My To Read pile is dangerously low. As a contemporary women’s fiction writer, I try to keep up with the latest fiction trends, genres, and what readers are reading today. But, I also don’t want to be disappointed by stories that I shake my head about, sigh over and put down. At one time if I picked up a title I’d read it to the last page. Now, not so much. Down it goes. My favorite genre? Why the type of stories I write of course—thoughtful professional heroines at a crossroad.

Today’s favored trend is the multiple character point of view. You know, each chapter alternates with a different character. Author Susan Meissner does this well. I enjoyed A Fall  of Marigolds, her contemporary look at a plot that includes September 11, 2001 characters as well as characters in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire that occurred March, 1911. Yet, the formula emerges—both character stories meld and become whole in a unified happy-for-now ending.

My local Indie bookshop, Page 158 Books, reintroduced me to memoir. Wow. What’s happened to contemporary memoir? Both my selections proved terribly whiny with each story seemingly trying to outdo the other through a “series of unfortunate events” steamrolled by poor choices.

I turned to friends Mary, Pat, Lisa, and Elaine for their take on reading-time-well-spent novels. And here’s what I did. First, I researched category ratings per Amazon for all my novels. Included were categories: Contemporary Women’s Fiction; Contemporary Women’s Domestic Life; Family Life Fiction; Education & Fiction; Biographical Fiction; and Magical Realism. I then cross-checked friends’ recommendations to see if the titles might be included in some of these categories. You may want to try this, also. Bring up a favorite title and see the category it’s placed in. You can then search that category on its own and see what’s returned. It could spark a new title discovery.

My To Read pile is once again healthy and growing. Which books on your reading lists might you compare my novels to? Let me know. Everyone enjoys an exciting and entertaining read. Home from the beaches, cozy fall reading time is here. (Smile)