My Bookshelf's Shelf Life ~ Part 2

11/15/2010

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In this continuation from Part 1, which is what Part 2 usually means, I’ll touch upon more of the books sitting on my shelves.  Perhaps those books should be touched upon more often ... with a duster.  Dang!  I said I wouldn’t mention dust again.  Anyway, I went through a phase of reading volumes of bestsellers; but most of those novels were passed along for others to enjoy.  Very few (see below) remain on my shelf, although I took pleasure in them at the time.  

I went through a science fiction phase and total obsession with all things Star Trek.  I have two, count ‘em, two bookcases (not just shelves) full of novels, non-fiction books, and technical manuals.  I am not ashamed to admit I was, and still am, a Trekker.  Once upon a time, family and friends knew not to bother me when reruns aired, even on my wedding day.  Now I’m more of a word nerd than a Trekker; but those novels and manuals remain ... gathering dust.

Here are just a few other books and authors, in no particular order, that have a permanent place on my shelf:
  • A Tale of Two Cities (Charles Dickens)
  • The Cry of the Kalahari  (non-fiction by Delia and Mark Owens)
  • Gondar and also Kala (Nicholas Luard)
  • Bill Bryson’s works
  • Janet Evanovitch’s ‘Stephanie Plum’ stories (a guilty pleasure) 
  • Ken Follett’s novels
  • Wilbur Smith’s works (especially River God and its sequels)
  • Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series (Oh, yeah!  My love of Jamie & Claire is only surpassed by my love of Darcy & Elizabeth.)
  • Jane Austen’s six novels (My favourite is Pride and Prejudice.) 
  • I’m going to include Regency stories written by Austen’s fans amongst my favourite reading material.  There’s a wealth of Jane Austen fan-fiction out there, and I’m very happy to be part of that community.  By the way, Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge does not come with a dust jacket. 
“These are not books, lumps of lifeless paper, but minds alive on the shelves.”
 ~ Gilbert Highet (1906 - 1978) ~
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My Bookshelf's Shelf Life ~ Part 1

11/08/2010

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Over the years many of the books I once enjoyed reading have disappeared from my shelves.  Certainly, the children’s stories, comics, Nancy Drew series, and Lucy Maud Montgomery novels have long been passed along for others to appreciate.  Yet particular favourites, even from childhood, remain in my possession.

Two works by local Nova Scotian authors have been boxed and moved from shelf to shelf as I changed address.  Beautiful Joe by (Margaret) Marshall Saunders touched me more than Black Beauty.  The works of author Kay Hill, my mom’s friend, include And Tomorrow the Stars: The Story of John Cabot.  Perhaps thorough enjoyment of that biography was the onset of my enduring interest in historical characters, whether real or fictional.  

Eons ago, my Grade Six class was assigned a novel to read.  It was Airs Above the Ground by Mary Stewart, and I was instantly hooked.  I have remained a loyal fan of her work but was especially enchanted by Stewart’s The Crystal Cave and its sequels.  That enchantment with the Arthurian legends inspired me to seek out many other authors‘ works on the topic, and my fascination never waned.  The first book I’ve written (Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge) has a chapter in which its characters recite puns about King Arthur and his knights.  The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley still sits upon my shelf, and then there’s Jack Whyte.  I highly recommend Whyte’s Dream of Eagles / Camulod Chronicles series.  Start with The Skystone and then enjoy its many sequels.  For me, discovery of Whyte’s works was akin to stumbling upon treasure, and his books only leave my shelf to be reread ... or when I have to dust.  I could fill several blog posts with my intense dislike of housework, but I won’t. 

More favourite reading material will be revealed in Part 2 of My Bookshelf’s Shelf Life.  Dust will not be given further mention, except for a certain silky Maltese named Dust Bunny, who appears in Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge.  

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Austen Authors

08/26/2010

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On August 22 I received an email from Sharon Lathan.  A fan of Austen-inspired works, I instantly recognized her name as that of a well-established author in the genre.  Sharon invited me to join her and Abigail Reynolds (another popular Austen writer) at their exciting new blog.  Of course, I immediately jumped at the chance; and I am thrilled to have my name added to their growing list of ‘Austen Authors’, which is the apt name for our group.  At last count, there were nineteen of us.

Mary Simonsen (Searching for Pemberley, The Second Date, and Anne Elliot, A New Beginning) is one of the ‘Austen Authors’; and it was Mary who passed along my name to them.  I am amazed at this lady’s thoughtfulness and generosity.  Although Mary and I have never met, I often refer to her as my newest best friend.  We formed a mutual-admiration society at a Jane Austen fan-fiction site where we posted stories, and she has been helpful on this journey toward publication of my first novel.  Mary Simonsen’s  name even has the audacity to appear above mine on the front cover of that book!!!  She provided this much-appreciated blurb for Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge:  “A wonderfully unique Jane Austen re-imagining.  Absolutely delightful!  Get ready to laugh.”

As a newbie, I am happy to be in such esteemed company; and I hope you’ll visit us at http://www.austenauthors.com/.

The blog’s launch date is September 6, 2010; and we have planned oodles of fun activities, information, and giveaways.  See you there!

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