Great to have you here, and what a great topic! I posted you here a little early, so you might get some night time traffic. :)

I was always a reader, and a writer -- I remember reading as long as I can remember, and there is childhood evidence of me being a writer: sitting at the old Smith Corona, hunting and pecking, and also writing on the title page of one of the books in the LIFE Encyclopedia series BY: (my real name). LOL My family bought me books because they knew I loved them, but it wasn't a family habit.

But I don't remember being read to, and no one else in my family was a big reader. My mom did read romance, True Story, and some Harlequins (I found some really old Silouhettes in her bedstand a few years back), but my parents worked hard, raised their kids, and didn't read much more than the news (mom loved tabloids, too). Now that he's older, my Dad will sit and do puzzles, but he doesn't read, only the paper. Neither of my sisters are big readers, though my nieces and nephews, and one brother-in-law, are. So... it might be born in our family somehow? Because I didn't get my habits by example, I even remember my father telling me, "why don't you go outside and play instead of sitting there with a book!" LOL Maybe my mother would have read more if she had had time...

So... in my case, I don't know where the urge came from, but it was there from an early age, and followed me through life, both reading and writing. I wrote all kinds of things from elementary school onward. Interesting. I did marry a reader, though, and into a family of readers. I started reading romance around age 12, I would guess, and yes, Harlequins. ;) Presents, most often, that I can remember... then Desires...

Sam

Hello Janice.
Great post. I think most of everyone here is an avid reader, and of course a lot of writers as well. I remember being read to by my mother, and then in school. Especially when it came to literature class and we read some of the greats, i'd sit and read and find myself in their world, living their lives and loving every minute of it.
I started reading the boxcar kids when i was young, then nancy drew, trixie belden. Love them - had the whole series.
Grew up to read my mother's romances, she always had one lying about. and if i held them the right way i could instantly find the steamy parts, as she would re-read those parts and it marked the book.
I remember writing longhand in my journals, notebooks whatever i got my hands on. My first typewriter was very old, and very hard to find ribbon for, so i'd go to the store and by carbon paper and put that between two sheets of typing paper and peck away at my version of DAys of our lives. then my stories.
Now of course it's so much faster on the keyboard, what would we do without technology??
I love to read, so does my mother and sister. my brother, eh not so much, or my dad.

I think one of my favorite girls day out i remember was just last week with my mother, we went to borders, had a mocha and an apple tart. Bought books and sat there and read. We both loved it. And she went on about how i need to hurry up and get published so she could come here and tell everyone that she was buying her daughter's book!
well, on that point back to writing.
Thanks for the post
Happy writing!
jody

At age 9 or 10 I received a book for my birthday from a school mate and thus began my love of reading. Later on I turned to romance and loved to read about far away places and the adventures of the h/h.

I got hooked on reading romance the first time I read Gone With The Wind I was about 13 or 14 not real sure on the age.

I really can’t say how exactly it all started. I do remember reading a lot of books from the Young Adult, and Science Fiction section early on. I also remember getting hooked on serial romance lines for teens and shortly thereafter the adult lines I found through the library. And then in quick concession moving on to romance novels and all permutations of the romance genre.

I was older when I started reading romance - maybe in my 30's. I always loved general fiction and as an elementary school student loved to devour Laura Ingalls Wilder, Maud Hart Lovelace, Nancy Drew books, Trixie Belden books and Beverly Cleary Beezus and Ramona books - I couldn't get enuf of them. Had to read them all. Just like now, when I find an author I like, have to hunt down all her books.

Hi Janice. Hot Mail sounds great. I love best friends turned to lovers stories.
I got hooked on reading when I was a pre-teen. My mom would choose the romance novels she thought were tame enough for me to read. I have been an avid romance fan ever since.

I think they are born. Only because my adopted parents weren't big readers but many years later when I met my bio-mom did I find another voracious as myslef. In grade school they had where you could order books for 50 cents per book. I placed a ten dollar order and still have one of those books many, many years later (Tarzan of the Apes).
wyldkat

I could spend hours in book store or library and I too buy more books than I can possibly read. My mother has always loved to read and she definitely passed that love to me. It's not just fiction that I turn to but whenever I don't know how to do something or have a question my first thought is to turn to a book.

Dinner conversations in my home growing up almost always touched upon reading, whether it was a book, magazine or newspaper. My parents clearly had an expectation that reading would be an important part of our lives. Since everyone had their favorite genres (I'm the youngest of six) there was always a very broad mix of stories on our bookshelves.

I'm so relieved that my boys (four and six years old) gravitate toward bookstores over toy stores. This week they have the Scholastic Book fair at school. I volunteered yesterday and came home with several children's books that I wanted to read. By the end of the week I'll be broke :-)

Hi Janice! Thanks for visiting with us today! I have to say it - I love your books!
Now - what a fantastic topic. When did I get bitten by the book bug? As soon as I learned how to read. I'd say even before. When I was 3, I'd make my mom read my stories. Over and over, if need be. She'd finish a book, and I'd be perfectly happy for her to flip it over and start at the beginning again. (She wasn't so thrilled about that.)
I somehow learned how to read between kindergarten and first grade. I have no idea how it happened - and sadly I cannot remember the title of the book. (Isn't that awful?) I know it was a simple beginners book - I was leaning against the house with a friend, waiting for everyone to get ready because we were going somewhere, and it just *clicked.*
Then at the beginning of the school year we had a simple "reading test" - and I was placed in the highest reading group, which was a major encouragement as well. I've never looked back. :)
My parents called me "bookworm." I'd sneak flashlights and night lights to read once it got late. (I've melted a few night lights... not so good.) In fact, the way my parents would punish me would be to take away my reading privileges.

I'm loving this already! I feel like we're all in the same wonderful club. :)

Samantha - I vividly remembering my mom encouraging me to go outside and play instead of reading!!

Jody - Good luck with your own writing. I started my earliest serious writing on a typewriter, and I have to say, if it weren't for the advent of computers, I don't think I would have made it...

Buddy - One thing I always loved about reading Harlequins was the settings. My favorites were set in Australia and of course, England... I still want to do more travel.

Lead bottom - Gone With the Wind is a perennial favorite... I read it the first time in 7th grade - devoured it actually.

Sue A. - When you can't remember how early a love started, it must be in the blood!

Pat L. - We are kindred spirits... I have a boxed set of Maud Hart Lovelace upstairs on my bookshelf. I loved Betsy, Tacy and Tib.

Crystal - Great to see you. :) Sounds like your mom was smart but wonderful to encourage your love of books.

Wyldkat - You've just tilted the scales in terms of "born"... and oh yes, loved those school book orders...

Maureen - There is an old library in downtown Chattanooga where I would go as a kid. Nothing beats the smell of being deep in the "stacks".

Rita - Scholastic and Troll are the best. I taught school for many years and always sent those out to parents. Some of the selections were less than a dollar and I encouraged families to order at least one of those.

Aliquis - Thanks for the compliment! I, too, was one of those kids who read under the blankets with a flashlight. Even now I'll stay up late reading, but fortunately, my hubby has the same addiction.

Great to see you again! I remember my mom reading to me when we kids were young, and she and my dad did a lot of reading themselves. I don't remember a time when I didn't love to read (although we also did watch a TON of TV... ;)) As for romance, I started off with the YA stuff (Sweet Valley High, Silhouette First Love... am I dating myself? ;)), and then a high school classmate lent me my first grown-up romance and we were off! Took a bit of a break in college, and then happened upon one of Jennifer Crusie's titles at the library and was re-hooked all over again! I do still read other genres sometimes, but romance is my first love :D

I'm reading to my kids now, and the two older ones seem to love reading themselves, too... (not romance yet) I guess I think it's a combination of both--born and bred... As with many things, I think one might have a natural propensity for something, and then if it's encouraged, that can really take off. And yep, like some other commenters have said, books and reading are a bit of an addiction now ;)

My mother read to us (my brothers and me) every night before we went to bed but never read for herself (except magazines). My father was always reading (mostly history)but seldom read to us. I know I was reading by an early age because when my older brother learned to read he taught me what he learned. I have no real idea when I started reading romance but not until I was an adult and my sister-in-law gave me some to read. And I got addicted to them. I have never been without books since I learned to read.

Nah - not really... but I am sleepy all the sudden. Must be the gray day!

Sam - Very funny re the flashlight. :) I'd better not let hubby see this or he'll be wanting to play a new game tonight. Ha!

Diana - Glad you liked the video. I think boys sometimes catch the reading bug later in life. I taught kindergarten and second grade for many years, and reading is a struggle for so many boys.

Fedora - I know what you mean about college. My daughter loves to read, but she complains that while the semester is in progress, she's a slave to required reading, much to her dismay.

Ellen - If I could pick one thing that parents can do to make a child successful in life both academically and otherwise, it would be to read to them every night like your mom. The parent/child bonding time gives them emootional security, and the book time encourages success in school.

Sam- I just now noticed in the column margin your awesome news!! Major congrats!

But I am insatiably curious - did you really get the news on a Sunday???

Janice :)

Hi Janice,
Congrats on the release of "Hot Mail." I was in high school when I first got hooked on romance. I was spending a lot of time with my older cousin and her friend. Her friend had boxes and boxes of romances in house. She give a couple of books by Julie Garwood and Jude Devereaux to take home with me. I started Julie's "The Bride" that night and I was hooked ever since. Julie Garwood remains my favorite romance author of all time.

My Mom let me read "Gone With The Wind" when I was in sixth grade. Rhett Butler hooked me on romance, especially historical romance, then and there. Before that my elementary school librarian got me started on the Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder, who married a guy from my home town and wrote his story in "Farmer Boy", still my favorite children's book.
Favorite romance novel of all time I "borrowed" from my mom when I was 13..."The Saracen Blade" by Frank Yerby. It was the first time I had seen the word "nipple" in print...I blushed for days!It's been all downhill since then...and what a wonderful adventure in the world or romance. I could not have survived without the stories from all of you fantastic ladies! Thanks. Deborah

Whew, Sam - That's good to know... I was about to be very impressed with your "weekend" agent!

Jane - Love your name... in fact, my heroine in Hot Mail is a "Jane". And on another note, I think all book lovers must have at least one box of books in the attic, garage, etc.

aljmom - Another Gone With the Wind fan! And of course, the Little House books. Loved 'em! I had a friend who wanted to write romance, but she worked for a conservative college, and she swore her computer wouldn't let her type the word "nipple". :)

My Father read a lot and I picked it up from him.
I read my first Barbara Cartland romance when I was 11 years old and I'm still reading romance 50+ years later.

My aunt started me reading romance books, but I had always been a reader. The first romance book I read was Angel's Caress by Deana James. I was hooked after that.

Hi Janice, great to see you here. Love your stories. As for how I got started on romances, I shall give all the credit to my older sisters. From them I first discovered Janet Dailey and Barbara Cartland. I still read Janet Dailey favs, plus a whole lot more different authors since then. Have a great week!

And the winner is (drum roll please) - Buddy!

Please send your snail mail addy to JESM13@aol.com and I'll pop your prize in the mail.

Great to chat with everyone!

Janice :)