My own literary journey

A friend remind me that I hadn't updated the blog in a while, this makes me feel encouraged to continue on with the blogging process! My writing has lulled some as I'm contemplating how best to reveal important plot points so instead of writing about writing how about I write about reading?

I have another friend who, on her own blog, wrote about the book that got her started on her lifelong reading/writing  path.  She asked the question on her blog, "Which book got you hooked?"  I honestly didn't have an answer.  I couldn't specifically pin down one piece of literature that got me started on my literary journey.  Odd isn't it?  Most readers could tell you exactly where they were, what book it was, and which character got them hooked.  I've thought about my own books and realized my own reading/writing path didn't begin until a little later than most.  Sure I liked books as a kid, the usual "Velveteen Rabbit" and what have you but none of those books sparked my imagination.  As I grew older (10-12 ish) I still wasn't that into reading or writing.  As a matter of fact at that point in my life I was convinced I would grow up to be a veterinarian.  When I hit about 13-14 I discovered that my older brother had a collection of Star Wars books.  I knew I liked Star Wars, I knew books weren't bad so I started reading them.  Again, I really wasn't "hooked" per say just enjoyed the leisure of reading time.

I continued reading all the Star Wars books I could find.  At some point when I was about 15 I realized that I had suddenly become a book addict.  I was entirely biased about only reading Star Wars books at that age and perhaps one of my favorites was this gem:

"The Crystal Star" by Vonda M. McIntyre.  I can not tell you what the book is about or what it was that particularly caught my attention but I remember reading it and thinking "Wow, this is AMAZING!!" I honestly have not re-read this book since then but I am kind of afraid of re-reading and finding that it's horrible so for now I will just leave it unread and uphold the good memory.

  I continued plowing through Star Wars book after Star Wars book.  Finally my Senior year of high school my English teacher handed me a book and told me, "This is a great book, I really think you'll enjoy it."

 I'm ashamed to admit this book sat on my shelf for a while because of my Star Wars obsession but when I did end up reading it about 6 months later my entire paradigm about Science Fiction changed.  My mind was blown at all the facets and depth of this book, the moral questions it brings up, and that ending!  My literature circle was suddenly broadened.

As I went off to college I decided that maybe, just maybe, this literature/writing thing could be a lot of fun.  My senior English teacher was definitely a huge influence on me and encouraged me to go down that road so I figured why not?

My Sophomore year of college I took a YA Literature class and one of our assignments was to pick a YA book and do a PowerPoint presentation for the class.  I am again ashamed and embarrassed to admit that it took me that long to pick up such an earth shattering piece of literature.

Tolkien became my new idol!  Such a beautifully crafted story and who wouldn't love Bilbo?  It was then I realized that Science Fiction & Fantasy were essentially two branches of the same tree for me!  Both reflected my own  need to escape reality and our world.  I didn't hate fiction based in our world but I definitely preferred adventuring on other planets and other worlds.  

With the release of the movies and spring boarding off of my love for "The Hobbit" I next picked up this:

True love once again!  I think I read all three of these books at least 3-4 times before the release of the 2nd movie.  Needless to say of all the books I have ever read this one made the biggest impact on me and truly ignited my love/obsession with the fantasy genre.

Later after I got married my husband suggested these books to me:

This opened the door of Dungeons & Dragons lore for me.  It gave me a whole new appreciation for world creation and the different races of fantasy including dwarves, elves, halflings, dragons, orcs, and so on.  While Tolkien had set the foundation of these races Dungeons & Dragons delved into the details bringing new life to these races.

Of all the things I gained from the Dragons of Autumn Twilight trilogy though was introducing me to the most influential fantasy character ever:

Raistlin Majere, the black wizard.  If you continue on reading his story you find out how evil, good, conflicted, single minded, stubborn, loving, emotional, tormented, etc.. that he is!  I have never come across another fantasy character as deep as he was to me, there was so much tied up in this character that absolutely fascinated me!  Even now I find that when I write a character I wonder how much Raistlin is in them, when I read other fantasy wizards I can't help but think, "They're not as cool as Raistlin".

There have been several books I have read since then, almost all fall within the sci-fi/fantasy genre, but I would have to say those pieces of literature have brought me to where I am today.  I still find that when a student comes to me and asks for book recommendations I end up suggesting one of these books.

So although I can't say that there was one book in particular that got me "hooked" there is a trail of books that have led me in the direction of my writing genres.