Fall, 2006 Letter from Kate Huntington As always, summer went by too fast. But, hey. Summer is over-rated, anyway. We spend the months leading up to summer anticipating long, endless, slothful days of beautiful sunshine and lazy afternoons by the pool. But, no. Summer goes by in a crazy blur of family celebrations, vacations consisting of a week at the beach, lake, mountains, city or whatever only to be followed by three weeks of trying to catch up on the laundry and the bills, and medical check-ups and bionic shopping as we prepare to send the kids back to school in August. Sloth? Hah! Doesn't happen. And don't even speak to me about the mythical five pounds we're all going to lose over the summer by getting up early to take long walks and by eating mostly fruits and vegetables because it's too hot to cook or eat anything substantial. Yeah. Right. Frankly, I'm glad summer is over. So, now it's fall. Time to prepare. For Halloween. For snow. For those big fuel bills. For holiday entertaining and gift giving. We're all good at putting our houses in order for winter. We're aces at stocking the larder full of emergency food in case we get snowed in. We are the holiday bargain shopping queens. We feed our families. We make sure our pets get their shots. We bully everyone in the family to take care of their health. Eat right. Sleep well. We maintain our cars. We cultivate our friendships. We pay up our insurance so we'll be taken care of in an emergency. We are loyal and responsible employees and supervisors at work. Let's all take a bow. We are good stewards of our families, our homes, and our workplaces. I would like to submit that we aren't that good at feeding another vital need -- our imaginations. Reading fiction is not a luxury. It's a need. It reminds us that we are creative beings. When I write novels, I have partners. You. I paint my pictures with words. Black words on white paper. It's your imagination that gives them color, flavor and beauty. Those pictures are in your head, not on my page. Sad to say. Without readers, my heroine has no beauty. Without readers, my hero has no strength. Without readers, my words have no voice. And without written words, your imagination and mine have lost their best playgrounds. I doubt if I could pass sixth grade science if I had to do it again, but by the time I finished reading JURASSIC PARK, I really believed I could create a dinosaur from DNA strings. For the several hours over several days I devoted my spare time to reading that book, I was a scientist. When I read Madeline Hunter's BY POSSESSION, I was transported back to Medieval times being lusted over by a warrior recently returned from the Crusades. When I read Elizabeth Peters, I am in Egypt, discovering tombs -- and dead bodies -- and pass the sphinx every day on my way to work excavating treasures and solving crimes. When I read Georgette Heyer, I am transported to a 19th Century ballroom, and so witty and beautiful that I have all of London's most handsome men ready to sit up and beg for a waltz with me. So, when you're laying in supplies for a siege of winter weather and seeing to your family's physical well being, take care to lay in supplies for your imagination. Here are some suggestions: Susan Sizemore's PRIMAL HEAT, the latest of her sexy vampire series. Or, even better, anything by Susan Sizemore. I just bought it, and can't wait to read it. Anne Frasier's newly released PALE IMMORTAL, a very different treatment of the vampire. It's right at the top of my TBR (to be read) pile. Or, even better, anything by Anne Frasier. Madeline Hunter's fall release, THE RULES OF SEDUCTION. I read a blurb in her reissue of BY ARRANGEMENT, and I've been drooling ever since. THE BRADBURY CHRONICLES by Sam Weller. This is a biography of Ray Bradbury, and absolutely fascinating reading. Nora Roberts's newest novel, ANGELS FALL, which I haven't quite finished because life keeps getting in the way, darn it! Tonight I'm holing up with the book, and the man in my life better not disturb me unless he sees smoke or blood. So, take your vitamins. Get enough sleep. Don't forget your fruits, vegetables. And feed your imagination with a lot of wonderful books. Have a pleasant and productive fall. Best, Kate Huntington Kate Huntington |
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