Yesterday, my author copy of my paperback arrived in the mail. My heart lurched in my chest when I saw the envelope. It did another little thump when I confirmed by feel that a book was inside. I can’t really describe how I felt when I actually opened the envelope and held my book in my hands. It was a cascade of fleeting emotions that had way more impact than I ever thought possible for what is, in reality, such a small thing. A book. Just a book. But yes, my book.
This morning, I can look at my book and hold it and not feel overwhelmed with emotion. I sat for a moment and turned the pages and began reading it. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve read it. I read it to remind myself where I last left off writing it. I’ve read it to proof read it and I’ve read it to edit it. I’ve read it so many times that it boggles my mind. But each of those readings was from a computer monitor.
I don’t know why reading it from the written page, from a book I was holding in my hands, should be so different. But it was.
From time to time I enjoy reading some of the books that Bernd gets from Kindle . He syncs his tablet to his phone and then lets me read from the tablet. But I don’t think that I will ever give up actual paperback or hard cover novels.
I like the look of them. I like the feel of them. Shoot, I even like the way they smell. So for me, it will always be the Real that I prefer.
And now I have one of my own making. There’s nothing much better than that.
Maddie's Mom Writes 