I read very early on a regular basis. I probably started with Nancy Drew, I always loved mystery books.
I started writing on a more or less full time basis for my health web site www.y2khealthanddetox.com and for health journals like Alive Magazine, Alternative Medicine and the like.
My writing of fiction under the name of Lady Ellen started in January, 2007 when I sat down one day and wrote the first few chapters. My first readers were my grown children and close friends. They all loved the story.
I started to read at 2 when my ambitious parents started me on flashcards, then it was on to "Spot", Beatrix Potter, and Puddleduck Lane. The first "real" book I read was Enid Blyton's "A Book of Brownies" at age 4. The writing began almost as early, and I have never stopped since. My first byline was in a national English daily, when I wrote a letter into the kiddy column. They even paid me a hundred ringgit for it - it seemed like so much at the time.
I started reading at a very early age. It was when I was four years old and, soon after I began, I became an avid reader. Although I did not write for many years into my future, I did attempt to write when I was in the Navy, from 1957-1961. It was then I learned that there was a great power in the written word. However, it was not until I began my education at Eastern Kentucky University, 1994-1996, that the full power of my writing became evident to me. Since then, I have been published in both the United States, and in Northern Ireland, where I lived for three years. It was the "Ulster Humanist Magazine" that gave me my first opportunity and several works were published by their request. In the United States, I have also been moderately sucessful with my writing having my first novel published by Synergebooks@aol.com entitled, "Fire From The Sky," the story of the rise and fall of the Sioux Indian Nation, 1800-1909, as told through the eyes of a medicine man. Presently, I am working on a non-fiction book on Bipolar Disorder that should be completed by the end of this year (2009).   | | |
The first book I remember reading was The Golden Book of Greek Mythology. That was "my book." I wore it out. I started writing very early. I put together, by hand, a newspaper with information about our neighborhood in Buffalo, when I was ten years old. It was called The Crescent Avenue Chronicles. It was read by my friends, who were not really impressed with my work. So I only published one edition.
Age 4. Dad taught me. Parents.
I was a child of the 60s. I started with Sally, Dick, and Jane ("See Spot run"). My older sister, Jackie, taught me to read before I went to school. I loved reading and literature and stories and grew up in a house with thousands of books--on every subject, for every age group. My entire, large family is a family of bibliophiles.
I can't remember the first book I ever read. And I've been writing stories before I really understood what I was doing. I had stories in my head that I wanted to write about. My family were my first audience.
The book that started me on reading was the New Testament. The words of the Master Jesus Christ penetrated my soul and filled me with the Spirit of God. This experience started me on a path to seek to improve and grow and work to become more like Jesus Christ.
Prior to my first semester at college, I set a goal to become a published author. I remember receiving my first writing assignment and being so excited to begin my writing career. I worked hard on this paper, spending dozens of hours ensuring it was my best effort and an “A” paper. A couple weeks after the papers were turned in, I remember the teacher starting class by putting on the board the grades “A” through “F” and the break down of how the members of the class scored on the paper. I was sure I had turned in one of the “A” papers. I was going to be a published author and I had worked so hard on the paper. Well, I got my paper handed back to me and on the top of the paper was not an “A,” “B,” or “C” and it wasn’t even a “D.” On top of my paper was written “F” with the note, “This is not collegiate material. You need help. Get a tutor.” This was the start of my writing career. Writing had been one of my worst subjects in high school, but I was determined to make it one of my best. I went to the teacher and asked if he would give me a list of the students that got an “A” on the paper so I could see what an “A” paper looked like and learn from them. I began to take writing classes and to learn from other authors. I worked hard to improve and develop my writing skills and by my senior year, I was a published author. My first book was published by the college for use in one of the university’s leadership courses. | | |
The first real book I ever read was "Animal Farm"
I'm still learning to write; I don't think good writers ever stop learning. Yeah, I've studied books on writing, and I read a lot; but I hope I always continue to learn.
My wife was the first to read my work.
My favorite childhood book was "Velvet Eyes," a pictorial storybook about a reindeer, if I remember correctly. I have always liked the tactile nature of childrens' books: furry animals, fold-outs, raised areas.
I think my writing began when I decided to write for a website on the Internet on makeup and skincare. This has been my field of expertise for many years and it was a natural fit.
As an adult, I have grown to love the subject of fine art, and the history of art.
I have been writing articles on this vast subject for more than five years and I have even been published internationally.
The first book I read seriously was the Bible. I then read Biblical Comentary's and Biographies portraying story's of overcomming adversity and personal acheivment.
I began to write about my life's experiences to try and find meaning in what I've been through.
People who have read my work include attorney and former mayor and municipal leader, Dianne Haskett, who is also owner of Believe Books, Washington, DC - Ken Wells, former Director of Nursing, West Hills Hospital of Reno, NV - Tom Luitwieler, pastor of Calvary Chapel of Reno, NV to name a few.
I am a non-fiction writer/author who is a lifetime science fiction fan. I grew up in the era when writers like Theodore Sturgeon, Isaac Asimov, Poul Anderson, Piers Anthony, Robert A. Heinlein, Robert Silverberg, and Roger Zelazny held sway over the genre. I enjoy them immensely along with Harlan Ellison, Ursula K. Le Guin, and Fritz Leiber. I suppose this early reading, full of hope and expectation and more importantly, "what if", influenced how I approached the field of personal finance.
I began to write seriously ten-years ago (after writing short stories most of life) when I realized that there was no good, product-free information for the average worker. I began the BlueCollarDollar.com (http://bluecollardollar.com) and from that, I now write not only for the site but two blogs, several guest columns and now have four books (McGraw-Hill).
My first readers were people who were looking for good, bias-free financial information.
I was a pretty big series reader. I absolutely loved Alfred Hitchcock's The Three Investigator series. Then Roger Zelazny's Amber Series of course and Philip Jose Farmer's Riverworld series.
Though I read a LOT I didn't actually entertain writing until college. The stories were in my head though and many of them still are.
The first and only person to read what I wrote was my best friend from college. She's also the one who inspired me to keep writing even though I'd no plans at that time of being published.
If you want to thank someone for pushing me to publish, you can thank Teresa. I never thought my stories were good enough.
My family were all pretty religious so even as a kid I read the Bible. But the first literary books I remember reading are Emma by Charlotte Bronte and a book about a girl named Penelope. My mother had a great memory and always walked around the house orating the openings of great books. So I grew up hearing the openings of A tale of two cities, Ivanhoe etc.
The same book about the pirate Jean Paul Lafitte all through grade school. Or books about Robert E. Lee. I began writing poetry in high school as a way to get into girl's panties. The first professional person to read my work was a professor in college who thought I had talent. I was in love with her so all my writing had strong erotic content. I went on to become a journalist, but never took any writing courses in college and stopped writing poetry. I wanted to be a novelist after college, but never took any courses, didn't know the first thing about writing or narrative. This struggle lasted decades to find a real voice. Journalism was a shallow profession and I wanted to be honest. Perhaps it was after reading Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way that I found that voice at 40+ and have been writing creatively ever since. |
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