I have been a reader for about as long as I can remember — that’s more than 30 years of reading. Who knows how many books I’ve read during that time. But reading a book that so captivates me that I stay up way past when I should be sleeping or one that lures me to read during the day when I should be working on my own writing is rare enough to merit comment. Most of the time, I can enjoy a book but don’t have a problem setting it aside in order to work. But every time I walked past my nightstand today, it was difficult not to curl up back in bed and start reading J.R. Ward’s LOVER ETERNAL, the second in her Black Dagger Brotherhood series. I felt the same way when I read her DARK LOVER, the first in the series. I love this series. Love it, love it, love it. I can’t wait until LOVER AWAKENED comes out…well, I guess I’ll have to. It’s a September 2006 release. This is almost one of those series I wish I hadn’t discovered until all the books were out so I could read them back to back as fast as I could.
But when I think about the books that have caused me to lose sleep or play hooky from my own work, the reason is always the characters. They’re so real that I believe they actually exist, that I could pass them while walking down the sidewalk. I want to know these people. And considering Ward’s characters are vampires, that’s a remarkable feat of storytelling.
Ward has said in many interviews that the characters in this series just came to her, fully formed. Of that, as a writer, I’m very envious. But I’m sure glad they decided to waltz into her writer’s brain. Reading books such as hers make me want to strive to be a better writer, to craft characters who will make readers stay up until the wee hours reading.
So, what books/authors have made you stay up way too late reading? Did their work inspire you to strive to be a better writer yourself?
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