Don’t worry, the title will make sense before you reach the end.
Sadly, I am not reading at the beach today. I am staring at this picture, however, as inspiration for my next beach book. I took this last year at Fernandina Beach, Florida.
A little about me.
I’ve been a reader for as long as I can remember. My sister taught me to read when I turned four, and I remember proudly showing off my skills to my kindergarten teacher the next year. I’ve been hooked ever since. I think that might be why I’m such an eclectic reader. I read what we had at home and walking into the school library for the first time was like Belle seeing Beast’s library. Talk about love at first sight.
I had that same moment of awe when I was approached to join the InspyRomance group. I’d been watching their posts for a while, silently dreaming of “one day” when I could say I was part of this amazing group. With my first post going live today, I can say it’s official, though I’m still in a state of shock.
I write mostly small town contemporary romance. I consider my beach books in the Independence Islands series to be small town too.
Speaking of books!
I take books with me everywhere. Sometimes paperbacks but since Kindle became a thing, I always have something to read at my fingertips. I love scrolling through all the options, trying to find the perfect book to fit my mood. So when we took a vacation at the beach a couple years ago, I thought for certain I’d end up reading a bunch of beachy, sun and surf novels.
Nope. I read:
All’s Fair in Love and Cupcakes by Betsy St. Amant was the closest I got to a beach read. And though it’s a wonderful novel, it has nothing to do with the beach. Think Cupcake Wars meets second-chance romance. Fun and flirty…but no beach.
I also read Sabotaged by Dani Pettrey, which takes place in Alaska and is about the Iditarod. I read that one sitting on the deck, listening to the ocean. While the characters were freezing to death, I was enjoying the heat of Destin, Florida in August.
You’d think after that I’d drag out my Kindle and find some of those fun, flirty novels.
Wrong. I didn’t know what I wanted to read, but it wasn’t on my Kindle.
What’s a reader to do?
Go hunting for a bookstore! And in that bookstore, I came across the complete works of Edgar Allan Poe AND the complete Grimm’s fairy tales. You talk about doing the happy dance right there in the middle of the store. And boy am I glad we were not flying home because those are some heavy books.
Once we made it back to the room and the others saw the books I’d picked up (they were rather surprised at my selections) I thought about how we often are drawn to books depending on our mood or what other people think we should read instead of what we want to read.
I can’t read Poe all the time. I’ve had the books for three years and still have a ways to go to finish either of them.
The same thing happens when I write. Most days, I want to write those sweet beach books. But every now and then, I need to write a steampunk fairy tale retelling (releasing 2022) or a romantic suspense (still working on that). Having the chance to write what’s on my heart makes the stories fly from my fingers and allows me to dig deep into character motivations. And a plethora of settings doesn’t hurt either. Still, those beach books are close favorites.
What about you? Do you have a tried and true favorite that you always fall back on? Are you a seasonal reader who loves mountains and snowy landscapes at Christmas and all the beach books in summer?
Tabitha Bouldin has a bachelor's degree in creative writing/English from Southern New Hampshire University. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and has been writing since 2015. When she's not homeschooling her kids, you'll find her curled up with a book. Tabitha's genre of choice is Contemporary Christian Romance which she describes as: Adventure with heart.
No particular tried and true favorite. I just read what I feel like throughout the year.
Hi, Tabitha! Great to meet you.
I have several favourite books I revisit often. Just to list a few: The Lord of the Rings, Nicholas Nickleby, all of Jane Austen’s works (apart from Northanger Abbey, which I don’t like), Grace Livingston Hill’s romances, Agatha Christie’s mysteries (but not the ones with Tommy and Tuppence), and Frank Peretti’s novels. As you can see, I’m an eclectic reader like you are. :-)
Hi Tabitha! Welcome to Inspy Romance from a small beach resort community in SW Michigan. As a retired high school English teacher, who taught the American Lit classics for 15 years, I seldom reread books. Life is too short. This German loves that you purchased Grimm’s fairy tales. I grew up on the original German Grimm’s fairy tales. Always had my German students read them. Have Grimm’s fairy tales in several different editions in both German and English. This avid reader enjoys reading and watching Christmas in July and beach books in winter. Helps me understand the seasons in the southern hemisphere. I read where ever and whenever I can. With modern technology my books are always with me. Best wishes. Nice to meet you.
Hi, Tabitha! Fancy meeting you here!! I’ve been stalking you for awhile! I read anything any time of the year! I have to admit, though, that I don’t read a lot of beachy books! Maybe because I live so close to the beach here on the Space Coast of FL. And, since I like the beach, but it doesn’t like me as well (I can burn in 15 minutes, and have had melanoma), I’m not real keen on beach books, though I have read them. If I’m going to pick a book specifically for a location, I’d rather read about anywhere but a beach!
Welcome, Tabitha. I used to live in Fernandina Beach. I walked on the beach almost every day, but I had to make a special effort to read there because I was too distracted by the scenery.
Hi, Tabitha! Welcome to the IR family. I love that sunset picture, just beautiful. I’m not tied to the seasons for my reading choices. I happen to be reading a Christmas romance right now. I do enjoy small town stories, perhaps because I find life in the city a bit intimidating. That and I grew up in a very small town. In addition to contemporary Christian romance, I like to read mysteries, romantic suspense and the occasional thriller. You are a new-to-me author and I look forward to discovering your books. Glad to have you here!
P.S. I have the complete Poe, too. But I found it on Kindle. Much lighter :).
Welcome to Inspy Romance, Tabitha! I’m delighted to have you here with us.
I’m sort of a seasonal reader, I guess. I tend to save Christmas books and then read them in the late fall… unless they’re in the middle of a series I’m reading, then I read them when they fit. But beach books? I’ll read those ANY time. I live inland and love the ocean.
Especially this year with assorted levels of lockdown in British Columbia, I’ve been craving any bits of ocean/beach I can find. I’ll watch video clips of breaching whales over and over, and I’m definitely seeking out more “beach reads” so I can sink into the experience vicariously. We have a vacation on Vancouver Island planned for September (one of my favorite places on the planet) and hope and pray BC has opened up enough by then for it to become reality. Last year’s trip had to be canceled.
I don’t really have a go-to for vacation reading. Whatever I’ve been excited for in my TBR pile…I’ll grab and go! I also love visiting independent bookstores in the town’s I visit to pick up a new title or two. So excited you’re a part of the IR community!
I love flipping through books, reading a snippet here and there until I find that perfect one for my mood. It’s so relaxing to be able to read whatever strikes your fancy.
Those sound wonderful! I’m reading The Lord of the Rings for the very first time as we speak. I’ve heard of the others but never read their work. How crazy is that! I have some catching up to do.
I’m fascinated by the Grimm’s stories. They’re never what you expect. I bet you have some amazing stories from your teaching days. My favorite teacher was my English teacher. She let me read when I’d finished my work. She’s one of my biggest supporters too. It’s a pleasure to meet you.
Hi, Trudy! Do you like books set in the mountains? I think that’s my other favorite. I don’t mind big cities, for me, it’s like visiting a foreign land since all I know is small town. I can see your aversion to beach books. Melanoma is scary business.
We love Fernandina! The scenery is some of my favorite, beach wise. I’ve never seen sunsets and sunrises like we had while we were there. I could only read at night when there was nothing to see.
Thank you, Lincoln. That’s my kind of reading! I’m reading a romantic suspense right now and next is a christian fantasy. After that, who knows 🙂. Poe on Kindle would be much easier to travel with.
I’m thrilled to be here, Valerie! I pray your vacation doesn’t get cancelled. I’ve been reading more beachy books lately. Maybe because the weather here has been crazy. Seventies one day and ready to snow the next.
I think one for my favorite things is digging through the TBR and dragging out those special few for the trip. Unless I choose the wrong ones! We found a fantastic little independent bookstore last year on our trip. I plan on visiting them again when we return to Fernandina.
I love reading books set in the mountains! I don’t even mind if they’re set in big cities. I know I definitely don’t want to live in a bigger city that what I already live in! My oldest sister lives on the outskirts of Orlando. I drive to her house, and if we go anywhere else over there, I let her do the driving!
Hi, I read different genres, I especially love to read suspense, thriller romance, and I am a fool for Christmas books anytime, I just plain love Christmas. Have a Great week and stay safe.
I read constantly on my phone and on my kindle app. I really like libraries and bookstores but have found myself gravitating to electronic books because it’s so easy and they don’t make me sneeze as library books tend to do. I tend to gravitate towards small town, beach, ranch, cowboy, billionaire, royalty and historical fiction.
Thanks for writing!
I love reading many genres but my tried and true is historicals or split time.
Not a seasonal reader :) I read Christmas stories all year round!
Welcome to IR Tabitha! Another new to me author!!
I am an Aussie, so love reading stories set anywhere else in the world!! Seasonal stories are funny, as you can imagine. I read about snowstorms and blizzards at Christmas when outside the windows it’s hot and humid, sunny skies!! I am happy to read Christmas or other seasonal stories any time of year. I tend to read genres depending on what I feel like at the time. I read very little non Christian. I just love good Christian fiction.
I can relate to all that! Christmas all the time. I’m reading a romantic suspense now that’s right up my alley. Have a great weekend!
Those are all great types of books! I visited my library not long ago, but if definitely been reading more on my Kindle. So many books. So little time.
Split time is quickly becoming a genre I look for. I enjoy historical fiction most of the time but tend to lean more toward contemporary. That may be why I enjoy split time so much. Best of both.
Yes! The weather turned cold here today and all I could think about was finding a good Christmas book.
I have an author friend who’s an Aussie. We were sending each other pictures at Christmas. We were buried in snow and she was swimming! Love how different the world is. I’m reading less and less general market fiction. There are just so many wonderful christian fiction books begging for attention.
I think I’m more of a mood reader rather than a seasonal reader. Whatever happens to strike my fancy at the time is what I’ll pick up to enjoy. Unless I’m reviewing books, then that’s a different story (no pun intended).
Probably my favorite settings are small town, coastal ones are a plus :-) I live on the Oregon coast so that’s probably a reason I love these type of books. Though, they don’t HAVE to be set on or near the beach for me to enjoy.
Over the past year, I’ve read more contemporary whereas I used to stick pretty close to historical & suspense. With the pandemic, I’ve not been in the mood for a lot of suspense ones (wonder why?), so it gave me a chance to try out new-to-me contemporary authors. Those who I’ve long wanted to read their books….I’ve been pleasantly surprised how much I’ve loved them :-)
The one thing I do have to say is consistent for me, books must be Christian & they must contain romance (a little or a lot). Really that’s the only prerequisite!
Welcome to IR Tabitha, I hope you will feel right at home soon! I’ve read a couple of the Independent Island books & definitely look forward to more.
Always romance, but I mix it up between contemporary and historical. And, I can read a Christmas romance any time of year.
Welcome!! I love reading all year round & romance mostly in books.
Hi Tabitha! I love your beach photos and post. Whatever blurb, or cover catches my eye is what I’ll read. Especially if it’s a CF romance.
Hi Tabitha, Welcome to Inspy Romance! We’re glad you’ve joined us. I’m sometimes a seasonal reader although I also like reading books set in a different season to what I’m living. For example, I like reading snowy Christmas books in December when we’re sweltering through summer in Australia. I like summer beach reads during winter when it’s cold here and I’m dreaming about a summer vacation. I do sometimes read Christmas books in July during our winter. 😊
Hi Trixi!
I’ve noticed my reading patterns have been changing some in the last year, too. When I’m not reading books specifically for review, I love digging through my TBR for that perfect book. It’s led to some great finds. I love that you’ve read some of the Islands books. We’ve had a great time writing together on the series.
I love romance books. I’ve been reading more contemporary lately, but always romance.
I think I could read 90% of the day and not feel bad. Except for all the things I should be doing lol. Romance is my favorite. Do you have one that’s stood out this year?
Thank you, Stacy! I love book covers, especially when they manage to really encapsulate the book and show me part of the story. I have mad respect for the authors who can do that and draw me in with an image.
I’m thrilled to be here, Narelle! Our weather keeps changing. Hot one day and threatening snow the next, so my reading brain is all over the place. I was ready to read a Christmas book last week and looking for a nice mountain getaway book today.