My pledge to readers
My pledge to readers
Posted by Teri Wilson
at 01:15 PM on April 29, 2009
|
Check it out… my new cover for Cup of Joe. Isn’t it adorable? I’m so excited about this book and can’t wait to get a release date.
But I’ll be honest. This blog is partly a cover-celebration-party and partly a rant. I am reading a book right now by a very well known, and liked, New York Times bestselling author – who, for the purposes of this blog, will remain nameless. Mainly because I don’t want to spoil the book for other readers. But, if you really, really want to know, just email me and I will tell you who it is.
Anyway, what attracted me to this book was the cover – it had both a handsome hero and a dog. I thought – “Oh great! A romance with a great dog character, too. Right up my alley.” I immediately got sucked in. I loved the book.
Until the dog got shot.
And killed.
I know, I know. It’s fiction. The dog isn’t real and he didn’t actually die. But, to me, killing off a romantic lead’s pet is almost as bad as killing off the romantic lead. At least it would be for me. My tagline is “Romancing the pet lover’s soul.” I think any reader of my books would feel betrayed if I reeled them in with that tagline and then ripped the rug out from under them. So, here it is: my pledge to my animal-loving readers. I will not kill a pet in my books just to make you cry.
I read an article for writers once that said if you want to take your writing to the next level, you’ve got to stab your main character right in the heart. Take what is most important to them and kill it. I’m sorry – I just can’t do it. Not with their pets. I feel like it would be manipulating the readers’ emotions, anyway. I’m a better writer than that – I can come up with something else to move the plot. I mean, look at my new cover for Cup of Joe, with the adorable little Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy. Wouldn’t you be disappointed if you bought that book and the puppy met its demise in the last few chapters? Even if the hero and heroine still got together in the end?
I would love to hear your thoughts on this…please leave me a comment and let me know what you think! About the cover and my little rant…
Blessings, Teri
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17 Comments
Reply
Shelley Bueche
01:31 PM on April 29, 2009
Teri, Love the photo, and I have to confess you have piqued my interest ... who is the best-selling author?
Reply
Kara Lynn Russell
01:45 PM on April 29, 2009
Teri,
I agree and I'd add that I would never have a child character get hurt or be killed just to raise emotion in a story.
YA author Gordon Korman wrote a book called No More Dead Dogs. If I remember correctly it was about a student who protested against having to read books like Old Yeller where the dog always dies in the end.
I agree and I'd add that I would never have a child character get hurt or be killed just to raise emotion in a story.
YA author Gordon Korman wrote a book called No More Dead Dogs. If I remember correctly it was about a student who protested against having to read books like Old Yeller where the dog always dies in the end.
Reply
JoAnn Carter
01:46 PM on April 29, 2009
It's true--sure it was just a story you were reading, but when you get into a good plot, the character's world seems real. I completely understand where you're coming from.
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Pat I.
01:50 PM on April 29, 2009
Hi Teri--
As an animal lover, I have to agree with you. Not only does it tear your heart out when an animal dies (usually brings back sad memories I think, for most people who are pet owners) but aren't romances supposed to have a satisfying ending? A multi-published romance author once told me to kill off the animals because it's strong, gritty writing. But...I'd rather not add to the desensitizing of our culture in any more ways, or add depressing thoughts to the rest of my day. Thank you for your promise!
As an animal lover, I have to agree with you. Not only does it tear your heart out when an animal dies (usually brings back sad memories I think, for most people who are pet owners) but aren't romances supposed to have a satisfying ending? A multi-published romance author once told me to kill off the animals because it's strong, gritty writing. But...I'd rather not add to the desensitizing of our culture in any more ways, or add depressing thoughts to the rest of my day. Thank you for your promise!
First of all, Teri, what a lovely cover - and what a gorgeous little dog.
I have to agree. I could never kill an animal in a story, it's just not fair to the reader, and I couldn't bring myself to visualise it anyway, since I tend to live my stories as I write them. As a horse and dog lover, I've seen so many films where the animal dies in the end, and it always leaves me in tears, even though I know it's not real. I'll hurt my hero or heroine and make them suffer, but they'll alway have their reward for that suffering with their happy ever after, But woe betide anyone who hurts their dog or horse (or bunny, or pet mouse or cat, or......)
I have to agree. I could never kill an animal in a story, it's just not fair to the reader, and I couldn't bring myself to visualise it anyway, since I tend to live my stories as I write them. As a horse and dog lover, I've seen so many films where the animal dies in the end, and it always leaves me in tears, even though I know it's not real. I'll hurt my hero or heroine and make them suffer, but they'll alway have their reward for that suffering with their happy ever after, But woe betide anyone who hurts their dog or horse (or bunny, or pet mouse or cat, or......)
Reply
Joan K. Maze
02:11 PM on April 29, 2009
Wonderful covers and very interesting books. As soon as I get my next check, I'm going to buy at least one. I love animals. Unfortunately, I can't have any where I'm living but I enjoy my children's dogs/cats when I visit.
Joan K. Maze
www.joanmaze.com
Murder By Mistake now available from Red Rose Publishing
Joan K. Maze
www.joanmaze.com
Murder By Mistake now available from Red Rose Publishing
Reply
Jessica
03:38 PM on April 29, 2009
If the pet or child is killed in the beginning and it adds to the plot somehow (ie, justice) then I don't mind. But if it's at the end, NO Way. I'll never read Marley and Me. Erk.
Congrats on your sales too! :-)
Congrats on your sales too! :-)
I agree with you, Teri! I get annoyed with authors who make me fall in love with something and then kill it. (Makes me feel a little used.) However, it's perfectly OK to give me a scare and make me think the object of my affection died, only to have it turn up alive and well... (sigh of relief). Also, ditto what Jessica said.
Love your website, Teri! Good luck with your recent book projects!
Love your website, Teri! Good luck with your recent book projects!
I completely agree with you, Teri. There's enough emotional anxiety in the world without me actually paying to have a story rip my heart out. No thank you. I like a good edge-of-your-seat romance, but I can do without the angst. If I want to be depressed, I'll watch the news. (Thanks for the warning about the unknown title, which should be easy to recognize now) I sincerely appreciate your pledge.
Reply
Tammy Doherty
10:48 PM on April 29, 2009
I love the cover! Is that the kind of puppy Goldie recieves as a gift in the book? We had a lengthy discussion a few weeks back on the ACFW loop all about this. 110% of the loopers agreed--don't kill off the pet, or the kid. Kill Granny, if you have to kill someone. Okay, that was a joke, unless she's a mean old crone who puts children in her oven. LOL!
I read a book that had a young girl with Leukemia as a central character. From the start, I knew in my heart she was going to die. But I kept reading, hoping and praying for a miracle. Yes, I prayed. For a fictional character. Shows the quality of writing! She died anyway. I cried. I haven't read another book by that author since, but I've been tempted. The girl went home to the Lord, so the tears and pain were bittersweet.
I won't read anything else by Nicholas Evans because of 'The Horse Whisperer' I refuse to watch the movie. And the horse doesn't even die. The accident is just too horrendous.
And I refuse to watch 'Bambi'
I'm hopeless...sigh...
Great book cover, excellent pledge.
Tammy
I read a book that had a young girl with Leukemia as a central character. From the start, I knew in my heart she was going to die. But I kept reading, hoping and praying for a miracle. Yes, I prayed. For a fictional character. Shows the quality of writing! She died anyway. I cried. I haven't read another book by that author since, but I've been tempted. The girl went home to the Lord, so the tears and pain were bittersweet.
I won't read anything else by Nicholas Evans because of 'The Horse Whisperer' I refuse to watch the movie. And the horse doesn't even die. The accident is just too horrendous.
And I refuse to watch 'Bambi'
I'm hopeless...sigh...
Great book cover, excellent pledge.
Tammy
Reply
elaine cantrell
06:51 AM on April 30, 2009
Hi, Teri. I like your new cover, and I agree with you about killing off pets. I don't want to read something that makes me sad.
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Elizabeth Pina
08:25 AM on April 30, 2009
I so agree - no animals must be killedin the making of this novel! I have animals in most of mine and they're always fine. Okay a couple do get hurt in my vet story but they fully recover. I adore your cover, it is absolutely perfect. Aren't the TWRP designers wonderful?
Reply
Tara West
11:32 AM on April 30, 2009
Teri, I'm so glad you love the cover! Anyway, there was a movie out recently where the dog played an integral role in the plot. I was told by friends that the dog dies in the end, so I never saw the movie. I really don't like movies when dogs die. Same with books. Somehow, it is supposed to work as the dark moment for the story, but I just don't understand how the main characters seem to get over their pet's death so quickly. I lost a very special friend five years ago, and I'm still not over my little Scooby.
Thanks for writing books where I can actually enjoy the endings.
T.
Thanks for writing books where I can actually enjoy the endings.
T.
Hi there!
Love the Merritt pix, can I download a couple (like MY basket) or should I post links?
Great to meet you guys - we had a BLAST!
Love the Merritt pix, can I download a couple (like MY basket) or should I post links?
Great to meet you guys - we had a BLAST!
Reply
Shannon
03:27 PM on June 29, 2009
Hi Teri! Love the blog design - very nice. I agree too. I could never kill off an animal in my writing. I know how it feels to lose an animal companion and writing about that would just destroy me emotionally.
Wonderful topic - thanks for sharing!
Wonderful topic - thanks for sharing!
Reply
Tanya Hanson
07:09 PM on June 29, 2009
What a fabulous photo. We had to say goodbye to our precious black Lab about a month ago and I will never be the same. Although I firmly believe we'll be together someday. I could never kill an animal in a story. It would haunt me. I still tear up thinking about Rontu in Island of the Blue Dolphins even though he died naturally.
Great blog!
Great blog!
Reply
P.L. Parker
10:02 PM on June 29, 2009
I hate it when the animals or children get killed - only the bad guys should die. That's rule. We like to boo and hiss, not cry our hearts out.
Patsy
Patsy
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