My Book Collecting Problem

Today, I discuss my book collecting problem. Make sure you scroll down for the  book giveaway, and then visit the next blog on the hop!

I hate parting with books. I really do. This is why I have too many books. WAY too many books.

We had shelves built. (There are more just like this, but I can only fit so much in one picture.) When the size of the books allow, we double up. (I would say this picture represents less than 20% of our books.)

Where others might place knickknacks, we shelve books.

My book collecting mania has grown more problematic since giving birth. I was determined to give my daughter a great start in life, which meant reading to her starting day one. OK, I’ll be honest, I didn’t start until day four. I was a little exhausted.

Now her books are everywhere.

A very small sampling of my toddler’s book collection. We keep them on hand, right by her toys.

We’ve built bookshelves. We hide books in creative places. We store books in the basement. And still, they keep piling up.

No one says that a china cabinet is just for china.

I’ve come up with a short list of solutions:

1. SWITCH TO AN E-READER. I’ve done this, sort of. I do buy more e-books these days, but I still like the feel of actually holding a book in my hand.
2. BORROW BOOKS FROM THE LIBRARY. I do this too. And I encourage you to request your favorite author’s books from your local library. But sometimes after reading a book–especially a children’s book that I know I will read over and over again to my daughter–I am compelled to buy a copy. I also like to support my favorite authors by buying their books–which I also encourage you to do–so this won’t always work.
3. HAVE A BOOK EXCHANGE PARTY. This is an idea I got from a friend. I haven’t actually done this yet–and it won’t actually help to shrink my pile–but it would be a way of getting some new books, and getting introduced to some new authors, without the need for more space.
4. DONATE BOOKS TO A WORTHY CAUSE. If I know that my books are going to say, a library in need, it would make me feel a whole lot better about parting with them.
5. PARTICIPATE IN A BOOK GIVEAWAY! That’s what I am doing today!

BELOW YOU CAN WIN 1 Copy of my YA Mystery SWIMMING ALONE (Fire & Ice, YA 2015), and 1 Copy of my collection of plays THREE MORE MARRIAGE PLAYS (One Act Play Depot, 2013.)

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Enter using the Rafflectopter. Entrants must be 13 or older or have their parent/guardian enter for them. One winner will be chosen randomly. Winner must respond to my email within 48 hours or a new winner will be chosen. This contest is for residents of the United States ONLY. Void where prohibited by law.

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