Okay, I will admit to being nervous! My first post on the Inspy blog. One thing I will say is that I am passionate about Inspy romance. Extremely passionate. So I thought I’d share a little about what led me on this amazing journey of writing.
One of my favorite parts of writing is creating strong heroines that come to life on the page. I’ve been inspired by many heroines in books I’ve read. Feisty Scarlett O’Hara. Sleuths Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden. (Showing my age here!) Nurse Cherry Ames. Special Agent, Donna Parker. This was my childhood. Burying myself into books with these gals and their adventures.
Does anyone remember Rosamund DuJardin and the Pam and Penny series? (I still have my copy of Double Feature from all those years ago!)
These fictional gals instilled the love of strong heroines in me. Heroines that are smart, savvy, cute and always into some sort of trouble. Sound familiar? Sound like a heroine you’ve read recently? I hope so. As much as we hate to give our heroines trouble, they have to have conflict–all kinds of it–so we can root for them.
So, Nancy and Trixie were sleuths, solving mysteries. The very first book I ever wrote, (in the 5th grade) was called The Anchor Mystery. Definitely inspired by those gals. That was the one and only mystery I’ve ever written.
Now it’s confession time.
My favorite day of school?
The day the books came in from the book orders. Back in the day, we would order books periodically. Once a month maybe? I spent hours trying to decide what books to order. I still remember the excitement the whole process gave me. Looking back now, I’m so thankful that I was able to buy books. We really didn’t have money. Of course as a kid I didn’t grasp the scope of that, but now that I’m an adult and have raised my own family, I see how blessed I am. Our finances back then didn’t allow for books, but my parents figured it out, somehow.
Now I can buy my own books. I’m still drawn to books with strong heroines. Romance is my favorite genre.
When Jesus captured my heart I learned what love really was. Where it came from. Who it came from. I love reading and writing about guys who love Jesus. I’m fortunate to have strong men of God in my life today.
So, this is a little about me and my history of reading and writing. I’m thrilled to be a part of Inspy Romance.
When did your love of reading hit and who are some of your favorite characters?
Here is the cover of my current release, Rich in Hope.
One scarred model.
One grounded photographer.
One Christmas that will change their lives forever.
I’m giving away 2 print copies today. (E copy if you live outside of the US) Just answer the question above in the comment section.
Thanks for having me here at Inspy Romance.
I have loved reading even before I could read. My mother read to me when I was little and as soon as I learned to read, I couldn’t be stopped. I too remember the book orders and my mother also figured out how to have money for books. She read like I do. We were regular visitors to the library. We had a small one in town and a larger one in the county seat about 10 miles away. Favorite authors, hmm, Grace LIvingston Hill was one of my earliest romance memories. I liked classics, romance, science fiction, fantasy, suspense and mystery so I have many authors I like to read. I got burned out on the secular books with all the sex and cursing. I red mostly Christian fiction now but I will slip into some secular books. I like Anne McCafferey, Joanne Fluke, Diane Mott Davidson, Mary Connealy, Colleen Coble, DiAnn Mills, Steven James, Alton Gansky, Mel Odom, Donn Taylor, Loree Lough, and so many more I just can’t name them all. I have to say that Grace Livinston Hill adn Louis L’Amour were the first loves of reading for me.
Lindi, did you bring back the memories! I caught the book bug about the same time as you I see. I remembered that cover – with the gal in the red coat – Special Agent. Trixie was a favorite. I loved getting the books. I also loved reading the animal stories, Black Beauty & Call of the Wild. I enjoyed taking a stroll down memory lane with you today. thanks :)
I don’ t remember specifically when I fell in love reading but I remember books always being a part of life from bringing home a tub full of picture books and then easy chapter books from the library to today when, given the opportunity I will still bring home a ton of books. The first series that I really remember loving were the American Girl stories. After that it was The Baby-Sitters Club and High Hurdles series. As a teenager and now into adulthood I love the Mitford series and all of Karen Kingsbury’s series featuring the Baxter family.
I have always enjoyed reading. Some of my favorite series from my childhood days are The Bobbsey Twins and The Boxcar Children. I loved going to the library and being surrounded by books in my pre-teen years. My mother got me interested in Grace Livingston Hill books and gave me her hardbound books that she owned. Sad to say, I no longer have those books. Just the other day I downloaded a Grace Livingston Hill Christmas themed book to my Kindle. I feel like I have gone full circle with the Grace Livingston Hill books from hardbound books to paperback books and now to e- books. I thought fondly of my mother and her love of reading when I bought and downloaded the Grace Livingston book to my Kindle. Sadly, my mother passed away way back in 1975 but her love of reading remains with me. I was so thankful and grateful when Harlequin came out with the Steeple Hill genre of Christian romance books. Contemporary Christian romance is my favorite genre of books.
I remember those Scholastic book orders. I could only order one or two so I would pour over the flyer for hours trying to make my decisions. What a lovely memory!
Hi–Love that you remember books orders as well. Thanks for sharing some of your fav authors. I recognize and read some of them.
Thanks so much!! Reading connects so many people. :)
Hi Jessica–Sounds like books have always been a part of your life. That’s awesome! I haven’t read The Baby-Sitters Club–or High Hurdles, but I bet they are great.
Nancy—I love the full circle analogy with Grace–my mother in law gave me some GLH books many years ago. In typing this, I don’t think I ever returned them! Oops!! They’re on my bookshelf–:) #don’tletLindiborrowbooks!
Hi Deb–exactly!! That’s what I did.
Welcome, Lindi!
I don’t remember not loving to read, but one of my favorite characters of all time is Mandie Shaw from the Mandie series by Lois Gladys Leppard. I still add to my collection of those books every chance my budget allows.
Blessings,
Andrea
andrearenee2004@yahoo.com
Andrea–I love finding a great character and being able to read about them for a long time.
Trixie!! And I too, looooved it when the books came in. :) Welcome to InspyRomance, Lindi!
Hi Stacy–Thanks for the welcome-everyone has been so nice. :)
OMG, I also loved the *Trixie Belden* series. Sadly, most people I mention that to nowadays only remember Nancy Drew. I also loved the books by Laura Ingalls Wilder and by E.B. White as a child. In 4th grade, I loved all things Shakespeare, even though my teacher kept telling my parents that 9-year-olds should not be reading it. As far as series go, I had a big love for all the *Sweet Valley* series books, all the *Fear Street* series books, and the *Baby-Sitters Club*.
I started reading at age 3, and have always loved reading. Since you’re into romance, I remember reading tons of the 80s YA romances, like the *Sweet Dreams* series, the *Wildfire* series, the *Crosswinds* series, the *First Love from Silhouette* series, and the *Couples* series. I loved things like that as a teen.
I always loved the character, Elizabeth Wakefield from the *Sweet Valley High* series. She’s smart and studious. Alot of people think she’s a real drag compared to her partying sister, Jessica, but I always liked her.