Portrait of a Reader: Diana M.

Welcome, Diana! Please start by introducing us to yourself and your family.

I grew up in the country. We moved around a lot growing up, different states, but mostly always ended up back in Indiana where I was born. Living in the country there wasn’t a lot to do, so I read books. It was kinda my escape. I got married to Christopher in February of 1978. We have had a very happy life together. We have two sons Shawn, age 35, and Milo, age 31. We never had any daughters but have been blessed with granddaughters. I have three grandsons, Tylar, 12, Cody, 6, Micah, 1. I also have 3 granddaughters, Alyssa, 10, McKenzie, 9, and Madison, 3. They mean the world to me. I stay home and baby sit the 2 youngest grandkids a couple days a week.

I’m sure you are an awesome grandma! I’m sure you are really enjoying those girls. The boys, too, but it’s fun to do something different, isn’t it? Wow! So when did you first come to identify yourself as a reader? What do you most enjoy reading? Do you consider yourself a casual reader, a sporadic reader, a serious reader or an all-out bibliophile?

I have always liked reading. Growing up in the country there wasn’t a lot to do. I was shy, so I was a loner. Reading was an escape to other places. So I guess you would say I grew up with a book in my hand.

What do you most enjoy reading?

I love to read different genres. Christian fiction is my favorite. I love Amish books and historical romance. I like clean romance books and enjoy Devotionals, too.

I like to cross genres, too. It makes it more fun that way. What is the last book you finished and what are you currently reading?

I just finished A Marriage in Middlebury by Anita Higman, and I loved it. I am now reading Blowing on Dandelions by Miralee Ferrell really enjoying it.

I guess those are two more to put on my “to read” list! Do you have a favorite time and place to read? 

Anytime to read is a good time to me. I go to bed reading a book on my Kindle. No page turning noises on the kindle at night so I don’t disturb my husband. I usually have an e-book I’m reading at night, but during the day I read paperbacks. Most the time I sit curled up on the couch with a cup of chai tea. Always a piece a chocolate around if needed.

It’s fun to have both an ebook and a paperback going, isn’t it? Then you can either read on the go or at home with a book in hand! What is the most unusual circumstance/place in which you’ve been found reading?

Hmm. Well, I would say the strangest circumstance would be when I am reading a PDF on the computer and I fall asleep reading and the mouse is in my hand ready to click next page.

Lol! I imagine you wake up with a bit of a crick in your neck after that! Do you read physical books, ebooks, or both

I read many formats of books. Doing reviews, I try to do what is best for the author. I do paper, kindle and pdf. I love my Kindle and it sure saves space, but there are times it feels good just turning the pages of a book.

Very, very true. I enjoy both for different reasons. I think most readers feel the same. Do you buy your books, borrow them from friends or check them out of the library? (Or all of the above!)

Most my books are from authors. They send me books to review. Or they might send it e-book or pdf. I do go to the library as much as I use too. But now having a kindle I can go right online and get what I want. I buy a lot of books from Amazon. Different publishers send books also through TBCN, BookFun.org, which is a private group I belong to for readers. They send us books to review.

TBCN people are awesome! I love that they have gathered readers over there. What a great group to belong to. Do you have any favorite foods or drinks that generally accompany your reading?

Always have to have something to munch on. I like popcorn and chocolate. Drinks, I like Chai tea and Pepsi’s. M&M’s are wonderful.

Yes, they are! And they do go so well with popcorn. Finally, it’s true confessions time: have you ever forgotten something important (to fix dinner or that dinner was in the oven or an appointment, etc) because you were lost in the pages of a book? 

I will be honest, I have burned many things while reading a book. For instance, the other day I was going to make Angel eggs (Deviled eggs, but we call them angel, no devils allowed in our house). I was so wrapped up in a book I forgot. Pretty soon I heard an explosion; the eggs blew up! O, what a mess! Eggs everywhere! Think I learned my lesson? Probably not.

I can just imagine the scene, Diana. It made me laugh, though I’m sure if it had happened to me, I wouldn’t have. 🙂 

Thank you so much for sharing a little bit of yourself with us today, Diana. 

Happy Reading, Y’all!