~FAVORITES~

Posted by Candace Bowen Early on Jun 10, 2011 in Authors, Blog, Writing | 4 comments

Recently, Rhemalda Publishing requested its authors to compile a list of books that have been an inspiration to them over the years. Still in possession of my all-time favorite books, it turned out to be one of the easiest tasks I have been asked to do.

An eclectic mix of titles and authors, I decided to make some sense of the jumble by listing the books in the order that I read them. Owing in large part to my mother, I started out a huge historical romance fan at an early age. From there, my tastes evolved into the classics through high school before eventually transitioning into horror, suspense and paranormal fiction.

Until the moment I glanced over my list, I had no idea how much influence the books I read had on my writing style. For example, my novel, Jack of Hearts, surrounds the nineteenth century London murders of Jack the Ripper. Unbeknownst to me, my favorite genres led me to create a historical romance with a touch of horror and suspense. Another example of how my reading choices have influenced my writing would be in my novel, Spur of the Moment. A twenty-first to twelfth century time travel paranormal romance, the story has a touch of all of my favorite genres. I can go on, but I think you get the general idea.

Before Rhemalda’s request, I never gave much thought to how I fell into writing romance above other genres I tend to favor. As long as the idea for a story was there, I just sat down and started to type. Now I see that there may just be some method to the creative side of me after all. This experience has led me to believe that my varied reading tastes blended together to fashion the writer I am today.

Thank you Rhemalda Publishing, Rhett and Emmaline in particular. You taught me it is never too late to learn something new about yourself.

Candace Bowen Early
June 10, 2011

Added by Rhemalda:

Find books that inspire all of the Rhemalda authors.

Candace Bowen Early, author of Spur of the Moment has been inspired by the following Books. As you read above, she has provided these books in the order that she read them, therefore showing the progression of her reading style.

• The Wolf and the Dove – Kathleen Woodiwiss
• The Flame and the Flower – Kathleen Woodiwiss
• A Kingdom of Dreams – Judith McNaught
• Almost Heaven – Judith McNaught
• Something Wonderful – Judith McNaught
• Anne of Green Gables – L.M. Montgomery
• To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee
• Mansfield Park – Jane Austen
• Persuasion – Jane Austen
• Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen
• Sense and Sensibility – Jane Austen
• Jane Eyre – Charlotte Bronte
• Wuthering Heights – Emily Bronte
• Oliver Twist – Charles Dickens
• The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
• The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde – Robert Louis Stevenson
• Dracula – Bram Stoker
• Frankenstein – Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley
• The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings – J.R.R. Tolkien
• Le Morte D’Arthur – Sir Thomas Malory
• Jerusalem’s (Salem’s) Lot – Stephen King
• Quitter’s Inc. (novella) – Stephen King
• Christine – Stephen King
• Misery – Stephen King
• The Green Mile – Stephen King
• The Shining – Stephen King
• Thinner – Stephen King
• The Highlander Series – Karen Marie Moning
• Sookie Stackhouse Series – Charlaine Harris

If you are familiar with Ms. Early’s other published novel, A Knight of Silence, offered from 7 Realms Publishing perhaps you can share your view of whether you think her reading preferences has shaped her writing style.