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Last week, as freezing temperatures swept away our 83 degree (and 94% humidity) weather, my daughter posted on her Facebook wall that she hadn’t met anyone that day who was familiar with the phrase “Ice Station Zebra. It’s almost our stock, cold weather phrase and has been for years, so I was
surprised, but then I wasn’t.
Ice Station Zebra is a kick-ass novel written by Alastair Maclean. I defy anyone to read it without needing a blanket, even in August. So, for our family, the title has come to represent all things freezing.
The reason many of her friends missed the book is because Maclean published his action adventure novels (and some non-fiction) from 1955 to 1989. He is rather well known in our family because he remains to this day one of my favorite authors, and I have encouraged my kids to at least try to read him
at some point in their growing up years.
His books have had, IMHO, a profound impact on my books. The guy knew how to kick the suspense into high gear and keep it there. (If you are curious, you can learn more about him here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alistair_MacLean)
While there are many current-to-this-century authors that I love to read, my daughter’s wall post got me thinking about other authors who have heavily influenced my writing. So that’s what I’d like to write about today—and perhaps in the process you’ll discover some new/old favorite author/s to check out.
A lot of historical authors will cite Georgette Heyer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgette_Heyer) as an influence in their writing. Her books also profoundly influenced me, though not into writing historical fiction. What I learned from this master storyteller was about great characterization (and gentle humor). Her characters leap off the page and stay with you long after you close one of her books. She prompted
me to write my first piece of fan fiction (and no, I won’t be sharing any time soon. Or ever. I was 13.)
I discovered Mary Stewart while watching the Disney movie, The Moonspinners. (Huge Haley Mills fan, even now.) When I realized the movie had been adapted from a novel, I headed to the library and fell in love with another author’s books. Stewart also taught me about ramping up the suspense
(though in a less forceful way than Maclean -- lol), but from her I also learned about the subtle art of understatement—in both suspense (gore) and romance (sometimes the characters don’t even kiss at the end, but I always sighed with satisfaction)—and about character voice. She wrote mostly in first person, so her characters had to grab you and keep you in the story. It would have been easy for all her
characters to sound the same, but they didn’t. Victoria Holt, Helen MacInnes, Jane Aiken Hodge, Mary Elgin—well, I could make a long list of classic
suspense/Gothic authors who also helped me learn to crank things up by reading their books, but I
learned from some “quieter” authors, too.
I’ve spent the last few years collecting books (not an easy feat by any means!) by another author who I also must credit for helping me become a better writer. I discovered Elizabeth Cadell (http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/c/elizabeth-cadell/) when I was reading my way around the library. She wrote a wide variety of books, from light romance to light mystery, to the semi-autobiographical. From
her I learned about humor, creating a sense of time and place, and about the importance of secondary characters in building a fictional world. Two of my favorite secondary characters are from her Brimstone in the Garden. Cousin Clarry is a classic feat of character creation and the two minions of the Devil? Well, you need to track this down and read it. That’s all I can say.
I’m probably not alone in “discovering” Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien. The man knew how to tell a tale and wasn’t afraid to tell a big one, and he stoked my sense of wonder and delight in the magical. He taught me to set my imagination loose.
If you know anything about me at all, you’ll notice that my early inspirations weren’t science fiction, and yet here I am, in this new century writing science fiction romance—and throwing some steampunk in just for fun.
I will confess to being a bit startled about that, too. But when I go in an examine my own body of work (doesn’t that sound important? LOL), I find that even with my first novel, The Spy Who Kissed Me, I was already trending toward action adventure. In 2006, when Out of Time released, I had admitted to
myself that my primary genre was action-adventure, and that’s what I wanted to continue to write. So, when I made the move into outer space with The Key, I didn’t notice that it was science fiction. It took a reviewer to point out the obvious.
Since then, I’ve been a bit afraid that my old chemistry teacher would track me down and “out” me as science fraud. Until it occurred to me that even back then, my science was probably fiction, too. If he still lives, he is sitting there, thinking, “I knew that.” (Though even he might cringe at the plot of my science fiction romance/steampunk, Tangled in Time. There is a lot of fictional science in there.)
In the end, looking back or looking forward, what I try to do is to write the best story I can. I try to tell the story bubbling up from all my experiences, both living and fictional. I try to write a book I’d want to read.
“They” (who are they anyway?) tell us that there is a tipping point where a person becomes a reader or they don’t. I don’t remember that tipping point. It feels like I’ve always been a reader, but the books I’ve shared with you today, kept me reading and propelled me into writing.
Do you have a defining moment, a defining book that sealed you forever as a book lover? As a reader? As a writer? Do tell! Because obviously I love talking books. :-D
To learn more about my books (and steampunk!) visit my website at www.perilouspauline.com
Pauline Baird Jones is the award-winning author of nine novels of science fiction romance, action-adventure, suspense, romantic suspense and comedy-mystery. Her latest release is Girl Gone Nova and she is in the process of re-issuing her back list. She's also written a steampunk novella called Tangled in Time that will release in 2010. She's written two non-fiction books, Adapting Your Novel for Film and Made-up Mayhem, and she co-wrote Managing Your Book Writing Business with Jamie Engle. Her seventh novel, Out of Time, an action-adventure romance set in World War II, is an EPPIE 2007 winner. Her eighth novel, The Key won an Independent Book Award Bronze Medal (IPPY) for 2008 and is a 2007 Dream Realm Awards Winner. She also has short stories in several anthologies. Originally from Wyoming, she and her family moved from New Orleans to Texas before Katrina.
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Many thanks for hosting me today, Larrisa! :-D
Thanks for sharing! You have many authors listed that I have to admit I have never heard of. Going to have to fix that and look them up now. But one of the ones that really got me hooked on reading when I was younger were Agathe Christie. I loved her books, but wasnt a huge Mrs Marple fan. And they really got me to want to read and find out who did it.
bacchus76 at myself dot com
I didn't know anyone else in this century had ever heard of Alastair MacLean! I read his book The Satan Bug many, many years ago while I was visiting my grandparents. I think it was one of my dad's old books that got left behind when he moved out. It was actually pretty good. I might have to dig it out of storage for a reread soon. :)
amandasbookblog[AT]gmail[DOT]com
I didn't know anyone else in this century had ever heard of Alastair MacLean! I read his book The Satan Bug many, many years ago while I was visiting my grandparents. I think it was one of my dad's old books that got left behind when he moved out. It was actually pretty good. I might have to dig it out of storage for a reread soon. :)
amandasbookblog[AT]gmail[DOT]com
We love Guest blogs and giveaways!
Stacy
Urban Fantasy Investigations
Chllybrd(at)gmail(dot)com
LOVE Miss Marple! And THE SATAN BUG was another of his great ones. the early books are the best. I found him reading around the library, too. LOL! My mom introduced me to Dame Agatha! I saw her MOUSETRAP in London. It was so fun! It's been playing continuously since 1950 something.
This was a great post! I will have too look up "Ice Station Zebra" to be well prepared for when someone sneaks up on me with that question.
Thank you so much for putting on this post, it was great.
terilhack(@)yahoo(DOT)com
Sharon Kay Penman sealed the deal for me as far as loving historical novels. I read Here Be Dragons and fell head over heels. :)
~smooches~
Jase
vslavetopassionv(at)aol(dot)com
Teril, nothing says cold quite like Ice Station Zebra! LOL!
Jason, okay, that's a great title for a book.
Thanks for sharing this lovely post!
ashleysbookshelf at gmail dot com
Thanks, Ashley. :-) Obviously I have a long time love affair with books.
Tolkien is was an amazing storyteller. I discovered him when I was handed a copy of The Hobbit to teach during my first year as an English teacher. I had never read it, but fell in love with Tolkien's sense of adventure and narrative and language. Loved it!
Thanks for the interview and the giveaway!
mrsderaps @ hotmail . com
great post! i never heard of some of these authors but will definitely check them out now
mariannguyen16(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Good job Pauline! We use "Ice station Zebra" all the time! Wyoming does that to a person! You never forget the frozen guy! Love the old books. Just ordered your Tangled In Time book! That's what winter is for, right? Curling up by the fire with a good book!
Wonderful post and I must give some of the others you mentioned a try! I got seriously hooked on reading when I first read Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dance With the Devil, and I've been constantly reading ever since.
lilazncutie1215[at]yahoo[dot]com
I've been an avid reader since I was 4, but when I read The Dark is Rising series by Susan Cooper that was the clincher. That series really made me appreciate books.
throuthehaze at gmail dot com
I happened onto Tolkien in high school. Almost killed myself reading all the books. Was a zombie at school that week. LOL! I still reread it on occasion.
Sometimes readers find older books hard to get into, or over long, but I miss the more leisurely storytelling of my youth. :-)
And yes, Marilyn, Wyoming is COLD! LOL!
many thanks to all of you for commenting and sharing your favorite books! Fun stuff! :-)
Never heard of Ice Station Zebra, but it's a cool-sounding quote.
Thanks for the great giveaway!
rivkarno1(at)hotmail(dot)com
Did someone just say "steampunk"? I am a newbie fan to the subgenre and looking for all things steampunk-ish.
While I am an avid romance reader, Cormac McCarthy's, THE ROAD is one book that really made an impact for me. Beautiful language, stark characters yet so intense in emotion.
Thanks for a lovely post! I'll be looking for your work.
jenma76 at hotmail dot com
Thank you so much for the great giveaway and Congrats on your blog good job! I really do enjoy it.
tishajean@charter.net
Do you have a defining moment, a defining book that sealed you forever as a book lover? I don't have a defining book, but the defining moment that sealed me as a book lover was as soon as I learned to read actual stories. It was in the third grade where we read books and wrote book reports. Instead of trying to figure out which book to read to write a report on, I had to choose which of the many books I had already read that I wanted to write it on. Every time my third grade teacher saw me after I moved up in grades, she'd ask me if I still loved to read. The answer was always an enthusiastic yes.
Barbed1951(at)aol(dot)com
I've never head of ice zebra station either.
Anyway, my mom always read books to use when we were young so we've always liked reading. I remember falling in love with Judy Blume's Fudge series. They were so funny! Judy Blume's awesome!
sena.sagani [at]gmail[dot]com
I have also read all of Alistair MacClean's books a number of which, including Ice Station Zebra were made into movies. He was about the most popular adventure writer in his day.
Tolkien was first brought to my attention many years ago by our librarian in my small town library.
There are so many authors out there that I find younger readers are continually discovering many of my old favourites.
As far as SciFi goes, don't get me started. I have been a fan since I was 13 !
Thanks for the giveaway.
Carol T
buddytho {at} gmail DOT com
Alastair Maclean wrote WHERE EAGLES DARE for Richard Burton, who wanted to do an action adventure role. GUNS OF NAVERONE was also made into a movie. I found an old version of WHEN EIGHT BELLS TOLL but did not care for the adaptation. The stories are so good and so well constructed, they didn't, IMHO, need to be reinvented for film. I don't like it when Hollywood messes with my books. LOLOL!
Very much enjoying the book talk and again, many thanks for all the kind comments. :-)
I haven't read any of Alaistair Maclean's stories, but between my husband and I, we've seen almost all of his movie adaptions.
Great list of early authors, Pauline. It was reading Georgette Heyer and Mary Stewart all those years ago that got me hooked on romances.
caity_mack at yahoo dot com
Thanks for the great guest post and giveaway!
amandarwest at gmaildotcom
Thanks for the giveaway. Pleas enter me in contest. I am a follower and email subscriber. Tore923@aol.com
i'm the only person in the world who doesn't can't read the Lord of Rings? D: I tried once, but i couldn't finish x_x'
I didn't read any of this authors yet, but i'll put them in my list, and i 'll look for them :3
sweet(dot)sayumi(at)yahoo(dot)com(dot)br
I love reading about where authors get their inspiration and drive. Great post!
whatinabox at gmail dot com
I have never heard of alistair maclean before today and even thought I won the lord of the rings books, I have never read them, tried once years ago after seeing the first movie and just couldn't get into them, may pick them up and try again they have been replaying the 1st movie on cable lately
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
I just looked up Alistair on Amazon. I just glanced at the covers and they look like like thrillers and perhaps war and political novels. I wouldn't normally read those books, but this was an amazing endorsement.
Thank you for the giveaway!
midnytereader@gmail.com
I thought it was interesting how she means Georgette Heyer and her influence on a lot of writers.
Please enter me in the giveaway.
justpeachy36@yahoo.com
Oh I love Fantasticfiction! I use them for all of my book to be read research.
robin [at] intensewhisper [dot] com
interesting.....
regards,
maidenhealer@hotmail.com
It's interesting that you mentioned some romantic suspense authors. I have never read Mary Stewart, but I will certainly check her out. One of my favorite suspense authors is Madeleine Brent - pseudonym for Peter O'Donnell (actually he might be the only author in this genre that I have glommed). He writes in first person as well, and under this pseudonym the narrator is always a young woman who grows up in unusual circumstances. Eventually she will encounter many difficulties, and the skills she has developed growing up help her through them. His heroines are always kick-ass, and I adore the majority of his books.
Oops...and e-mail:
abbydillon16@yahoo.com
Wow, Ice Station Zebra - I haven't heard that book mentioned in years and it totally took me back to my youth (unfortunately quite a while ago). I adored Alistair Maclean, and I've read every one of Mary Stewart's books also. You've got great taste in books!
jen(at)delux(dot)com
I know many people who don't read and don't want to read Lord of the Rings. LOL! Thankfully we don't all have to read/like the same books.
Alastair Maclean wrote action/adventure stories, and though some of them deal with cold war stuff, I wouldn't call them political. I think he just tapped into promising places for action, that were available during his life. Helen MacInnes, another favorite of mine also wrote a lot about cold war intrigue and later, wrote about the rising terror threat. Very exciting stuff and yes, Madeline Brent wrote fun romantic suspense, too!
(Fantastic Fiction is a great place to find out the order of books and an author's back list, no question!)
Great discussion! :-D
I haven't heard about Ice Station Zebra, but i'm sure to check it out soon cuz it's that intersting...:)
raluk.93 at gmauk (dot) com
I'm sure sometime in the past I've read something by MacLean. There's plenty of good authors from the past, but there's somemuch good stuff being published now I'm hard pressed to go back and read some of the older stuff.
acm05atjuno.com
Thank you! This was an interesting post. It's fun to find out people's influences and to find out who has read the same authors as you have.
I've never McLean, but I remember his name, my father read him. My mother introduced me to Mary Stewart, and she's still a favorite of mine.
baconnors at gmail dot com
I loved what you said about learning from Georgette Heyer's gentle humor and am pleased you liked Mary Stewart's books. Which did you like best? I have a special fondness for Madam, Will you Talk? I'm also still blinking in surprise that you know and like Mary Elgin. I didn't think anyone other than myself still knew and read her books. Only four of them but very special ones!
Oh, yes, please put me into the contest! schwartzbergj (at) newberry.org
I also found Mary Stewart through the Moonspinners movie. I also read Victoria Holt.
andrea.infinger@gmail.com
I've never heard of Pauline Baird Jones, but it was interesting to read!
w91liu@gmail.com
It seems like JRRT was a huge inspiration to about everyone--I seem alone in my serious dislike for those books (and, yet, I read them all).
thejoyofthejoyofcooking at hotmail dot com
Thanks for the great giveaway!
starmetaloak(at)gmail(dot)com
Jenny! You've read Mary Elgin, too!?! Wow, I was like you and thought I was the only one! LOL! And like you, have a particular fondness for MADAM WILL YOU TALK?
Andrea, after seeing that MOONSPINNERS had been a book, I watched the end credits more carefully. Until then, I hadn't realized how many movies had come from books. (I was pretty young. LOL)
Wendy, glad you enjoyed the post. :-)
Jessica, not everyone loves the same books, and thank goodness for it. There are some authors, when people tell me they just love, love love them, I just don't get it. LOL!
Lisa and everyone, thank you for commenting. :-) You have all been so kind. :-)
I can't remember one defining moment where I went from a non-reader to a reader. But it was probably watching my granny read and enjoy her books so much. But I can definitely pinpoint with accuracy the time my oldest son went from a non-reader to a reader. It was the time I read him the first HP book. He then subsequently reread it and read the next four book in order and started clamouring for the 5th which wasn't out at the time. We went to the book store in search for more book. He has been a read every since.
scrtsbpal at yahoo dot com
Wonderful post! I love all the authors that Pauline shared and look forward to investigating them; there are so many out there, it's good to have recommendations!
junkforcarmen at gmail dot com
I seem to remember Ice Station Zebra as a movie. I personally didn't get into Alastair Maclean. I think I will look into his books
I actually had no idea what steampunk was until I read Meljean Brook's "The Iron Duke". I think it's a very interesting genre, like recreating a unique version of history.
angeldream3(at)gmail(dot)com
Thanks for the chance!
spamscape [at] gmail [dot] com
Awesome giveaway!
juanpablo.m.sullivan (at) gmail . com
I have heard of Alistair MacClean but will admit that I have not read any of this books - I might have seen some of the movies that have been made of his book tho'.
Please enter me in the giveaway.
Chrizette
baychriz at gmail dot com
I will admit to being seriously prejudiced in favor of the books, though as I mentioned, WHERE EAGLES DARE is great, because Maclean wrote the screenplay, too. And yes, ICE STATION ZEBRA was made into a movie. Book was still better, though the submarine under the ice scenes were awesome.
Amy, steampunk is a fun, and very diverse (and exploding) genre. I'm seeing publisher requests for it everywhere now. I like that it can range from frothy and fun to dark and mysterious. :-)
Yeah, who are they?
I think of myself as a reader, but I know that I'm also a writer. I used to write a lot when I was younger.
I still have to read my first steampunk. Lots of people seem to like it.
magabygc AT gmail
great giveaway
follow via gfc
drakebdog@gmail.com
I greatly admire any author who is willing to write out of her comfort zone. I didn't really grow up on science fiction either, but I surely couldn't imagine writing it!
ruthaw_1974@yahoo.com
I haven´t heard about of Alastair Maclean, but I read the article of Wikipedia and definitely I´ll read something of this author.
Thanks for the chance :)
itzel_library@hotmail.com
I got the steampunk hat at ApolloCon here in Houston. They had such fun hats, I ended up getting three (gave one to my daughter). Found these totally cool goggles at ArmadilloCon in Austin, also this year. You can see steampunk creeping into everything. Hubby went down to Galveston for their Charles Dicken's weekend and got some fun pictures of steampunk costumes.
As I said, while there are many current authors I adore, I also love the vintage authors on my shelves. They are like visits with old friends. I pull them out when I'm sick or blue. :-)
Great post. I now have more authors/books to add to my list for the library, I'm sure they always laugh when they see me pull out my list(not in a nasty way).
I sometimes cringe at the amount I spend reserving books and getting them delivered to my library from another one(my library charges about 80p per book now). On the other hand I would be spending a lot more if I had to buy them all.
natalie23(AT)hotmail(DOT)co(DOT)uk
thank you!
raissa.1711@gmail.com
How can one really forget her worries and follow her dreams?How can one really live a happy life and not worry about if she will have a lot of money in the future.
Community site http://stayingsafestories.com
The library is where I found all my favorite authors when I was young. It's a magical place. :-)
When became a reader?? had to work at it because of dyslexia, but always loved stories and always had questions... whole family readers and still remember weekly trips to library as kid.
Read Mary Stewart as Teen- Mom turned me on to her and Tolkin (at too young an age the first time). Led me to Victoria Holt, too.
Since you are getting into Sicfi (even if steampunk side) now, have you ever read Robert A Heilein? Even his Young Adult is great, although somewhat dated now (I still laugh at his referance to sliderules, but they are what were being used at the time he wrote the books). I grew-up with Mom praising his work, and am now a big fan, too. Some of his last work went a little on the weird side, but still good. LOVE almost everything he wrote.
Many other fav authors: Anne McCaffery (Tower & Hive Series & Ship Who Sang series are fav), Srephanie Laurens, Anne Perry, Robin McKinley, Jasper Fforde. Think you get the idea that I really like to read, and lots of different types of books, too.
Thanks for the great post!
vickykerr[at]sbcglobal.net
I have some Heinlen in my TBR. Huge Jasper Fforde fan! Also Anne Perry. Yes to Lauren and MacCaffrey. Read her dragon book just this year as part of the SFR challenge. Okay, will send some back your way. Lost Fleet books by Jack Campbell? R. M Meluch. Lisa Shearin. Oh here's one Manning Coles. LOL! I'm pretty diverse, too. :-) Oh, and steampunk. The Affinity Bridge. Fun!
Thanks for sharing.
lesly7ch(at)yahoo(dot)com
Thanks for always make me discorver new authors! My wishlist is growing longer and longer, I'll definitly have to buy a larger library. The post was really good and fun!
aliasgirl[at]libero[dot]it
I also had to look up a few of those authors, but its always fun to hear about people that I've never heard of and don't know what I'm missing.
jlynettes @ hotmail . com
I can't think of a defining book but I grew up reading a number of older books that my Mom read when she was kid and reccomended to me. Some of those authors who I still enjoy include Oliver Curwood, Gene Stratton Porter and, Will James.
I think I will add "Ice Station Zebra" to my vocabulary. I'll have to check out that book too, the title makes it sound so cool! (ha, ha, get the pun?)
arallison(at)gmail.com
Twilight & Harry Potter are both defining series for me , that made me a book lover /reader.
raluk.93 at gmail (Dot) com
Looking at the weather reports around, well, that's why Ice Station Zebra has been used in our family for years! LOL!
And of course, when it is cold, perfect weather to curl up with a book. Great time to pull out your favorite book, grab a blanket and get warm outside AND in. Love books! :-)
Can't thank you all enough for talking books with me. :-)
I think I knew I was a reader when I was the only student that got excited over library time in elementary school!
samantha (at) chicklitplus (dot) com
Nice contest. You have a rocking blog
Victoria Holt, Helen MacInnes, Jane Aiken Hodge, Mary Elgin—OMG those are some names that I hadn't thought of in years. And I use to beg the librarians to hide their newest books for me as I loved gothic suspense novels.
I follow on GFC.
(\___/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")
alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com
So many authors I have not heard of, and I'm tempted to go check them out now! Thanks for the giveaway.
Braiden Asciak
basciak@gmail.com
I love the different authors who have inspired her. It's so true that you can get so involved with another author's work and respect them so much that they make you a better writer.
For me two such authors come to mind: Ellen Wittlinger and John Green. Great voices, both humorous and serious at the same time.
eliweibley@gmail.com
Ice Station Zebra sounds so cute! Please review more books! Love reading about others reading books and loving them
reviewsbyabby at gmail dot com
Many people have recommended Georgette Heyer's books to me, seems it's time for me to discover her.
There was no tipping point for me either: I have always been a reader ever since I learned how to read, and even before that I loved to listen to my parents read me stories :-)
Thank you for the interesting post and for the great giveaway!
stella.exlibris (at) gmail (dot) com
ps: I haven't heard of Ice Station Zebra either, but thanks to your post I'll definitely check it out :-)
thank you, thank you.
Your giveaways are always the best^^
book_of_tales[at]yahoo[dot]com
I have to say that you're rigght. There is always a defining
oment when a reader becomes a book lover and therefore may later become a writer if he's inclined to. I feel in love with books with the book Experanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan. The book made me feel happy and relief. So I understand you well.
ruizcassandra50@gmail.com
Thanks for the giveaway!
bmweida at yahoo dot com
wow thanks for the giveaway purple_lover_04 at msn dot com
Great post!
Thanks for the contest =)
c4casey(at)comcast(dot)net
You are all most kind! Loving the book stories. :-) (We may not remember THAT moment we became a reader but the people who KNOW say it does happen. I didn't know everyone didn't love books until I got older and it still shocks me when someone tells me they don't read. For me, that's like saying you don't breathe!)
Hey I think it is really important to get influenced by other fellow writers or idols to find your own writing style.Some of my fav characters are also secondary characters, sometimes they keep the story alive and make it even more interesting:)
goldie-mail(AT)web(DOT)de
Great contest!!