…When I was about 12 or 13, I read a book that just literally blew my mind. It wasn’t that the prose was perfect, or it had a beautiful ending, but I was amazed at how the author made so many small details fit together. At that young age, I hadn’t been exposed to a lot. But I had read a lot. It was to the point that every time my Mom would go to the grocery store, I would go with her, so I could look at the books. Yes, she would always get me the book I asked for. I would have it read within the day. She said she should return them the next day and say it wasn’t read (she never did!).

I was so amazed at how this author wrote this book with so many details that just worked, that I pulled out my typewriter (Yes, typewriter) and wrote him a letter. I had no address to send it to, so I sent it to his publisher.

About 2 months later I came home from school and my Mom said I had some package that came in the mail. I looked at the return address, and it was from him! Being 13 years old, I was a rock star! Someone important wrote to me!

There was a signed book that I hadn’t yet read, and a long letter telling me to never give up my dream of writing ( 😦 ) I wrote to him, and he always wrote back. I have several letters from him that I will always cherish.

I went to high school, I read books I had to read, I went to band camp, I studied, and I still tried to read when I could. We lost touch, and as time passed, I looked him up, and he went from writing gore stories (think Stephen King) to writing westerns. Not my thing for reading, but I never have, and never will forget the time a grown man spent replying to a young girl who wanted to be a writer, and admired him.

He passed away on February 8, 2004, and I will forever regret that I never stayed in touch with him.

Writers today (not all, but most) are not writing because it is “in them” and they can do nothing else; they write hoping for the next screenplay and millions of dollars in revenue.

So Mr. William W. Johnstone, I am sorry I never had the last chance to tell you Thank You. Thank You for taking the time to write to a teenager who had dreams of doing what you did. Writing stories that brought others joy.

This is one of three different books by Joanne Fluke that I picked up at B&N. I had it read within a couple of days, but was waiting to review it until I had my laptop back in proper working order. Since it now looks like a couple hundred dollars later and my laptop is still being a jerk, I will continue to post from my phone or Nook. Which is even more difficult than it sounds, because there is no good way to add pictures from either of these devices.

So the story Winter Chill is about a family that loses their young daughter in a tragic accident. The parents are shattered, the town is shocked, but this is just the beginning.
The bodies begin piling up, and it is a toss-up between who the guilty party is. There were not a lot of suspenseful situations in the story, but it was an easy read so I kept reading it. I had it figured out fairly early into the story, but it will definitely be a book that I am not likely to take off my bookshelf and reread at some point in the future.
With that being said, I must point out that this story was written in 1984, which I am going to assume was written at the beginning of her writing career. I definitely prefer her more recent stories, but I do have 2 more of her books to read that are likely similar to this one.

… I got autographed books! 2 of my girls and myself ventured down to the local art fair that happens every 4th of July weekend, and were not disappointed. It was hot and sticky for me, but I only have myself to blame as I was wearing jeans.

We happened across a booth that was covered with books, so of course I was straight in there! Richard L. Baldwin, a writer from Haslett, Michigan, was selling his books as well as those from other authors who use the same publishing house, Buttonwood Press. He writes mystery books, all set in various towns in Michigan. I picked up one for my daughter who stayed at home not feeling well, and 2 for myself.

I picked up Murder at the Cherry Festival, based in Traverse City, Michigan. Murder in Tip-Up Town is set in Houghton Lake. Death in the Choir Loft takes place in Chelsea, Michigan, and features the Holy Living Waters Church. A quick search of this church has it located in Ypsilanti, Michigan, but as I haven’t read the story yet, I cannot say if the church is real or fictional as a setting to the story.

I am still reading The Silkworm, by J. K. Rowling, and am nowhere near as far into it as I planned, since I planned on being done with it today!

These 3 books look like quick reads, and are next on my list to read and review. Then I can get back into the stack of books I bought last week from B&N.

I apologize for the less-than-stellar quality picture, but it is from my phone as I replaced the hard drive in my laptop and have yet to locate my Nikon Software Disc to get pictures from my SD card to my computer.

What have you been staying up late at night reading?

After struggling for two weeks with a laptop that lost its mind…it is in the shop. Hopefully it will be back sooner rather than later. My college class ended and I am already reading my 2nd book. It is just much too painful and time consuming posting from my phone or Nook. Wishing you a sunshine filled weekend full of books you cannot put down!