While grocery shopping the other day, I must have set a record keeping those cart wheels rolling. A winter storm was forecast for our area. Decent parking spaces were at a premium. The aisles were filled with folks stocking up on necessities. I’d started plotting a new book and wanted to return to that creative world as soon as possible. Good fortune remained with me for a while, and I steered clear of the heavy shopping traffic. Once I reached the Dairy section, Lady Luck sprinted somewhere and left me wondering which yogurt to purchase since my favorite brand and flavor were gone. Okay, I’ll admit mainly being a creature of habit and sticking with the tried and true when it comes to brands I buy and foods I’ll eat. That day I had no choice but to select an alternative and hope for the best. With a week’s supply of my favorite breakfast food in the cart I continued to the checkout. Was I confident my selection would yield a positive result and please my palate? My sureness hovered somewhere around fifty percent since the day was otherwise going pretty well. The following morning as the coffee brewed I opened the yogurt container, dunked the spoon inside and scooped out a rounded serving. Didn’t take long for me to decide I’ll include some of that brand and flavor of yogurt on my shopping list from time to time. Change can be good. Downright delicious. Trying something new can be a positive and rewarding experience.
The same goes for the books I read. I return to my favorite authors time and again. After all, they deliver a solid story and I love their writing style. But some of those favorites have ended up on my bookshelves because I took a chance and purchased something by a new author. Often times the keeper was an author’s first published novel. If I hadn’t broadened my selection process, I might have missed a lot of great books.
What about you, readers? Are you a creature of reading habit or is variety the spice of your life? Do you find yourself reaching for books written by new authors and/or authors whose work you’ve never read?
Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler,
Shawna Moore
ROUGHRIDER – Ellora’s Cave
HELLE IN HEELS – Ellora’s Cave
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4 comments:
Great post! I would have to say both. If I like something, I stick with it until they no longer sell it, which happens a lot. Some of my favorite things have been taken off the market. As for authors, I keep buying my favorites until they disappoint me two or three times in a row. I also love to try new authors if I've read and liked an excerpt.
I am a bit of a creature of habit when it comes to my fave authors, Shawna. It goes to voice. But, there's nothing quite like discovering a new author either. This usually happens through word-of-mouth, a catchy title or dynamite cover that causes me to pluck it off the shelf. Then, there is the thrill of reading the back cover blurb or inside flap. Sometimes I'm the bug; sometimes I'm the screen. lol
Hi, Vonda!
I'm also one who sticks with certain favorite products until they're not available any longer. Excerpts are also a way I've found new authors. With so many wonderful books appearing on the shelves, I love the chance to sample a writing style before purchasing the book.
Happy week wishes,
Shawna
Hi, Elen!
I'm a visual person and gravitate toward eye-catching covers. Once cover art captures my attention, then I read the back cover blurb. If this piques my interest, I speed read the first chapter. When I find myself eager to read more without budging from the aisle, I purchase the book. Finding a new author who becomes a favorite is always wonderful :)
Happy week wishes,
Shawna
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