I’m back after a long absence (we’ll get into that in a later blog post) and wanted to ease back into blogging with a quick look at my Winter Reading List, but first, a word about reading:

I will always argue that the best thing a writer can do for their craft is to read. Read books similar to your own style to solidify your idea of what you want to do with your writing, read books completely opposite of your style to determine what you don’t want to do with your writing, and read books to expand the limits of your imagination and what you think is possible.

If writing is the craft, reading is the product, and you can’t be a truly great writer without first being a reader.

That being said, my reading list for this winter is as follows:

– Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik

– Artemis by Andy Weir

– All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders

– Shiver by Maggie Steifvater

– His Dark Materials Trilogy by Phillip Pullman

– Spirits in the Wires by Charles de Lint

When I come up with a reading list for a season, I like to include at least one book I’ve read before and enjoyed, and a lot more I haven’t. For this winter, I chose books across a range of topics and genres—sci-fi and fantasy primarily, and I tried to choose books that remind me of winter—Spinning Silver was the main inspiration for this list.

My challenge for you: Make a reading list of at least three books you want to finish—this month or this season, whatever works best for you. Try to come up with a theme, whether it be a common topic, color, or setting—and just get lost in the words.

Thanks, as always, for reading.

– Ember