Hi, I’m Jill. When I asked to hear the story of my name (because it was part of a second grade “About Me” assignment), I was told my Dad wanted to name me Elizabeth and my mom wanted to name me Tia. After hearing the Mother Goose rhyme infinite number of times with various spins, I wished one of them would have given in to the other instead of compromising on my brother’s choice. But I like him and now I like my name and a few other things such as food and books and writing and family. My immediate family is my husband and our three kids – each is a masterful mix of my husband and I. This can be good or bad, depending on whom you ask at what time of day. We like to eat together, travel together, and sing ridiculous made-up songs about one another. Why not?
I grew up loving to read.  My mother read to me, my dad must have too – but most of my memories of him and books involve him sitting in a corner reading by himself.  I knew my dad’s favorite author very early in life: Louis L’Amour.  No contest.  He’s read them all and many of them twice.  He said as he ages it’s good to go back and reread books because he had already forgotten what it was all about the first time.  What a joker.
My brothers would hold reading contests with me.  They would pick out a book for me and dare me to read it through all the way, seeing who could finish first – me or them.  I’d like to say I won, because I did; but they won because I shut my mouth and stopped bugging them.
 
Are you looking to pick up a new book?  I always am.  When bored I stick with authors or books I trust. I’ve picked up several favorite authors over the years for various reasons.  I am always looking to add new ones to the list.
Here are some of my recommendations for favorite authors and one (or two) of my favorites of their books in no particular order. 
Jane Austen, Persuasion, Pride and Prejudice (P&P used to be my favorite until the second time I read through Persuasion.  Loved it.)
Louisa May Alcott, Little Women 
Ruth Alberta Brown, At the Little Brown House (this book was printed back in 1913, it most likely is not in your library. Sorry! I have found copies on Amazon and eBay though)
William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing (the banter in here has been a favorite of mine since high school)
C.S. Lewis, favorites: The Chronicles of Narnia (if you can, get these on CD- HarperCollins Childrens Audio version is my favorite- and listen to them in your car as you run errands or during the kids naptime or with the kids anytime)
Connie Willis, Bellwether (one of my all-time very, very favorite books)
Ann M. Martin, The Babysitter’s Club. I adored this series in fourth and fifth grades. I still have most of my copies. Yes, I’m that girl.
Jan Karon, The Mitford Books If you have tried to read these books and just couldn’t get into them, I understand. It took me three (or four?) tries. Once I pushed through the first several chapters I couldn’t read the entire series fast enough. There are eight books. I love some more than others but I love them all. I want to move to Mitford.
Shel Silverstein, The Missing Piece Meets the Big O, Where the Sidewalk Ends (“I cannot go to school today…” ahh, how many times did I try that?), Runny Babbit: A Billy Sook
L.M. Montgomery, The Anne Books (there are eight books in the series, my favorites are not the favorites of one of my good friends, so pick what you like), Pat of Silver Bush
Elizabeth George Speare, The Bronze Bow, Calico Captive
I hope this gives you some ideas of new authors and new books to try, or maybe just some old favorites to revisit for a laugh and a few memories.
If you’re interested in sharing your favorites, I’d love to hear them!
~ Jill