i'm sure you can all relate to these...

I like to challenge myself in different aspects of my life and not just in blogging. I'm starting two new challenges next week. The first is to read two books from genres I wouldn't ordinarily read. I tend to be a creature of habit when it comes to ready as I love fantasy and paranormal in both adult and young adult, and I love reading nonfiction as well, mostly memoirs and biographies. And I have an entire list of genres I don't much care to read. But I'm going to have to choose two from those categories and give them a go. 

I'm doing roughly the same thing with a movie challenge. I like a lot more in various movie genres, but there are still a handful I don't care for like subtitled foreign films as I don't like to have to read when I'm trying to watch the movie. I also dislike psychological thrillers and tearjerkers, despise horror, and am not the biggest fan of westerns. I know horror is already off the table. So I'll be clenching my teeth to chose the movies.

So why do I do this when I don't have to? Because I think that challenges help me to grow. Expanding my horizon is always a good thing. Maybe I'll find that I really do like that new book genre. Or watching a psychological thriller will confirm that I still dislike them.

It's a lot like eating something you've never had before. You don't really know you'll hate it until you try it. That said, I have tried a lot of those movie genres, but I'm still going to just grin and bear it because I still could learn something. If nothing else, I'll watching for the actors and their take on the roles while I'm trying not to watch the clock.

I'll share the different books I've read and the movies I've watched as soon as I've finished. I'm hoping that I'll end up being surprised! 

I devour books like they're my favorite ice cream cones. And I don't just read the type of books I write. I explore when I read, whether it's an autobiography, a book of wit and wisdom, a middle grade novel, or science fiction. If a book looks good to me, I'll give it a shot. I think it's important to read, not just the new books that are being released, but the ones from years past that I've managed to overlook. That's where I usually find the gems.

This month, I'm reading a young adult fantasy series, a non-fiction book about a favorite television show, and a non-fiction book about marketing. And you read that correctly. I'm usually reading two or three books at one time, although, I have been known to get so wrapped up in one book that I have to finish it before I move on to the next. Usually, though, I will read on one book one night and another the next. 

When I read I'm being entertained, and I'm learning, and science has proven that an active brain is a healthier brain. So what are you reading today? 

National Book Lovers Day is celebrated on August 9th, but today is the day we celebrate those who love to read and to encourage others to pick up a book. Did you know that reading increases memory, reduces stress, expands your vocabulary, improves your focus, and it increases intelligence? That's an awful of positives you get from making time to read! 

I just finished Wolf Winter by Rachel Raithby, and now I'm starting another series called Bitter Ashes by Sara C. Roethle. I try to read at least two fiction books a month and one non-fiction. I'm on a better schedule this year, though, and I'm averaging about three fiction books a month. 

So what are you reading on #Readabookday? 

Writing isn't a hobby for me. It's my dream. My goal. I can't imagine doing anything else, and while I could still write without readers, it wouldn't be half as much fun. Well, not really even a quarter. That's why, when I saw this post on bookmarket.com, I wanted to share it here. 51 Ways to Help a Book Author You Love. 

I can't begin to tell you how much I appreciate my readers. Your support means everything to me and to every author who sits behind a keyboard every night. 

If you're having trouble staying motivated or think you just haven't found what you should be doing with your life, you need to read this book.

Steve Harvey takes you through the steps to finding your passion and using your gifts to succeed in life. It's a quick, engrossing read that's difficult to put down. And it's impossible not to feel something when you're reading it because you feel like Steve is sitting across from you talking directly to you.

​A definite 5 star book! 

I've been reading a fair amount of author interviews lately, and I'm surprised by the number of writers saying they don't have time to read because they're too busy writing. 

Reading, to me, is a necessity for anyone, but especially for authors. Why? Well, I really can't say it any better than Roz Morris. In her interview at The Write Practice four years ago, she said "Reading—the good and the bad—inspires you. It develops your palate for all the tricks that writers have invented over the years. You can learn from textbooks about the writing craft, but there’s no substitute for discovering for yourself how a writer pulls off a trick. Then that becomes part of your experience."

I will add that you need to know the market, what is selling and what isn't. And by reading, you can quickly discover what would draw a reader to that story line. On top of that, our brains need time to recharge, and reading is one of the best ways to do that. 

And finally, supporting your fellow authors by reading their books is a great way to give back to the writing community. 

So I would encourage you to read for enjoyment, read to learn, and read to give your brain a boost!

And in case you're wondering what I'm reading right now, it's The Dragon Who Loved Me by G.A. Aiken. 

Do you believe in love at first sight? Do romances that happen really quickly in a story come across as unbelievable to you, or do you find yourself rooting for the characters in spite of the timeline? 

Connecting Strangers, my romantic suspense releasing July 21st, has a whirlwind romance, and I see that it's a divided issue between reviewers. Some like it. Some don't. 

To me, when someone is hungry for love and they meet "the one", they know. Their hearts tells them not to waste time. Maybe that makes me a bit of a softie or even too much of a dreamer. Regardless, I still believe in fairy tales, and whirlwind romances are what dreams are made of. 

What about you? Do you think romances that happen fast are too unrealistic? How long did you know your spouse or significant other before you knew he/she was the one?