I've been a non-serious pen collector ever since I graduated college and talked my parents into giving me an MB biggie as a present. In recent years I've gotten more serious, by which I mean a. buying more pens than I can afford, and b. learning more about them. Most of my pens are new, primarily because I did not feel I knew enough to buy vintage, but I'm starting to learn. There is no special type I collect, I buy pens to use them, which means I like pens that are both good to write with and lovely to look at. I prefer pens extra fine, as fine and delicate a line as possible, with flex if I can get it. Of my contemporary pens, my favorites are a Montegrappa St. Elmo, a Namiki Impressions, and a Pelikan M600. Of my small collection of vintage (hopefully larger soon!) my two favorites, both ringtops, are a Parker pastel and a Wahl #2 gold fill, given to me by a friend.
Happily, I get to use all these pens. My profession is writer. I write novels, 5 that have been labeled fantasy but I just think of as stories, two of which have won awards. My sixth novel, and my first mystery, comes out in March. It's called A Secret Woman. I also write non-fiction, especially books about tarot cards and their symbolism. I've written more than a dozen books on tarot, as well as edited a couple of books, and written a book about the origins of religion, called The Body of the Goddess. I also designed and drew a tarot deck, called The Shining Tribe Tarot, with art based on prehistoric and tribal art, from European cave art to African rock drawings to Aboriginal Australian paintings (I have a small collection of original Aboriginal art, lugged home from a visit to Melbourne and Sydney a few years ago).
I write all my books longhand first, then move them to computer. Because I write in journals, this is another of my great interests. I've had the great fortune to visit Paris about a dozen times, and the first thing I do always is go to Papier Plus, my favorite store for handmade journals. Travel is another great passion of mine. I lived in Europe for a long time, which gave me the opportunity to visit many countries. I go back when I can.
Thank you for setting up this list. I look forward to hearing from people.
Rachel
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