Reading is a huge part of my life. I have my parents to thank for that, because they always encouraged us to read and value books. They read to my two brothers and me when we were small, and there were always books in the house. When I buzzed through my school’s and community library’s collection of “age appropriate” books, I’d pick up whatever my mom or dad had started and left on the coffee table, taking care to keep the bookmark at their place. If there was a book they didn’t want me to be reading, they knew to keep it out of my sight! (Most of the time.)
Falling into a story was my escape from dull summer afternoons, from the taunts of bullies, from the trials of adolescence. I could always open a book and go somewhere else—to a beautiful alternate reality or at least see how a favorite character might better handle the troubles I was going through. I laughed when I watched episodes of The Gilmore Girls and saw that teenage Rory never went anywhere without a book in her purse, because that was me. Even now, when I call my father, the second question he asks me, after “How are you?” is “What are you reading?”
My early and ongoing love of books is probably one of the reasons I write. One of the reasons I get so excited about supporting other authors and recommending books and stories I’ve loved.
And definitely one of the reasons I’m proud to participate in big book party events like the one MasterKoda Select Publishing is throwing, which starts on Friday, August 8 and runs through Saturday, August 9. They don’t even publish my books, and they’re letting me come over and play—and help give away some books. That’s how nice they are.
Here’s a list of just some of the books that will be on sale. (All books will be $1.99 and under starting August 8.) Here is the link for the party, which will be held on Facebook. I hope you’ll stop by, meet the authors, play some games, have fun, grab some book bargains, and win cool prizes. Maybe you’ll find a story to fall into, one you can share with your children, and one that will remind you why you love reading, too.
Is there a particular book that made a difference to you as a child?
Laurie Boris 
I grew up without TV so books were my only escape from an otherwise less than pleasant life. The trip to the library was was the highlight of my week.
BTW, I didn’t see an option to join the book sale on this event. Was it invitation only?
I loved my trips to the library! (And I contacted Kim directly when I saw the event, because last years’ was so much fun.)
I read Clockwork Orange when I was 11 or so. That was a game changer. I was the same way. Read a lot of books that weren’t written for kids.
I didn’t read books meant for adults until i was about 12 years old. Outside restraints. But at 11 I read Anderson’s Fairy Tales in their full translations. My father feared it would cause nightmares. It didn’t. I loved them. I read Joseph Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness” at age 13 and had no problems with it. Same with all of Jack London’s work.
Me, too. Fear of Flying, Jaws, George Bernard Shaw, various feminist authors. Whatever was lying around. It was an interesting education. I got in trouble in fourth or fifth grade for bringing The Secret of Santa Vittorio to school. Just so I’d have something different to read. The teacher actually asked if my parents had given me permission to read it.
All the usual adventure books, Robinson Crusoe, Treasure Island, Swiss Family Robinson. Then all the adult books I could read. 🙂
The Famous Five, Mary Poppins, Peter Pan, The Once and Future King, and then Crime and Punishment, at age 12. I had catholic tastes. 😀