To read you naughty people! Jeez!

Anyway, this week on Road Trip Wednesday, YA Highway is talking about your favorite places to read.

My answer is it all depends. Mostly on whether or not I have my 2 very-cute-but-rambunctious boys with me. If I’m alone, there’s nothing like a coffee shop slash bookstore to put me in the mood. Surrounded by words and coffee, OMG can it get any better than that? Unfortunately, that doesn’t happen often. So I compromise. I make a cup of coffee at home and curl up in a chair and tune out the screams of “He hit me!” and “Tell ‘youngest’ to stop trying to eat my toes!” (Umm yeah, I wish I were kidding. What? They’re boys. Everyone knows boys are just gross.)

I have a favorite chair downstairs that is right next to the T.V. that the wii is attached too. Yeah, I don’t read there often anymore. Mario is a loud lil bugger. Upstairs in my office slash library I have a huge chaise and another wingback chair. I can go up there and shut the door and block out everything. That’s where I go when everyone is home. With a steaming cup of coffee, of course.

But the truth is, I can read just about anywhere. I’m a mom, heck, I can read while cooking dinner AND folding laundry AND carrying on a coherent conversation with the hubs! That’s right! Superwoman move over, there’s only room for one superhero in this town!

So, where is your favorite place to curl up with a good book? The garage? The attic? A cozy chair with a throw in front of a crackling fire on a cold winter’s night? (I hate you if that is you, btw! LOL)

Today Roadtrip Wednesday topic is what’s the next big thing.

Man, if I could predict that I wouldn’t have to write books, I could just sell my uber-secret knowledge to desperate writers and be living the high life. Unfortunately, my abilities tend to lean towards finding one lost boot at 7:59 when the boys need to be out the door at 8:00 sharp. Not really a skill that will make me rich.

I heard a while ago that witches were the “next big thing.” Not really sure, but why not, right? So many possibilities. Evil witches. Good witches. It’s a trend we all could get behind I think.

I’d like to see unusual creatures. New takes on legends type of thing. I love reading a book where they have taken a common event and spun it into something totally cool. Yes, that’s vague, but it’s what writers do. We take a vague idea, what if it to death and come up with a fabulous idea.

Personally, I dislike trends. They are stifling. When you try to write something that is specific (for me anyway) it takes all the magic out of it. Common advice is to write what you love. That’s really what its all about, because if you do, it will come across on paper. And though trends matter, good writing pars overdone.

So your idea for a vampire who climbs to the summit of Mount Everest, then turns around and eats everyone in his climbing party, then tells everyone they died in a horrible avalanche and who wants to go next story? Write it! (Well, maybe not that story, there isn’t a plot.)

My point is, write whats in your gut. Keep trends in the back of your mind maybe for reference points, but be bold! Be creative! Put your spin on the words, use your voice, and hopefully in the end, it will be all you need.

So if you had to pick the next big thing, what do you think it would be?