I saw a discussion last week on one of my lists. The question was - did you read as a child & did anyone influence your reading choice. I thought the whole subject would make an interesting blog, but expanded it to how my choices influenced my writing later.

None of my family read. Well, not extensively. Dad read westerns, and mom mysteries, but I don't remember seeing them read much to I was grown. Maybe they were too busy!

I had problems learning to read & everything else in class in first grade. We moved from Georgia to England, so went from very bad schooling to excellent. I was "lost" in England. I remember crying a lot and feeling stupid.

It took to the 4th grade to catch up. I went during the summer after
3rd grade & studied my little heart out on multiplication tables.
When I went back, I was in the top of my 4th grade. I've always done
well since then. Graduated with honors from college.

I guess I went into this history rant for parents out there who may
have kids who are struggling. I wanted to learn and my motivation
paid off.

I remember my parents gave me kids versions of bible stories. I read
& reread those. Fascinating. We had a huge book full of fairy tales,
and I read those so much it fell apart eventually. Very sad.

When I was grown, my mom handed me a book she'd bought at a garage
sale. It was the same fairy tale book!! I was so pleased I almost
cried. Mom & I didn't get along that well, but that was the most
thoughtful gift anyone ever gave me. Unfortunately, some years later
it ended up at my sister's house and nothing stays there. Long gone.
My mom died last year, and I really wished I had that book.

I loved going to the library as a kid. I read all kinds of things. I loved a story called "Rikki Tikki Tavi". It was about a mongoose. I don't remember anything in it, but I do recall how much I loved reading it & rereading it.

But when I got to teen years, I started reading s/f. Loved it! The very first story I read was "Have Space Suit will Travel". It was a fun read. I loved Andre Northon's fantasy tales of magic and animals. Make a note to self to reread some!

Then I got into Edgar Rice Burroughs and Robert E. Howard. For anyone who hasn't read Burroughs and thinks he only wrote Tarzan stories - not true! My favorite was The Cave Girl. It was about a weak, sickly young man who got washed up on a "lost island". Everything was primitive, including cave people & monsters. He fell in love with a lovely cave girl, and along the way became a strong hero.

I also got into Conan the Barbarian by Howard. Brawny heroes, sword fighting, dark magic, & fantastical settings. I love combining these elements and you see it in my stories. I was so excited when the finally made Conan into a movie. Love it!

Then I found romance. My first one was Jane Eyre. Wow. Romance with a dark, mysterious setting. Soon after I found Victoria Holt's gothics. Great reads!

When I grew up, some of my favorite romance autors were Johanna Lindsey, Kathleen Woodiwiss, & Jude Deveraux. Later I added Kathleen Morgan (cat books), Dara Joy, Tanith Lee (S/F), & for horror Dean Koontz & my favorite of all authors is Stephen King. I have others, but those are ones that stand out in my mind.

The first futuristic romance I read was Warrior Woman by Lindsey. Finally there was romance with S/F elements!! I had dreamed my first novel, Love's Captive, in 1978. But I knew that even if I wrote it, novels were either s/f or romance. There was no futuristic or s/f romance genre back then.

So I was very excited to see there was a genre that my story could fit into. It was only a few years later that I wrote Love's Captive.

Now I write romances with s/f or paranormal elements. What could be better!!

Myra Nour

www.myranour.com