What books are you reading now? Do you bite your nails with a gritty suspense novel or are you ready to pull the covers over your head with a horror story? Are you someone who reads on a Kindle, or do you like the smell and feel of a book in your hands? Personally, I like to hold the book between my fingers; and, with the turn of a page, I’m transported to a new world that I didn’t know existed. My imagination takes over, and I’m there . . . walking with the main character, feeling their plight, seeing the setting, then delving into the plot, one page at a time. After this last year, I can’t imagine how I would have coped without a good book.
As an author, you’d think my love for books was just a natural vise, but that was not always the case. I didn’t get the “reading bug” until I read Twilight. Yes, I said it. Twilight. My love for books and escapism came through the Stephenie Meyer’s series as they, surprisingly, made their mark on my soul.
When I read Twilight, I was in one of the worst depressions of my life. I’d been divorced, laid off, and on welfare with three kids to feed. Things looked bleak. What kept me going was knowing that when I opened a book, I could escape my surroundings and be somewhere else. Reading saved my life during those dark, lonely nights.
Once I discovered my love for books, I wanted to take a crack at it. So, one night when the kids were fast asleep and the house was quiet, I sat in front of my computer and wrote a story. The writing process felt instantly euphoric, and I couldn’t stop myself. Without any formal education in novel writing, my self-esteem stopped me from getting serious about the process. It wasn’t until I went back to school and changed my major from technical writing to creative writing when things became clear. After I finally earned my degree, I thanked the woman who inspired it all, Stephenie Meyer.
When I met her, I cried and told her how her books literally saved my life. She hugged me and said she was glad that she could help. Words are power and have a profound effect in changing people from the inside out. So, thank you Stephenie for everything…
Pick up your favorite book today and escape. You won’t be sorry.
~ EJ 