I just got home from a whirlwind weekend trip down to Kansas City (I did a little research on some setting elements for my upcoming Intrigue, KANSAS CITY CHRISTMAS--the Plaza lights aren't lit yet, but it was snowy and busy in downtown KC, we got a great view from the historic Raphael Hotel, and I picked up a lot of great atmosphere--plus, thanks to some brainstorming with my brothers, I've got some great ideas for one whale of a chase scene through the hilly Plaza area of K.C., complete with winding, narrow streets, ritzy homes, a river walk along Brush Creek and more!
)
But the main reason we drove down to K.C. and back so quickly was to have a family get-together to see my younger brother off before his unit deploys again--this time to Kosovo (man, I'm praying hard for the people there as well as the men and women in my brother's unit, and their families). The trip down there, while uber short, was wonderful. But just observing my growing extended family brought to mind some passages that we're going through. Obviously, sending my brother into danger for a third time is another chapter in our lives. But it's so interesting to see how his little children are maturing into strong young men and women, and how they're preparing for their daddy to be gone again for a long stretch of time.
Another passage is with my own son (hence, the picture of the Eagle nebula). He graduates from high school in just three months, and soon after he will go off to college to study physics (with an emphasis in astronomy) and music. My gosh! It doesn't seem that long ago that he crawled off into the bathroom to play with the toilet paper (that stuff can really fly if you unroll it just right 
). Now he's trimming his beard just so for a college visit tomorrow.
Without going on and on, I've noticed that my reading tastes have gone through passages, too. Once, I read nothing but straight mysteries and straight, sweet romances. But once I discovered romantic suspense, that became my first love. I've always read the classics (as and English Ed major and English teacher, you have to), but now I find myself revisiting old favorites--recently, I've read JANE EYRE, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, LORD OF THE FLIES (not a favorite, but I re-read it with my son for Senior English), and soon (for my reading group) I'm going to be re-reading Steinbeck's OF MICE AND MEN.
I don't think I'll ever give up romance and romantic suspense (when I want to escape, that guaranteed happy ending is a potent feel-good for me). I'm anxious to dive into GUARDIAN ANGEL and NAMELESS by Debra Webb. And I can't tell you how many Intrigues and Blazes I have on my TBR pile!
Have you gone through passages like that? Certain times in your life make you reach for a certain type of book or author? Or is it about moods for you when you choose your reading? Like comfort food, do you re-read something you know you love? Or do you trust a familiar author? Or is it strictly by genre--need some excitement? Choose an Intrigue. Need some steam--choose a Blaze. And so on.
Enjoy your week!
Julie Miller
PROTECTIVE INSTINCTS / ARMED AND DEVASTATING--The Precinct: Brotherhood of the Badge mini-series--Intrigue, June/July 08--Both are a Romantic Times Top Pick!
The Intrigue Authors Summer Blog Blitz starts July 1... www.juliemiller.org
College Visit and hectic schedule
Well, yesterday's college visit went very well--though we walked our legs off!! Our student guide was pretty (kept my son's attention
), very knowledgeable and super nice. An excellent ambassador for the college.
I think my son is convinced more than ever that that's where he wants to go to school (no, not because of the girl!
). My little boy is growing up!
Now to finish reading my last two RITA books and finish writing my current wip by the end of the month! Whew!
After the schedule we've been keeping, kicking back with a stack of TBR books sounds mighty tempting and relaxing! Someday
.
Julie Miller
PROTECTIVE INSTINCTS / ARMED AND DEVASTATING--The Precinct: Brotherhood of the Badge mini-series--Intrigue, June/July 08--Both are a Romantic Times Top Pick!
The Intrigue Authors Summer Blog Blitz starts July 1... www.juliemiller.org
Passages...
Julie, I've gone through more passages as a mom than I would ever have thought possible... one of the blessings of children I guess.
But this past year has been a doozy! Last January (2007) my two oldest children left home.
My son didn't go too far; he's still in the city and we get to see him, on average, once every two weeks or so. Mind you, we're not 100% sure if Stephen comes home for a meal that he doesn't have to cook, to play his youngest sister's gaming system or to visit his room which is still in full Stephen-lives-here mode.
Our oldest daughter, however, has developed the travel bug (and I lay this one directly at my dad's door!) and last January moved to Whitehorse in Yukon Territory... that was a 19-hour drive!
Then this past January, the darling girl decided that she was going to travel the world with her friend and now Lisa and Heather are in Cairo... Cairo!!
I ask you, isn't that a little extreme?
Lisa is sharing an apartment with her friend and teaching English to a couple of pre-teen / teen girls. But she and Heather are planning on visiting India and who-knows-where-else. She blithely told me that she might be home in a couple years. *sigh*
So left at home are our two youngest daughters; the older, Meagan, will be 21 this June and is nearly done her third year college ~ which is, joyfully, only 15 minutes away from home!
Our baby, Teresa, who will be 16 this June, is in her first year of high school... and that one is just about killing me! When did she get old enough for grade 10?
*double sigh*
As for your comments ~
Or is it about moods for you when
you choose your reading?
I'm definitely a mood reader; different genre ~ even within romances ~ for different moods. Most of the time it's not a big thing, but there are times that ONLY a certain type of book will do.
When I was younger ~ teens and young adult ~ I read pretty much only mysteries (Christie), thrillers (á la Ludlum, MacInnes, MacLean & Higgins) and some gentler romantic suspense (Mary Stewart).
It wasn't until I was older ~ and a mom ~ that I needed romance... and a lot of it. I realize now that it was to cope with my depression... but that's when the biggest change in my reading habits came about.
Like comfort food, do you re-read
something you know you love?
That's a big YES!! There are many times that only an old friend will do ~ I need to revisit them from time-to-time.
Or do you trust a familiar author?
Before I joined the challenge last year I basically stuck with the authors that I knew ~ and that's probably partly why I re-read so much... there are only so many books my favourite authors could put out in a year.
But when I joined the 2007 challenge ~ and you know? that was another passage for me... I never even thought about it! ~ I was exposed to so many wonderful reviews of outstanding authors that I was driven to expand my comfort zone. As I mentioned somewhere else, when I started the challenge last year, I rarely, rarely had more than 20 books in my TBR. Now a year later, my TBR numbers somewhere in the 400 to 500 range.
Did I change? Uh, that would be a big yes!
And you know what, I'm enjoying my reading even more than I ever did before... and you were one of my favourite new-to-me authors that I "discovered" last year.
And I just realized that I've gone way beyond what I thought that I had to say... not an unusual set of circumstances for me.
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kalyko ~ Reading: One of life's little joys and a much needed reward!
Hey, Kathy!
I was a huge Robert Ludlum fan, too. One of my favorites was THE ROAD TO GANDOLFO--sort of a prince and the pauper story, but with suspense and the pope
.
Wow, Cairo? I'm going to go through withdrawal pangs when my son moves just across the state. But what an adventure your daughter must be having.
Julie Miller
PROTECTIVE INSTINCTS / ARMED AND DEVASTATING--The Precinct: Brotherhood of the Badge mini-series--Intrigue, June/July 08--Both are a Romantic Times Top Pick!
The Intrigue Authors Summer Blog Blitz starts July 1... www.juliemiller.org
THE ROAD TO GANDOLFO...
... has to have been one of the most unexpectedly hilarious books that I've ever read, followed closely by THE ROAD TO OMAHA. Robert Ludlum's books that I'd read up to TRTG were pretty serious stuff ~ I love 'em, but they weren't the comedy that his ROAD books are.
I still chuckle sometimes thinking of the odd scene or another.
One thing that i've noticed since Lisa left home ~ and now that she's across the world is that she is very open with expressing her love and she's much quicker to appreciate us... that's nice; but overall it's kind of small comfort.
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kalyko ~ Reading: One of life's little joys and a much needed reward!