My Favs

         What?!? No Author Crush blog today?

         That’s right. Pitiful me wasn’t able to convince my favorite authors to come blog with me. Something about being too busy writing. Imagine!

         So I’ll chat with you about my favorite authors. My first exposure to books, at least any that made any impression on me, was Dr. Seuss. I learned to read from “Green Eggs and Ham” and “Hop on Pop”. Dick and Jane just couldn’t keep my interest like Sam, I am. I exhausted the libraries of every school I attended (we moved a lot). I must have read thousands of books, and I’m sure their stories helped formed my character and personality. The ones I remember most vividly are Carolyn Keene (Nancy Drew), Louisa May Alcott (I was ecstatic when I realized she wrote more than Little Women), Madeline L’Engle and a series that followed the adolescent life of a girl named Beanie up through her marriage. In high school I discovered romances and coming of age stories. Madeline Brent (I couldn’t believe “she” was actually a “he”!), Mary Stott and S. E. Hinton are a few authors I remember. Later it was Judith McNaught, Kathleen Woodiwiss and scores of others (I can remember stories much longer than author names). High school was also the time I discovered science fiction. I’ve always preferred the “softer”, more fantasy-like science fiction, Ray Bradbury, Zenna Henderson, Madeline L’Engle. Sad to say, I was an adult before I read Lord of the Rings, but am in awe of J.R.R. Tolkien. As a young (and now older) adult, looking for to feed my fantasy hunger, I read a lot of books, but the ones I’ve most enjoyed are stories that either affirm or at least not denigrate Christian principles. C. S. Lewis and Tolkien, of course, and Kathy Tyers, Karen Hancock, Stephen Lawhead, Frank Peretti, Ted Dekker, Shanna Swendson, Julie Kenner are just a few. I’m sure I will think of more after this blog is posted. While fantasy is my love and I am constantly discovering new authors, like Sarah Addison Allen, I also enjoy contemporary and historical fiction. Bodie Theone, Janet Evanovich, Elizabeth Peters and Jane Austin are more of my favorites. From my children (mostly grown now) I discovered Stephenie Meyer, Patricia Wreade, Garth Nix and other YA authors who write stories even an adult (or at least this adult) can enjoy.

         In case you haven’t caught on, I adore reading. There is no better way to relax than to immerse myself into a well-told story, becoming a character, seeing life from that person’s eyes. And what better way to improve my own writing? I think it’s time for me to take a bre . . . I mean go to work.

         See you on the other side of the next story!