If you’re like me, you discovered reading at an early age. My greatest ally in feeding my reading addiction? The local library. Closer to home, my school library proved to be a treasure trove, allowing me access to a wide array of books and their authors, many of whom I mentioned in my debut post.

Winds of Change

Somewhere along the way, my reading horizon evolved to include owning books. There was (and still is) something magical about watching my bookshelf (now shelves) fill up with an eclectic rogue’s gallery of novels and short-story collections.

The four books pictured above were actual purchases I made back in the day. Not the last, to be sure, but among probably the very first. Laser Books were very affordable, so it was easy to flesh out my earliest sci-fi collection. Invasion (top left) inspired me to begin writing my own stories.

The series editor, Roger Elwood, encouraged new writers to submit their stories, which led to (A) my very-first submission, which in turn resulted in (B) my very-first rejection letter.

(shrug) It’s all part of the journey.

Fanning the Flame

Indie authors wear a surprising number of hats. Writing, editing, revising, rewriting, proofing, ARC and beta readers, cover design, interior layout, external editors, and publishing … followed by ongoing marketing, promotion, etc. All while writing the next book.

I can’t imagine not writing, because I love each and every aspect of it. But it’s work. And sometimes work can dull your instincts and passion.

That’s where all those early books find a new niche. It’s rewarding and inspiring to read new books, of course, but—every so often—it’s a good idea to revisit some of those old stories that first ignited my passion to write.

To read … just for the joy of reading. Losing myself in a good story. Remembering what a book feels like from a reader’s perspective. Fanning the flame, in other words.

And then setting pen to paper again …