What is the best book related gift you ever received?
Here’s the answer I gave:
My
grandmother, a lifelong avid reader, sent me “Christy” by Catherine
Marshall one Christmas when I was about twelve years old. I confess, I wasn’t
impressed. I hadn’t discovered historical fiction yet. A year or two
later, I finally took that book off the shelf and read it, and it’s been
one of my favorite books ever since. I wrote my grandmother a second
(and much more heartfelt) thank you note after I read Christy, and when I
began to write novels in my early twenties, my grandmother became one
of my biggest cheerleaders. My debut novel, Burning Sky, is in part
dedicated to the memory of this lovely woman who had a role in starting
me down my life’s path with the gift of Christy.
Dear blog readers, I’ll wager all of you are avid readers of books, whether or not you are writers as well, so with this Christmas season upon us, I want to pose the same question to you.
A close friend tatted a beautiful bookmark for me. I use it often and think of her each time. We don't live anywhere near each other now, but we were good friends and book buddies.
Sweet! Book buddies are special.
They are! I miss her. Sniff, sniff. 🙂
I remember reading CHRISTY. 🙂
My best book related gift is the gift of reading. My mother taught all three of us early that reading is the gift that keeps on giving. And it has and does every day.
Can you remember learning to read? I wish I could. I've been reading as far back as I can remember, but actually learning to read, that memory is lost. No idea if was before I started school or after. I do remember Spot and Jane. 🙂
Best book related gift?
I have been pondering this for DAYS. Seriously. I know, right?
"She thinks?"
My agent offering representation after 2 very difficult rejections. That isn't in and of itself a 7 book deal+movie rights, but for me, it was an enormous gift from God.
Absolutely! And I for one can't wait to see what door He opens next.
You remind me of another awesome book related gift. I was thinking from a reader's POV with the gift of Christy, but my very best writer gift was WaterBrook's offer of a two book contract in mid-December, 2011. My Dad was visiting the west coast, his first Christmas back home for him in something like 50 years I think. We drove down to where he was staying and in the midst of a crowded noisy room of relatives, sitting at a table with him, his wife, and my hubby, I told him the news we'd been waiting for for twenty years. Whereupon he stood up and announced it proudly to the rest of the family. That moment was the real gift.
I am trying really hard not to cry. That is SO awesome!!! What a lovely moment!!
And you, my dear friend, are another 'book related gift'. Your friendship ,kind words of advice, and writer's hard earned wisdom have made an ENORMOUS difference to me and my work.
Whenever anyone compliments me on my opening line for TSK, "Could the dead forgive?"
I ALWAYS say, "That was a gift from Lori!"
Jennifer, I can say the same back at you. Thanks for your encouragement this past year, and for giving me that final nudge to do what needed to be done to that manuscript of which you know. 🙂 I'm so glad I could be of help in return, and that you've kept that line. 🙂 You're a blessing!
My Mimi–writer, sculptor, photographer, painter, and avid birdwatcher–bequeathed all of her journals to me when she passed away. They span from 1938 all the way to the early 1990's. I began transcribing them and saving them to flash drives a couple of years ago. My mother has unearthed some family photos which help put faces to some of the "characters" (family members, friends, neighbors and acquaintances) in these journals. Transcribing them has brought much laughter and tears and has taken me on an unforgettable journey in the life of an amazing woman!
Wow, Lori. That is a most awesome gift. How I would love to have such journals from one of my forebears. What a blessing!