I am a bad reader. I read a lot of non-fiction, especially history, as you may be able to tell if you read my books. I re-read a lot of my favourite authors as well. Sometimes I feel I will need dynamite to get out of my reading rut. I’ll be returning to reviewing in the new year to force open my horizons.
Unfortunately I have just found that they are releasing my favourite author’s books on kindle. This is not necessarily a good thing. I know a whole bundle of amazing and talented authors, but I keep going back to Essie Summers, the wife of a New Zealand minister, born 1912. She wrote romances with a Christian feel to them and I have been hooked for years. I read, re-read and re-re-read the books to tatters. Now that they are on kindle, I shall be reading them even more. And I don’t know why.
I could tell you that they deal honestly with people. That the characters have depth, the dialogue is crisp and that the world of her story has depth. I could talk about the wonderful descriptive flair that she has, the feeling that there is a continuation of life around the story. I could talk about some of the more complicated plots (trust me, some are extremely complicated with half sisters and adopted brothers and all sorts). Lots of other authors have those. I still keep going back to Essie Summers.
I suppose I feel comfortable reading them. I relax into them. They are wholesome and fun and speak of honest feelings. It reminds me that there are good people out there. But, to be honest, it’s still something of a mystery. I’m going to be buying them all as they come onto kindle, as soon as I see them. I don’t know why they call to me, but they do.
Thinking of why I like them so much has made me wonder. Are there some books that just call to you? Is it some sort of compatibility? Could you sort personalities by favourite author instead of star sign or that thing with the letters? Perhaps it’s like food cravings – a deficiency in real life means that you crave a certain type of book? If so, I can confirm that I am deficient in New Zealand. I am not going to comment on the romance aspect, as I have been married for over 30 years and he is awesome. I’m still going to finish here and settle down with ‘No Orchids by Request‘
I’d love to hear if you have any authors that call to you the same way. Comment down below, it would be great to see your thoughts.
Lyssa, my name is Ken Pierce, and I am the guy who is slowly getting Essie’s books onto Kindle. I just want to say that readers like you are EXACTLY why I’m taking that trouble. Basically I run the “publishing company” (which doesn’t publish anything but these novels) as more or less a non-profit — the reason I’m doing it is mostly that I got sick and tired of recommending Essie’s books to other people and then having to tack on, “…if you can find a copy.”
If you’re on Facebook, then please feel free to join in on the group “The Essie Summers Project.” There are also so many Essie fans on the Betty Neels group “The Uncrushable Jersey Dress” that posts on Essie Summers are deemed “Betty-adjacent” by the group administrator; so you get quite a bit of discussion about Essie there.
I suspect you will enjoy this article: https://www.odt.co.nz/lifestyle/magazine/words-love-0
Have a great day!
Thank you so much! I didn’t know that there was such a group. I have applied to join straight away. I found Essie Summers through my late mother, and she was also a Betty Neels fan. I’ll have to have a scout out.
I am also a little stunned that you found this post. I always feel that Essie Summers was such a massive influence, and has had an impact on what I write, so it was important for me to acknowledge that – pay my respects, if you will.
Thank you for getting the books on Kindle. I saw from your groups that ‘South Horizon Man’ was now available, and I haven’t read that, so I know how I am spending New Years Eve! I really appreciate that these are now open to a wider audience. I shall be mentioning them again.
Honestly, I can’t thank you enough. Happy New Year!
By the way, is this you?
https://www.amazon.com/Lyssa-Medana/e/B0081Y0TVC
Yep, that’s me. I hope I take inspiration and good practice from Essie Summers. She’s been a massive influence, even though I write about the paranormal.
(laughing) You, and Keira Dominguez, and Remi Black (well, magical-world fantasy at least)…
One of my favorite unintentionally hilarious Amazon reviews (though I don’t know if Keira thought it was so funny since it was her book’s rating that got affected) was of one of Keira’s three Magical Regency romances, I don’t remember which. The reviewer gave the book a low number of stars and then explained in her review that it was because all the magical bits were “unrealistic.”
That made me laugh out loud! I got a great review for Out of the London Mist, but they said that the story, set just after Jack the Ripper and at the end of Queen Victoria’s reigh, was eighteenth century! It’s funny what people get caught up on.
Also, which of your books should I read first?
If you like, I can send a copy of The Forgotten Village through Facebook messenger. It was the first I self published nearly ten years ago, but It’s not a bad place to start. It’s on Kindle Unlimited as well. There is a quote from the Bible in it. I try and get one in every book.
I feel like I’ve found good company. Thank you for getting in touch.
I have Kindle Unlimited so we’re good, thanks!
As long as you feel no pressure to dip in. Not everyone is into reading about vampires and werewolves.
I’m still smiling at your comments and finding out about the Essie Summers group. My mother would have been thrilled.