My Reading Life – Kathleen Bailey
By Kathleen Bailey @Piechick1
I can trace my desire to be a writer to the time I became a reader. I made up stories about my dolls and my friends, and wrote them in a 25-cent notebook. My first influence was Betsy Ray, the intrepid heroine of Maud Hart Lovelace’s Betsy, Tacy, and Tib books. Betsy wanted to be a writer and scribbled stories in her tree fort. If she could do it, I could do it.
My second major influence came in sixth grade, when one of my friends handed me a copy of Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time. It was the first time in my young life anyone had said, “You gotta read this!” And I did, and I was mesmerized. I remember thinking, “Words can do THIS?” It was the Harry Potter of my generation.
I wrote fiction, badly, through most of my teen and young adult years. I gave my life to Jesus as a young adult. My third epiphany came when I stumbled across a copy of Brock and Bodie Thoene’s Zion Chronicles. For some writers Janette Oke propelled them into Christian fiction, but for me it was the Thoenes. I realized, again, what words can do, this time for the Kingdom.
WHAT I’M READING NOW:
I went through a period of reading only Christian historicals and historical romances. Contemporary Christian fiction wasn’t “deep” enough for me, or so I thought. I needed characters to give birth in a ditch alongside the Oregon Trail, that kind of thing. Everything was harder in history. Then I read an Angela Hunt book about a woman struggling with infertility, can’t remember the name, and I was impressed by the depth and the way she handled the topic. Contemporary people have their issues, too, and the human heart never changes. Right now I’m on a Becky Wade “Misty River” kick.
I’m also deeply impressed with the current crop of writers taking on the Second World War and the events leading up to it, such as Lynn Austin’s “If I Were You” and Sarah Sundin’s “Until the Leaves Fall in Paris.” I am currently reading Amanda Barratt’s “The White Rose Resists.” People are doing some of their best work unpacking a series of events that never should have happened and proclaiming Christ through them. Honestly, it’s as if we’ve had a couple of generations to process this stuff, and now we’re coming at it with a totally new perspective. Anyway, that’s why I don’t WRITE World War II. Everyone else is doing it better.
In general, I like thick, rich historicals with sharply-drawn characters where you can lose yourself in the details and ambience of a time. Series I’ve enjoyed in recent years include Melody Carlson’s “River” series and Teri Blackstock’s “Restoration” quartet. I don’t read as much nonfiction as I would like, and what I do read is mostly for research, but I love a good memoir.
Personally and professionally, I’m always looking for the next great read.
Kathleen Bailey is a journalist and novelist with 40 years’ experience in the nonfiction, newspaper and inspirational fields. Born in 1951, she was a child in the 50s, a teen in the 60s, a young adult in the 70s and a young mom in the 80s.
Bailey’s work includes both historical and contemporary fiction, with an underlying thread of men and women finding their way home, to Christ and each other. Her first Pelican/White Rose book, ‘‘Westward Hope,” was published in September 2019. This was followed by a novella, “The Logger’s Christmas Bride,” in December 2019 as part of Pelican’s Christmas Extravaganza novella collection. Her second full-length novel, “Settler’s Hope,” was released July 17, 2020. Her Christmas novella, “The Widow’s Christmas Miracle,” was published Dec. 1, also part of Pelican Book Group’s Christmas Extravaganza.
She lives in New Hampshire with her husband David. They have two grown daughters.
Connect with Kathleen via her website or at Blue Ridge Reader Connections.
The Conversation
Kathy’s books have brought me back to a time as a child when I read every pioneer book I could find at the John Curtis Library innHanover, MA. I remember the day the librarian attempted to sway me into another series and subject. I cried when she told me I had read all she had to offer me! I cried when I finished reading Redemption too. Kathy, put that pen to paper. I need more!
Thank you, Susie. I know, there’s nothing like a pioneer story, is there? I still haven’t done anything with the Oklahoma Land Rush and I still haven’t written a barroom brawl.
Thanks for your continuing support.
I AM putting pen to paper, or rather fingers to keyboard, for a new series.
Hi Kathy! I enjoy your books. One of these days I will get to New Hampshire.
Barbara, you are such a great encourager.
I have an open invitation to writers from across the country to show them Northern New England.
Loved seeing your current reading titles! The authors you’ve listed are some of my favorites as well. Good writers are readers.
Thank you, Erin. You are such an encourager.
Given the 2023 Revival currently happening, I wonder if young Christian women will be looking for encouragement. I wonder if there will be a trend toward fiction from our generation about our generation. Some are connecting the 70s Revival with the current one.
We can only hope so.
God has raised us up For Such A TIme As This. Peg, always good to hear from you.
Peggy was my crit partner for about 20 years and taught me everything I know about structure.
What an interesting post, Kathleen, so nice to learn more about you. Best wishes in your writings!
Thank you, Regina. Hope I made some sense.
Hi Kathy, I’m historical fiction and romance all the way. The closest I get to reading contemporary fiction is dual timeline stories! Love your books! Fun to see you here on the BRRC blog!
Thanks, Kel. Nice to see you anywhere.