A Simple Love Story

Studying the faded picture on the cover of the book, Sara inhaled the unique smell of aged paper and leather that permeated every nook and cranny of her grandmother’s library. She relished the rough texture of the cover under her fingers as she traced the two girls sitting atop a lion. The odd half human/ half goat creatures holding branches to frame the children and lion had caught her attention as she perused the shelves of books. Opening the cover to find the first page, Sara lost herself in the magical world of Narnia created by C. S. Lewis. As the adventures of the four siblings progressed, a small flame flared to life.

Sara fell in love.

 Worlds opened up within her. A passion was born. Her life would never be the same. With one book, a desire for a future of creating with words bloomed insider her.

As writers, this simple love story may seem familiar. The book that triggered your own love of words may be different, but the event is the same. Reading a book led us down the path we now find ourselves walking. A book triggered in us a desire to create our own worlds with words. As Valentine’s Day approaches, perhaps you will remember not only your significant other, but also the book that created in you a love for words and sent you walking the path of the writer. 

For me, the book that made me love reading was C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia and the book that made me want to write was Book 3 of Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn Trilogy, The Hero of Ages. 

What book kindled in you that flame that turned into the burning desire to write your own novel? I'd love to hear your story.