Quote of the Day: A great book should leave you with many experiences, and slightly exhausted at the end. William Styron

A book ought to be an icepick to break up the frozen sea within us. Franz Kafka 

Today is another group posting of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group! Time to release our fears to the world – or offer encouragement to those who are feeling neurotic. If you’d like to join us, click on the tab above and sign up. We post the first Wednesday of every month. You can also visit the founder Alex J. Cavanaugh for more info and links.

The June 4 question – What were some books that impacted you as a child or young adult?

As a young girl, I was really into horse books. I read them all: Black Beauty, The Black Stallion series by Walter Farley, Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry. I remember staying up later than anyone in my house to watch the movie. It sparked a deep desire to have a horse – which I BEGGED for, and got. A horse story with a mystery would have grabbed me. I don’t remember reading it, but there is a Nancy Drew mystery called The Missing Horse Mystery by Carolyn Keene. I liked both fiction and nonfiction stories about horses. I read about race horses, Justin Morgan Had a Horse, Shetland ponies, everything. As an adult, I was captivated by Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand. It brought back that deep connection I felt to the animals and those who cared for them, trained them, and loved them. The other day, a magazine featuring horse stories caught my attention, so I bought it. I rarely buy or read magazines, but I felt called to revisit that love.

Now, I read a variety of stories, and they rarely include horses. I think I need to change that. Mysteries are high on my list, and always will be. Do any of you have recommendations for mysteries with horses? I view and review plays, and I’m a playwright, so I haven’t been exposed to horse stories in that genre. But, you never know where your interests and writing might go.

I’m starting to build a page on my website for my play It’s Murder, Dontcha Know,  based on the novel by the same name by Jeanne Cooney. I sent the script out to one theater. I need to focus on marketing it, now. I’m excited to see who will be the first to produce it after our world premiere here in Brainerd. It’s available to view on YouTube (click the title, above), if you’re interested! It’s been a terrific project to work on.

Go. Create. Inspire!

Journaling Prompt: What books influenced you as a young reader? Did you have a series you enjoyed, an author, or a type of book that you’d always want to check out or get the latest one?