Every writer hopes to captivate an audience. But who are you writing to? When you write a letter, you address your reader directly. When you write a speech, you anticipate a particular group of listeners. If you write a news article, you have a strong sense of who the readers will be, and your writing reflects your grasp of how best to address their subscribers. Even on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram you are conscious of who sees what you write. We adjust what words we use and how we use them depending on our intended audience. When you write a book to be published, it is critical to identify your readers early on. Knowing who you are addressing will help you as a writer. I often work with authors who have finished a first full draft of a manuscript which requires translation from a story that satisfies one reader (the writer) to one that serves many readers. But if the author doesn’t know who the readers for their work might be, then are they writing to be read, or still working through the story in their own head? Back in the day when teaching radio journalism involved reel-to-reel tapes and a grease pencil to edit, I advised reporters to visualize the listener as someone specific. We’ve all heard the sing-song-y recitations of local radio news reporters. Students worked hard going out into the field, taping interviews and natural sounds, and writing their news scripts. But when they delivered a story…

Sunshine and warmer weather are here, and that means it’s the perfect time to head outside, kick back your feet, and read a good book. There are plenty of new releases in fiction to be excited about. Here are some of the new releases I am most eager to read this summer from some popular genres of fiction. Fantasy – Witch King by Martha Wells Release date: May 30, 2023 From the breakout SFF superstar author of Murderbot comes a remarkable story of power and friendship, of trust and betrayal, and of the families we choose. Kai’s having a long day in Martha Wells’ Witch King…. After being murdered, his consciousness dormant and unaware of the passing of time while confined in an elaborate water trap, Kai wakes to find a lesser mage attempting to harness Kai’s magic to his own advantage. That was never going to go well. But why was Kai imprisoned in the first place? What has changed in the world since his assassination? And why does the Rising World Coalition appear to be growing in influence? Kai will need to pull his allies close and draw on all his pain magic if he is to answer even the least of these questions. He’s not going to like the answers. Witch King is Martha Wells’s first new fantasy in over a decade, drawing together her signature ability to create characters we adore and identify with, alongside breathtaking action and adventure, and the wit and charm we’ve come…

Know someone who loves a suspenseful page-turner? From fast-paced action to stories that will make the hair on the back of your neck stand up, thrillers can encompass a wide variety of subjects, themes, and plotlines. With book buying season upon us, these selections are sure to make great gifts for the thriller lover in your life. Recursion by Blake Crouch From the best-selling author of Dark Matter comes another science fiction thriller about time, identity, and memory, taking readers on a whirlwind ride of twists and turns. For the past eight months, Barry Sutton of the NYPD has been investigating cases of a new affliction dubbed False Memory Syndrome, which leaves its victims with memories of a life they never lived. Meanwhile, neuroscientist Helena Smith has dedicated her life to researching memory and the human brain in the hopes of curing her mother’s Alzheimer’s. As Barry’s investigation leads him to cross paths with Helena, they will have to work together to bring down a force that threatens to unmake reality itself. Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell She was fifteen, her mother’s golden girl. She had her whole life ahead of her. And then, in the blink of an eye, Ellie was gone. It’s been ten years since Ellie disappeared, but Laurel has never given up hope of finding her daughter. And then one day a charming and charismatic stranger called Floyd walks into a café and sweeps Laurel off her feet. Before too long she’s staying the…