I read a lot. I have a highlighter beside my bed. Outside where i drink coffee and smoke tirelessly with little regard for my lungs that live with asthma (point in case: I am an idiot).

I have a highlighter on my desk, a few, and all my favorite books on shelves and books on writing (I read a lot of these now; not a how to write thing, that would be embarrassing, but on the writing life, the process, stacked nicely on my desk.

"the writing life" Anne Dillard

"The writers mentor" cathleen routree

"elements of style" (classic!)

"On writing" Arguably stephen kings best book (I have not read the othes since middle school so count me out for debate)

A robert frost poetry book....I simply adore his work

Also, the writers market 2012. Every writer must have this and the new edition every year. It is fantastic, if not expensive (props to amazon here) and a few other books on marketing. They have all proved useless. If one wants to write successfully they have to work their goddamn ass off.

I have a bunch of classic records underneath my desk; clapton, the doors, miles davis, elliot smith, ray lamontague....music becomes quotes. I find myself scribbling lyrics down madly...

"Intoxiated by the madness/ I'm in love with my sadness" Billy Corgan. I considered getting this as a tattoo but I hope I am not so mad later in life.

I love words. I love books. And so I love quotes. A quatations page seems a bit off with the context of my website but I could not resist. My favorite words make me smile and to let they fly by without notice...simply wrong.

Feel free, if you feel so inclined, to tell me what words make you smile so I can put them on my page.

ps ignore bad grammar. I assure, my book is free of simple "i" mistakes/ My mind just moves to fast to worry about a goddamn capital sometimes.

Natalie