When I sent out the newsletter this week, I didn’t mean to set off a firestorm, but I did. A whole bunch of my non-e-book readers wound up and let me have it with both barrels, taking issue with my referring to them as Dead Tree Readers or DTRs. One woman was so put out that she was threatening to stop reading my books altogether which was certainly not my intention in writing the newsletter.
First and foremost let me say, that when I use that terminology I am in no way being disrespectful. I appreciate ALL my readers—print and non-print. I suppose I could refer to the paper only readers as PORs or as NEBRs (Non E-book Readers) but neither of those really grab me. Instead, I thought I’d use this space this space to explain the origin of that tongue-in-cheek phrase.
When you’re an author doing a book signing, you become a target, plain and simple. Most of the people coming to have books signed are ordinary, nice people, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t a few Lulus thrown into the mix now and then.
One of the scariest of those was the guy who came dashing up to me at the grand re-opening of the Smokey Point Safeway. My book rep had put brochures advertising the event on the windshields of cars in the parking lot. He rushed up to the table waving one of those and said, “Are you the woman who writes murder mysteries?” When I told him yes, he continued, “I’ve just been acquitted of murdering seven people. Do you want to write my book?” Well … actually … as a matter of fact … NO, I did not. What I told him instead was, “I don’t do true crime. You need to talk to Ann Rule.” Ann was not amused. She told me later that she knew he got out on a technicality, and she wanted nothing to do with him, either.
And then there was the woman in the back of the room at the library in Pinetop, Arizona, in 2001. Throughout my presentation, she stood there with her arms crossed, not smiling, not nodding, not laughing at any of the jokes. When it came time for me to sign books, she made sure she was at the back of the line. That’s where the difficult cases usually turn up—at the end of the line. When she stepped in front of me she asked, “Was your husband a witness in a series of homicides that took place in Tucson in the late sixties and early seventies?” Of course that was true, and here’s how I answered, “Yes, he was.”
While we were on the reservation, on Friday, May 22, 1970, I had to stay after school to decorate for the prom. On the same day my husband and I were expecting out of town company at our home thirty miles away. At lunch we discussed the situation and my husband decided that he would leave the car for me to use and would hitchhike home after school to await the arrival of our out-of-town visitors. He went out to the highway, stuck out his thumb and was given a ride home by a guy, who half an hour earlier and ten miles farther down the road had forced a woman off the highway at gunpoint, shot her, raped her in front of her two small children, and left her to die. When details of the homicide emerged, my husband realized that the killer was most likely the guy who had given him a ride home.
The details my first husband was able to provide to the investigator, Pima County Homicide Detective, Jack Lyons, helped identify the man who murdered people at twenty minutes after two on the twenty-second day of the month by shooting them off moving vehicles—a sixteen year-old girl off a bicycle, a forty-something year-old man off a bulldozer, and the twenty-eight year-old woman on the reservation who was his third and final victim.
Back to the book signing, more than thirty years later, and to that very unhappy young woman standing in front of me. As soon as I acknowledged that my husband was indeed a witness, she launched off into her story, speaking as though we’d been having this conversation for more than thirty years. “My father was the man on the bulldozer,” she said with no additional introduction. “My mother would never talk to me about it. What can you tell me?”
Whoa! Her father’s homicide was and, I’m sure, still is the central issue in her life, and yet the only person she could discuss it with was a total stranger.
So yes, for good or ill, authors at book signings are targets. But I digress. It’s my blog, and I have full authorization to digress to my heart’s content. And back to the DTR issue. (I’m also authorized to begin sentences with conjunctions if I feel the urge.)
Very early on, as a beginning author with a single book in print—a slender paperback called Until Proven Guilty—I did a signing at a bookstore in Eugene, Oregon. I was sitting there at the table, minding my own business, when a very scary looking young guy came sauntering over. “How many trees had to die in order for you to publish this book?” he demanded with a sneer. “How many?”
I was very new at doing book signings at the time. I have no recollection of how I replied, but his words have stuck with me ever since. It turns out, I’ve been a Dead Tree Writer, a DTW, for thirty plus years. If you find my use of the term DTR offensive, I’m very sorry. It is a reflection of my own writing history rather than a reflection on you.
By the way, when I use that term, I’m not implying that my paper-only readers are any less important to me or that they’re somehow over the hill. In actual fact, it’s most likely just the opposite.
My own gradual migration from paper to e-books happened because of my eyes—because, as a woman of a certain age, having the ability to make the fonts larger really helps me. And then there’s also a question of convenience. The ability to travel with seventeen or so books packed away in my iPad really works for me.
Here’s the deal. If you want me to ditch the phraseology DTR, then you’ll need to come up with something better.
And next time you see the term DTR in print, just consider the source—it’s not you; it’s me.
Everyone is a critic! I learned that a long time ago. Sometimes you can’t please anyone because those few are just plain unhappy. I love a printed book as I do re-read and cherish certain authors. You are one of them. I also download books on my iPad for traveling. I also could get me books at the library but icNt wait that long! I also share them as long as I get them back. I buy all your books but have download the novellas. Thank you for the great books! Keep up the good work with the Fitbit, too.
Your books I have gotten are great. Really keep your attention
The term “dead tree” doesn’t bother me because trees are dead when processed into paper. I think there are other things added like cloth, but we think mostly of tree pulp.
Your book signing adventures are almost as exciting as your books. It may be what keeps you so young and frisky.
I re-read “Lying in Wait” after last week’s blog and have started re-reading the Beaumont books again. Today the book has him in rehab for his drinking problem which I know works from later books.
By the next blog we will have had Thanksgiving. Hope it is a happy day for you and yours. We all have many blessings to be thankful for.
Personally, I’ve always liked your phrases and the like. Frankly, it’s because it’s the way I’ve been speaking all my life! Finally someone who speaks the same language! I don’t know if it’s the same Southwest background or the Bellevue tie-in…I don’t care. I enjoy it!
As for as people getting all hot and bothered over the DTR expression, while you are more diplomatic, I do not feel the need.
People, with all that is going on in the World, if expressions like DTR, are the worst of the issues that offend you, you are indeed Blessed.
In otherwords, get a life.
I’m proud to be a DTR! I keep all my books and I re-read them (since the tree is already dead, why not?). I also read ebooks, for the same reason as you, having 16 or 20 so books to read on a Nook when you’re out of town for for 2 or 3 weeks is a life saver, both for my mental health and my suitcase. I like the feel of a solid book in my hand. I like being able to page back some when something I just read confused me or to clarify a plot point. I don’t like getting to the last chapter of a book and having the last ten pages just disappear as happened last night on an ebook I was reading. Now that is a bummer! I am tired of those people who seem to be offended by silly little things. I agree with you Ms Jance, they should get a life!
Gripe, gripe, gripe. I guess some people just can’t help themselves. I was happy to get the newsletter because it let me know I need to get that e-book. Joanna and Ali together is a fun read!
I am a DTR for most of your books because I want them on my shelves, but my e-readers are good too – the tired eyes, the convenience of waiting in long lines and reading.
Love these posts and love when you say it like it is!
Most of us “Dead Tree Readers” are over 60. We are living in a digital age that we are not comfortable with, despite the fact that our children and grandchildren have forced us to connect to the digital world in order to communicate with them. When it comes to favorite leisure time activities such as reading Joanna Brady or J. P. Beaumont (both are my favorites) we prefer dead tree books. If your digital novels were free we would still pay $10.00 for the paperback.
I love your books. I enjoyed hearing about the things you encountered at book signings. Never a dull moment!
Just wanted to say, “I love J.P. Beaumont so much; I have started rereading from book one. Never has there been a more interesting character than Ann Crowley.”
Thank you for years of enjoyment.
I have hoarded books all my life. I have read and re-read everyone of them. About 3 years ago I made a new years resolution to reread every paperback book I owned. Sure enough on January 1St. I picked up one of my favorites and to my dismay I found I could not see because of the font. My books are my friends. I got so upset that this was the beginning of e-books and readers. I am slowly getting all my books on the reader. It’s expensive but really worth it. I was a bit upset the first time you used that term but can understand why. You can’t please everyone all the time. You give a lot of people a lot of PLEASURE by writing such Wonderful books. Keep up the good work and file the complaints in the circular file in the cloud… Have a great weekend. ..JAN
Judith,
I am one who simply cannot stand clutter, including the collection of hardcover and paperback books. I love the pleasure of reading books on my Kindle because it is lightweight, full of fonts and letter size choices, along with an adjustable light so I can enjoy reading in bed with the room lights off.
To me, it is all about choices when it comes to a preferred type of reading modality. People are entitled to their opinions. However, I find it a bit melodramatic for those readers who chose to focus and be insulted with your DTR usage. Imagine that!
Sadly, I was introduced to your books just Seven years ago. I also got my late husband interested and he read, as well as me, all your books and some twice. I also introduced a friend to your books and she has read all of them and we always await your next novel.
At least trees are renewable if the “forests” are managed correctly. Paper is also biodegradable. Not so sure about all the electronic devices in the world who die off at a rapid (seems to me) rate. That said, I am older than you, took my first programming class in 1962. Worked with them all my life, both general and special navigation ones. I have had trouble with my eyes from fluorescent lights, computer screens etc. I don’t use Kindles because of that. To say people over 60 are not adaptable is just as wrong as other assumptions people make.
Phew! I grew up in a big city and I would go to my main library with a list of things I wanted to know about. Surprised the daughter of the murdered man didn’t do so as well. Anywhere that has newspaper coverage has historical files. I had never heard of hoarders until I read one of your novels which touched on the subject. I love to learn new things. Mystery novels are often scrutinized for wrong facts and I trust them to provide some insight on places. I pass on my books to my local library. Because they are not suffering budget cuts, they often pass them on to other libraries in our county who are.
I am amused but not offended. I read both but prefer my e-reader because I can change the type of font and the size of the font to make it easier to read.
The reaction you experienced is simply one more example of why I feel that the biggest threat we face today is society’s head long rush to political correctness over all other things.
Your books warm my shelves.
I could read your blogs daily and be better entertained than anything…love you and I’ve never even met you.
Take care, and have a wonderful Thanksgiving
CJ (Cecily Jane)…just in case you were curious of what the CJ stands for 🙂
Oh good grief. Whether a tree is used to make paper, or a to-go coffee cup is red or some other color, IS NOT A BIG DEAL. You just go on doing what you do, Ms Judy!
“My own gradual migration from paper to e-books happened because of my eyes—because, as a woman of a certain age, having the ability to make the fonts larger really helps me. And then there’s also a question of convenience. The ability to travel with seventeen or so books packed away in my iPad really works for me.”
This is my story, also. Transitioning from “real” books was hard for me, a lifelong book lover. But I now have a large e-book library, some of which are books that I also have in print versions and love enough to want them in easier to read format. And, since my bookshelves are full, I can add as many books to my e-library as I want, without worrying about space!
The current book I am reading on the iPad has 4,236 pages, ha! Graduated from a nook to the iPad so I don’t have to turn the pages as often. Dang that iPad pro is looking good! Some of us readers are not myopic, but I’ve noticed the print gets smaller and smaller in magazines and books, as well as lighter, in hopes of not using so much ink? Evidently publishers think everyone has myopia. There is something satisfying about reading a DTB, too bad aging eyes take away that luxury. Then the reality sets in, at least I can still see.
Rita,
A few years ago I had trouble reading large-print books. It gave me a headache. Recently I got one from the library and had no trouble. I think my eyes have aged.
I think that some companies are skimping on ink because the ruled lines in the last notebook I bought to use as a journal are hard to see. I can’t write a straight line without something to follow. My writing goes uphill when I don’t have a line. It looks awful.
You may call me whatever you like as long as you hurry up with the next Joanna book. DTR OR SOMEBODY WHO CAN NOT FINISH A BOOK ON A TABLET . I just can’t bear the thought of the last words that I can remember from a Joanna book being don’t cry mommy.
I’m just saying hurry up.
Love you all ways .
Your books are fantastic, wants I pick em up, I can’t put it down!! The suspence just keeps going!! You are a wonderful writer and Woman!! You were My Librarian at Indian Oasis and I really cherished you growing up thank you for the memories that stay with me!!? You inspired me to love reading as much as I do now!!?
I can’t wait for your next Joanna Brady issue I’ve read every one I LOVE THEM SOOOO MUCH?? I tell ya, you write such Grrrr…eat novels and other novels too like Hour Of The Hunter and Queen Of The Night I can actually picture the scenes happening out on the Tohono O’odham Reservation Totally the best kinda reading anyone can do!!