Books that Inspire Writers 2.0

What book inspired you? Here are more notes from my writer friends!

One of my favorites? Harold and the Purple Crayon. Yes, it’s a children’s book. But it’s about creating, and the power of that process – and that’s what it means to be an author. Harold drew a balloon, and then that image of a balloon was able to carry him away. He drew ocean waves and began to drown. He drew a boat, and that creation rescued him. The Harold books are wonderful parables of the creative process – and the power of art (in my case, the art of language).
~Sharon Hinck

Catherine Marshall’s Christy blew me away because it was the first book I’d read that dealt with all of the heroine’s real feelings, including her spiritual doubts. This also qualifies for a satisfying ending award. She didn’t end up with the man you thought she was headed for all the way through the book, instead, she rode off in to the sunset with her real true love.

Then, Janette Oke’s books introduced me to the whole genre of Christian fiction. Even though my forte doesn’t seem to be historical, these books once again showed the real power behind the strong women who survived the expansion of the country. Wonderful.
~Jenny McLeod Carlisle

My list would be long–books that inspire writers. Readers have told me my historical romances remind them of Janette Oke’s and Grace Livingston Hill’s, and since those have been some favorite authors of mine, I know their books inspired me. And Marjorie Kinnan Rawling’s The Yearling. And Mrs. Mike. And The Ladies of Missalonghi by Colleen McCullough. Love the touch of fantasy in that one. And A Day No Pigs Would Die. And The Americanization of Edward Bok. And The Miracle Worker (the play) by William Gibson–every novelist should study this for beats (body actions). And then all the current books that inspire me…thank the Lord for books!
~Kristy Dykes

A real fun book, which is also a children’s book but I think adults are the ones who truly get it, is The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs! as told to Jon Scieszka. It really encouraged me to look at things differently. It’s told from the wolf’s perspective and totally hilarious.
~Lena Dooley