Into the Fire

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Passionate: right or wrong. Writes love stories with a passion. Raw Romantic Redemptive

Friday Five

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Five questions for you:

What is the ratio of your reading fiction to non-fiction? (Ten to One? One to Ten? etc.)

What kind of story is your favorite? (i.e. thriller, cozy mystery, suspense, western, romance/love story)

Do you read biographies?

Where is your favorite place to read?

Do you have a favorite author in your favorite genre of choice?

 

Father, thank you for allowing us the privilege of writing and reading, of still being free to own and read your Word. Thank you for allowing us to live in the USA, One Nation Under God. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

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7 responses to “Friday Five”

  1. BK Jackson Avatar
    BK Jackson

    Fiction to non-fiction: less then 1 to 10
    Historical/western (non-romance/minimal thread romance), mystery, suspense
    Love to read biographies. My goal is to read biographies of most of the presidents (except modern day ones–modern day life is boring). Currently reading a 3 volume series on Teddy Roosevelt (fascinating guy). But also other biographies, like about Benjamin Franklin. And anybody else I’m interested in.
    Favorite place to read: Don’t have a favorite place. Wherever I can sit comfortably and see to read. Sometimes I read standing up with my Kindle propped on the back of my recliner. Don’t need a certain place, just a charged up Kindle. I do not, however, read in bed. It’s pointless. The minute I lay down and grow still, I go to sleep.
    Favorite author: Zane Grey you already know. I don’t know about qualifying any others as favorites. JA Jance, whose “Joanna Brady” series of novels I’m reading, is currently wowing me. She is an inspiration if for no other reason that she’s so prolific. This series alone has something like 15 books in it, and she has at least 2 other series that I know of. I don’t know how she pulls book after book out of her hat based around the same group of characters. It’s pretty amazing.
    I think she plans to come to the TUcson book festival this month or next and it would be interesting to talk to her if I get a chance.

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  2. Nicole Petrino-Salter Avatar
    Nicole Petrino-Salter

    I think I’ve read that JA Jance divides her time between Arizona and western Washington (Bellevue, I think). So she’s just up the freeway about an hour from me depending on the traffic. It would be great if you got to talk with her. She is amazing with her prolific series’ writing. I enjoyed the only one I read. Maybe I’ll do some more of hers after I catch up on what I’ve got lined up.
    I rarely read biographies and if I do, it’s usually of contemporaries. Yet, I wrote The Famous One sort of like a fictional biography.
    I love thrillers, mysteries, suspense, but I’m as rigid about my love stories/romances’ “qualifications” as you are about your westerns, Brenda. Maybe that’s why I write them – so I can create the kind I like. Is that why you write westerns?
    My favorite summer place to read is outside on our deck either in a lawn chair/chaise lounge or on the swing. My winter/bad weather places are in the living room in front of the warm-you-to-your-bones gas fireplace or our bedroom propped up on the bed with my dog sleeping up there too.
    Straight thrillers:Robert Liparulo Political/Espionage/:Vince Flynn/Kyle Mills; Brad Thor Romance:Becky Wade, Kristen Heitzmann Mystery/Suspense:Sibella Giorello Cozy Mystery:Karin Kaufman In general:Chris Fabry and too many others to name here
    Almost needless to say, ratio of fiction to non-fiction is 100 to 1.

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  3. Debra Avatar
    Debra

    These days my fiction to non-fiction reading ratio is at least 10 to 1.
    I think mystery/suspense stories are my favorites, though I enjoy women’s fiction, contemporary romance and historical fiction set in Europe. Sibella Giorello and Steven James are my favorite authors.
    I love well-written biographies – “Pure Gold” about Eric Liddel; “The Nine Day Queen of England” about Lady Jane Grey; and “Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy” are favorites.
    Any comfortable chair or couch works for me. If I could, I would read in a comfy beach chair on a beautiful, sunny beach every day!
    Amen to your prayer.

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  4. BK Jackson Avatar
    BK Jackson

    Yes, I forget where she was born, but Jance grew up around Bisbee AZ and, as you mentioned, divides her time between WA & AZ. The Tucson Book Festival is March 10th and 11th, so I’m going to look and see if they have a schedule posted yet. At the time I wrote her a few months back to thank her for her books, she mentioned she planned on attending.
    RE: Rigid qualifications: yes, I think you are right. I write them because I want to write the kind of stuff I can’t find. Honestly, I haven’t quite figured out my style or focus yet. For me the line between historical and western is still blurry. Technically, I don’t think I could write a straight western because I don’t have the innate ability to understand ranch life, never having experienced it & never knowing any real cowboys. Sure, I can research and try to fake it, but the best western writers rubbed elbows with the real deal. I just need to keep writing and keep figuring it out.

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  5. Brenda S. Anderson Avatar
    Brenda S. Anderson

    Ratio of fiction to non-fiction would be the complete opposite of BK: less than 10 – 1. Actually, it’s probably 1000 – 1. I try to read non-fiction, and I’ll start a book, but after a few chapters, they usually sit unopened.
    Favorite kind of story? I’ll read anything (except non-fiction 🙂 ) Contemporary family drama stories will stick with me longer than any other story. But like both of you, though, I’m super-picky about them because that’s what I write.
    I’ve read biographies, but I don’t seek them out. My favorites are still The Hiding Place and Cross and the Switchblade.
    Favorite place to read? At home, it would be on our living room loveseat, but if I could choose any place, it would be on the shores of Lake Superior. Big surprise, right. 😉
    Favorite author(s) in different genres: Family Drama/Women’s Fiction – Ginny Yttrup, Cynthia Ruchti, Stacy Monson (sorry, can’t narrow it to one!); literary – Charles Martin, Athol Dickson, Dale Cramer; historical – Laura Frantz; romantic suspense – DiAnn Mills and Carrie Stuart Parks because they’re typically romance-light.

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  6. Brenda S. Anderson Avatar
    Brenda S. Anderson

    Oh, how could I forget Steven James? Thanks for bringing him up, Debra!

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  7. Nicole Petrino-Salter Avatar
    Nicole Petrino-Salter

    “Actually, it’s probably 1000 – 1. I try to read non-fiction, and I’ll start a book, but after a few chapters, they usually sit unopened.” That’s exactly what happens to me, Bren, and your ratio is probably more accurate for me as well.
    And, yes, Steven James! And love Alton Gansky. Charles Martin is excellent, but I’ve only managed to read three of his so far. Love Carrie Stuart Parks and so many more.
    Brenda, you’ve got the right idea. You’ll figure it out.
    “If I could, I would read in a comfy beach chair on a beautiful, sunny beach every day!” Sounds glorious, Deb.

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