My First Love
Stories are what fuel me.
It should come as no surprise then, that one of my most favored pastimes is reading. From a young age, I was taught to appreciate the written word, and to always have a book nearby. These lessons have stuck with me to this day. At any given time, I will have an audiobook on my phone, a library book in my purse, and a notebook handy, just in case.
The following books have left a significant impression on me for one reason or another:
Classics
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
The Illiad and The Odyssey by Homer
Fantasy
The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan/Brandon Sanderson
The Song of Ice and Fire series by George R.R. Martin
Warbreaker, Elantris, The Mistborn series, and The Stormlight Archives by Brandon Sanderson
The Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind
Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
The Belgariad series by David Eddings
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
Historical Fiction
Pillars of the Earth and A Place Called Freedom by Ken Follett
The Mark of the Lion trilogy by Francine Rivers
The Far Pavilions by M. M. Kaye
The Champion by Elizabeth Chadwick
Fiction
The Bloody Jack series by L.A. Meyer
The Tea Rose trilogy and Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly
The Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon
Non-Fiction
Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide by Nicholas Kristoff
Girl, Wash Your Face and Girl, Stop Apologizing by Rachel Hollis
The Dentist of Auschwitz by Benjamin Jacobs
Surviving the Angel of Death by Eva Kor
Kaffir Boy by Mark Mathabane
Kisses from Katie by Katie Davis Majors
Three Little Words by Ashley Rhodes-Courter
Since pursuing my writing, I have begun reading even MORE fervently. While creating does occupy more of my time, I know that I learn best from others, and I’m intentional about reserving time EACH DAY to read.
As Stephen King put it, “If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.”
A couple of my more recent reads and recommendations are:
Abundance by Shanna Swenson (Romance)
Hunted in the Valley by CR Pugh (YA Fantasy)
The Last Arrow by Erwin McManus (Non-Fiction)
*Currently reading* A Secret Place of Thunder by Patricia Adams (Christian Fiction)
What about you? What books have impacted YOUR life? Do we share any of the same favorites? I’m always open to book recommendations (of any genre).
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If you’re an aspiring author, my greatest advice would be to GET READING… and then, GET WRITING.
And if you’re looking to mix it up, try Nav’Aria: The Marked Heir (now available in eBook and paperback formats on Amazon)!
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