I love to read - always have, always will. A person who doesn't find enjoyment in reading is alien to me - it opens up your mind to different worlds! A writer who doesn't read? What the heck is that all about?! How can you proclaim to be a writer and ask people to read your work when you yourself "don't" (won't?) read?
I was a reader first and foremost; it was reading which encouraged me creatively to make little picture books as a child. I started my writing 'career' as (I think) a seven year old; I was already hooked on taking photographs (still a huge passion of mine) and drawing and so when my parents used to develop the rolls of film (remember those!) I would paste a series of photographs on pieces of A4 paper and draw around them before creating a little story above and below the pictures.
Sadly these picture books are long gone; with so many moves in my adult life they went astray or got thrown out, along with any teen/young adult stuff I wrote. I know that there is a floppy disc out there somewhere with a joint story I was writing with an American girl who I used to email (back when there was only one provider).
I'm sad that this history of my writing is lost; no doubt it would be cringingly embarrassing to read today but I would still like to see that connection with the younger version of myself.
Luckily I still have a few of my childhood reads (Little Women and The Secret Garden have pages cellotaped in, so well were they read!) although even lots of those found there way to car boots; many were also handed down to my niece who shares my love of reading.
I read, I think, all of Ann M Martin's 'Babysitter's Club' series - they taught me quite a lot actually as a young reader. It was my treat as a child to go to the book shop in nearby Solihull and buy two or three new books in the series - it's still a treat for me to go and buy new books!
My Kindle is fully loaded with published and indie books ready for my holiday next week and I will very much enjoy devouring the worlds which their writers have created for me. Of course, any which I really, really love will have to be purchased in paperback so they can sit prettily on my bookshelf.
I'll admit I was a little anti-ebook when they first came out - one of the best smells in the world (to me anyway) is that of an old book shop or library, and the best sound is the cracking of a new book's spine. However, I came round and I am now gleeful in the knowledge that I can take dozens of books in my hand luggage on holiday without being told that it is overweight and I have to leave some behind. I can also read late in to the light without keeping my partner up because of needing to have a light on.
Still, I need 'real' books in my life and so my favourite Kindle books inevitably end up on my bookshelf even if only for aesthetic purposes.
I'll go back to my original point... People who don't/won't read are definitely aliens.
I was a reader first and foremost; it was reading which encouraged me creatively to make little picture books as a child. I started my writing 'career' as (I think) a seven year old; I was already hooked on taking photographs (still a huge passion of mine) and drawing and so when my parents used to develop the rolls of film (remember those!) I would paste a series of photographs on pieces of A4 paper and draw around them before creating a little story above and below the pictures.
Sadly these picture books are long gone; with so many moves in my adult life they went astray or got thrown out, along with any teen/young adult stuff I wrote. I know that there is a floppy disc out there somewhere with a joint story I was writing with an American girl who I used to email (back when there was only one provider).
I'm sad that this history of my writing is lost; no doubt it would be cringingly embarrassing to read today but I would still like to see that connection with the younger version of myself.
Luckily I still have a few of my childhood reads (Little Women and The Secret Garden have pages cellotaped in, so well were they read!) although even lots of those found there way to car boots; many were also handed down to my niece who shares my love of reading.
I read, I think, all of Ann M Martin's 'Babysitter's Club' series - they taught me quite a lot actually as a young reader. It was my treat as a child to go to the book shop in nearby Solihull and buy two or three new books in the series - it's still a treat for me to go and buy new books!
My Kindle is fully loaded with published and indie books ready for my holiday next week and I will very much enjoy devouring the worlds which their writers have created for me. Of course, any which I really, really love will have to be purchased in paperback so they can sit prettily on my bookshelf.
I'll admit I was a little anti-ebook when they first came out - one of the best smells in the world (to me anyway) is that of an old book shop or library, and the best sound is the cracking of a new book's spine. However, I came round and I am now gleeful in the knowledge that I can take dozens of books in my hand luggage on holiday without being told that it is overweight and I have to leave some behind. I can also read late in to the light without keeping my partner up because of needing to have a light on.
Still, I need 'real' books in my life and so my favourite Kindle books inevitably end up on my bookshelf even if only for aesthetic purposes.
I'll go back to my original point... People who don't/won't read are definitely aliens.