I want to be swept away!

That's what I want when I read a book or see a movie. I want to be swept away. I don't care how unrealistic the plot, if you can suck me into your world, then I'm your slave for life.

I saw the movie "Journey to the Center of the Earth" recently and I loved it. The 3-D effects made it even more fun to watch. I love action adventure movies. Indiana Jones, The Mummy, Pirates of the Caribbean...those are the types of movies I don't mind spending my money on. The dark theater, a big ol’ bucket of popcorn and that huge screen and surround sound. I get completely swept up every single time and it's great.

Same with books. I love it when an author can take me into her world and make me forget everything. No matter where I'm at, no matter what's troubling me, I can pick up that book and sink myself into the pages and become a part of it. Like in Christine Feehan's Ghostwalker series or Shannon McKenna's McCloud series, I totally leave my cares behind and suddenly I become the heroine, dodging bullets and kissing dangerous men.

I've been a loner most of my life. I grew up with brothers, which means I may as well have been an only child. I spent a lot of time alone. Add a shy personality to that scenario and you have a dreamer. Someone who uses books or movies as a means of escape. My friends were the characters on the screen and between the covers of books. Is it any wonder that I became a writer?

What author sucks you into his/her world each time you pick up another of their books? Do you find yourself almost sad when you finish it, knowing you'll have to wait 6 months, maybe a year before you can become a kickass heroine with a psychopath on her tail?