I thought to show my eclectic reading habits, I’d give you a ride through time as I learned to appreciate books.
When I was little, my dad would read these stories to me. Somehow, he captured all the whimsy in the characters and I’ve loved Pooh ever since.
At around thirteen, two books influenced all future reading for me. The first huge impact was “Dune”. I still reread this book whenever the mood strikes me.
Sword Of Shannara by Terry Brooks
This was my first real journey fantasy. I reread it over and over taking in the details, the characterizations, the plot. It had a massive influence over a lot of my taste later on.
But nothing changed my life quite the way “Death In A White Tie” by Ngaio Marsh did.
For many years, my father tried to get me to read Marsh mysteries. Content with my Harlequin romances and Agatha Christie’s, I refused often driving him to distraction as I used his books as a dust collector.
But one day, at about fourteen or fifteen, I finally broke down and read this one. I FELL IN LOVE. I devoured every Ngaio Marsh I could get my mitts on and still have them all. Though Christie entertained me, Ngaio Marsh uplifted me. From then on, I read mysteries. Lots of mysteries.
And one of the mysteries that changed my reading habits forever was “Gaudy Night” by Dorothy L. Sayers.
No one had more influence on my reading and writing than this author, another one of my father’s favorites and now one of mine. Because of this book, I read John Donne poetry and other works of classic literature that Sayers quotes here. Her depiction of a mystery writer struggling to solve a crime is so unique and, believe it or not, it’s not bloody or violent. I reread this book every year when it’s rainy and grey outside.
For the next two decades, I read mysteries, suspense, detective stories and romance took a back seat. I attempted to write a “good mystery” and never finished a story. Life got busy and reading became an escape and very random. At any given moment, I could be reading Elizabeth Peters, Robert Heinlen, Iris Johanson, Anne McCaffery or Julie Garwood. But then, one author and two series sparked a love of romance that coincided with my decision to write seriously.
The Three Sisters Island Trilogy
This was a trilogy I discovered when I got really desperate for something to read at my mom’s house. I was pregnant, tired and wanted something “easy” to read. Instead, I was captivated by Robert’s characters, her sexual tension and her awesome story.
That led me to finding the “Night Tales” collection at Costco. Once I discovered La Nora, I was hooked. I devoured a lot of her books–some I liked some I didn’t.
I went on to read one of my favorite series books, The Donovan Series by Elizabeth Lowell.
I love the classics too–Jane Austen especially–and I have a weird nonfiction habit which involves reading Winston Churchill’s “Birth of Britain” series (five volumes) and Barbara Tuchman.
But for the most part, I love my romance.
I was happily content reading and writing romantic suspense, paranormal romance and fantasy romance. And then, I discovered Erotic Romance and life was never quite the same. And the Redneck is VERY grateful.
My first Erotic Romance was a happy accident. Romance Divas needed a reviewer and I wanted to give it a go. My first review was “Stolen Goddess” by Tawny Taylor.
This book was SO AWESOME!!!!!!! It led me into an entirely new world of erotic stories with romance and a happy ending. *Happy sigh*
But the book that began my journey into WRITING erotic romance was one of the best romances I’ve ever read.
Since I’ve begun writing there have been several books that I’ve fallen in love with by my favorite authors.
“Go Between” by Dayna Hart.
“Full Swing” by Crystal Jordan.
“Bound By Love” by Loribelle Hunt.
“Paul’s Dream” by Rowan McBride.
Anything by Eden Bradley.
There is a whole universe of books out there that I’ve had a chance to read because I began a career in writing.
Now, I’m still likely to read a mystery or suspense, but I’ve added so many more genres to my collection and so many authors. Ahhh so many books, so little time.
July 14th, 2008 at 11:19 pm
*sniff* She likes me. She REALLY likes me!