Thanks J.D.

As someone who makes lots of apparently meaningless comments about writing a book someday, what I look for most in books (and movies and tv for that matter) are characters. I'm addicted to good characters - the ones who are real in every possible way - except for the fact that they don't exist. The ones who walk off the page (or screen) and make you love them, hate them, or care in some way about them.  The brilliant and sad dichotomy of Tyrion Lannister. The sweet and generous soul of Samwise Gamgee. The joyous, energetic, fascinating  - and unimaginably lonely - Doctor. (look 'em up if you don't know. And ok, I like fantasy/sci fi. So sue me.)

Stephen King has written before about how his characters seem to have a life of their own and show him what happens next - and for my money Uncle Steve writes some of the best characters in the business. If you believe in the characters you can believe the rest of the story. That's what makes his books work (and I will say here I am not a fan of horror at all - but I'll read anything he writes, just to get to know the people in them).  I think half of my writing fear is that I won't be able to tap into wherever great characters come from and write someone real. It's a gift that not all writers have, that's for sure.

Having said all that, if any of you teenagers over the age of 17 out there (as if teenagers, or anyone else for that matter, are reading this) haven't read at least The Catcher in the Rye, go out there and read it. Trust me. And if any adults out there haven't read it, shame on you. Sixty-odd years later, Holden is, and always will be, as alive as you or I.