Sometimes at an "event," where I'll show up to discuss a book and perhaps try to persuade one or two people--and believe me, it's not unusual that I'm talking to one or two people--to purchase one, or two, the readers there will ask questions of the author, who is me.
Most of them are easy to answer. "How long did it take you to write this book?" Usually somewhere in the area of three months, given my 1000-word-a-day habit and time enough to revise. "Are the characters all based on people you know?" Actually, no they're not. "Where do you get your ideas?" Lowe's. Used to be Home Depot, but I disagree with their politics.
"Which one of these is your favorite?"
Crickets.
A favorite? Among my (so far) 18 novels? Including SPOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL, coming a mere six weeks from tomorrow? You might as well ask me which is my favorite of my children, and I only have two of those. The favorite is the one you just finished, because thank goodness that's over with. The least favorite is always the one you started with, because it's been 14 years and you haven't seen a royalty check yet. Ingrate.
There are things I like about every book I've written. There are things I absolutely detest about every book I've written. Larry Gelbart once told me he wouldn't watch reruns of M*A*S*H because he'd want to go back and rewrite each one. I completely get that. I'd like to fix all the stuff I didn't see until much later, or that I wouldn't have thought of then but would now. They'd all be so much better if I could just issue revised editions every year. But sales figures and sanity prohibit such a thing.
Besides, reading stuff I've written makes me sleepy, which slows down the process.
And telling you which book was my favorite, if I had one, would be a lose-lose situation anyway. Just because the author likes it best doesn't make it his/her best work. There are sentimental reasons about the time the novel was being written that might color the memory, or a certain character manifested from a cherished memory (I sneak my late father into my books on regular occasions) that make it special to the writer while the reader would never even know such a thing existed, let alone get the emotional benefit.
I tell readers I don't have a favorite among my books because 1) It's true and 2) I don't see how that will help you. If you're interested in an author's work but are not familiar with each title, read the plot description on the back (or the online page for the book--there's plenty of information available). See which one appeals to you. Because what I think is irrelevant to your enjoyment of my work.
Now, I could tell you which PAGE of mine is my personal favorite, and maybe I will next week...
As a reader, my favorite book is the one I just finished reading!
Posted by: Deb Romano | October 24, 2016 at 10:39 PM
Interesting. I could probably figure out what my favorite book by some of the authors whose work I have read a lot (for example, my favorite Rex Stout is The Doorbell Rang). But I usually don't think about the authors whose work I like that way. As a reader, it doesn't make much sense to me. Unless my favorite(s) are the ones yet to be written or read.
Six weeks you say? Just in time for the winter solstice festival gift giving splurge.
Posted by: Donald A. Coffin | October 25, 2016 at 01:58 AM
Yes, yes, yes, to all of the above! Well said.
Posted by: Carol Crigger | October 25, 2016 at 10:43 AM