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"So! In my Official Capacity as a writer of science fiction and fantasy, I hereby proclaim June 23 Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Day! A day of celebration and wonder! A day for all of us readers of science fiction and fantasy to reach out and say thank you to our favorite writers. A day, perhaps, to blog about our favorite sf/f writers. A day to reflect upon how written science fiction and fantasy has changed your life."
Okay, I'll admit it, I'm a bookaholic. I was one of those kids that would wait for the parents to go to bed, haul out the flashlight and read.
When I was a very young girl, I discover to the world of fantasy. It all started when my parents bought their very first set of encyclopedias from a traveling book seller. You know, the guys that knock on your door, lugging around book samples. They used to do that anyway....not so much anymore. As a freebie, if they would buy the encyclopedias, a free set of children's anthology would be added, 10 anthology style books in all. They bought 'em, I read 'em from cover to cover and again and again.
Some of the anthologies were of fables, some classic with Hans Christian Anderson and Charles Dickens. Some were Disney classic - Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White - all told in their original glory.
My mom did the unthinkable, being a young and first time mom - not knowing any better, she started me in Kindergarten at the tender age of four years. I was a year behind everyone, but I loved it. I did have trouble learning to read, so weekly trips to the library ensued. I was allowed to pick five books every Saturday morning. And I taught myself to read. (See, I'm left handed and everything for some reason comes harder for me. I've discovered the same problem with my own children, and I just got in the habit of re-teaching my son's daily lesson to him.) I always carried a book with me, and as my parents family grew, I slowly found myself the oldest child in a family of seven children. I re-told stories to my sisters. We would pile in my bed at night and it would become storytime. After all, I had years of anthologies stored up in my brain.
After a while, I started to make up my own stories, because I got so darn tired of re-telling the old ones! So, using the names of my sisters (my brother soon abstained from story telling time, it was too girly) to keep their interest and sooth them to sleep, the stories began. They were all fantasies full of castles, knights, witches, faeries, and evil personages trying to stop our good heroes and heroines.
My dad introduced me to the world of science fiction. I glommed onto Star Trek, superhero comic books and shows - Batman, The Green Latern, Superman --- all in reruns, but that much better. My dad would fill me in on everything that I missed or didn't understand.
Then, I discover the world of vampires, warlocks, witches, and fae of all sorts. By this time, it was an addiction. One that I gladly fed, one that helped me escape the pressures of school and being the oldest of seven and the responsibilities of taking care of my siblings. There's a lot of work for everyone is a large family, being the oldest is hard. My grandma introduced me to romance when I was 10 years old and by the time I was 12, Barbara Cartland was on my night table, with Dukes, Counts, ripping bodices, and evil ne'er do wells. But, fantasy would be my staple, always there, ready to embrace me and take me away.
As I grew and my tastes changed, paranormal romance and urban fantasy, as well as my old friend, fantasy, have become my reads of choice. I love a good mystery as James Patterson or John Sandford can tell. I love contemporary and historical romance to slip me into another time, another place. Paranormal historicals are fantastic. Vampires are lovely, both scary and playful. Shifters of all sorts are an imagination factory. I love to read and to play with writing. It's fun and tremendously entertaining, and I thank all the writers and authors who have taken me away.
Thanks Amy for sharing this posting.
24 comments:
Happy SciFi Fantasy day :D
Fantasy will always be my first love
Hi Blodeuedd!
Happy SciFi Fantasy Day right back at you!
It is my old favorite and first love.
Dottie :)
Happy SciFi Fantasy day, like you both Fantasy will remain my frst love!
But aren't all books a little bit of a fantasy?
Awww... Dottie, I love that story. Thank you for sharing that with us. Wishing I would have had you for a sister!! I am only child. And so is Brooke, but she is an avid reader as well!!! I would read to her while I was pregnant for her.
Dottie! I absolutely loved your post on how reading was such a major part of your life while growing up. And the beautiful pictures left me breathless.
Wow, the oldest of seven. I could barely handle being the oldest of one! My hats off to you girl!
Thank you for sharing.
:) VFG
Thanks, Dottie, for posting with me! Fantasy was what opened my eyes to reading. Well, Anne Rice, but it grew and thrived becasue of fantasy!
I love that you had a large family and were close enough with your siblings to have story time like that. I can't say I had a family life that would allow that kind of closeness. That's awesome!
Hi Amanda!
Fantasy is a big part of all books, it's all make believe. That where the good imagination comes into to play. Being able to place yourself in the story, to take part in the play. I have always loved reading and I guess always will.
Dottie :)
Hi Cecile!
Have one brother and five sister was interesting, the real interesting part was when my mom would try to get me to wear my brother's hand me down, even though I was older, he was bigger. Turned out that I like them more than the dresses she bought me! LOL! I would sneak in his closet to steal his jeans and work shirts.
Dottie :)
Hi VFG!
Thanks, lol, I still talk to at least one sibling everyday, and usually my mom or dad, I always try to make time for my grandma too.
Money was tight with that many kids, so reading was inexpensive and fun. You could go anywhere in a book.
Seven is a lot of kids, and our house demanded a lot of help, both my parents worked, the only way to make ends meet. So, I because the pseudo-mom. Went to daycare and picked up the little ones. Learned to cook and clean. I look back now and realize what a good time I had. All my sis' friends would come over and I'd make them all up, paint their nails. They'd go home look like little knock outs. LOL My sis' would say so and so is coming today, we'd like our nails done. Always a houseful and everyone had fun.
Dottie :)
Hi Amy!
I actually don't know what I'd do without all my sibs. Even now if they want Mom or Dad to do something, they all call me, ask me to ask. LOL They know my dad has a hard time saying 'no' to me. I don't know if he ever has, but then I never asked for anything too outrageous!
I wish everyone was close to their family, but it can't always be. My husband doesn't speak to his brother or sisters, and he's lost both of his parents, my kids hardly knew them. He sees his sibs about once a year and he says it's plenty. I talk to his sister more than he does, lol. He says I'm one of the lucky ones.
But it was hand me down city at my house.
Dottie :)
Heck, I haven't talked to my sister in over two years :(. I don't know if we will ever talk again. Makes me sad sometimes. We are just so different, and our past doesn't help any either. She deals differently than I do, so sometimes I think it's better if we don't communicate.
I even have a brother that I sometimes forget I even have. He's eleven years younger than I am. We were close when he was a baby and I played mom, but when I moved out we lived so far away that we grew apart...really grew apart!
But I have my mom now. We weren't close for a long time, but since she moved up here to live closer to me, we have re-established our bond and it's been wonderful! I see her at least once a week for coffee or a walk or to go to the bookstore!
You are one of the lucky ones! And I think that is just awesome that you have that! And you appreciate it too. It shows :).
Wonderful post Dottie! And spectacular pictures. Just beautiful.
Thank you so much for sharing your love of literature with us.
L
Hi Amy!
It's sad about your sister, I wish you were closer to her. Sometimes family is so hard to understand. The best you can do is love them. Maybe sometime she'll realize what she's been missing by not keeping in contact with the wonderful person that could be her sister. You are truly a sweet person, a great mom (you can just see it in the pride and love you have for Devon), and in how you treat others around you.
It's hard to stay close when you're so far a part and with such an age difference. It's hard to understand each other, wondering if you have the same values, think the same things are important. I have two baby sisters are 16 years younger than me, I was really Mom to those two, but we always don't see eye to eye (much as you do with your parents, lol). They're closer to my sister, Tanya, who is closer to their age, but they know I'll always be there and have been there. It's all you can do. I hear from them every couple of weeks. I used to buy them things when they were babies, now I buy things for their babies.
I live too far from my family to be able to see them very often. You are so lucky to have your mom close by now. We only live 75 miles apart, but it feels so much further. I used to go a couple a times a week to Springfield, but impossible to do now.
When I first started dating my husband, he had to pass the kid test. If he could tolerate my multitude of family, then I knew it would be alright. I didn't tell him he had to get alone with them, but if he hadn't, he would have been out of there. It was so funny, one of my baby sis' got a paint by numbers set, and painted every door knob in the house, he grabbed one and said WTH.... started laughing and went to wash up. I knew I had a keeper then, and wiped down all the knobs. It was hilarious. I then told him that this was my life and if he could handle, we could continue dating.
I wish everyday I lived closer to my family and maybe someday, we will, but this is where my husband's job is, so for now, we're here.
Dottie :)
Hi Lea!
I do have a true addiction to reading and when I saw the post over at Amy's, it really rang true for me. It's something that's always been a part of my life and will continue to be. I love being able to have an outlet for my feelings about books. I love to play with words, always have from the time when I was young. I have also dabbled with drawing (one of my first loves as well).
I found all the pics on the internet and they just expressed some of my visions of fantasy. They just felt right.
Thanks Lea!
Dottie :)
Oh wow these are some beautiful pictures! My love of fantasy started really early too.
Dottie,
Just wanted to apologise my comment was a little snotty when I reread it! So sorry if thats the way it came across wasn't the intention!
I love being able to place myself in a book with imagination...... I guess this is what I adore about reading and I think I will always be an avid reader one way or another!
Hi LadyTink!
I think it was pure escapism for me, I love being able to take a trip even for a few hours, be part of the words, and slip inside another character, try it on for size. It's just fun, isn't it!
It's something I have encouraged in my own children as well, learning to love books at an early age. The added benefit is I think it has really helped them excel at school.
Dottie :)
Hi Amanda!
Didn't think your comment was snotty at all and it raised an excellent point. All books have to be touched by fantasy. Without an author's imagination, there wouldn't be any books to slip inside of. How boring would it be to read books that felt like text books, operator's manuals.
With a little of imagination, author's can make it fun to be a part of the story they're creating.
I too find myself as an avid reader, and I probably will be for life. A few years ago, I discovered audiobooks and ebooks, and I love those as well, but not as much as holding a book and reading.
Dottie :)
Thank you!!
LOL there is nothing like holding a book you have been waiting for to be released and smelling the new book smell!!
Very happy times!
Hi Amanda!
LOL...I concur whole heartedly!!
Love the smell of new books!
Dottie :)
What a beautiful post Dottie! I love the pictures that went with your travels through the more genres that came out. Happy SF/Fantasy day too!
Hi Caffey!
It was a rather long journey, wasn't it? I enjoyed going back in time, reliving the old memories.
I do love fantasy, but Amanda had a nice thought, are all books fantasy? Yes, they are, all works of an author's imagination.
Dottie :)
I've been reading a lot of fantasy lately!
Hi Lenore!
I have a thing for fantasy, so I will always be reading it ... lol.
Nice to know I'm not alone! I step out my comfort zone occasionally, romance and mystery. But fantasy of all kinds is a fav.
Dottie :)
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