via Why Reading Books Should be Your Priority, According to Science | Inc.com
A great article on the benefits of reading. Oh, joy!
Get lost in a good book. Time and again, reading has been shown to make us healthier, smarter, and more empathic.
Source: How Reading Rewires Your Brain for More Intelligence and Empathy | Big Think
Dear all:
Tomorrow is New Year, 2014 and I’ve decided to revisit a post where I asked about what your ideal bookshop would be like. It’s time to revisit what your year has been like. In my case it hasn’t been great but I’ve decided to revisit my life and I’m thinking of trying something new. I’m looking at bookshops, that have always been one of the loves of my life, but I admit not knowing anything about the business. At the moment it’s all thoughts, but it’s a good topic, so…any comments will be welcome and Have a great New Year’s Eve. And let’s hope 2014 is positive for everybody!
My parents always tell me that when I was a small child, before I learned to read, I always wanted to know what any signs or anything with writing on it said. Later on, once I learned to read, I became an avid reader. My school was a pretty small neighbourhood school (it no longer exists) and it did not have a library, but the readers amongst us used to exchange books and read anything we could get our hands on, from ‘The Famous Five’ and the Adventure Series (I always preferred them to the Famous Five, but that’s me) to ‘Jaws’, Oscar Wilde, Edgar Allan Poe, Gustavo Adolfo Becquer o Mercé Rodoreda.
I’ve always been happier with books than with any other presents (or nearly) and I still am.
When it comes to books I’m like a moth to light, if I see books anywhere I’ll go and have a look, it doesn’t matter if it’s a supermarket, a charity shop, a car-boot sale. And of course, I love bookshops although they’re having a bit of a hard time and have changed beyond recognition. And yes, now we have big bookstore chains, somewhat anonymous but usually reasonably supplied and full of other things, the small specialised bookshop, the independent bookstore, second-hand bookshops that are true time-travelling machines.
Because of my job there have been periods of my life where I’ve travelled a fair bit and one of the things I remember more clearly of the places where I’ve stayed (or visited) is where the bookshops are (or where). I must admit to feeling really disappointed when I revisit a place where I’ve been before and a bookshop I liked has disappeared. It’s like losing an old friend. When it comes to bookshops, like most important things in life, they are not all created equal
Reflecting on all that, I wanted to ask you, readers, if you could have the bookshop of your dreams, what would it be like? Would it be enormous with everything on it? Or small but quirky with lots of character? Would it only sell books or sell related items (DVDs, e-readers, magazines and writing materials, audiobooks, other equipment…)? Would it sell other kinds of stuff (postcards, craft items, toys…)? Would it have a tea/coffee shop attached? Would it organise events (book readings and signings, host book clubs, run competitions, have other guests…)? Would it have only new books, second-hand books, have a section for exchanging books…? Books in several languages? Best-sellers and less well-known books, local interest books? Would it offer other services like Wi-Fi and e-store? Would it be located in a remote place, around the corner, in a shopping mall, in a hidden nook in a magical place?
Dream on! It’s free (for the time being!)
And thinking about this and after a fellow author and good friend sent me some pictures of one of her favourite bookshops, I decided to start a board on Pinterest dedicated to bookshops, and once I started checking I was amazed at the fabulous building and beautiful pictures people had pinned. Have a look, and if you’d like to pin your own pictures or others you find, let me know and I’ll invite you to pin with pleasure.
http://www.pinterest.com/olganm7/bookstores-booshops-and-interesting-shops/
Thanks for reading, and if you’ve enjoyed it remember to like, comment, and share!
books (Photo credit: brody4)
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- Celebrating Bookshops: Books Are My Bag (broadconversation.com)
- Tiffany Jenkins: We must fight to save bookshops (scotsman.com)
- US author pledges $1m to bookshops (bbc.co.uk)
- What’s in My Book Bag… (thescribbleemporium.wordpress.com)
- Run, Bookseller, Run (arrowgatepublishing.com)
- Beautiful European Bookshops to Visit (francesob.wordpress.com)
- Hay-on-Wye v Amazon: Politicians join fight to stop closure of bookshops in historic town (independent.co.uk)
- Charlie Byrne’s: Bookshop of the Year (historyatgalway.wordpress.com)
Today I’m taking part in a blog hop for one of my author-friends from ASMSG. She’s kindly agreed to bring us an interview with one of her character. And don’t miss the rafflecopter giveaway at the end!
First, here is Kirstin:
Author Bio: Kirstin Pulioff is a storyteller at heart. Born and raised in Southern California, she moved to the Pacific Northwest to follow her dreams and graduated from Oregon State University with a degree in Forest Management. Happily married and a mother of two, she lives in Oregon, and enjoys being a stay at home mom. When she’s not writing, she is busy with her kids and church. This is Kirstin’s first venture into YA Dystopian, her other published work includes a middle grade fantasy series.
If you want to know more about Kirstin and get in contact with her, here you have a few of her favourite links:
Website: www.kirstinpulioff.com
Facebook: KirstinPulioffAuthor https://www.facebook.com/KirstinPulioffAuthor
Twitter: @KirstinPulioff https://twitter.com/KirstinPulioff
Amazon: Author & Book Page http://www.amazon.com/Kirstin-Pulioff/e/B00A2498Z2/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
Goodreads: Kirstin Pulioff https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6558842.Kirstin_Pulioff
Next, a great character interview from her new work ‘The Ivory Tower’. Simone answers….and she’s a bit worried…
Simone, thank you for joining me today for a short conversation. I know the doctors have been keeping notes, but the Colonel and I have a few more questions for you.
Hi *shyly shaking hands, hiding the scarred hand beneath the table.* Questions from the Colonel? I assume this is my exit interview? I can go back home after this?
We’ll see. I am here to ask you a few questions, document my case files, and see if you are ready to be released. None of that has been decided yet. So tell me, what are you most looking forward to? What do you do for fun in the camp?
Can this get me in trouble? *glancing back at the ever present guard*
No, please don’t worry, this is all confidential.
Ok, well, I am excited to see Christine again. She’s my best friend, and she’s been back in school while I’m here. I’m looking forward to seeing her, and trying to have some fun before the factory starts.
You’re almost ready for the factory, are you excited?
Yup, almost of age. This winter I’ll begin, only a couple more weeks. I wouldn’t say excited is the right word. While it will be nice to get out of school, I am not in a hurry for the factory. With school, I can easily escape, and enjoy a day of semi-freedom.
Semi-freedom? What do you mean?
Well, a couple hours between third bell and fourth bell. Maybe not freedom, but at least an hour or two without expectations. *watching the furious scribbles* But it will be nice to produce something you know, feel more productive in the camp.
*Smiling* I like that attitude. I have a feeling you will be very productive. What do you think about life in the camp?
I try not to think about it. There isn’t much to think about, it’s routines, restriction, rations, repeat.
Ready for some quick fire fun?
Quick fire? *glancing to the guard’s gun*
No *laughing*, just some fun questions. Favorite drink: Water? There’s no real options here.
Favorite Game: Hide and seek, there are some great hiding spots in the forest.
Hmmm. I think that is what brought you here in the first place. Favorite Color: Burlap brown *sarcastically*
Favorite number? Really? I will say 277 and leave it at that.
Any message you want to give to people?
I’ll give them the same message I have been given. This camp is here to protect me. This is all for my own good.
Good Simone. Thanks for joining me today. I will let the Colonel know your answers, and I am sure we’ll get you back home, and back to the factor sooner than you know it.
I hope the Colonel is happy with the answers.
And if this has made you as curious as I am (It’s on my list), a bit more information on ‘The Ivory Tower’.
The Ivory Tower- a short story, by Kirstin Pulioff
Genre: YA Dystopian
Blurb: 277 –the number sewn into Simone’s shirt. The number that dictates her life at the protection camp. Regulated by a system of ringing bells, fortified cars, and rations, the survivors are protected from residual contaminates on the other side of the wall.
Breaking the monotony of the highly structured camp, Simone and her friend skip school to enjoy one of the last nice days of fall. An afternoon game leads them to a new part of the forest, uncovering more than they expected. All thoughts of protection and rules are shattered by the appearance of the ivory tower. A tower riddled with a history of danger and death.
When her friend shows up with a bruised face and thinly veiled threats, Simone has to decide how much she is willing to risk to find out the truth of the tower.
Buy Links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Ivory-Tower-Kirstin-Pulioff-ebook/dp/B00FJ3A58A/
AND NOW, DON’T MISS THE FANTASTIC
Giveaway:
Prize 1: $25 Amazon gift card
Prize 2: ebook
Dates: midnight EDT October 21 – 11:59 pm EDT November 1
Rafflecopter:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thank you for reading, and if you’ve enjoyed, remember to like, share, comment, click and play!
Ah, if you have to follow the full tour, check the schedule:
Oct. 21 Sarah Aisling http://www.sarahaisling.com Review & Top Ten List
Oct. 22 Mom With A Kindle http://momwithakindle.blogspot.com Book Promo
Oct. 23 To Taste Life Twice Http://jamieadamswriting.wordpress.com Review & Top Ten List
Oct. 24 Down the Rabbit Hole http://www.LeighaLCraig.com Review & Character Interview
Oct. 25 OlgaNM http://OlgaNM.wordpress.com Character Interview
Oct. 26 Larkin’s Book Bloggers http://blogs.ellingtonschools.org/larkin/ Review & Top Ten List
Oct. 27 Cabin Goddess http://cabingoddess.com Weekly Shorts
Brooke Blogs http://www.brookeblogs.com Review & Top Ten List
Oct. 28 Girl Who Reads http://www.girl-who-reads.com Author Interview
Oct. 29 Jenn’s Review Blog http://www.jennsreviewblog.com/ Review
Related articles
- Blog Tour: The Ivory Tower (jamieadamswriting.wordpress.com)
If you loved Lost in Translation, you should read this!
I am Spanish and write in Spanish and English, although because I live and work in the UK I do most of my writing in English now. When I read about the subject matter of the book I knew I should read it and I’m happy I did.
You have an English author, Mike Grey, who’s become stuck in a rut writing misogynistic detective novels, that at face value appear not to be worth the paper (yes, paperbacks, not digital) they’re written in. He’s threatened with discontinuation of the series by the publishers but cannot get motivated to change. Then suddenly, luck strikes. A Spanish publishing company decides to translate his books and they become a great success. He’s invited to a book signing in Madrid and meets a fascinating, puzzling, annoying and lovely woman, Maria, whom he initially thinks is only interpreting for him and later realises is the person who has translated his now successful book to Spanish. Maria is an unpublished writer, talented, and frustrated. She decides to do the translation as a chance to try and get attention for her own writing. She’s so appalled at the poor quality of Mike’s novel that she starts making ‘improvements’, amongst them, turning Mike’s detective protagonist, Eric, into Erica.
Maria has to try and avoid both the readers and Mike discovering her ruse, and she manages quite well. Although she despises Mike’s writing she discovers he’s not that bad and eventually things develop…Yes, in the direction you imagine. But as you know the course of true love never runs smooth and misunderstandings and confusion abound. Other people come in the way, translations and miscommunications get even more complicated, trips to and fro abound, and author’s egos are bruised but eventually healed.
Mr Wheeler has written a solid comedy of errors, with good and likeable (flawed but more human for it) main characters, some fabulous secondary characters (I love Maria’s father, her aunt, and the barber/Spanish teacher), and scenes that will make you cringe and laugh in equal measures. The writing is fresh, well paced, adapted to the different characters and surroundings, and it shows a deep understanding (and dare I say love?) for the cities and subjects it touches. We laugh at the world of publishing and writing from the inside, but we also wonder and marvel at is power and magic. You’ll be sorry once it finishes as you’ll feel Mike and Mary have become your friends, but don’t worry, there are plenty of epilogues to keep you going!
I recommend this novel to anybody with a sense of humour, particularly if you love books, and if you’ve ever tried to translate something, this should be compulsory reading! I look forward to reading more of Mr Wheeler’s books.
If you’ve liked what you’ve read, check it out. Please share and CLICK!