Who Are You Reading and What Are You Writing?

“Oh, really? You’re a writer?” When someone finds out I’m a writer, one of two questions usually follows. “Who are your favorite authors?” or “What kind of stories do you write?” These two questions highlight that most writers are also readers and, as such, we wear two hats.

Who are my favorite authors, or, asked differently, who am I reading? I’m currently reading three books representing my favorite genres; traditional mysteries, cozy mysteries, and writing craft.

I have always enjoyed the traditional mysteries of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Sherlock Holmes) and Agatha Christie (Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple). In that genre, I’m currently reading Edgar and Shamus Go Golden: Twelve Tales of Murder, Mystery, and Master Detection From the Golden Age of Mystery and Beyond, edited by Gay Tolti Kinman. I also enjoy the cozy mysteries of current authors like Donna Andrews and Gigi Pandian. I’m currently reading the latter’s book titled The Glass Thief. And I usually have a writing craft book going, like the book I’m currently reading titled Promophobia: Taking the Mystery out of Promoting Crime Fiction by Diane Vallere

I’m now writing stories that, not surprisingly, tend to fall within the same genres I enjoy reading, traditional or cozy mystery.

Donald Jay

While my first book, May There Always Be Enough, A Saint Nicholas Story, is historical fiction, I’m now writing stories that, not surprisingly, tend to fall within the same genres I enjoy reading, traditional or cozy mystery. However, I’m not one to take the act of murder trivially in order to concoct a mystery worthy of masterful sleuthing skills or deductive reasoning. In other words, I believe I can write a compelling mystery, full of action, adventure, misdirection, and even a touch of romance, without killing someone off. As such, my mysteries usually do not contain a dead body. In short, I write mystery, adventure, romance, and inspirational stories suitable for all audiences.

Whether you are a reader, writer, or both, I invite you to enjoy the free content on my websites which mirror these two halves of my brain. DickensStation.com is created for my readers with plenty of free short stories, flash fiction, and other items of interest. While DonaldJay.com has more for writers, offering a Writer’s Journey section, memes, book reviews, and links to my podcast. I offer nothing for sale on my websites (except one link to my first novel on Amazon, for those interested), and I do not ask readers and writers to sign up for anything to get the freebies. Though, I would be most grateful if you would sign up for my blog.

Until next time.