What was the first historical novel or romance that you can remember reading? Is it still a fave or one you long ago banished from your keeper shelf or digital media storage?
I know I started reading a bit before I even went to school. From kiddie books I graduated to Nancy Drew and then to 'westerns' like Zane Grey and Max Brand. From there I moved right on into adult novels (not the 'R' rated kind but just books for grown-ups) by the time I was 11 or 12. History was one of my favorite subjects in school so I discovered historical novels and began to read many of them. Although they are no longer popular or even still writing, probably mostly long dead even, some of my favorite authors were Anya Seton, Thomas Costain, Frank Yerby and of course Gone With the Wind and by my mid teens Forever Amber which my mom thought was scandalous! I devoured the "Angelique" books by Sergianne Golon (a husband and wife team) and eventually when 'real' romances like Kathleen Woodiwiss and Jude Devereaux appeared, I gobbled them up too! I still read a lot but maybe a few less than I once did and have even ventured at times into 'literary fiction' such as a book I am reading now. Still I find most of them too dark. If I want grim and disfunctional I just watch the news! One of my favorite current authors is Sue Ellen Welfonder who writes such fabulous tales of historical Scotland- rich with historical details and heroes to die for! Actually I read more contemporary and fantasy/paranormal.sci fi now but a few–like Sue Ellen–are gotta buy authors.
So how about you? Readers and writers both! Readers, share a fave title or author and writers, give us a hint as to what book or author pushed you over the edge to recognize you had to become a writer?
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