It never ceases to amaze me how many people I run into at signings that think that you have to be a kid to be interested in the fantasy genre. It's almost as if they can't conceptualize ideas in fantasy novels, because they aren't real, so they decide that's good enough to dismiss them. It makes me want to pull my hair out and run around in circles screaming. Is their imagination so poor that they are unable to pull themselves out of reality to enjoy something make-believe? Did something happen to these individuals when they were younger that prevented them from exploring their imaginations? Or is it the way their minds just process the information? Maybe they truly are incapable of understanding fantasy. Maybe it's a left/right brain hemisphere situation going on. But somehow, I find that hard to believe. I don't expect everyone to like fantasy, but not to even try it because you think it's something only for kids, now that's ridiculous.

Some people won't even touch a Harry Potter novel just because kids are the main characters. Say what? Is that really your excuse? Just because kids are the main characters it means it's a story only for kids? Talk about bad reasoning. Yes, a lot of times books that have kids for the main characters are written specifically for kids, but that doesn't mean the story isn't entertaining. Look around you, naysayers, millions of adults are reading Harry Potter novels. They're not pop-up books.

Then there are those who I've talked to who say, "I played D&D back in college (or high school), but I don't do that stuff any more." Huh? Why? Just because you got older means you can't still enjoy fantasy? That makes no sense either. It's almost as if they're afraid to be put into some category by their peers if they're caught reading Lord of the Rings on their lunch break. Do you really think someone's going to think less of you because you're reading a fantasy novel instead of an Obama biography?

I think some people think way too much about what others think of them, and need to get over it and start breaking down the barriers they feel they need to be behind to be accepted. In other words, grow up and enjoy all life has to offer!