Since I manage a bookstore, I have more books sent to me than I may ever be able to read, but I try to read as many as I can, both non-fiction and fiction and across almost all genres. I tend to naturally gravitate to mystery, crime and thriller type books, but particularly love those that are well written and more literary in nature. While I have a few series that I really enjoy, I find that I prefer stand-alone novels as opposed to character driven series for the most part.
Though I love writing mystery stories, my first published book was a history book that, to be honest I really just fell into and ended up as a happy, accidentally published author.
I've been collecting story ideas in a notebooks and computer files for years and have nearly 40-50 ideas, some nothing more than a kernel or character study, while others are considerably more fleshed out.
I've just recently, in the last couple of years, gotten serious once again about writing and am having fun and stress doing it.