The Many Worlds of Diane Mullen

The Many Worlds of Diane Mullen

Hobbies: I'm a Bookworm and a Writer and a Painter and a . . . ??

I am a serious bookworm. I mostly read science fiction/fantasy, but I will read almost anything, including romance and westerns. My favorite author is Anne McCaffrey - I love her Pern series, and just about everything else she's written.

I've also discovered Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series. This is a wonderful blend of historical romance with science fiction/fantasy and plenty of action. These are not small books, but you read through them much faster than you'd expect ... you just get so caught up in the lives of Jamie and Claire Fraser!

Then there's Laurel Hamilton's Anita Blake books, and the Merry Gentry series. I have to say that, the Anita Blake books especially, have a very twisted take on current day America ... just twisted enough that you can believe it's possible. My whole family has been enjoying reading these books!

I will also say that I have read and enjoyed the Harry Potter books. My daughter read them first, and insisted that I needed to read them too. Well, I'm not sorry I did. Wonderful stories!

The most recent popular train for reading that I jumped on was the "Twilight" books. I have to say that I enjoyed the books, but I really didn't get so very much into them that I've seen other people do. The movie based on the book didn't impress me at all. (I recently saw a T-shirt I'd like "Then Buffy the Vampire Slayer stacked Edward. The End. LOL)

I am an avid reader of the books set in the Forgotten Realms, the TSR fantasy game setting familiar to most AD&D players. I really enjoyed meeting Ed Greenwood (Elminster) at GenCon 1998, and getting a chance to play in his game. I was also able to meet R.A. Salvatore (author of the Drizzt Do'Urden books, among others). I got his autograph on a lovely poster of the cover art for one of his books.

Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan books are tremendous fun - Miles Vorkosigan is perhaps the most unexpected of heroes. He's got a wry sense of humor, a well-honed sense of honor and an uncanny way of attracting adventure.

On the romance and romantic mystery side, I especially enjoy Phyllis Whitney, Mary Stewart and Victoria Holt. None of the sickeningly sweet goo you find in Harlequin romances, but men and women trying to come to terms with their lives, usually by solving some mystery that stands between them and happiness.

Westerns I really haven't read a lot. Mostly, I've read Louis L'Amour, because my Dad really enjoys his works. If you want a description of the real west, L'Amour is an excellent source.

I've also read a smattering of spy novels (Bond, James Bond in particular), adventures, humor, historical, non-fiction, self-help and just about any other type you can think of. I've probably read at least one representative of everything. Hey, what can I say. Reading IS fun!

Along with reading, I also like to write. I've covered that topic on my Writing page.

I'm also a painter -- I paint miniatures. Mostly the ones used for Role-Playing Games, like AD&D. These range from approximately 1" tall to 6" or 7" tall, depending on what they are. I've also got some that are less than 1" tall -- halflings, kenders, gnomes and dwarves. The big ones are usually giants, dragons and other monsters. I need to find more time to paint -- I currently have somewhere around 100 figures waiting for me . . . .(sigh).

As you might be able to tell, I also dabble in websites ... designing and maintaining. I really need to find some new information to put on this site though ...(VBEG)