I am as so many people here a lifelong reader. Well that's not exactly true. I will admit to being a Television Junkie as a child. I mean I enjoyed reading, and read quite a bit, but did prefer the Television as a means of entertainment. Round about 4th grade, my family moved out into the hills outside of Monroe, WA. We had 5 acres of land, and no neighbors. Somehow in the move the Television broke. (Although looking back I think that was a convenient fiction by my parents to get us on the right track of reading.) Ever since that year and a half of no television I have not been the same. I can't even sit through a 1/2 hour sit-com anymore, although will spend a full day caught in a book.

It's not just books, I love words. Short ones long ones, all kinds. I remember on long drives (My father loved to drive and explore, so we spent a whole lot of time in the car) we would play all kinds of word games. (stink pink, my mother had a basket, etc) My favorite, however was the puns. It would start innocently, my father would for example point at a car and say "I wish I could aFORD a car like that." and one of us children would reply something like " Then you could drive in the Fair Lane" etc. And as we went along the subject would drift (mustang or pinto's sending us into animals, etc.) and we would have gone a hundred miles worth of puns and wordplay. I suppose this explains why I have enjoyed authors like Spider Robinson, and Piers Anthony so much.

I am proud to say I have passed my love of reading on to my Daughter, and she has taken up my habit of generally taking 3 books with her wherever she goes. Three may seem excesive, but you have your Main Book which is the current primary read, your Back-up Book in case you finish the main book, and lastly your emergency book in case neither your Main book or Back-up book can capture your interest. Although she does not have my appreciation of puns, she is still young enough I hope I have time to warp her mind sufficiently.

As a reader I mostly pre-fer Genre, specifically Sci-Fi and Fantasy. Although that's mostly from Familiarity, I have noticed that Genre does not matter as much as the flow of the words, and the skill of the author. I am also a re-reader, I don't just read to see how the story comes out, I enjoy the whole journey of the book. It's like taking the same trip again, the sights may be familiar, but they are just as enjoyable. My wife doesn't necessarily understand this reading theory, but nobody is perfect.

I am extrodinarily happy to be here at book crossings. One of the things I have always loved is sharing my favorite books. (there are several I have bought at least 3 times because I keep giving them away and want to read them again.) Now not only can I share, but I can track their progress, and meet other readers.