Writers and Their Reading

By Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

Hi everyone.  Hope you all have a great weekend.  I’ve got a guest post today at the We Wanted to be Writers blog–they have an interesting feature called “Books by the Bed” and they asked me to contribute.

After reading some of the great entries from other writers, I wasn’t really sure I even felt comfortable submitting a post! I had a feeling that when I explored my bedside table, it was going to be crammed-packed with Agatha Christies (yellowing paperbacks from the 80s that I still have) and a Kindle full of mysteries. As usual, everything was a blur when I tried to remember what I’d been reading in the last several months.  But when I took a look and reconstructed my purchases, borrows, library checkouts, and old favorites that I frequently peek at before sleeping, I realized that my reading is actually more varied than I give myself credit for. 

Pop over if you can and share what’s on your bedside table (or what you’ve read in the past few months).

 

Elizabeth Spann Craig

View posts by Elizabeth Spann Craig
Elizabeth writes the Memphis Barbeque series (as Riley Adams) and the Southern Quilting mysteries for Penguin and writes the Myrtle Clover series for Midnight Ink and independently. She also has a blog, which was named by Writer’s Digest as one of the 101 Best Websites for Writers. There she posts on the writing craft, finding inspiration in everyday life, and fitting writing into a busy schedule.

12 Comments

  1. jack wellingSeptember 27, 2013

    Nice interview.

    I have the complete poems of Thomas Hardy by my bedside right now. I too like to read poetry when I’m working on a book. It helps.

  2. Margot KinbergSeptember 27, 2013

    On my way over!

  3. Roland D. YeomansSeptember 27, 2013

    Going to your interview now. Lately, my own reading have been biographies of the famous, and no so remembered, people in my latest novel-in-creation.

  4. Elizabeth Spann Craig/Riley AdamsSeptember 27, 2013

    Jack–Hardy is another good one. I think poetry is great to read while writing…it just puts me in a thoughtful, writing mindset.

    Roland–Ah! I love bios. :) I need to pick one up soon…haven’t read one in months.

  5. CA HeavenSeptember 27, 2013

    This year I’ve got two new favorite authors; two contemporary authors that I’ve been reading quite a lot: Michel Houellebecq and Haruki Murakami. Unfortunately, I don’t read neither French nor Japanese, so I had to go with the translations >:)

    Cold As Heaven

  6. Carolyn J. RoseSeptember 28, 2013

    I’ve been on a Jo Nesbo kick with time out for Carl Hiaasen’s latest for a change of pace.

  7. Elizabeth Spann Craig/Riley AdamsSeptember 28, 2013

    Margot–Thanks!

    CA–How were the translations? Must have been good, if you’re enjoying the books so much.

    Carolyn–Haven’t read Nesbo, but Hiaasen is fun. :) Discovered him when one of my children was assigned a book of his to read.

  8. CA HeavenSeptember 28, 2013

    The think the translations are quite good. And Jo Nesbø I can read without translation (only read two of his books so far) >:)

    Cold As Heaven

  9. Oregon Gifts of Comfort and JoySeptember 28, 2013

    Hi Elizabeth! It has been decades since I have read Agatha Christie, isn’t that weird. I’ll have to start looking for those.

    I am glad that you listed your books on writing list; I want to check those out.

    Thanks so much for visiting me recently; sorry that I am so far behind.

    Hugs,

    Kathy M.

  10. Elizabeth Spann Craig/Riley AdamsSeptember 28, 2013

    CA–Your language skills are more advanced than mine…. :)

    Kathy–She’s wonderful! And wonderful to read again…her books age well. Hope you’re doing well and thanks for popping by.

  11. Hilary Melton-ButcherOctober 9, 2013

    Hi Elizabeth .. I rarely seem to get to read books as such – but have decided I will do over the winter months .. I now really must knuckle under. I do look around a great deal when I’m writing my posts .. and I look at interesting educative articles that I see – and of course there are the guide books to the places I visit … which are fascinating! They are waiting for me too …

    I’m on my way over to see your reading matter! Cheers Hilary

  12. Hilary Melton-ButcherOctober 9, 2013

    Hi Elizabeth – I bought the Roger Housden – 10 Poems to Change your Life .. that sounded a good way in to getting to grips with poetry .. Hilary

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