Books are my life. I read them, I write them, I dream about them, and sometimes I even drool over them. They are the ink in the blood of my veins. I've loved books from the time my mother started reading to me. I remember nap times when mom would read the Raggedy Ann books, and I would drift to sleep thinking about the camel with wrinkled knees, and dolls who could really talk.
As soon as I could read on my own, my mother made sure I had weekly trips to the Dwight Library. It was there I met the girl detectives; Trixie Beldon, and Nancy Drew. I learned about frontier life with Laura Ingalls Wilder and traveled to far off worlds with Meg in a Wrinkle in Time.
As soon as I got home from the library I would look over my precious stack of stories. Which would I read first? I would carefully select the honored title and head to my favorite tree. Sitting in the branches with the breeze rustling the leaves, I would take off on an adventure far far away from my Kansas farm. Who needed fancy vacations when I could explore haunted houses, travel to far off planets and live in imaginary kingdoms.
Summertime reading is still sweet to me. On cooler days I like to sit outside in the shade with a cold drink and read the latest novel. My favorite books are mysteries. I guess I'm forever a Nancy Drew Wannabe. I LOVE Elizabeth Peters books, and I highly recommend them to anyone who likes their mystery with a large dose of humor. I'm also a fan of Susan Wittig Albert, Donna Andrews, Carolyn Haines, and Jan Burke.
But I also adore classic books. I mean who doesn't love Jane Austen? I can't tell you how many times I've cheered for Mr. Darcy and laughed at poor confused Emma. Summer is a perfect time to visit Mansfield Park and the English countryside.
If you want a wonderful satirical laugh there is always P.G. Wodehouse. His bumbling rich boy, Bertie Wooster, and Jeeves, the butler who save his skin, are dear old friends of mine.
As a writer of books for children, I also keep up on what kids are reading. The Percy Jackson series is a riotous adventure that will keep both boys and girls glued to the pages.
Two of my favorite authors have published very fun books for children. Jeanie Ransom's Picture book, What Really Happened to Humpty, is fun for both children and their adult readers. I think my mom would have loved reading it aloud to us kids.
And Kristin Nitz has fulfilled modern girl's detective daydreams with her book, Suspect. It has everything a girl detective needs, including a surprise ending and a little bit of romance.
Oh yes, summer is the season for reading. In these hot lazy days treat yourself to a trip to the library or your favorite bookstore. My favorite is Main Street Books http://www.mainstreetbooks.net/. Ask your bookseller or librarian for their recommendations. Then take home a pile of adventures and savor them with a cold glass of tea. It may be the best vacation you'll ever take.
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