Reader Feature: Deidre

Current Read: To Beguile a Beast by Elizabeth Hoyt

Today I'm excited to welcome Deidre, a reader being featured at Armchair Heroines!

First off, how did you come to love reading?

I think most readers are born that way. I always loved books and writing. I can remember setting at the kitchen table with my Mom just scribbling away, cursive style when I was about three years old. As soon as I could read, I was reading everything, from books to shampoo bottles. LOL

Been there, done that! :0) What do you read?

I'm one of those people who can pretty much read anything, but it has to strike some chord in me for me to pick it up. I've always loved anything paranormal and I've been on a young adult kick lately. I've also been reading a lot of graphic novels. I collected comic books as a child and still have quite a few, though they're much harder to find these days. Favorite authors or books? I love the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris. I started the series somewhere around book 4 or 5 when I was shelving it at the library where I work. I said, hmmmm, this looks interesting. I was blown away and backtracked picking up the earlier books and have read them all. Though I have been somewhat disappointed in the last couple of books, I feel Ms. Harris will redeem herself and the series in the near future. I also fell in love with Christine Feehan's Dark series from the beginning when I happend to pick up the first book in the series. Her vampires are a little different, even called Carpathians instead of vampires and I'm always looking for something different in vampire literature. I used to pretend to be a vampire when I was younger, talk about an obsession. LOL

One of my new fave vampire writers is Lynda Hilburn (http://www.lyndahilburnauthor.com/). If you check her out let me know what you think! Do you have any favorite rockin' networking sites for readers?

Networking sites are really growing by leaps and bounds, aren't they? MySpace has slacked off some, but Facebook and Twitter are going strong. I'm also a member of Writers & Readers of Distinctive Fiction and there are so many wonderful blogs by both authors and readers where we can connect with each other. It's such a great time to be a reader or author and I personally believe from my own experience that romance authors are some of the best around. They take time to mingle with fans and give of themselves in so many ways.

I agree, and I love hearing that about romance authors. I certainly have had that same experience! Do you have a favorite memory about reading a book?

That one's a toughie. I'm going to go with just a favorite book as a child that I have read many times. The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin......I've read it more times than I can count. It's a mystery and just really enthralling. I encourage adults and kids to read it. An oldie, but goodie!

What do you do when you aren't reading (job, hobbies, etc)?

I was at a public library in a small town where we pretty much have to do it all. There are only two of us who work full time and some days can be quite hectic. However, I do love my job and most of the people that I deal with, but it is a public job and we do get some really stranger characters on a regular basis. Oh, the stories I could tell. LOL

I also am working part time at a video store and movies are another love of mine. I really love scary movies and truly funny comedies. I say that because good comedies are kind of rare these days. Both jobs are really keeping me on my toes.

Something else I enjoy doing is playing video games, board games, cards, etc. I adore the Nancy Drew computer games as well as any cool adventure games for computer, Playstation 2 or GameCube. I'm hoping to make the leap to a PS3 or XBox 360 in April when the price is reportedly going down by $100.

My kids are playing ball and my son is in Boy Scouts, so that pretty much keeps me hopping as well.

You're busy! Imagine having tea (or coffee) with one of your favorite authors...tell us about the experience.

I would love to talk to J.K. Rowling about the Harry Potter series which is another of my favorites. She's led an interesting life and the details she renders in her books are extraordinary. I was simply amazed reading them. They were so addictive that it was almost impossible to put them down or wait for the next one.

Can I come too? :0) Do you have a favorite saying that you or a character you love uses? What is it and what's so great about it?

Here are a few about books in general.

The things I want to know are in books; my best friend is the man who'll get me a book I ain't read. - Abraham Lincoln

Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested. - Sir Francis Bacon

Books to the ceiling
Books to the sky.
My pile of books
Are a mile high.
How I love them!
How I need them!
I'll have a long beard By the time I read them.- Arnold Lobel

As for quotes from books, I really can't think of any right now. There were several from the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer, which are some more favorites of mine. I just got lost in them. She caught me hook, line and sinker. Amazing story, as is The Host, which she also wrote.

Thank you, Deidre, for being here today! Anything else you'd like to add?

I would love to invite your blog readers over to my blog, where I frequently have contests and guest authors along with thoughts that are rolling around in my head.

Thanks so much for having me here Tiffany and I'm going to give away a surprise to a lucky commenter. Not even I know what that will be yet, but feel free to ask me questions or comment. I'd love to hear from you guys!

Deidre http://www.gothicasylum.blogspot.com/

You heard her Armchair Heroines! Tell us what's on your mind!