It’s been a long while
since I posted on this blog. I’ve no excuses, other than being busy with my
latest book. However, that’s been out for two weeks already, and still I haven’t
written anything.
I’ve spent most of my
time – spare and that which I could ill spare – catching up with my reading.
Quite a few great books have come out this past year that I haven’t had time to
read. And new ones are published all the time, adding to my reading pile – or making
it impossible to shorten the pile as I tend to jump to the newest publication.
Last weekend it was
the latest Charley Davidson book that captured my interest. Sixth Grave on the
Edge by Darynda Jones was officially published yesterday, but my favourite
bookstore had it on display already on Saturday, so of course I had to get it
immediately. And I had to read it instantly too, so that I could finish it before
it was officially published. Don’t ask why that matters. It just does.
My favourite bookstore
often has new books on display before they are officially published. They receive
the books well in advance so that they can be ready on the actual day. It
probably works well for them to put them on sale early too, especially when it
comes to popular series. I can’t be the only customer who browses the shelves
for an occasional early bird.
There’s another thing lures me
to the store too, a ‘Paperback Passport’ as they call it. I get a stamp for
every paperback I buy and get the tenth book free. Every time I’ve filled one
and got my free book, I make a decision not to start another one. I have shelves
overflowing with books as it is. And every time I take a new passport anyway. I
started a new one in March and already I’m only two books short of a free book.
How did that happen?
Despite my decision of
buying eBooks to save space, I still buy physical books. Little perks like
early access and free books keep me buying them even though many eBooks are
cheaper than physical ones. A free book is a free book, even though I spend
more money earning it than I would if I bought the same books as eBooks.
But it’s not just
perks that lure me to bookstores. I like books, plain and simple. A book is a
beautiful object. I like how they feel, and how they smell too. So, despite my
decisions, books will continue to lure me, not just for their contents, but as
physical objects too.
