Ahhhh, the dog days of summer. Heat like syrup. Thunder rolls. Falling into the soft, ink-scented comforts of a good story, told well. If you’re anything like me though, summer rolls through your life with the speed of a locomotive, and your only chance to slow it down is to throw a beach towel across the tracks and derail that sucker.

Still. Every year, I look with hopeful eyes at the tall stack of books on my nightstand and whisper sweet promises to myself—extra reading time. Yes, you will be mine. I want to share which stories I’m hoping to spend time with soon, but one of my fine Winged Pen colleagues suggested I also share some of our WP reading styles. How do Winged Pennies read, and when?

GABBY BYRNE:  I’m a late night reader. I have a full-time day job, and kids, so that’s the time I’ve got. I don’t tend to read when I’m drafting, but I do read when I’m editing (my own stuff, or CP stuff). It’s a rare book that I read more than once (The Hills is Lonely currently holds the record). If I don’t like a book, I don’t finish it. I didn’t used to be that way. When I was younger, I’d compulsively read to the end, unless I hated it—a lot. Now, I have no time or energy for books I’m not enjoying or learning from.  Which book I read first is mood-driven.

MARTY MAYBERRY: I work 40 hrs/wk as an RN and drive 8 hours to work, but my kids are grown, so that gives me more time for myself. I don’t read when I’m writing or editing because I fear being influenced. But, I’ll read when CPing and in between writing, 3-4 books in a week. Since I write both YA and adult, I try to alternate the categories. I buy books when they appeal and add them to my TBR pile, then read whichever appeals the most first.

JESSICA VITALIS: I used to finish every book I started. But my time has become too precious. These days, if I can put a book down and walk away without thinking about it, I won’t go back and finish it. I typically read in bursts, powering through several books at a time and then taking a break when I’m deep in writing mode. Since my nightstand is always overflowing with unread books, I generally pick the one I’m most eager to read from the pile. But sometimes, my book selection depends on my mood.

SUSSU LECLERC: I usually read three books at the same time. I listen to YA fantasy audiobooks either in the car or during nap time with both of my kids. I also read at bedtime to my youngest son who prefers adventure MG. Finally, I read a non-fiction book (usually about writing during the day.) This is without counting the stories we read during homeschooling hours. It does take me a lot of time to finish a book, but I get the job done and I get two people to discuss literature with. Epic!

HILARY HARWELL: With the mss I read for the agent, I don’t always have tons of time for all the books I’d like to read. I usually hit up the library for 2-3 at a time and try to read a published book or two a month. It helps balance out some of the gems from the slush. 😉 Like Jessica, if I’m not feeling the book, I just won’t finish.

JULIE ARTZ: I used to read to the end of every book I started. Now I often stop after the first few chapters if I’m not feeling it. Between my editing clients, CPs, and a huge amount of nonfiction research on my current WIP, I haven’t gotten much reading done this spring/summer and I’m antsy about how my TBR list is growing out of control. I have to be in the mood to read a book, so I usually have a variety of age ranges and genres on my nightstand and Kindle so I can quickly find one that feels just right.

HALLI GOMEZ: For me, I try to read in the genre I am writing in, for example, I am reading a boy main character YA and the next one will be about a character with mental illness. I also have a book on my phone and another one on my iPad (both of which are horror short story anthologies). I don’t have a problem reading when I’m drafting or revising, in fact, I prefer to do that as long as it is in the same genre. I would love to be able to put down a book I don’t like (I’ve only done that twice that I can remember) and the book I’m reading now is terrible! But for some reason, oh yeah, OCD, I have to finish it

GITA PANJABI TRELEASE: When I’m stuck, I *want* to be influenced by something good, so like Halli, I’ll read something in my genre. Or something that’s somehow similar. But it must be excellent, or I will toss it aside. I don’t want to be influenced in the wrong way and at this point in my life, I only want to read good books. When I’m revising, I find craft books can give me good ideas.

GABBY’S NIGHTSTAND:

THE GIRL FROM EVERYWHERE, by Heidi Helig

THE EVOLUTION OF CALPURNIA TATE, by Jacqueline Kelly

THE REAL BOY, by Anne Ursu

THE WOLF WILDER, by Katherine Rundell

FLIGHTS AND CHIMES AND MYSTERIOUS TIMES, by Emma Trevayne

THE DARK IS RISING, by Susan Cooper

MOLLY MOON’S INCREDIBLE BOOK OF HYPNOSIS, by Georgia Bing

THE SEVENTH TOWER, by Garth Nix

SKULDUGGERY PLEASANT, by Derek Landy

LISTEN SLOWLY, by Thanhha Lai

BRIDE OF SLUG MAN, by Julie Mata

THREE TIMES LUCKY, by Sheila Turnage

In addition to my friends at the WP, I’d like to give a shout out to the following tweeps for their recommendations: @MissDahlELama, @mariekeyn, @Reader_Fictions, @ShaunieDarko, @Bibliogato, @JMCWrites, @rklipman, @EMKokie.

GABRIELLE K. BYRNE lives in Olympia, Washington and writes fantasy for middle graders.  She is represented by Catherine Drayton at Inkwell Management. Find her on Twitter. Her web site is here.