You Are What You Read

I love to read. Anyone who truly knows me knows that I love reading almost as much as I love writing second only to watching the Golden Girls. When a BFF buys me a book or a gift card from Barnes & Nobel or any other book franchise (sadly, I can’t think of any that are still in existence), I cherish that book.

One of my BFFs recently treated me with a ticket to see bestselling author, Walter Mosley give a reading and book signing for his latest book, Debbie Doesn’t Do It Anymore. I love when other writers talk about their writing process but it’s especially thrilling when it’s someone as time-honored as Mosley. I had the honor of seeing him 12 years ago, but it was more rewarding now since I finally made a conscious decision to write fulltime.

Usually the type of questions asked at these events are typical: what motivated you to become a writer, how do you come up with your stories/characters and my favorite, what author inspired you to become a writer? And since I love to read, I am always curious about their answer. Most times, the writer will be modest and come up with a few names instead of just one. I’m assuming they do this as to not show favoritism for a particular genre or writer.

However, Mosley did not give the typical answer. He stated, and I’m loosely quoting, […no one author can ever say what writer inspires them. Those writers typically like to name authors that they may simulate: genre, style, even ethnically]. For instance, you may think that since I am a black women writer I would say, Zora Neale or Toni Morrison.

I thought about his answer a few hours after I got home. I wondered if I were to be asked that question, would I say James Baldwin, Langston Hughes or even J. California Cooper or would I be honest and say Mary Higgins Clark or John Grisham. I do love reading books by Baldwin and Hughes and even a Terry McMillan book once in awhile, but my all-time favorite genre is mysteries and legal thrillers—genres that both Grisham and Clark write.

I can’t help but to think about my two nephews, Marcus and Maison who both love to read. But I was more surprised by the type of books they were reading when I visited with them in New York a couple of months ago. Marcus at only 15 is reading, The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare (to be honest I have never heard of this play and I have read a few of Shakespeare's work) and Maison at age 10 is reading, Poem Depot by Douglas Florian. And I don’t know who was reading, Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse, a book that deals with the spiritual journey of self-discovery. I think I need to find that out.

When I was their age, I was reading romance novels from writers like Daniel Steel and in my late teens my preference changed to Jackie Collins whose books are more risqué. But I can’t imagine reading these types of books anymore let alone, writing them. But I do believe the books that we read when we are younger do mold us a bit when we become adults.

No matter what Walter Mosley says, I’m sure some of the writers he’s read when he was younger had some influence on him and still does today. Both Steel and Collins still inspire me in some way although I may not admit this in front of hundreds of people.

I’m not sure if either of my nephews will become writers when they get older but I like to think that what they are reading now will help mold them into the men they will one day become.

Mosley also stated that he didn’t think reading was important to becoming a writer but I strongly disagree with him. I’ve always felt that studying and reading the craft of writing is very important to ones growth as a writer just as studying films are to a screenwriter. If you decide you want to write a graphic novel but don’t know where to began or how to start, you may want to read a book like, Marvel 1602 by Neil Gaiman, or if YA books are more your speed, study The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. When I read a John Grisham book or another favorite of mine, Patricia Cornwell, I’m not reading to copy their style but like any good traveler, I want to explore their style of writing.

I’m a mystery writer. It’s not the only genre I plan to write in my lifetime as an author but if readers want to place me in that genre with other mystery writers, I’m good. After all, if I am what I read, then let the story begin…