I am a certified Bibliophile and my literary appetite is comprehensive. I have read thousands of books and own over 500. I read everything from Biographies to Self-Analysis to Fiction and Romance Novels (my latest discovery) and just about everything in between. If it looks interesting, I read will read it. My preference is African-American...more »

I am a certified Bibliophile and my literary appetite is comprehensive. I have read thousands of books and own over 500. I read everything from Biographies to Self-Analysis to Fiction and Romance Novels (my latest discovery) and just about everything in between. If it looks interesting, I read will read it. My preference is African-American writers and those of the African Diaspora. I began reading at three years of age and have not stopped yet. I am now in my mid-fifties. My elementary school librarian allowed me to bring home 30 books each summer and I supplemented those books with rentals from the public library. I still carry my public library card and never leave home without it. As a young girl I was fascinated with Nancy Drew Mysteries, yet in the late fifties and early sixties, I cannot remember any children's books by and for Black children. Reared by educators, I was exposed at an early age to the poetry and writings of Paul Lawrence Dunbar, Langston Hughes and Phillis Wheatley. Imagine my wonder in the early 1970s when at Howard University, I discovered Ralph Ellison, Richard Wright, and Alice Walker. I was completely enamored with Alice Walker, a near contemporary, my first Black female writer of recognition and enjoyment. Alice Walker later introduced me to the works of Zora Neale Hurston. I treasure her writings. I discovered Toni Morrison, her writing was complex, yet, I devoured every word. I also fell in love with Walter Mosley, my main man. One of my favorite writers was Dorothy West. I have been able to find some of her musings and her best work, in my opinion, was The Wedding, her last published work, I believe. Nevertheless, as my life became more complex, I wanted more variety in my reading and wanted to read about women like me. Hence, I read Terri McMillan, Tina McElroy Ansa, Bebe Moore Campbell, and J. California Cooper among others. My cousin Mona introduced me to the historical romance novels of Beverly Jenkins. Ms. Jenkins' books now rank among my favorites. I own more of her books than any single author. I am never with out a book or reading materials. I recently decided that I have stories in me longing to be written and in 2008, I will actually begin weaving my characters into my first novel. Keep your eye on this space! « less