?

Is the character of Miss Marple the star or are the cleaver plots what grab you?  In today's stories is the intrepid policeman or detective the selling point or the tight plot with some twists what you long for?  Which will win?

As of Sunday Jan 30, 2010 the tally is:

Plot 2 votes

Characters 4 votes

Love them both equally 5 votes

Reader Question - Do you like Book Trailers?

Book trailers are the same idea as a movie teaser to spark some "buzz" about the upcoming release but for books.  With the advent of YouTube and movie maker software easily available, authors can make their own book trailers or hire professionals to do it.  Book trailers are seen around the internet since most authors can't afford their book trailers as television commercials.

My questions:

-  Are book trailers something you consider when looking for a book? 
 
-  Have you, dear readers, watched book trailers (I have only posted a few)?

-  Do you look for book trailers?

-  Where have you most often found book trailers?
 
-  What have you thought of the book trailers you have seen?
 
-  Do you prefer a book trailer or the author discussing the book?
 
-  Do  you have some book trailers that you particularly like?
 
-  What aspects do you like or dislike about book trailers?

Please take a few moments and get a discussion going on this new form of internet promotion.

Here is a fairly typical book trailer to get discussion started:

 

All I Really Need to Know I Learned from Mystery Novels

We have seen many variations of this idea in posters. I think the first one I saw was titled “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten” by Robert Fulghum

Here is how it went:
“All I really need to know about how to live and what to do and how to be I learned in kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate school mountain, but there in the sand pile at school.
These are the things I learned:

· Share everything.
· Play fair.
· Don't hit people.
· Put things back where you found them.
· Clean up your own mess.
· Don't take things that aren't yours.
· Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody.
· Wash your hands before you eat.
· Flush.
· Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
· Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.
· Take a nap every afternoon.
· When you go out in the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands and stick together.
· Be aware of wonder. Remember the little seed in the Styrofoam cup: the roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that.
· Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the Styrofoam cup - they all die. So do we.
· And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books and the first word you learned - the biggest word of all - LOOK.”

I believe you and I can come up with the same idea except it is what mystery books teach us about life. I started with a few thoughts to get us started. I know there are plenty of creative readers out there, so show me by helping with this project. If we get enough actual interaction from you the readers, I will put it in a poster form and post it here for all of you to print out.

All I Really Need to Know I Learned from Mystery Novels

Mystery novels give us wisdom for life, insight into our human condition and valuable timeless lessons.
- Pets make us more human
- It is all about your growth as a character...er...person
- There is always another chapter to find the answers
- Interactions with others are what make the story...life interesting
- Truth and justice are never out of style
- Deep down people may not be who you think they are
- Everyone has a back story
- A lot can happen that is invisible to others
- Skeletons always come out of the closet at the worst time
- One person can make a difference

Now add the next line in the comments section.  Show me what you can do!


This project relies on reader participation, so give me a line to add. This is a great project for you mystery lovers out there.

Here is the resulting Everything I Really Need to Know I Learned for Mystery Novels. It is 8 X 10 for framing.


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