Author Insight: Changing Lives

Would you rather write a book that changes your life or the lives of your readers?

"Well, writing is incredibly cathartic in some ways. While much of Future Imperfect is autobiographical, it's still fantasy. I'd much rather write something that affects other people's lives. At the very least, I want to open their eyes to a new idea or a different way of looking at the world." - K. Ryer Breese, author of Future Imperfect. 

"I don’t write to change lives, I write books to enhance lives, to make them that little bit more enjoyable, to trigger a smile, a laugh, or a tear, and that includes me, writing enhances my life and makes me happy." - Leigh Fallon, author of The Carrier of the Mark. 

"One that changes my life. I can’t control what other people take away from my book." - Elana Johnson, author of Possession. 

"The lives of my readers. It means more than anything to get letters from them and hear how my books helped them or changed their perspective." - Stephanie Kuehnert, author of Ballads of Suburbia. 

"I don’t read or write to change lives because I’m just not that enlightened a human being. I do hope that my books will entertain and perhaps get readers to think differently about a few things. I write because it’s my compulsion, but I write novels for readers to enjoy." - Marta Acosta, author of  Haunted Honeymoon.

"I would hope for both. I don’t know that I’m aiming to change people’s lives, mostly I hope to be true to the story and to give my readers a few hours of enjoyment." - Alyxandra Harvey, author of Haunting Violet.

"I'd rather write a book that changes the lives of my readers which would, then, change mine." - Dawn Metcalf, author of Luminous. 

"My reader’s lives, of course!  Although I believe that is much harder to do." - Josephine Angelini, author of Starcrossed. 

"I would rather write a book that changes the lives of my readers. I must add, however, that I’d prefer that it change the lives of my readers for the better!" - Alison Goodman, author of Eona. 

"I don't know anything about my readers, so it would be presumptuous of me to think I was changing their lives. The only thing I really know about a book is the effect it has on me; but I learned sometime in high school that, weird as I am, I have things in commonality with a lot of other people. So I think whatever effect a book has on me, it will have a similar effect on at least some of my readers." - Leah Cypess, author of Nightspell. 

"It’s all about the readers. A woman wrote to tell me that reading one of my
adult books – a comedic mystery – was the first time she’d laughed since her
husband passed away. That’s heavy. And beautiful." - Trinity Faegen, author of The Mephisto Covenant. 

"The lives of readers. Hands down, no need to think about it. While growing up I had many dreams just as other kids had, but there was always one theme to all of the things I ever wanted to be and that was that I wanted to help others. Then one day my fiancé sat me down when he realized I had basically given up on ever finding the right career for me even though I was so driven and he asked me what in my life had helped me. I didn’t even hesitate when I told him reading. So he asked if I enjoyed writing and I shyly admitted that the journal next to my bed wasn’t for dreams - it was for plots.  Now it is a mere two years later and here I am!" - Emma Michaels, author of The Thirteenth Chime.

 "The lives of my readers, definitely. But I think there is no way you can write a book that changes the lives of others without changing your own as well." - Tera Lynn Childs, author of Sweet Venom. 

Stop by Thursday to find out if the rest of the author would rather write a book that changes their lives or those of their readers!
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