Chris Heimerdinger
The first author that influenced me was a man named Chris Heimerdinger. He wrote a number of books that just captivated me. I really liked how his spelled out his name on the cover of the books. I could recognize them. I found his books in the school’s library, and I would check them out. I also recall our elementary school had a large van that would bring books that we could check out. I think the van came once a week, and as a class we would go through the van to return the books we were done reading and to check out new ones. I remember finding a Chris Heimerdinger book in there, so I checked it out. This was my first time reading something because I enjoyed the author’s other books.
Staying up Late
When I was about 13, I started reading a series by Gerald Lund called The Work the Glory. I was enthralled. I was captivated. I was hooked. It was like a drug for me. I imagine what it is like for other teenagers that get into smoking, drugs, sex, partying, etc. For me, it was reading this series. I would stay up until 2 in the morning. Of course, I never planned to stay up until 2 as I usually went to bed around 9:30, but I would take the book and a flashlight into bed with me. I’d say to myself, ‘I’ll just read one more chapter.’ But the end of each chapter would be such a cliff hanger that I just HAD to have my next fix. I couldn’t wait for tomorrow! Sometimes I’d say to myself, I’ll stop reading at 11. When I would look at the clock and it was 11:15, I’d think, ‘Well, it’s already past 11, so I might as well read until 11:30, but I won’t stay up until midnight!’ The clock would tell me it was 11:52 the next time I’d look, and I would deny that I had been reading for over 2 hours. Sometimes I could convince myself to stop, but not always.
When I was 19, I met Gerald Lund. It was all by coincidence, as I wasn’t introduced to him as the author but as an instructor. I had a one on one talk with him, and somehow it clicked that this is THE Gerald Lund! I was so flabbergasted I didn’t know what to say. I think I mumbled something like, “Your Work and the Glory series was awesome!” He replied, “Yes, I had a lot of fun writing those.” I wished I had one of his books to hand for him to sign, but it didn’t matter. I also wished I could have put into words how he was the first author to keep me up at night. I was so taken aback by recognizing him that my mind was blank and my reasoning went out the window. I think I viewed him as a god because of the power his writing had over me.
Non-Fiction
Sometime in seventh grade or so, we were in the library and our teacher asked what our favorite books to read were. There were people saying science fiction, fiction, action, magazines, and stuff like that. I was trying to figure out what kinds of books I liked to read. Both series that I had fallen in love with were fiction, but based on real events. I had read a couple other books that I loved which are real life experiences or books based on real life experiences. I didn’t know what to call these, so when the teacher called on me I said “non-fiction.” My teacher’s response was something like, “Oh yea, books based on real life experiences can be really good to read.” I look back at myself, and my peers were probably thinking I was sucking up to the teacher and loved textbooks.
I don’t like most textbooks. As I got into junior and senior high, I began to realize that I just had to memorize specific facts from the books to appease my teachers and pass tests. I would read every word, but really only remember the bolded words and the main themes (the stuff in larger print.) I’d read, but only what was required. I’d struggle through not really understanding. I’d rather be outside playing, and sometimes doing my reading assignments were so painful I would break out into cold sweats. I still sweat when I am nervous. I also get tunnel vision. It’s tough to read a textbook.
Today, I still love picking up non-fiction books. I’m am often extremely interested in books such as The Great Deluge, The Tipping Point, The Art of Mingling, The Top 5 Things You Should Learn Before You Die, How to Win Friends and Influence People, The World is Flat, and Finances for Dummies. I pick up books on advice, real life events, and theories of the day. These books speak to me, and I often seek them out. I often envision myself putting together speeches about what I have learned and sharing them with the world.
Chris Heimerdinger
The first author that influenced me was a man named Chris Heimerdinger. He wrote a number of books that just captivated me. I really liked how his spelled out his name on the cover of the books. I could recognize them. I found his books in the school’s library, and I would check them out. I also recall our elementary school had a large van that would bring books that we could check out. I think the van came once a week, and as a class we would go through the van to return the books we were done reading and to check out new ones. I remember finding a Chris Heimerdinger book in there, so I checked it out. This was my first time reading something because I enjoyed the author’s other books.
Staying up Late
When I was about 13, I started reading a series by Gerald Lund called The Work the Glory. I was enthralled. I was captivated. I was hooked. It was like a drug for me. I imagine what it is like for other teenagers that get into smoking, drugs, sex, partying, etc. For me, it was reading this series. I would stay up until 2 in the morning. Of course, I never planned to stay up until 2 as I usually went to bed around 9:30, but I would take the book and a flashlight into bed with me. I’d say to myself, ‘I’ll just read one more chapter.’ But the end of each chapter would be such a cliff hanger that I just HAD to have my next fix. I couldn’t wait for tomorrow! Sometimes I’d say to myself, I’ll stop reading at 11. When I would look at the clock and it was 11:15, I’d think, ‘Well, it’s already past 11, so I might as well read until 11:30, but I won’t stay up until midnight!’ The clock would tell me it was 11:52 the next time I’d look, and I would deny that I had been reading for over 2 hours. Sometimes I could convince myself to stop, but not always.
When I was 19, I met Gerald Lund. It was all by coincidence, as I wasn’t introduced to him as the author but as an instructor. I had a one on one talk with him, and somehow it clicked that this is THE Gerald Lund! I was so flabbergasted I didn’t know what to say. I think I mumbled something like, “Your Work and the Glory series was awesome!” He replied, “Yes, I had a lot of fun writing those.” I wished I had one of his books to hand for him to sign, but it didn’t matter. I also wished I could have put into words how he was the first author to keep me up at night. I was so taken aback by recognizing him that my mind was blank and my reasoning went out the window. I think I viewed him as a god because of the power his writing had over me.
Non-Fiction
Sometime in seventh grade or so, we were in the library and our teacher asked what our favorite books to read were. There were people saying science fiction, fiction, action, magazines, and stuff like that. I was trying to figure out what kinds of books I liked to read. Both series that I had fallen in love with were fiction, but based on real events. I had read a couple other books that I loved which are real life experiences or books based on real life experiences. I didn’t know what to call these, so when the teacher called on me I said “non-fiction.” My teacher’s response was something like, “Oh yea, books based on real life experiences can be really good to read.” I look back at myself, and my peers were probably thinking I was sucking up to the teacher and loved textbooks.
I don’t like most textbooks. As I got into junior and senior high, I began to realize that I just had to memorize specific facts from the books to appease my teachers and pass tests. I would read every word, but really only remember the bolded words and the main themes (the stuff in larger print.) I’d read, but only what was required. I’d struggle through not really understanding. I’d rather be outside playing, and sometimes doing my reading assignments were so painful I would break out into cold sweats. I still sweat when I am nervous. I also get tunnel vision. It’s tough to read a textbook.
Today, I still love picking up non-fiction books. I’m am often extremely interested in books such as The Great Deluge, The Tipping Point, The Art of Mingling, The Top 5 Things You Should Learn Before You Die, How to Win Friends and Influence People, The World is Flat, and Finances for Dummies. I pick up books on advice, real life events, and theories of the day. These books speak to me, and I often seek them out. I often envision myself putting together speeches about what I have learned and sharing them with the world.