Books have been some of my favorite
friends from the time I was a young girl. The Boxcar Children, Pippi
Longstocking, and Cherry Ames, are titles I remember reading as a child. I’m
the youngest in my family and it wasn’t long before I branched out and began reading
the titles my older sisters read. I think reading those books at a young age
stretched my reading ability and strengthened my vocabulary. Sure, I probably
read a few things I shouldn’t have, but I survived.
Two of my sisters read Harlequin Presents
and Harlequin Romances. Be still my heart. When I began reading Harlequins I
found an endless supply of books to devour. I loved those books! Carole
Mortimer wrote books about 18 year old girls and as a young teen I could
identify with them. And Janet Dailey, I couldn’t wait to see what state she had
written about every month. I fell in love with Travis from A Land Called Deseret.
As time went on new publishers and authors
emerged – Diana Palmer, Elizabeth Lowell, Anne Stuart, and Stephanie James.
This was before I discovered Christian fiction. Oh, but when the short lived
line of Inspiration Romances came out I devoured them and mourned when the line
went under. Later, to my utter delight Harlequin started the Love Inspired
line. It was while reading Love Inspired that I first dreamed of becoming a
Christian Romance author.
When I discovered Christian Romantic
Suspense I found my heart’s desire. Terri Blackstock, Colleen Coble, Brandilyn Collins, and Lynette Eason have provided me with countless hours of reading enjoyment. To date I have only published romances, but
I’m busy working away on suspense novels.
Even while writing I love to read. I’m
reading Harry Potter and the Prisoner of
Azkaban on my lunch hour at work, I just finished reading House by Frank Peretti and Ted Dekker
and On Her Majesty’s Frightfully Secret
Service by Rhys Bowen. Currently I have two books going at home – Innocent Lies by Robin Patchen and The Rain Sparrow by Linda Goodnight. Innocent Lies isn’t currently for sale,
I’m fortunate to get to do an early read. But the first three books in the
series are available.
Oh, and I can’t forget Debbie Macomber. I
just reread one of her older titles and have a new hardback on my night stand.
I adore Debbie’s writing.
Well, I’ve talked long enough about my
reading habits. How about you? If you’re a writer, who or what did you read that
inspired you to become an author? If you’re a reader, share some things you love
and some things you hate that authors do. And whether you are a reader or a
writer I hope you’ll tell me what you are currently reading.
Terri Weldon is a lead analyst by day and an award winning
author by night. Her novella The
Christmas Bride Wore Boots won the best novella category in the 2016 Lyra
Awards. She enjoys traveling, gardening, reading, spending time with her
family, and shopping for shoes. One of her favorite pastimes is
volunteering as the librarian at her church. It allows her to shop for books
and spend someone else’s money! Plus, she has the great joy of introducing
people to Christian fiction. She lives with her family in the Heartland of the
United States. Terri has two adorable Westies – Crosby and Nolly Grace. Terri
is a member of ACFW and RWA. She is a member of the Seriously Write Team (www.seriouslywrite.blogspot.com). Readers
can connect with Terri at www.terriweldon.com
A Match Made in Sheffield by Terri Weldon— Natalie Benton bounced from one foster home to another until she landed on Ellie Alexander’s doorstep. Natalie’s vagabond childhood caused her to yearn for a secure life, which led to Natalie’s five-year plan: complete her law degree, marry the perfect man, become a partner at Montgomery, Haynes, and Preston, and produce one child. Getting arrested wasn’t in Natalie’s plan. Needing a public defender wasn’t in her plan. Falling for Grady Hunter, her public defender, definitely wasn’t in her plan. Can Grady convince Natalie there is more to life than her five-year plan? Is Ellie the only one who sees a future for Natalie and Grady?
Buy LinksAmazon Kindle & Print: http://amzn.to/2pb4HuK
Nook, iBooks & Kobo: https://www.books2read.com/u/3neJnB
Barnes & Noble Print: http://bit.ly/2qbmqEtMatchmakers
Barnes & Noble Print: http://bit.ly/2qbmqEtMatchmakers
I'm finishing up Rick Barry's The Methuselah Project, then it's off to Colleen Coble's Beneath Copper Falls, and Lynette Eason's Chasing Secrets! So many books, so little time!
ReplyDeleteSandy, so true! Too many good books. I can't wait to read Chading Secrets.
DeleteI love books, too! Always have. I carried books in my purse to read whenever I waited in the lunch line at school. Sometimes, I even put it behind my textbook when class was too boring to stand. Books transported me, taught me things about myself, sometimes they were my friend.
ReplyDeleteAgreed, Sandy: so many books, so little time.
Angie, I can just see you hiding your book when school was boring! I had a job once where I hid a book in my desk drawer because I had no work.
DeleteTerri, that is such a pretty pic of you!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Robin!
DeleteI love to read! I also love Colleen Coble and Debbie Macomber. I fell in love with an Anne Stuart book called Barrett's Hill. I just finished reading Mansfield Park by Jane Austen and The Shining by Stephen King. I'm currently reading Dr. Sleep by Stephen King, an old Perry Mason mystery by Erle Stanley Gardner and a mystery by Rachel McMillian. You're so right - too many good books and not enough time. I've had to completely give up house work!
DeleteWow! You've been reading some great books. I've seen The Shining, but never read it.
DeleteI think giving up housework in favor of reading is a smart choice. Way to go!
Like you, Terri, I enjoy a wide variety of genres. The book that changed my perspective on Christian fiction was Francine Rivers' Redeeming Love. It was the first Christian novel I read that wasn't sappy. It was like - wow! Christian fiction could actually make a difference in people's lives.
ReplyDeleteI just finished reading Annette's Love Finds You in Friday Harbor for review. I think it releases on September 1. Excellent!
P.S. - Ditto to what Robin said. I LOVE your new headshot. It's gorgeous. :-D
DeleteOkay Dawn, I'm embarrassed to say this, but I've never read Redeeming Love! You're the second person to tell me that it impacted their life. We have it in our church library. I need to check it out.
DeleteYou lucky girl! I'm looking forward to reading Annette's new book.
And thanks for the compliment on the head shot!
Delete