This year I decided to read more again. Like most things in my life I seem to do this in cycles. Reading is something I enjoy, but will go through periods where I do next to none.
A couple of Christmases ago I received a book from local author Christy Ann Conlin, The Speed of Mercy. It didn’t take me long to get through it and I intended to read more of her work. That didn’t end up happening. Until this Christmas when I asked more of her work again. My family didn’t disappoint and I received her other three books. Heave, Watermark, and Memento.
Christy Ann’s work really kicked me back into my joy of reading. I decided I was going to ensure I read more this year.
To help keep me motivated I do what I usually do and set up a new site to keep track of my reading. https://coffeeandbook.com/ because reading and coffee go so great together.
From there I moved on to finish a book I had started probably in October, but never finished. It ended up in my bag when traveling and then when I got home I kind of lost track and fell out of reading. This book, Footprints In The Snow, is the third from other local author Laura Churchill Duke. I’d already read her first two books Two Crows Sorrow, and Rooted In Deception. All three are books that take real life historical murders from our area, the Annapolis Valley Nova Scotia, and bring them to life in creative non-fiction way.
It was through Laura that I discovered Deborah Hemming. Deborah is another local author who now has two books out. It took me very little time to get through both of them. Throw Down Your Shadows is set here in the Valley, which always appeals to me, but the story would have kept me engaged anyway. That was proven with her second book Goddess. I’m not what I consider a fast reader, but I made it through these novels in less than five days each.
We have so much talent here. They make me wish I could write as they all do. I’ve started listening to some audio books about writing. Maybe someday I’ll type out something worth reading, but I don’t think I have it in me to write as well as they do.
Sandy McFadden 