Goodreads Authors/Readers discussion

This is a strange thing to have to point out because it seems so basic, but it is a problem I run into with this book, Death To The Fat Cats! It is important for a reader to understand that there is a difference between a writer and his characters. For example, if you read about someone getting killed in a book, it doesn't mean the author is in favor of murder. I want to make it clear that my book is not a call to arms. Nor is it meant to incite class warfare. I am not in favor of killing the ultra rich. It is Hood, a character in my book, who feels that they should be killed. Please understand that he is not real. However, the problems addressed in this book are very real. The plot is intended to bring some problems to light, concerning the struggles of the common man. It suggests that something needs to be done to fix the problem of the growing income gap. But it does not attempt to offer a solution. It was written to illustrate the seriousness of the problem and the potential of more serious problems. Above all, it was written mostly for entertainment purposes. When Stephen King wrote in Mr. Mercedes about a man running over a bunch of people and killing them, did anyone think King was in favor of that? Of course not. It's just a book. And so is mine. The only difference is that mine hasn't sold near as many copies as his. I need to catch up with Uncle Stevie. You're invited to grab a copy now. Www.amazon.com/dp/B072BFD7ZK

Hello Steve,
of course I'm not in favor of kill. It's fiction. Sometimes some readers confuse real life of the author with his opinions or principles.
I usually write some scenes full of rough sex and kill to my characters but that's nothing to do with me, in spite of being the author.
I hope your novel will be successful.

Yes, thanks. All the best to you also. Sounds like you definitely get the point I want to make.

Steve, we understand the difference between the author and the characters in the books. My comment is that there is entirely too much emphasis on murder and mayhem in modern literature and media. I guess it is a valid argument that American slash and burn movies are shown all over the world, but only the USA has the highest rate of death by guns in the world. Having said that, I still think there is too much of a culture of violence, and the public has become addicted to it. I am doing everything I can to present some alternative in literature www.LesterFisher.com.
Part of the reason we cannot pass any control on military assault rifle sales in this country is because we are so conditioned to violence that some people believe they have to be heavily armed to protect themselves. Ergo we live in a State of Violence. It is like living in the old west... a six gun on every hip... but now an AR15!

OK, thanks for your opinion. I've also got a few kinder, gentler books. In fact I'm editing a new one now that would fall into that category. It's a historical romance called Take Me Away. It should be ready in a few weeks. I will announce it as ready soon. I've got a post describing it in the romance section, also on my blog, also on Facebook. I'm sure you'll see me talking about it being ready soon.

No thanks.

Think about your favorite books and your favorite movies. What do you read and watch when nobody is looking? I think it would be very unusual if there was no violence. For a book or movie to be interesting, the stakes have to be high. In other words, a matter of life and death. Yes, there are a few exceptions.

Point taken, my wife and I just went to see the new Top Gun... none of the good guys got killed but there was a hell of violence. Of course, the vanquished villains did not have faces...they were all wearing light-impenetrable visors. That's how we deal with killing in the jet age!

Most of our most respected literature contains killing. It would be rare to find a work that doesn't and is highly acclaimed. Even the Bible has violent passages. We can try to seal ourselves off from it. But all life without the mention of death feels unnatural and for good reason, because it is. We don't have to take part in the violence and I hope we don't, but we cannot ignore it. We must remain aware of it and vigilant. It is a part of our entertainment because it is a part of our life. Any work without killing or violence or at least the threat of such runs the risk of feeling stilted and unnatural.

You’re absolutely right, Steve. There seems to be a life or death consequence in most respected literature. I often wonder if newspaper headlines read, “The World had a Nice Day,” would anybody buy them? Unfortunately, there’s something about the “no blood, no story” aspect of news and storytelling that people thirst for. However, every now and then I still enjoy watching a light and fluffy tv show like Andy Griffith, where the biggest crime in Mayberry is that Aunt Bee might not win first place in the pickle tasting contest.

I agree about the newspaper headlines, because I was one of the guys who used to write them. I wish we did live in a kinder, gentler world. Like many of us, I have been more concerned about that of late. I decided to conduct an experiment to see if I could write a book with absolutely no cursing and no killing. I was only partly successful. I have written a book with no cussing. However, it does have a reference to one old killing. There is also a fatal cotton mill accident. The two main characters die quietly of old age. The title of the book is Take Me Away. It's a historical romance. I'm editing it now. It should be ready in a few weeks. I will let everyone know how it goes. I am curious as to whether that type of book will even sell much at all.

Take Me Away sounds interesting, and I love the fact that you’ve kept it clean. I also used as little cursing as possible in my story Hollywood Clones. Aside from a dammit or two and some swearing (intended as religious connotations when it comes to the God-like aspect of cloning), you won’t find a curse word to be had. However, since the studio mogul’s movie formula is “Sex, explosions and death,” I purposefully inject these hypocritical elements into the story; the book meant to be seen as an allegory of sorts. Even then, the sex, violence and death is not placed under a microscope and in no way is gratuitous or in vain. I wish you good luck, Steve!

Yes, thanks for your comments. Sounds like we have some similar thoughts. All the best to you also, Mark.

Take Me Away, the kinder, gentler book I mentioned earlier in this thread, is now ready. Enjoy! Www.amazon.com/dp/B0B52HDFBJ

Hi Steve… I just purchased the Kindle version of your story and look forward to reading it. Please let me state that this world needs more “Steves” when it comes to books devoid of gratuitous violence. There seems to be a cancer in American society (especially with children) when it comes to violence. I love the fact that you are addressing this with the content (or lack thereof) in your story. You’re a #1 best seller in my book. Best of luck!

Thanks for your kind remarks, Mark. Maybe I'll try to write more books of that type.

When I write a review for the type of books that I read, I write a review about the characters and not the author. Now if the author is the character, then he or she might or might not like what I have to say about their character.

Sounds good. Good, strong characters can carry a story. I have seen good characters make a story seem better than it is. On the other hand, bad characters can drag down a good story.