My goal for today was to accomplish a lot of things on my “to do” list, but instead I pulled out a dog-eared favorite book of mine. I have a stack of these — okay, a whole shelf — of books that I’ve kept with me from move to move. This particular book was The Daughters of Cameron by Aleen Malcolm. It was released way back in 1983, and I bought it second-hand in a used bookstore more than a decade later. I think it’s the last book in a trilogy, but I’ve never sought out the other books. I don’t know if I could even find them now.
The book’s spine is creased, the pages are yellow, and the storyline is definitely outdated. It’s a historical and something that I’d never write. The funny thing is that I don’t believe I’ve ever really read the book. I skim it until I get to the part that I absolutely love — the romance between the damaged characters of Rue and Quin. (Oh, they make my heart squeeze.) Then, I read… and the rest of the world goes away.
There’s something like that in each of the books on that shelf — something that grabbed me. To this day, I can vividly remember scenes from each of those books and the feelings that they generated. It’s scenes like that which I try to create in my own work. I want to write books that people will keep in their bedside tables long after they’ve been read. I want people to use up storage space on their e-readers just so one day they might go back to read a story or even just one scene again. Because that’s when a book becomes a favorite. Not when you first read it, but when you keep it and read it over and over again.
So I might have wasted the day in some people’s opinion, but I was struggling with my own work-in-progress. Now I feel inspired. That’s what favorite things do.
Regarding your comment of using up e-reader storage space. I Just wanted to share an email (edited), I sent to All Romance for their Ellora’s Cave comp: First Ellora’s Cave book:
Back in 2007 I really wanted a book that wasn’t available in Australia at the time; however it was available as an ebook so I downloaded Microsoft e-reader onto my PC. My e-book obsession was born and I haven’t looked back since.
Can’t remember how I found Ellora’s Cave but looking back at my e-book buying history, I think that I was trying to amp up my e-book collection that first day.
My first Ellora’s Cave title was actually 2. I purchased Kimberly Dean’s: “Fever” and “Hypnotica” at the same time.
“Fever” has gone on to be one of my favourite Ellora’s Cave and in fact a favourite e-book title. I read it regularly.
I have both on Microsoft e-reader, than mobi and now an epub copy which I purchased through All Romance of course.
I love the characters of Delia and Jackson in Fever and how their mutual attraction explodes in an inferno when Jackson (sorry spoiler), comes to Delia’s aid when he realises how sick Delia really is. While the sex is HOT, the story is more than about sex. Jackson is also very tender and make’s Delia feel sexy: “He didn’t intimidate her anymore. She was a strong, independent woman, and his protective instincts turned her to mush”. They both want to be together and the Fever gives them an opportunity to put their barriers aside an act on their desire for each other.
Sorry for the long email, but as you have probably guess I love Fever……
Thanks so much, Cherry. THAT’S why I write. You put a smile on my face and made me want to get back to my keyboard. “Fever” has a special place in my heart, because the inspiration came to me just like a light bulb dawning over my head. For me, it’s the little story that could! I’m so happy that you treasure it.