Embracing the E-Book!

How I love books. Let me count the ways. And let Elizabeth Barrett Browning excuse my cheap poetic pilfering.

I love the smell of a book—the sharp scent of fresh ink pressed against crisp pages. I love the feel of a book, its weight and clean, shiny cover. I love to turn the pages, fold the pages, and write notes all over the pages. I love to crack the stiff spine so that the book sits open as I read while eating, lying in bed, or taking a bath. I love tucking it into my bag, carrying it, and the story it contains, everywhere.

I have always been a voracious reader. My favorite weekend activity was to go to the bookstore and hunt for the perfect book—each one holding the promise of adventure, escape, inspiration and joy.

But those weekend days became filled with other activities and my book bag emptied. Because I am now a wife and mother as well as a writer, leisurely perusing bookshelves became impossible. Soon my book a week habit dwindled to a book every three months.

My husband kindly suggested an e-reader. “No!” I vehemently protested. I am a purist. I must smell the book, feel the book, carry the book. But eventually I had to admit that I was no longer smelling, feeling, carrying or, most importantly, reading any book. So I relented, feeling that I was letting go of something valuable.

But when I received my e-reader, I realized with shear joy and childlike amazement that I was now able to carry and access an entire library of books. Perhaps it didn’t smell and feel like a book but it contained more books than I could dream of reading. And now I could carefully search for the right one in my limited free time.

In one month, I was able to read two books, which is a notable feat for a working mom.

So, did I let go of something valuable? No. The books I deem important and special sit upon a shelf awaiting a leaf-through or a good sniff. And now I have thousands of unread stories awaiting my discovery and this is truly valuable.

So now I am thrilled to announce that I not only read e-books but that my own book, “Let the Willows Weep” is now available in e-book format on Redroom.com. Download a sample. Give it a try. Embrace the e-book.