Here are my favorite books, influences, and writing pieces for everyone!  I hope you enjoy these as much as I did!

     *Anything by F.Scott Fitzgerald has my approval.  He is probably the greatest literary influence on me.  I particularly love Tender is the Night.  His wife, Zelda, is also fascinating.  They were a fabulous couple from a fabulous era.

*Walk Two Moons, by Sharon Creech is a great read.  It is pre-teen lit, but has greatly influenced my adult writing life.  It takes a wonderful look at a young girl coming of age during a tumultuous time in her life.  It also examines how people from different cultures, sexes, age groups, and journeys can interact to make eachother better.  I really suggest this one for anyone!

*The Poisonwood Bible, by Barbara Kingsolver is wonderful.  It really examines human nature in every way: man v. man, man v. nature, and man v. himself.  It puts a more southern, and semi-modern spin on ideas presented in the more carnal, Things Fall Apart, written by Chinua Achebe.  Things Fall Apart is also a must read.  It takes Americans out of our own social comforts so that we can examine humankind in a primative, tribal African setting.

*Beach Music, by the incredible, Pat Conroy is a wonderful piece of literature!  It marries southern tradition with old world Europe…it breaks down the psychology of every kind of human.  It is raw, touching, heartbreaking, and redeeming.  All the goodies!