R is for Reading #AtoZChallenge

21.4.15

This year my A to Z Challenge is all about wellbeing - something I'm particularly passionate about. Whether it's physical, emotional, mental, spiritual or even the wellbeing of my business, I want to lean more! Today it's all about Reading :D
I LOVE reading. I always have. It's one of the best ways to relax. To dive into a book, into another world and live the lives of those characters that have developed in your head. It's magical, don't you think? 
I've read thousands of books over the years and my tastes often change - I suppose it depends on my mood too. When I first started getting serious about books, I guess I was about 11 or 12 years old, I would devour everything I could get my hands on - which wasn't easy considering we'd just moved to the Algarve and English books were few and far between. The charity shop was the easiest option. I read every Jilly Cooper novel out there back then and I learned a few things from her (wink, wink). Then I discovered Sweet Valley High, Mills & Moon (lol) and every book my mother and father owned at the time which ranged from Danielle Steel, Michael Korda (Queenie was one of my all time favourites), Jackie Collins (I wanted to be Lucky Santagelo)), Shirley Conran (remember Lace?) to horror books by Dennis Wheatley and Stephen King! Some of my more unusual favourites included Islands in the Sky by Arthur C. Clarke, Z for Zachariah by Robert C O' Brien, A Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood and Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden.
Some of my old favourite reads... most from YEARS ago!!
But then I discovered Chick Lit and I was in my element. I loved the humour, the pathos, the unique quirky characters and ultimately: the love stories. So I read primarily chick lit until another genre presented itself to me: YA. Sigh... I was a grown up but it didn't matter, I just loved the innocence and the fantasy elements of these books targeted at young adults. Harry Potter and Twilight totally won me over. But I never forget my roots and I still find myself reading all manner of genres. Basically I just love a great story, although I prefer a happy ending. I can't be doing with books that'll make me cry my eyes out at the end (unless they're happy tears, of course). I don't mind a bit of sadness in the middle but the end needs to sparkle, which is why I write the books I write. I want my readers to be happy. I want them to close the book and be content with the finale and ultimately I want them to want to read more of my novels! And on that note, have you read any of them? I write YA and chick lit / contemporary romance. Check them out here. A couple of them are FREE you know? ;)



9 comments :

  1. I'm with you on the happy endings. I don't mind crying in the middle, but I want to smile at the end!

    I never got into YA as an adult. I didn't even finish the Harry Potter series. But I do have mad love for chick lit.

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    1. Then I really MUST start reading your books, Elizabeth! <3
      p.s You NEVER finished Harry Potter???!!???! Shocked ;)

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  2. I don't mind the occasional sad ending, sometimes things don't work out. BUT certainly now all the time. I like the hero/heroine to win.

    --
    Tim Brannan, The Other Side Blog
    2015 A to Z of Vampires
    http://theotherside.timsbrannan.com/

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    1. Yes Tim! The hero/heroine should always win in my book lol! :)

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  3. I have always loved reading since I was a child! It was great to hear about the range you enjoy. I love YA right now, because well, I am a young adult but I read a lot of genres too. I have a few Danielle Steele books on my shelf I have been meaning to get to as well.

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    1. I'll be really curious to hear what you think of Danielle Steele's book, Olivia!!

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  4. I really enjoyed reading this post :) I love reading too, it's one of my favorite things to do! I read mostly fantasy and sci-fi but I also read a lot of memoirs and classics. I have just bought memoirs of a Geisha and I will read it soon, I'm really excited :)

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  5. I just remembered this inspiring article I read some days ago by Lev Grossman on how he found his voice in fantasy. It really impressed me, maybe it can inspire you too: http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/08/16/finding-my-voice-in-fantasy/?smid=go-share

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    1. Sunita, I hope you fall in love with Memoirs of a Geisha like I did! I just read the article you recommended and yes, it's very inspiring! Thanks for sending me the link :) x

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