My reading habits have come up a couple of times lately. My love of reading is no secret - neither is my preference for romance. Sometimes that feels like such a funny word to use, but the reality is, I NEED the HEA (happy every after).
My family tells me I've always been a reader, since I was small I've loved story time. I enjoyed reading to my people as soon as I was old enough to mimic them reading to me. My earliest book memory involves a giant orange hardback full of stories of gnomes & elves & woodland creatures. The book liner had an inside look at one of the tree habitats - bedrooms & kitchens & living spaces, all hidden inside a giant tree. I think I took that book everywhere! : )
My next solid book memory is Christopher Pike, Slumber Party. I was in 5th grade, and we were taking a family trip to Florida. Driving, from Iowa. My dad, knowing I would need something to keep me occupied during the L O N G drive, brought me to Walden Books in the mall, and let me pick out some books for the trip. I'm not sure what appealed to me - the dark blue cover, the title, the blurb on the back cover? Whatever it was, I wanted that book! I'm sure I picked out others as well, but that's the one that turned into a favorite, and a multiple re-read throughout the next 30 years. It began my love for Christopher Pike books - and, in my young, 11-year-old way, taught me about love and romance in books.
All through school, my favorite books - tho not necessarily considered "romance"- had that necessary HEA quality, or HFN (happy for now). They ended on a positive note. I devoured Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, Sweet Valley High - all fairly tame and involving story lines of mystery or adventure of some sort. I read some Stephen King (Carrie, Christine, and IT still stick with me as my favorites, along with The Eyes of the Dragon) and Dean Koontz (Lightning is a well-loved story), and then there were the V.C. Andrews books - I appreciate them for the nostalgia, and the stories DEFINITELY stuck with me, but they're not something I want to read again now. Those books are WAY TOO SAD!
But they did help shape me into the reader I am today.
They taught me that my heart NEEDS that happy ending, and while I'm not a fan of a story full of angst, a little bit here & there (as long as I can feel the connection between the H/h) is a good thing.
I don't remember exactly when I made the jump to the "Harlequin" world. Someone gave me a Harlequin romance - Just A Normal Marriage by Leigh Michaels - and it was like my eyes were opened to this whole new world of stories! And then, one of the ladies I babysat for discovered I liked romance, and gave me my first Johanna Lindsey - and my eyes were opened to STEAMY stories.
*fans self*
At the time, I didn't really understand the nuances of the sexy scenes, but I enjoyed the relationship & the adventures in each one!
(Sidebar: Leigh was the first author I ever wrote to - and she wrote me back, a HAND WRITTEN LETTER!! She was also the first author I met in person - my dad took me to see her when she was signing at a store opening. I think that's pretty darn neat!)
At that point - my love of the HEA was given a solid foundation!
A few weeks ago, we had a meeting at work, and reading came up. My co-workers were talking enthusiastically about a book they'd borrowed from the Company library. It was some business related book, and they both loved it & recommended it to the group. Someone looked at me & said, "You love to read - have you read this one?" I replied, "Oh, I'm strictly romance. I am a huge proponent of people reading what they love, what they enjoy. I think everyone should read something - graphic novels, newspapers, blogs, magazines - as long as they're reading! But for me, it's romance all the way."
I stand by that - if you enjoy reading business-minded books about how to climb the ladder or how to make your work-life more productive, I'm happy for you, that you're reading!
For me, that would be torture. That would be work - and I like to leave my work at work. : )
I don't remember exactly when I made the jump to the "Harlequin" world. Someone gave me a Harlequin romance - Just A Normal Marriage by Leigh Michaels - and it was like my eyes were opened to this whole new world of stories! And then, one of the ladies I babysat for discovered I liked romance, and gave me my first Johanna Lindsey - and my eyes were opened to STEAMY stories.
*fans self*
At the time, I didn't really understand the nuances of the sexy scenes, but I enjoyed the relationship & the adventures in each one!
(Sidebar: Leigh was the first author I ever wrote to - and she wrote me back, a HAND WRITTEN LETTER!! She was also the first author I met in person - my dad took me to see her when she was signing at a store opening. I think that's pretty darn neat!)
At that point - my love of the HEA was given a solid foundation!
A few weeks ago, we had a meeting at work, and reading came up. My co-workers were talking enthusiastically about a book they'd borrowed from the Company library. It was some business related book, and they both loved it & recommended it to the group. Someone looked at me & said, "You love to read - have you read this one?" I replied, "Oh, I'm strictly romance. I am a huge proponent of people reading what they love, what they enjoy. I think everyone should read something - graphic novels, newspapers, blogs, magazines - as long as they're reading! But for me, it's romance all the way."
I stand by that - if you enjoy reading business-minded books about how to climb the ladder or how to make your work-life more productive, I'm happy for you, that you're reading!
For me, that would be torture. That would be work - and I like to leave my work at work. : )
This past week, I've been SUPER BLESSED to win several different giveaways involving signed books. I'm excited because I love winning things, signed books, and getting happy mail. *laugh* In that excitement, I shared a picture w/ my mom last night, of 3 of those books. I thought, perhaps, she would be happy for me? Instead, she sorta just glanced at the picture & then said, "You should branch out, read something different." I was slightly shocked (okay, more than slightly) - and unsure if she was joking. I replied, "Why? I read what I like. Don't you read your books because you enjoy them?"
(She didn't used to be a big reader - reading was something I shared w/ my dad. But in recent years, she discovered the joy of Victorian hotel mysteries, and of course I'm blanking on the series name as I write this! But my point is that she's discovered books that she loves. Also, it should be noted, last night may very well have been an "off" night for her - she seemed kind of cranky overall - because she has traveled with me to book signings, tho never going TO the signing w/ me, she's always been very supportive of and happy for me normally.)
I read stories with a guaranteed happy ending because sometimes life doesn't work out that way. Not everyone meets the love of their life or gets to experience having their own alpha man.
I don't have that in my life - I've never had that in my life.
There were a couple times I thought I did, but they didn't work out, so obviously were not my HEA.
*laugh*
I have a LOT of love in my life - family and friends who are living examples of love.
But for romance... some watch their favorite movies over & over again, and I used to do that, too, but now I'd rather read. I read my favorites over & over again, and am always open to new authors, new favorites.
I love not only the encompassing genre of romance, but the Indie community I've become a part of.
I love supporting my authors, bloggers, friends.
And I love the feeling I get when I'm reading romance.
I love the HEA.
So, that's why I read - and will continue to read - romance.
: )
