drey's library: January's Featured Author: Anne's favorite reads...

January's Featured Author: Anne's favorite reads...

Posted by drey January 19, 2011 at 8:00 AM

One of the guest posts I always ask my Featured Authors to write, is on what their favorite books are. I figure every author must've started out as a reader, right? And today, Anne Patrick swings by to share her list. Read on!

I first became fascinated with the written word when a grade school English teacher read Alexander Key’s Escape to Witch Mountain to our class. It was the only time I could remember when I actually looked forward to going to school. A short time later she started a reading program with Scholastic Books. I never will forget my mother’s reaction when I took the catalog home and begged her to buy me some of the books. I think she thought I’d been abducted by aliens or something. Bless her heart, we could barely afford food at the time but she managed to scrape enough money together to buy me the books. I then discovered the local library and felt like I was in heaven.

I grew up reading mostly mysteries, like Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys. Those were my favorites. Much later, I discovered Sue Grafton’s alphabet PI series. After a dozen or so I moved on to Stephen King. Big stretch, I know. My favorite King books are Carrie, Cujo, Pet Sematary, Dolores Claiborne, and It.

A few years ago I came across Christian fiction author Dee Henderson’s books. She is by far my favorite inspirational suspense author. Her O’Malley & Uncommon Heroes series are awesome. The Negotiator, The Truth Seeker, The Healer, and True Valor are my favorites.

I also read James Patterson, Tami Hoag, Lisa Gardner, Tess Gerritsen and Iris Johansen. Of these, Patterson’s Alex Cross series and Gerritsen’s Rizzoli & Isles series top my fav list.

As you can see, I pretty much live and breathe suspense.

Nah, I never would've guessed that, Anne! *grin* I loved the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books, too. And I went through a huge Stephen King stretch, but Imsomnia kinda killed that for me. I've never read Sue Grafton (horror!) or Dee Henderson, and will have to check them out. I've never Read Tess Gerritsen either, but LOVE the Rizzoli & Isles series on TNT. I guess it's time to pick up the books and see if I like 'em as much as the show, huh?

Thank you for swinging by, Anne! As for the rest of y'all: Do you share some of Anne's favorite books? Which ones, and why?

13 comments:

Pat Dale said...: Hi, Anne. Like you, my mom helped me become an avid reader at an early age. I like to read just about anything except 'celebrity wallowing' tell alls. I'm leaning more into mystery/suspense now as that's where my writing is taking me.
One of my favorite authors is(was) the late Robert B. Parker. His writing is deceptive in that you can usually read one of his books in a day but his characterizations stay with you after you've put the book down. Case in point, the new Blue Blood series starring Tom Selleck. I know his portrayal of the NYPD commissioner is based in part on his role as Jesse Stone in the books Parker wrote that turned into those movies. Sorry he's gone now, but his books live on and that's at least a part of why we write, isn't it?
I'm currently reading a couple of Lisa Jackson's books; The Night Before and The Morning After. She's another romance writer who turned to mystery/suspense. As my darker fiction develops, I read more and more of the novels that feed my imagination.
Ain't reading grand?
Pat Dale; 20 January, 2011 11:56
DanielleThorne said...: I LOVED Witch Mountain!!! I so fondly remember watching that movie with my sister, too. I remember how much SHE loved it, and that mattered to me. It's wonderful we had to many great books in our childhoods. Best of luck with your awesome books, Anne!; 20 January, 2011 12:07
Anonymous said...: I was a bio reader for a long while in school. And then it stretched to reading westerns and
a few others. But now I have little time for reading as I'm either writing or editing all the time along with promoting.

Nict blog Anne.
Love and blessing
Rita; 20 January, 2011 12:27
Miss Mae said...: I am not a SK fan, but like Anne, I grew up with Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys. Also Trixie Belden and Donna Parker. :) Did you read those two, Anne?

That's wonderful at how your mom understood your need for books, and provided a way. I'm sure you make her proud at how you now WRITE such incredible books!; 20 January, 2011 12:59
Gail Pallotta said...: I do love suspense the same as Anne, and I love Anne's suspense books. I was hooked on Lethal Dreams. As a youngster I read every Nancy Drew book I could get my hands on. Some of the books I've enjoyed as an adult in the mystery / suspense genre include the Anne George mysteries and Breach of Promise by James Scott Bell.; 20 January, 2011 13:12
Anne Patrick said...: Hi Pat, I've read some of Lisa Jackson's books but those two don't ring a bell. I'll have to check them out. Thanks for dropping by!

And thank you, Drey for having me back :-).; 20 January, 2011 13:15
Anne Patrick said...: Hi Danielle, I don't know why but out of all the books I've read over the years Witch Mountain sticks with me the most. The movie was great too!; 20 January, 2011 13:17
Anne Patrick said...: Hi Rita, I'm not much of a BIO reader. The only one I've read lately that I remember is Queen Noor. It was a facinating book by a wonderful lady!; 20 January, 2011 13:22
Anne Patrick said...: Hi Miss Mae! I've never read Trixie Belden or Donna Parker but if they were anything like Nancy Drew and the Hardy boys I probably would have loved them.

And, yes, my mother was always my biggest supporter. I don't think I would have ever had the nerve to submit my work if she hadn't nudged me so much. Thanks Mom!; 20 January, 2011 13:26
Anne Patrick said...: Hi Gail, thank you for your kind words. I've read Anne George but not James Scott Bell. I do plan to though. Thank you so much for dropping by.

Hugs to all!!!
Anne; 20 January, 2011 13:29
drey said...: Oh wow, I remember Trixie Belden! Those were the days when all i had to worry about was schoolwork and sneaking in a fun book or two... :)

Thank you for the guest post, Anne, and thanks for stopping by, everyone!; 20 January, 2011 21:22
Joyce DiPastena said...: I was more into the Hardy Boys than Nancy Drew. Go figure. ;-) I mostly read historical mysteries now, Ellis Peters, and a Tudor series by Leonard Tourney that I quite enjoyed when it came out. And, of course, Elizabeth Peters Amelia Peabody series is great! But contemporaries can be a nice change of pace. I'm looking forward to checking out Anne's titles!; 20 January, 2011 23:49
Anonymous said...: Oh yes, suspense, suspense, suspense! :) I'm right on board...lol.

I have read everything you named. I also enjoy Dean Koontz, Allison Brennan, Janet Evanovich, Kay Hooper, Lisa Jackson...and on and on and on.

Happy reading!; 21 January, 2011 07:59