
With us today is Kristen Beairsto talking about reader expectations
One of the themes that runs through
Love Like Krazy – yes, I said it, theme.
I have a degree in English, I’m sorry, I simply can’t help myself. Anyway, one of the themes that run throughout
my story is the concept of expectations.
The heroine, Kit, assumes others expect certain behavior from her. In this case, it has to do with negative
expectations. But did you know writers
have to work with expectations? And no,
I’m not talking about the expectation to meet a deadline. I’m talking about the expectations of
readers.
I’ve come to realize readers have very specific expectations. And I’m not referring to the expectation to
read a well written book.
Consider this: You see a book cover
with a handsome muscular man locked in a passionate embrace with large breasted
blond woman and it’s titled The Duke’s Bride (I couldn’t find a book with this
title, but if one exists, I promise I’m not disparaging it in any way I’m just
making up an example). What kind of book
would you think it is without reading the blurb on the back? Romance
, right? Because of the large number of romance novels
that have had covers similar to the one I’ve described we’ve come to expect
that if we see a similar type of cover, we have the expectation that it’s a
romance novel. So how disappointed would
you be if you bought the book assuming it was a romance and discovered when you
started reading it that it was actually a historical non-fiction book about
some woman who lived three hundred years ago and married an English duke. I know, personally, I would be turning around
and heading back to the book store to return it.
While the example is a little
extreme – I mean who really buys a book without reading the blurb (ok, so I’ve
done it twice) – but the point remains.
We all read books with expectations of certain things happening or
certain elements. Have you ever finished
a book and said “wow, I was hoping for a little more”? This is me raising my hand, I’ve done that.
So this makes me wonder, does an
author have an obligation to meet readers expectations? I’d love to know what you think. Do expect certain things from your favorite
authors?
Blurb:
Most women would probably be offended at being mistaken for
a stripper, but Kit Conner finds the situation rather comical. But despite
Kit’s outward appearance of being able to handle just about anything, few are
aware of the dark secrets Kit harbors and the demons she hides by cloaking
herself in a wall of crazy antics and an outrageous fashion sense. As she
returns to her hometown to play the role of maid of honor for her best friend’s
wedding, Kit’s determined to hold on to those she holds dear for as long as she
can. The only thing standing in her way is the absurd attraction she feels for
Benjamin Mathews.
Benjamin Mathews is a guy who appreciates things to be slow,
steady, and safe. Ben knows many consider him to be boring, but he’s happy with
his life and loves the horse ranch he runs with his brother. The only thing he
worries about is surviving the planning of his brother’s wedding.
With a wedding between Kit’s best friend and Ben’s younger
brother fraying the nerves of everyone involved, Kit’s return home brings out
her dark secrets into the light. The emotional overload starts to weigh on Kit
and she begins to see Ben as an anchor. As their relationship intensifies, Kit
struggles to believe they might actually have a future and soon finds herself
fighting for the love she never thought possible.
Excerpt:
Ben and Greg arranged things so everyone could relax for the
first few hours before the real entertainment showed up. Ben glanced at his
watch and noted the stripper would show up in about an hour.
As he grabbed a beer for himself, he started to head towards
the poker table. As he moved passed the front window, he heard the music before
he saw its source. Loud blaring techno music nearly drowned out the country
music behind him. It came from within a black Cadillac convertible pulling into
the driveway. The New York plates said KRAZYLV.
The music suddenly died as the occupant in the Caddy turned
the engine off. The driver’s head was covered in a red zebra stripped cowboy
hat obscuring their face. As the driver climbed out, however, he had no doubt
in his mind she was female.
Ben first saw the flame red cowboy boots step out of the
car. She turned to close the car door and turned her back to him. Above the
boots, red leather pants hugged every curve of two very long legs and wide
hips. From there, a red tank top clung with a plunging neckline covering her
torso, which included a flat stomach and large breasts. Long blonde hair curled
at the ends around her breasts. But as she turned her back to him, Ben
discovered the top only covered the front of her and a few crisscrossed strings
held the top on in the back, exposing smooth skin. She bent over to grab
something from the backseat of the car and displayed a very nice view Ben
greatly appreciated.
When she turned to face him fully, he saw she still wore
sunglasses despite the sun being almost completely set. Even from the distance
he stood, Ben could see the deep red lipstick she wore, the heart shaped mouth
practically invited a kiss. But between the sunglasses and hat brim pulled
down, he still couldn’t see her face clearly.
She was an hour early, he mused, but he would forgive her
since she was sure to stir the party up.
Outside, Kit pulled her backpack from the backseat of her
Caddy, turned and glanced up at the two-story house where her best friend
lived. She grinned, studying the exterior of the home. Apparently, her best
friend was well on her way to becoming a Matthews.
The Matthews were one of the wealthiest and most influential
families in the small California town. Raymond Matthews, Greg and Ben’s father,
was a banker and venture capitalist. His wife, Loren, up until recently was a
highly successful businesswoman and now, from what Kit understood, spent her
extra time with her philanthropy. But unlike most of the rich people she came
to know and meet, the Matthews were genuine people.
Of course, Ray and Loren Matthews weren’t above using a
regal demeanor when the moment called for it, she mused.
Yep, Anne was well cared for, Kit decided as she started up
the drive towards the front door. As she stepped closer, Kit realized she heard
the low hum of country music and remembered the bachelor party Anne told her
about. She smiled in anticipation as she wondered whether or not the stripper
arrived yet.
Before Kit reached the door, it opened and Ben stepped out.
He still looked the same, she decided. Tall and handsome,
with wide shoulders screaming lean on me, and those piercing midnight
eyes.
Kit sighed inwardly as she felt the familiar flutter in her
stomach. Damn, she was still attracted to him. Oh well, she dealt with it as a
teenager, she could deal with it as a grown woman.
“Hi, you’re early, but that’s all right.” He looked down at
her backpack and frowned. “If you don’t have a stereo or anything, that’s fine,
but I hope you have your own music. I don’t think you’d like dancing to the
stuff we have.”
Kit frowned, confused.
Ben watched her heart shaped mouth frown, the rest of her
face still obscured from view. The backpack she carried didn’t seem to carry
much. He certainly hoped she had her own music, for the price they were paying,
the least she could do was provide her own music.
After a moment, a seductive smile slipped across her mouth.
There was something oddly familiar about her, but unable to see the majority of
her face because of her hat, sunglasses, and the dark, Ben wasn’t sure how he
might know her.
“Don’t worry, sugar,” she offered in a husky tone, “I’ve got
my own tunes.”
He gave her a friendly smile and nodded. “Good. Why don’t I
announce you first?” He turned, opened the door and stood in the doorway,
blocking the view inside the house. Ben asked someone to turn off the stereo.
“Now, gentlemen, I would like to introduce the real entertainment of the
night,” Ben announced.
Moving aside, Ben turned and motioned for Kit to step
inside. The seductive smile stayed in place as she stepped over the threshold
of the door. A few men whistled in appreciation, a few others gave catcalls.
Smugly watching his buddies’ reactions, Ben saw her mouth
curve from the corner of his eye. Glancing down, Ben noticed she had yet to
remove the sunglasses. Seeing her seductive smile change, something else nagged
his brain.
“Honey, no offense, but what’s your costume?” Ben whispered
out of the corner of his mouth.
Ben watched the amused smile spread fully across her lips.
Pulling her sunglasses down the bridge of her nose, she turned slightly so the
light in the room fully illuminated her face. She looked at him over the top of
the glasses with familiar wide pale blue eyes dancing with mischief.
Ben felt his stomach hit the floor.
Her lips
parted to reveal white even teeth. “A maid of honor,” she drawled with a
knowing wink.
About the Author:
An avid reader since she first learned to read, Kristen
discovered romance novels as a teenager. And what can she say? She was a goner.
Kristen discovered she’s a sucker for a good love story, strong characters, and
that all-important happily ever after. She wrote her first novel length story
at the age of eleven and after falling in love with romance novels, her writing
started featuring romantic elements.
When Kristen’s not reading or writing, she’s hanging out
with friends, family, her two rambunctious daughters, and her exceedingly
tolerate husband. She’s also a huge New York sports fan.