My goal in writing is to elicit an emotional response from the reader, be it a sense of wonder or dread. A common theme of my writing is "downfall". Also: whiskey.
My sixth novel, an Urban Fantasy with noir window dressing, is complete and in the hands of a few literary agents who have shown interest. Meanwhile I have moved on to project seven, a sword-and-sorcery fantasy with a reptilian twist.
When I read for enjoyment, I expect a book to transport me away from my reality. If a book fails to serve as an escape pod from my mundane life, then I will lose interest fairly quickly. Beyond the basics of tight POV and consistent internal rules, I look for a genuinely rendered sense of the mysterious. I want to wonder.