All Books, All the Time

I learned to read when I was three or four. I was the tiny six-year-old hauling a briefcase full of books from the Children’s Room at the St. Paul Public Library (now the George Latimore Central Library) to my dad’s office in the courthouse a few blocks away.

Then I was the 12-year-old sneaking into the Skinner Room (the young adults room) and the 14-year-old rummaging through the main stacks in the Circulation Room.

The librarians never seemed to mind that I was “reading up” and they encouraged me to read whatever I wanted. My parents supported my passions and soon my room was filled with books.

Books opened new worlds to me when I didn’t want to leave my room. As I moved from Nancy Drew to Trixie Belden to “A Wrinkle in Time” to “The Three Musketeers,” I learned about bravery, taking a stand, and reaching goals no matter what the obstacles. I was inspired and intrigued by the new worlds I read about (whether present day, historical, or imaginary). Seeing love triumph over evil and pain helped me move forward when my life evolved in new directions. And it seemed my life was always evolving and changing. Harry Potter was a prime example of how love could surmount all obstacles and I read those wonderful novels in my 40s.

I dreamed of becoming a writer and creating stories that would help others feel less alone and less “different.” Writing came easily but I realized making a living at it would be a lot harder. So I moved into publishing, first as an editor and later as Editorial Director for Llewellyn Publishing in Woodbury. Helping others bring their words to life seemed a good fit for me. I was lucky enough to find a career that combined my love for books and the written word with my organizational (oldest child) skills.

Reading still fills many of my hours and I enjoy printed books, ebooks (though I miss that good book smell), and audiobooks. Finding other readers through Facebook and different blogs and lists has meant a growing TBR (to be read) list and the feeling I’ll never get to read everything I want to. The library is still my home away from home and books continue to surround me.

Writing about my love of books and discussing which books have changed my life seemed a natural next step (hence the blog). I might throw in some reflections on other arts (theater, visual, and performing arts in general) but mostly this will be about books!