My First Love

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)!