I love when my blogging friend and author, Dannie Hill, writes about his life, especially his time in Thailand. In just a few words, he is able to transport me to his home, and I feel as if we are sitting in his garden having a drink together.

©Dannie Hill

I asked him if he could share with us an experience of reading in his Thai garden. Once again, he has transported me with his words. Thank you, my friend.

Here is Dannie’s lovely piece:

©Dannie Hill

Letizia asked me to write a post for her site and, for me, it’s always exciting to interact with such an intelligent, pretty and dedicated person.

Her blog is one of my favorites because she talks about the things I love—books and readers—and she always makes me smile and think.

I’m a writer and the number one rule for those who love to write is: you must love to read.

Recently my wife and I returned to the States and now live in Southern Florida on the East coast. Before, we lived in Thailand for ten years where we have a small farm in a very rural area in central Thailand. At least once a week I’m ready to pack my bags and move back. Not because I don’t love the States, but the live style is so different.

©Dannie Hill

On our farm television was a thing of the evenings and almost all of my time was spent outside working, walking and sitting in my garden reading and thinking. My daydreams were much like my childhood dreams. Full of adventure, wondering why and the amazement of reading stories which I am astounded how a writer could think of such things.

©Dannie Hill

One of my favorite places to read was sitting on a boulder by one of our ponds. This rock was special to me because it has a petrified tree within it that exposes its branches in various spot on the rough surface of the rock. To me it seemed that this rock and its inhabitant helped me imagine the world of the book I was reading. I also enjoyed reading and writing while looking out over our orchids, mangoes, black pepper vines and the flowers. Early morning was for writing before the heat became too much for my computer and then after working on the constant needs of a farm for a few hours I settled into my favorite spot to read and take journeys in my mind.

Books were not readily obtained and they were expensive so I turned to my Kindle, which my oldest son gave to me as a present. What a gift! I did miss holding bound books for the feel and smell, but the convenience of carrying a library with me is exciting. Classics, fantasies, adventures, romance, poems, and independent writers were my companions and it was a rare occasion that they weren’t by my side. That’s still true here in the States.

©Dannie Hill

We still have our little farm and believe me I can hear it whispering my name. Here in the States I get to indulge in another of my favorite things—the sea. Sitting in my small fishing boat out upon the incessant sea I read or just watch the reflective rollers speeding by, while waiting for a fish to occupy my time. I love to sail but at this time I am confined to a small fishing boat. I don’t know why, but stepping onto a boat and feeling the fluid motion drains all the anxieties of my mind and relaxes my body. And reading while at sea is as magical as sitting on my rock in Thailand.

I’m truly humbled that Letizia has allowed me to visit with others that love her writing and I just hope I did her site justice. Once in a while a name catches a writer that inspires and holds their attention and they just want to use it in their writing. To me one of those ‘catch names’ is Letizia.

Connect with Dannie 

Dannie’s Blog: A Writer’s Life in Thailand

Twitter: @DannieC_Hill

Haven’t read his novels yet? Here are two you can start with: