The Three Sisters
In the middle of Indiana live three sisters, who find that being mothers and wives and employees doesn’t fill them up enough–so they write book reviews.
Wendy Hines, Nevi Stephens and Shawn Remfrey learned the love of books from their mother. When they get together today, they swap books with each other that they have received through Armchair Interviews–and include their mother. Each one thanked their mother and grandmother for giving them the gift of loving to read. And when the sisters go shopping, a stop at their favorite bookstore is always a must!
The sisters donate extra books to community service organizations and sometimes drop a pile off at the local laundromat, a habit their mother started years earlier. People waiting for their laundry sure do appreciate those donations.
Wendy Hines (mother of two and works full-time position in the hospitality industry):
Wendy was the first to review for Armchair Interviews, but the other two followed quickly. Wendy has a blog where she publishes reviews for other books when an author sends her a book. Armchair Interviews is the only site that she writes for regularly. Wendy is good friends with Megan Politte who had already been a reviewer for us, and Megan thought she’d be interested. Other than a few books for Bell Books, Armchair Interviews keeps her busy.
“We weren’t allowed to watch much TV growing up,” Wendy said, “so we spent a lot of time reading. Grandma always had those bodice-ripper romance books scattered throughout her house, and I started with those. I used to believe that a thicker book meant more of a story. Now my reading preferences has spread to different genres, and I don’t just read thick books–but look for a story that will stay with me for a long time.
“Now that I am a reviewer, I feel that I am critiquing a piece of art and no longer just read to consider the story, but I look at the whole masterpiece. It’s pretty amazing what goes into publishing a book. My husband is okay with my reading habit, although three-quarters of our bedroom is bookshelves.
Nevi Stephens (Youngest of three sisters)
Nevi also reviews for Harlequin. “All three of us were judges for the Lori Awards,” Nevi said, “and I don’t think I could live without books in my life. I like the idea that when you are reading, you are taken to another time or place, and you can leave your own world if only for a few minutes. Reading is a relaxation and comfort to me.
“I look at books the same since I became a reviewer, except after reviewing so many you find out who is a good author and who you’d never read again. Reviewing has taught me to judge a book how it really should be judged–and that my opinion counts. You can’t take an awful book and make it good.”
Shawn Remfrey (writer/reviewer)
“I love that my sisters and I share this passion for reading. I used to only read Tolstoy and Wharton and now I am reading new authors, paranormal romance–and I’ve even developed a love of thrillers. I am the only sister that writes anything but reviews, and have had poems published and even received honors for one. Mostly I just write for fun, like short stories for friends and family members as gifts.
“A friend and I enjoy spending time together writing a story about a meddling gypsy–so I am known as the sister who can ‘spin some wonderful yarns.’
“Reviewing books has taught me that books are universal, and speak to the soul. I also learned to really look at the author, and now think about the person who wrote it. Where did this story come from? My favorite author since I started reviewing is Desmond Evans because he really impacted my life–and without reviewing, I never would have read him (Desmond is a Brit who started writing in his 80s, and I reviewed his second in a trilogy.)
“Our family has a tight budget and so I love the steady stream of books coming to my mailbox. I also love knowing new authors. It is difficult when I find a book I really don’t like. I feel disappointed and that I am letting the author down for not liking what they wrote,” Shawn added.
Armchair Interviews is so pleased to have the sisters reviewing for us. We greatly appreciate your efforts, Wendy, Nevi and Shawn.—Andrea and Connie