ignite the books discussion

What it says on the tin. Talk about yourself, where in the world you're from, favourite books (or trilogies or authors if you can't narrow it down), hobbies, that time you took a text worth 20% of your grade home instead of handing it in, whatever!

Hi, I'm Kael!

I enjoy reading, writing, writing/watching/reading threesomes/OT3s, mythology (esp Greek and Norse), and tea!

I live in Oregon, USA, and am 24. Also short (5'1 1/2").

Favorite books/authors? Ugh too many to choose really, but off the top of my head...Tessa Gratton, Sandman Slim series, Scott Tracey, Leigh Bardugo, and Kresley Cole.

My writing Tumblr is: Kaelthewriting
My main Tumblr is: Whenwolfsbaneblooms

Tessa Gratton I have heard of! And obviously Bardugo (excellent taste). Norse mythology is something I am sort of dipping my toes into lately (especially with Vikings being a thing), but I have been a Greek myth nerd since I was like, twelve (i'm planning a short story collection of retellings/inspired-bys actually. i have two done so far and a third started)

HI I'm Hannah! I enjoy needlessly abusing caps and exclamation marks, apparently.

I'm 22 (for about another week an a half, and then I will be 23, because that is how time works), and live in Auckland, New Zealand. I am not short (5'8"/173cm). I probably spend the most part of my free time writing (fic and original) or at least telling myself that I should be writing, but I also enjoy at various times, reading, gaming and (i am shocked to admit it), going to the gym. I'm still not sure how that one happened.

Fave books/authors are: Leigh Bardugo, David Eddings, Kelley Armstrong, Jacqueline Carey. There are others, I have forgotten. I'm also a big fan of the Percy Jackson/Heroes of Olympus books, and I have fallen into The Raven Cycle and can't get out.

That anecdote about the test is a thing I did.

Hi I'm Sarah! I'm terrible at introductions but this is my attempt.

I'm 20 (Until forever from now ugh. Actually until December) and I live in Tennessee, USA. I'm not so short as just average height (5'4") I spend a lot of my time writing as well usually roleplaying on tumblr and staring in horror at the growing first draft of my novel. I also read, take 4 hour long baths, and cuddle my pets a lot.

Fave books/Authors: Anything by Neil Gaiman but particularly Good Omens. The Harry Potter books. Jacqueline Carey (OMG I see Hannah likes her too and I'm screaming), and too many other ones to list.

I feel like that is something I would do with an important test.

Hello! My name is Diana. On Tumblr I'm sulienapgwien; on Twitter menshevixen. I live in northeast Ohio, USA, but am from Florida. I work in libraries. Some things I enjoy are heavy metal, tea cafes, hot weather, and boots.

A few of my favorite authors are Tamora Pierce, Jo Walton, Neil Gaiman, and Holly Black.

A few of my current projects are a novel in editing, various fics (usually for the Grishaverse), a short story I'm submitting to an anthology in April, and assorted personal essays (one will be up on The Toast next month).

Hii. My name is Sophia (tumblr url: vhenrietta). I'm from California, USA. Sadly, I'm from Northern California...until I hopefully transfer colleges to a school in LA.
I grew up with immigrant parents, which is what motivates me to one day become a successful businesswoman ;)

Besides studying, I read. a lot. I am not really into contemporary YA books, but I reallyyy love YA fantasy books. I took a whole break from books for a while to deal with stuff so I've been catching up on all the popular books. So I pretty much love all of the usuals, like The Raven Cycle (I was hooked too and still can't get out of it), The Grisha Trilogy (my heart and soul), Throne of Glass, and the entire Cassandra Clare shadowhunter universe. Oh, and I can't forget how obsessed I am with the addicted series (it's New Adult) by Krista and Becca Ritchie.

I have been trying to find books that are not as well known as those above (or even in the YA genre); I really want to expand my reading preferences. So if you know anything good, let me know!

I watch a lot of TV. A LOT. I've watched (or tried to watch) almost every show out there.

I also love mythology too. I'm a history nerd and I love current events/politics.

(sorry if this was kind of lengthy haha)

SUP NERDS I am Ally! I'm 29 and I live in the exciting state of South Dakota. My time is generally spent reading (duh), cooking, spoiling my cats, gaming, sleeping, and going on Netflix binges. I haven't done any writing in a while, but Certain People are sure to bully me into back into that before long.

If I absolutely had to pick, my favorite book would be Watership Down and my favorite author would be Neil Gaiman. But I like lots of other things, like Grisha, The Lunar Chronicles, A Song of Ice and Fire, and a bunch of other stuff I can't recall off the top of my head. I'm basically always on the prowl for new things to read, because I love having a neverending to read list.

ayy, I'm Emily, I'm 22 and from Ohio. I'm on tumblr & twitter as glitzandshadows.

my favourite authors are leigh bardugo, catherynne m. valente, brandon sanderson, maggie stiefvater, & george r. r. martin~~

i mostly just write. I'm literally about to start querying so i suppose a more accurate thing to say would be i mostly just panic about writing.

that's it that's all hi

sup ladies!! I'm Ashe, 25, and I also live in Ohio (NE represent!) I'm on tumblr @ starforged. Oh, I guess if we're putting heights :| I'm 5'3".

My favorite authors/books include Kelley Armstrong, Darren Shan, Grisha, The Lunar Chronicles, ASOIAF, Tessa Gratton, and an unhealthy attraction to Daughters of the Moon.

I write. A lot. I have a lot of original projects but also fic stuff. I play video games and watch a lot of tv series and love YA lit.

Ummm, let's see. I also love fairy tales, mythology, animals (I have a lot of pets), and psychology :3

ALSO LONG WALKS ON THE BEACH because now this feels like a dating profile

HELLO there.

I'm Laura, I go by lauragmaldon on tumblr, and I'm 15.

I'm actually 5 1 1/2 as well, but my temper is not proportional to my size.

The hobbies include: reading, writing (tho I avoid that one due to fear), listening to music, learning about history, cooking, sleeping (I'm a pro at this), and participating in discussions with enthusiastic people.

I live in the Peach State, Georgia.

Favorite books: Leigh Bardugo's (all of them), Mistborn, the Wildwood Dancing series, Eon, The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender, The Young Elites, Leviathan, etc

(If you haven't noticed, I have a weak spot for YA.)

Current projects: don't really know, because I'm afraid to write them.

I don't watch a lot of TV, mostly because those fandoms can kill you with feels.

Why are you afraid to write?

hello funkytown!

i'm leah (though sometimes people call me nym since that was my old handle online), i'm 25, and constantly tired. i'm a grad student about to go on to the phd, studying techcomm & rhetoric.

hobbies: writing!, gardening, more writing!, reading, snowboarding, video games, and uh all my other hobbies are pretty much dead because school/work is intense

favorite books: anything terry pratchett, grisha trilogy, kate daniels series, star wars eu (why though i could not tell you), animorphs (90s realness), generally a lot of sci-fi, ya, and fantasy or paranormal

current projects: my thesis :|, a few manuals, some tech writing gigs, and working on a chapter for a textbook that i'm really excited about!

fun projects: fanfic
lone candles | grisha
van gogh & vodka | the 100
a lot like never | x-men
spirals | dragon age

fun projects: original fic
steadfast | retelling of the Steadfast Tin Soldier
horrible assholes and demon magic: the series
weird not!byzantine empire fantasy fiction with also pirates

tumblr: gizkasparadise
aim: acediatheory
feel free to add me at either!

I haven't been on aim in ages...but would anyone be interested in sharing Skype?

Ashe wrote: "Why are you afraid to write?"

Mostly because it's intimidating. I feel it'll sound stupid and illogical. And that I won't do justice to the world I've built in my head but can't seem to get onto paper. There's so many reasons.

Laura wrote: "Ashe wrote: "Why are you afraid to write?"

Mostly because it's intimidating. I feel it'll sound stupid and illogical. And that I won't do justice to the world I've built in my head but can't seem ..."

Honestly, I still feel that way, and I've been writing since I was like, 9. The only way to start giving it justice is to write and write and write. Seriously, in the past year I've improved a lot with my writing.

Laura wrote: "Ashe wrote: "Why are you afraid to write?"

Mostly because it's intimidating. I feel it'll sound stupid and illogical. And that I won't do justice to the world I've built in my head but can't seem ..."

writing is super intimidating :( i think most writers are their own worst critic. i usually can't reread anything i do for at least a month.

but if you're not feeling comfortable posting anything publicly (and that's a totally valid feeling), i would suggest to not let that stop you from writing -- even if it's just a word doc file for yourself (personally, i have a TON of fic that i wrote just for me and will never see the light of day). write your dream story, even if it's ridiculous and tropey and super indulgent. it helps to try it without first imagining that an audience is going to be reading it (or judging it), since i know how off-putting that can be

and remember writing is for fun, and that there's never a lot at stake when you do something for the enjoyment of it (my 100 crappy paintings of space can attest to that)

Ashe wrote: "Laura wrote: "Ashe wrote: "Why are you afraid to write?"

Mostly because it's intimidating. I feel it'll sound stupid and illogical. And that I won't do justice to the world I've built in my head b..."

Well, your writing is amazing so it obviously worked for you :) I know it's sound advice (honestly I do), but I am just too insecure to sit down and WRITE. But I appreciate the guidance <3 I have to buck up and do it.

Laura wrote: "Ashe wrote: "Laura wrote: "Ashe wrote: "Why are you afraid to write?"

Mostly because it's intimidating. I feel it'll sound stupid and illogical. And that I won't do justice to the world I've built..."

Ohhh, fffffft. It's not that amazing, but it's taken a lot of work and tears and blood. <3 you write on your own time, just don't let a little fear keep you from something you like

How do you guys get your motivation to write? I feel like I have a lot of ideas and I start to write, but then I lose that motivation to continue. Like it is so much easier to think out an entire plot and kind of write it out "in my head" than to sit down and write the words.

I write every damn day, whether I want to or not; some days the words just flow, and somedays it's like pulling teeth.

That's how I motivate myself. Probably not the most inspirational thing but it's what I do.

Also jotting down the idea the moment you have it I find helps. So having a notebook/ writing utensil or something on your phone on you at all time is good.

I used to write everyday, and then I found that I couldn't keep motivating myself to do so. The more I wrote, the more tired I became, and it began to feel like an obligation to me rather than fun?

Mostly I find the motivation in wanting to get a story told. It's okay to feel unmotivated and take a few days in between writing, but it's also important to keep writing. Don't make into something you have to do, but something you want to do. Put on some soothing music, turn off the internet, give yourself an amount of time.

And get a writing partner. I can't tell you how much I would have failed by now if I didn't have Hannah.

I find that varying what I'm writing helps. If I'm stuck on one thing, it feels good or at least productive to have something else to work on. This also helps me write just about every day. And it exercises different writing muscles! The writing needed for an essay or a humor piece is different from that needed for a novel or a fic. And so forth.

for me, it's important to keep in mind that sometimes it's 100% fine to not think about writing at all. do other things. i think everyone's writing patterns are going to be different. i can go weeks or even months without writing, and then crank out 30 page chapters in a day. it's just kind of a matter of figuring out your own patterns.

also, when i get stuck on something, i do timed writings: 20 minutes straight of only typing/not looking at anything else.

if i get stuck on something creative, i do shuffles-- i put my itunes on shuffle, write little stories in the amount of time a song plays, then switch to the next one and repeat for about three songs or so. it usually helps!

HEY GUYS i can see the potential for this getting long haha, can we move this over to the original writing chatter post?

Bringing this back to introductions, as the name says I'm Victoria. I'm 22 for the next two months and a nurse by day, writer/reader/human being by night.

Favorite writers include Tolkein, CS Lewis, Maggie Steifvater, Leigh Bardugo and numerous others.
Favorite books are impossible to list in one place, but currently fangirling over Grisha, the Winner's Curse/Crime, and selective Star Wars EU. But seriously the list goes on and on. About to get on the Raven Cycle train.

Currently writing/world building my original stuff. Will occasionally write fic, though I'm better at reading it haha.

forgot to add i'm anythingtomakeyoustay on tumblr. oops.

Hey everyone, I'm Violet and I'm super late to this!! ^^' My tumblr is takemeinyourdream, and my account on nearly every other website is avioletqueen (including aim/skype), so feel free to add/follow me if you want :D just let me know that you're from book club somehow and i'll add you o/

I'm a Computer Science / Math student at college, so just-for-fun reading really doesn't happen for me as much as I'd like it to - hopefully, this will change in the future, haha.

After reading all of your intros, my favorite books sound awfully juvenile, but I'll stick by them :') I have a very dear place in my heart for the Artemis Fowl series, the Lunar Chronicles, and David Eddings. I'm sure there are others that I love, but those are the top 3 that are coming to me right now. :D

hobbies: singing, writing, studying my ass off, watching my four favorite movies over and over again, rewatching gossip girl (i'm the worst), procrastinating on my fanfiction omg i feel bad just typing this, let's move on

i'm a huge huge huge fan of fairy tales, mythology, and just fairies in general \o/ I am a fairy tale buff, i know lots of obscure ones by heart and my favorite one is The Twelve Dancing Princesses. also i'm very indian so south asian lit and culture is supes important to me, everyone should read the book i posted in the book recs thread, etc etc i will try not to be obnoxious about it XD

alright this is getting way too long IT'S VERY NICE TO MEET YOU ALL <3

I should be doing my homework...

Name's Rachel, 19 and an American, and I hail from the New England area. I have a neuromuscular disorder which sucks but I manage. The main problem besides the legs being annoying is thinking faster than I type and not looking it over again. I'm also an Anthropology Major/Forensic Sciences Minor.

Favorite books: Anything ranging from Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere to Cinda Williams Chima's Heir Chronicles. I read a lot, narrowing is impossible.

Hobbies: Writing fanfiction and original, reading, watching Netflix, barracking myself in my room with homework, MMA (haven't done it since college started--whoops!), analyzing and deconstructing things,

tumblr: conjure-at-your-own-risk
FFN: conjure-at-your-own-risk
Ao3: conjure_at_your_own_risk

I write a lot of Harry Potter (Rule 63 AUs are my weakness), Percy Jackson (comedic shenanigans), and Dresden Files (more shenanigans and Murphy/Dresden fluff). I'm also attempting to write my own original stories about reincarnated necromantic creatures solving mysteries in their weird college town.

If you want the knowhow on neuromuscular stuff, US history, European-Jewish folklore (and Eastern European), or even weird prompts for your writing--I'm the guy.

I'm Alix, she/her/hers, kismetnemesis on tumblr and on archiveofourown. I aspire to write for television, and I'm going to be studying that for real soon!

I like so many books, oh my god, but I love SFF, and basically anything with LGBTQ+ girls, plants, space, or time travel. For authors I like Beth Revis, Tamora Pierce, Scott Westerfeld, G. Willow Wilson, and quite a few more that I can't think of right now.

I'm currently really into Homestuck and Steven Universe. I've been trying to get more into writing fanfiction.

Hiya! I'm Sam,or Samantha and bodizzy on tumblr. I'm 26, I live in North Carolina and I currently work in retail hell. (Seriously need to get the gumption to go back to school) I'm 5 1 1/4, so I think I win on being the shortest. :-)

I was the kid in school that read ahead in the history text books for fun. Basically anything history or mythology related is my jam.

I love to write. I would even love it more if I actually finished something original one day.

Harry Potter was and still is my favorite series. White Oleander would be the all time favorite book, though. Janet Fitch's writing amazed me when I first read that one.

Currently obsessed with Game of Thrones. (I'm beginning to think I'm a glutton for punishment for that)

This is my first book club and I'm super excited!

Sam wrote: "Hiya! I'm Sam,or Samantha and bodizzy on tumblr. I'm 26, I live in North Carolina and I currently work in retail hell. (Seriously need to get the gumption to go back to school) I'm 5 1 1/4, so I th..."

oh my gosh what is in the water to make you people SO SMALL america how.

I should havementioned earlier, history is totally my jam as well, I got my degree as a double major in History and English. It does my heart good to see all these history nerds in here.

And I am with you on the elusivemyth of one day finishing something. I have the first draft of an 18k Hades/Persephone story to my name, but that's about it for anything substantial.

Alix wrote: "I'm Alix, she/her/hers, kismetnemesis on tumblr and on archiveofourown. I aspire to write for television, and I'm going to be studying that for real soon!

I like so many books, oh my god, but I l..."

Writing for television that is SUPER COOL. Tammy Pierce and LGBTQ+ girls are also my faves, these are excellent life choices.

Rachel wrote: "I should be doing my homework...

Name's Rachel, 19 and an American, and I hail from the New England area. I have a neuromuscular disorder which sucks but I manage. The main problem besides the leg..."

People being into tthe Heir Chronicles always lifts my heard, I just have a lot of feelings about Jack and Ellen. The others as well, but those two and particular hit like, half of my fave tropes at least.

Victoria wrote: "Bringing this back to introductions, as the name says I'm Victoria. I'm 22 for the next two months and a nurse by day, writer/reader/human being by night.

Favorite writers include Tolkein, CS Lew..."

Sometimes I see that people are into the EU and my reactions are both AW YEAH SOMEONE ELSE and, oh god what happened to you i am so sorry. I love the EU, but what a hot mess.

Shreya wrote: "Hey everyone, I'm Violet and I'm super late to this!! ^^' My tumblr is takemeinyourdream, and my account on nearly every other website is avioletqueen (including aim/skype), so feel free to add/fol..."

DAVID EDDIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINGS

The Lunar Chronicles are also rad as hell, and I remember enjoying Artemis Fowl a lot when I read them too. Reading is reading and faves are faves, Idon't think your picks are any more or less juvenile than the rest of ours <3

Ye gods. I'm the shortest one here.

4'8.

I'm surrounded

All you short people.

I should not feel as tall as I do, at 5'6".

If it's any consolation, you're either wicked tall or amazingly short in my family. My sister is five years younger, and she has several inches on me and Mom.

So, yeah. I literally got the short end of the genes. And being born early played a big factor, but still.

Question: with the amount of people from Ohio, if I go 'O–H–!' will they finish the rest?

I'm 5'7" so I'll join the "tall" club haha

EU 4 lyfe! But seriously whenever I meet someone who reads the EU I always wonder "which one of your favorites died/was treated horribly/shafted by the writers?" One of my more popular tumblr posts literally says denial is the way to survive the extended universe. Just pretend all those characters never died. Selective canon/EU/legends is how I like to view it haha.

Hi everyone! I'm Jess in real life, greenconverses on tumblr, AO3 and pretty much everywhere else fannish. I'm 25, live in Nebraska, and I'm 5'5".

When I'm not reading or working on my writing, I'm playing roller derby (which is entirely too much fun!), at the gym, or trying to wrangle my giant orange monstrosity of a cat, Cricket. Would eventually like to write a book, but for now, I'm settling for being a journalist.

My favorite writers include Brandon Sanderson, J.K. Rowling, Meg Cabot, Ally Carter, Dan Wells, Julia Quinn and many more. I will read just about anything in the YA category, though contemporary is probably my least favorite of the subgenres, and I'm big into historical romance novels in a unironic way.

at 5'8", i also will join the tall squad.

also selective EU is a necessity. especially if you like female characters in this series. i think my personal EU is really only like 10 books tops out of the 40ish i've read.

Ally wrote: "SUP NERDS I am Ally! I'm 29 and I live in the exciting state of South Dakota."

HEEEEEY from a fellow SoDak native! It's always exciting to run into one of us on the interwebs!

Jess wrote: I'm big into historical romance novels in a unironic way.

high-five! historical romances are kind of my favorite thing. bonus if there are pirates, vikings, or ~mysterious magic for no reason~

Leah wrote: high-five! historical romances are kind of my favorite thing. bonus if there are pirates, vikings, or ~mysterious magic for ..."

Oh, pirates. Sigh. I need to embrace the Vikings and/or hunky Scots warriors side of HR a little bit more, but if the author gives them Hagrid-esque accent, I can't deal with it. I usually hang around in REPRESSED VICTORIAN FEELINGS land with bonus MELODRAMATIC KIDNAPPINGS on the side. ILU, historical romance novels.

i am also for all of those things. AGONIZED LOVE CONFESSION IN THE RAIN DURING THE FIRST SOIREE OF THE SPRING SEASON is a dynamic i will never get tired of.

Rachel wrote: "If it's any consolation, you're either wicked tall or amazingly short in my family. My sister is five years younger, and she has several inches on me and Mom.

So, yeah. I literally got the short ..."

Don't feel bad, the same thing happened to me. The little sis is 5' 9". I can remember when I was taller than her. Those were the days...

Jess wrote: "Leah wrote: high-five! historical romances are kind of my favorite thing. bonus if there are pirates, vikings, or ~mysterious magic for ..."

Oh, pirates. Sigh. I need to embrace the Vikings and/or..."

I feel you. Those damn Tudor era romances get me every time.

Leah wrote: "i am also for all of those things. AGONIZED LOVE CONFESSION IN THE RAIN DURING THE FIRST SOIREE OF THE SPRING SEASON is a dynamic i will never get tired of."

true that. such a weakness. every time i see it coming i sigh with excitement

Hello, I'm Hal and I'm late to this?? I'm also not great at intros bear with me. I'm 26, I live in New Jersey, I studied Classics and more specifically the language aspect of it for a very long time. I know more dead language than living, which sounds more useful than it is. If it even sounds useful, that is.

My favorite book/series is the Aubrey-Maturin series by Patrick O'Brien. One of the reasons I joined actually is because I haven't been really up on more modern books in a long time, I had/have such a focus on reading shit like Plutarch's Lives that I honestly can't remember the last time I read something not written by a dead guy possibly translated into English by another dead guy. The only shit I write is self indulgent stuff I'd never post or for rp so that's that.

What else... I'm big on video games I guess, anyone wants to chat video games I'm your girl. I can't say I have the time or budget to play all of them ever but I keep up with a few so I might know what you're talking about. The last I played was Majora's Mask on the 3DS which they ported pretty damn well in my opinion.

That's about it I guess, nice to meet you all!

Hal wrote: "Hello, I'm Hal and I'm late to this?? I'm also not great at intros bear with me. I'm 26, I live in New Jersey, I studied Classics and more specifically the language aspect of it for a very long tim..."

HAL ARE YOU MY ANDERS HAL

I AM LIKE 99% SURE, HOW MANY HALS INTO OLD DEAD WHITE GUYS CAN THERE BE

Hal wrote: "Hello, I'm Hal and I'm late to this?? I'm also not great at intros bear with me. I'm 26, I live in New Jersey, I studied Classics and more specifically the language aspect of it for a very long tim..."

hi hal

you are our hal, right?

Rachel wrote: "Question: with the amount of people from Ohio, if I go 'O–H–!' will they finish the rest?"

that would denote a feeling of excitement of Ooooohiiiiiooooooooooooooooooooo.

I will speak for the tall Americans! 5'10. :B

Shreya, have you read Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier? It's a spin on the Twelve Dancing Princesses.

And Sam--I need to reread White Oleander. I read it in high school, so I don't think I was properly appreciative, but I read Paint It Black a couple of years ago and adored it. Fitch's writing really is something. Paint It Black was basically the book I wanted to write when I was fifteen.