Like most writers, I am a voracious reader and have been most of my life. While I do tend to gravitate toward certain genres, I usually enjoy reading anything well written. And, like most readers, I have favorite authors.
My husband is a huge Greg Iles and CJ Box fan (he has me to thank for that, I might add). He’s not really a reader, but he enjoys a good book now and then and he always enjoys books by Mr. Iles and Mr. Box. So much so that he often will not start a new book by those authors until he knows for sure there’ll be another one ready shortly after he finishes the current one. He’s let down if he finishes a story and can’t immediately get his hands on the next adventure of Joe Pickett or Penn Cage (although Penn Cage has gone the way of the Edsel I’m told.) Another huge disappointment for my husband.
I assured him that Mr. Iles would continue to put out good stories, he’d just have to get invested in a different set of characters. He’s still not happy. He doesn’t like change. Mr. Iles, if you’re reading this, please bring back Penn Cage so my husband will stop moping around like a lost puppy.
Anyway, I too have been sucked into a character and her comrades in a series of books by Linda Castillo – the Kate Burkholder series. If you’re not familiar with these books, I highly recommend them, keeping in mind they may not appeal to everyone. I find the stories interesting, well-written and relatable. Chief of Police Kate Burkholder is human, she makes mistakes, she has real emotions. Sometimes kick ass heroines aren’t believable (in my opinion) but I find this character to be very believable. The stories are always similar, but always fresh. It’s like coming home when the latest installment comes out.
What I enjoy most about these books (besides, obviously the story) is that they generally are error-free. I’m not sure why, but I always find mistakes when I read books. It detracts from the story and I tend to fixate on them. Typos are one thing (they’re everywhere these days) but a lot of books contain flat out oh-my-God-how-did-someone-not-notice-that mistakes. Wrong words, changing eye/hair color, head-hopping, are common nowadays, whether by failure to proof read, inadequate editing or just plain not knowing these things are wrong.
Well, my Kate Burkholder series have been error-free. Happy, happy, joy, joy. Makes for awesome reading. Until – the Epilogue on the most recent book (book 9). Damn! It’s the last thing I remember about this book because well, it’s the Epilogue. Right there on the final 4 or 5 pages is a glaring error!! My jaw dropped. How can this be? How did someone not catch that. She just wrecked her Explorer in the last chapter and had been driving a rental car. Until – the Epilogue, which started with her arriving somewhere in the rental car, but leaving in – cue scary music – gasp – the Explorer. Nooooooooo!!!! The Explorer is wrecked!! She can’t leave in the Explorer!!!!
I was very shaken up by this. But, it just goes to show, it can happen to anyone. Even our favorite authors. It’s inevitable people – it’s bound to happen sooner or later.
How about you awesome readers – do you find mistakes distracting when you’re reading? Do you enjoy a book more because there are no errors? Do you have a favorite author/character/series? Lay it one me. I’ll check it out.
Until next time – happy reading.
Word of the day: Zemstvo
Fun fact about me: I find mistakes in everyone’s books but my own. How is that even possible when there are so many to find?
Original post by Jansen Schmidt, August 2017. Photos courtesy Google Images.
jansenschmidt 
You should be on everyone’s list to be an advance reader! May I put you on mine? Seriously! It’s fascinating how errors slip through in spite of editing and all sorts of eyes on the manuscript. Did you write the author? I sure would want to know!
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Patricia – this is a multi-part response:
1 – Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. I always love to see beautiful people and hear their thoughts.
2 – Yes, you may put me on you advanced reader list.
3 – I’ve grown immune to typos I think – at least in my manuscript. I think it’s because I know what each sentence already says so I don’t really READ it. Gah. That’s why it’s a good idea to put the manuscript away for a little while before that final or next to the final read-through.
4 – I did not write the author on this particular slip-up. However, I did send an email on a HUGE (embarrassing mistake) on a book on her backlist. I got no response. I think once a book has gone to the publisher and has been printed, it’s too late to make any changes. At least, that’s why I’m telling myself. Or, perhaps she didn’t get my e-mail. Or she did and didn’t care. Or . . . well, there’s any number of possibilities.
5 – If I find any mistakes in your manuscripts – I’ll certainly let you know. Especially since I know in advance that you want to know.
And, finally, as always, have a wonderful week and thank you so much for your support.
Patricia
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My inner editor can’t help but notice errors while reading, which can be annoying sometimes! I have favorite authors that I’ll read no matter what series they write, although it is always bitter-sweet when a series ends. It’s like saying goodbye to friends you know you won’t see again. 😦 My favorites are Anne Bishop, Brent Weeks, and Sarah J. Maas…but I daresay they’re not in your bookish wheelhouse since they’re all fantasy.
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Hey, I appreciate a well-written book and an absorbing story, fantasy or otherwise. I may have to give one of those authors a try. I did enjoy a certain someone’s book that wasn’t in my wheelhouse either, but I really liked it. She knows who she is CJ Burright!
As always, good to see you here. Have a fantastic, fantastical day. Read on my friend.
Patricia
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I have that “automatic editor” problem, too.
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I’m with your husband. I have certain authors I really like, and I tend to keep reading their stuff – over and over. Two of my all-time favorites are John D. MacDonald and Louis L’Amour. Both have been gone for about 30 years, and I’m still pissed that there are no new Travis McGee mysteries or Sackett Westerns.
A newer favorite is Lee Child’s Jack Reacher series, but he hasn’t written a new book in the series since September 2014. I want more! Go write another dozen or two, Mr. Childs.
As for you, Patricia, I’m going to get in touch with the local zemstvo in Vicksburg and have them pass a law that you have to come up with words of the day that are easier to use in a sentence.
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What? What fun would that be? I love the you are challenged by my words of the day.
We also like the Jack Reacher series, but we cheat and watch the movies. Hey, I’m honest at least.
Thanks for stopping by. Good luck finding our local zemstvo. Why don’t you come on over and look personally. I know a good place to stay while you search.
Patricia
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I can’t imagine watching a movie where Tom Cruise is cast to play a 6’5″ character. I love the books too much.
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I don’t catch errors like that, though I do go back and re-read when things get a little wonky – maybe that’s my internal proofer, but I do see typos. I miss all that in my own writing – you probably find them and wonder what I was thinking – I read right over it and knew what I was thinking, not what I was writing. As for zemstvos…. you made me think of Dr. Drew my Russian history prof. I can see him now lecturing away about serfs in Czariat Russsian and the pogroms, oh the pogroms. When he’d get going a little spit ball would form on his lip and dance as he talked.I don’t think he knew but that’s all I could focus on while he was talking. Makes me wonder what my own students see and hear. Talk less and smile more…as always have a GREAT week.
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That’s a funny story about your history professor. I’d have been distracted by the spit ball too.
And, the typos are everywhere. We never catch our own mistakes do we?
Thanks for stopping by. Have a wonderful rest of the week.
Patricia
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