BROUGHT TO MIND â—½ HOME
I don’t have a distinct memory of how I decided to become a writer. I always had a vivid imagination and loved making up stories and adventures even if I never wrote them down.
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What I do clearly remember is being surrounded by books. They may not have all directly inspired my writing career, but they definitely fostered my love for the written word.
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For most of my early life, the books I loved were picture books and read-alouds. My family would pick them out for me at the library or for a few dollars second hand. Others came as part of our homeschool curricula.
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As I entered my teens, I started to spend more time reading silently as a hobby instead of listening to my mom during school or at bedtime. I wanted to find and collect books for myself. Unfortunately, most new books aimed at my age group didn’t appeal to me.
Then I discovered books from the mid-20th century. There is a wealth of wholesome fiction for teen girls from the 40s – 60s. My favorites were Nancy Drew, Donna Parker, Vicki Barr, and the Dana Girls. In addition to devouring the plots, I learned how to identify the original vintage editions of these books and started building my collection.
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My collection of vintage teen books brings back many happy times. The day trips I took with my family to antique stores. The excitement when I found a vintage first edition tucked on the shelf amongst all the newer books at a secondhand bookstore. Getting drawn into the adventures while laughing at the odd old words in some of the books (“She looked ruefully at her pumps.”)
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The yellow-spined Nancy Drews on my shelf also bring to mind falling in love with mystery stories. It remains my favorite genre to read and write.
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Autumn is upon us, and it’s the coziest time for curling up with a book. Especially a mysterious one. It’s also a great time for nostalgia. We’re on the cusp of the holiday season with all its traditions and memories. Why not recall some more private traditions and memories by getting your favorite warm drink, a fuzzy blanket, and a beloved childhood book? As enjoyable as reading can be for us grown-ups, there was something extra special about it when we were children. In our world of busy lives and crazy media, recapturing that magical experience may be just what we need.