Confessions of a New E-book Reader

Please help me welcome my friend, Jordyn Redwood, to Suspense Novelist. She is an amazingly talented author and is one of those writers who can set their ego aside to listen to what a qualified editor suggests. I have no problems whatsoever in recommending her first book, Proof, for your entertainment.

Jordyn and I have hung out at a local Citizen's Police Academy as well as a lecture series on sexual homicide. We're not weird, we're writers! She's also my go-to person when I need medical advice for my stories.

Jordyn Redwood is a pediatric ER nurse by day, suspense novelist by night. Her debut medical thriller, Proof, examines the real life possibility of DNA testing setting a guilty criminal free. It has been endorsed by the likes of Lynette Eason, Dr. Harry Kraus, and Rick Acker to name a few. You can find out more about Jordyn by visiting her blog: www.redwoodsmedicaledge.com and website: www.jordynredwood.net.

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I know, you may be shocked to learn this from an author, but I only got an e-reader last year. I was first gifted the Kindle by my husband for my birthday but then also bought an Ipad within a few weeks of that gift.

It has changed my reading/buying habits.

I was always a print girl. Peg can relate to this as she just bought these wonderful, cherry bookshelves for her home to hold all of these books (she’s showed you a picture, right?). My wonderful, wood-working husband built me a library to house mine. I couldn’t ever imagine not wanting to just always have books.

Now, as an author, my e-reader ended up teaching me some important authorly lessons that I thought I’d share here.

1. Book covers matter. Whether print or electronic, we do judge a book by its cover. I do think it’s worth the money to hire someone who is well adept at designing a striking cover that translates well digitally. It still is what I evaluate first—do I like the look and feel of the cover.

2. Free downloads work: Free downloads offered via the Amazon program (and others) have replaced some of my library perusing. There was one series I had started reading via the library and was able to get the first two. The last two, however, were not in the system. Knowing I would want to read them, but wouldn’t want to go back and buy physical copies of the first two so I could have the complete series on my library shelves, I downloaded the remainder as e-books. If I like an author’s free download, I am more apt to buy their backlist and look for their upcoming releases.

3. Reviews matter: I’ve discovered I am an analyzer of book reviews. And not content, but quantity and distribution. If I’m risking a download (free or otherwise), after the book cover, I look at how many reviews the novel has gotten. If the number is less than 10, I probably won’t risk it yet. If it’s a higher number, I look for distribution in all number groups. After all, out of fifty reviews, they are all five star? This is hard for me to believe and I’m just as likely not to download it as those with only a handful. Also, one-star reviews don’t necessarily dissuade me. If the majority are three stars and above—I’ll risk it.

4. I don’t like advertising: This is one reason I don’t read on my actual Kindle. It was the lowest priced one—and the reason for that is the constant advertising. It’s annoying. If you are gifting the reader to another, don’t go with this model.

5. Design matters: Another reason I preferred my Ipad Kindle reader over the actual Kindle is that it was backlit so I could read it at night in bed and not use my flashlight—which is how I was reading before.

I haven’t gone completely digital. I still am a book buying fiend but I am glad that my debut novel will be offered as both print and digital by my publisher so everyone has a chance to read Proof in the way they prefer.

How about you, how has an e-reader changed your reading habits?

Dr. Lilly Reeves is a young, accomplished ER physician with her whole life ahead of her. But that life instantly changes when she becomes the fifth victim of a serial rapist. Believing it's the only way to recover her reputation and secure peace for herself, Lilly sets out to find--and punish--her assailant. Sporting a mysterious tattoo and unusually colored eyes, the rapist should be easy to identify. He even leaves what police would consider solid evidence. But when Lilly believes she has found him, DNA testing clears him as a suspect. How can she prove he is guilty, if science says he is not?

I know for a fact that a lot of you support new authors. You've supported me. Please check out Jordyn's book. You won't be disappointed.

It's all better with friends.