Still Blog Switchin'...Welcome Amy Knupp!
Confessions of a Bookaholic
My name is Amy Knupp and, like many of you I’m betting, I’m a bookaholic. I write contemporary romance for Harlequin’s Superromance line, but if you walked through my house, you might not figure that out just by looking. The bookaholic-ness? Um, yeah. It’s pretty evident.
My husband shakes his head at me, even though he, too, is a booklover and has at least one bookcase full. You notice the use of all lowercase letters in that word, full. Because that’s different from my bookcase. My bookcase is FULL. And yes, I’m proud of it.
I’m also proud to say that almost every single book of my 300 plus is a romance, a women’s fiction, or a young adult (usually with at least some elements of romance.) I know a lot of you read other genres as well, and honestly, I think that’s good. I’m all for the reading of ANY book, in theory. Yes, I believe jumping outside the romance genre expands the mind, can be good for new ideas and viewpoints, and gives you something to talk about with other readers, whether they go for romance novels or not.
For me, though, I’ve read other books. Non-fiction, mysteries, fantasy, science fiction, literary, etc. And I almost always find myself a quarter of the way through the non-romance book looking longingly at my romance shelves, knowing my chances of finding a page-turner are a lot higher there. Because, let’s face it, YES, they get together in the end. It’s the HOW that keeps me up at night, telling myself, just one more chapter.
And I’ve gotta admit, I’m addicted to happy endings. I can find plenty o’ crummy endings in real life…I don’t want or need to read about them! Many of my friends are non-romance readers, and some of their comments when they dutifully read my books crack me up. “I LOVE the happy ending! I know I can count on you to make everything work out alright.” Yes. I have to write the happy ending or my publisher will drop me. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
One of the very best things about the romance genre, besides, the happy endings? The variety! Yes, I’m stuck in a romance rut, but within that rut, I can read vampires, and cowboys from the past, and doctors, and alpha CEOS, and FBI agents, and SEALS (yum), and normal everyday people, and witches, and faeries, and detectives. Mysteries, steaming sex scenes, angsty tear-jerker scenes, wonderfully detailed fictitious worlds, space travelers, and…you get the picture. You KNOW the picture because I’m preaching to the choir.
Today I’m giving away a contemporary doctor-and-adrenaline-junkie romance: my latest book from Superromance, Doctor in Her House. You can read a blurb and excerpt at my website and the book is still available online. But to enter to win it here, just tell me what you’re reading right now. Is it a romance? What flavor of romance? Or tell me what you love about reading romance. (You must register for the Cigars blog to comment…but it’s easy and free and you know you want to!) Winner will be selected tonight and posted in the comments.
Fellow Addicts, unite ;)
I am a book-a-holic, as well, but it runs directly counter to my anti-clutter gene. I like to read books, but I don't like to keep them. I actually don't like our bookcases overflowing -- everything has to fit just right and any overages must be dealt with. :) Sometimes they are given away, donated, or in very few cases, put in a garage sale or into the back of the truck to the dump (I know, that's blasphemy, but when no one will take them, there's no option...).
I don't re-read much, I keep my keepers, and our bookshelves are pretty eclectic -- between his tastes and mine, you can find just about anything in there. Insofar as romance, I actually only read category, most of which I don't keep, so ebooks are heaven for me, and I don't read much single title romance. I used to read some, but probably haven't picked one up in over a year, unless it was paranormal or romantic suspense, I did read some of those. I read romance like crazy up until a year ago or so, and I still love a good HEA, but I do find my reading habits drifting off in different directions...
Right now I am reading Tanya Huff, and almost to the end of one of her books, and planning to dive into Jim Butcher's Dresden Files next... I find the paranormal/fantasy detective stories are probably my favorites, and as much as I love romance, this isn't a surprise, being a Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys/Trixie Belden kid, as well as being weaned on every detective show you can think of up through the 70s and 80s.. then, given my slant to weird/paranormal/superhero, well there you have it. :)
Hey Sam
I don't re-read either. I pare down my keepers every time I move, sometimes more frequently, because I think, why am I keeping this if I'm never going to read it again?
I take my old books to the library for their annual book sale. Maybe yours has something similar? They'll accept ANYTHING and it sure feels better than having them end up at the dump. (My heart! lol)
Oh, and my husband loves the Dresden Files series. I'm going to try the first one soon.
Yeah...
Don't worry... I hate throwing out books, and it never really happens, just once during a move when I swear I couldn't find anyone to take them -- the local charities wouldn't take them, and libraries will turn away bags of romances, I guess they get swamped... So, during the move, some of them just had to go... :( If nothing else, I hate wasting the money since I buy all of my books new. Another good reason for ebooks. Now I only buy books dh and I will both read, and keepers, in print. And some research books, because print is necessary for that...
MIL, by contrast, saves every book she's ever read and has boxes of them stored all over the country, her daughter's house, in a storage locker, etc -- she asked to store some here, but I had to decline. I just can't do it. I offered her basement space, which was all I was willing to give up, and she didn't want her books in the basement, but honestly... I just can't see saving all of those books, and stored up like that they just seem like spider nests and fire hazards to me, LOL.
Sam
no way
I can't believe she asked you to store HER books! I'd have to say no too. Besides, I think the things multiply. *g*
Hi Amy! Yes I have tons and
Hi Amy!
Yes I have tons and tons of books!! I only save the very special ones, the problem is they are all special to me!! I had my dh turn one of our closets into a book shelf for me, it doesn't hold all my books though. I do have certain books that I do love read over and over again!!
Right now I am reading There's Something About A Cowboy by Candace Schuler, Susan Fox and Margaret Way. It has lots of Alpha cowboys and sassy ladies! So far, so good!!
cowboys
Love cowboys!
LOL about them all being special. I find myself thinking that way until I have to move the books, then I'm not so sentimental anymore. *g*
bookaholic
I'm a bookaholic, too. But there is only so much space for all the books...
space
I think Sam has a good idea for storing them...buy ebooks! But I don't have a good reader and just can't make the switch yet. Maybe someday. I still loooove my paper copies too much.
I am a bookaholic too.
I have a storage cabinet full of books. I am currently reading a Silhouette Desire, Pride and A Pregnancy Secret by Tessa Radley. It is part ofthe Diamonds Down Under series that started last month. I am enjoying this series.
Sounds good
I really should pick up more Desires. I seem to be in a particular rut with my "lines" that I read! :)
Right now I'm reading....
Right now I'm reading "The undead next door" it is a paranormal romance. I just finished reading "Freefall", which was a romantic mystery. Boy I just love a book when you can't guess who the killer is and that is how Freefall was for me. I am also a book junkie. I have so many books that my three bookshelves couldn't hold them all. I had to clear out one of my linen closets to store the rest. I have a system to were I am always rotating them so the ones that I haven't read are in the front of the shelves, but unfortuantely I read to fast and have read almost all of them. It is so nice to read a book and escape from reality. I love the happy feeling the books give you at the end. I always get a smile a mile wide and let out a huge sigh when I am done reading a good story.
:)
That huge sigh at the end of the book is the best! I hope my books give that reaction to readers too.
I've been an addict
When we move, people complain I generally have more book boxes than for any other room. But I recently got rid of nearly all my keeper shelves. See, I DO reread, so this was hard. I still find myself heading toward my small little book shelves now, planning to grab a book for a specific flavor. For me, reading feeds my brain tone and color and flavors I then use to get in the right mindset to write. (Hmm, I wonder if my lack of book support is part of why it's been harder to write this year??)
Anyhow, my stepdad has a co-worker who's father is bedridden, but the man loves to read and there's not much else to fill his time. Guess who got over 600 books in the last year? Guess who is now an avid fan of frisky romance?? LOL!
Hugs!
Dee
LOL
Dee, you are an enabler in the very best, most positive sense of the world. I love your energy!
I love it!
That's so cool about your stepdad's coworker...well not cool to be bedridden but that you found a good home for your books and that he's hooked on romance! :)
Maybe you're onto something regarding your writing struggles. (Maybe babies could do that too? Whatever the cause hope you get over your slump soon!)
Oh, books, beautiful books!
Another book addict here, and yes, almost exclusively romance. I so agree, Amy--I prefer to read for happy endings, and there's tons of variety in romance! I can read about anything from moms to witches to spies, just for starters! I tend to be a keeper, but since books are beginning to overrun the house, I'm trying to be more thoughtful about them--ones that I'll actually reread and ones that are special because I've gotten to know the authors, etc.
Currently I'm in the middle of The Black Sheep Billionaire by Jennifer Lewis (who guested here recently, I think). And not sure what's up next--I have tons to choose from, so we'll see :)
Is that another Desire?
I know I've heard of it somewhere.
Maybe you could add a room on to the house instead of having to get rid of books? *g* We can always dream of those floor-to-ceiling libraries that hold thousands of books, right?
That would be my heart's desire!
Yep, I'd love one of those libraries, please! And yes, it's a Desire :) Now if I could just win the lottery...
Book Lover
Hi Amy, and welcome to Cigars! I confess to being a book junkie; I hoarde them. We have wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling bookshelves in our family room where I keep all of my hard cover and research books, and between my DH's love of ancient history (anything to do with Picts, Celts, Britons, Persians and Parthians...well, you get the picture) and my love of any time period after William the Conqueror, we have a lot of books.
I have my paperback romances (all genres) shoved everywhere; they take up space in all of our other bookcases and on top of armoires and on bedside tables and dressers...it's bad. I actually donated four big boxes to a local Annie's bookstore in December just because I had no place to put them. It just about killed me to get rid of them. But I promised myself this year I will NOT bring home boxes of books from the National conference. Well...at least not many!
national
I hear you, Karen, those free books are like crack for book junkies! :) I didn't get many last year and still my shelves are bowing.
I was just talking about floor-to-ceiling shelves in my last comment. Sounds heavenly.:)
Cigar lady here, so don't
Cigar lady here, so don't enter me, but...
I'm reading The Thirteenth Tale. It was a gift from my mom, and I'm really enjoying it!
I have books all over the place, too, even though I do weed them out periodically!
M
Read in bed!
www.meganhart.com
Weeding
I've been weeding a lot lately too, Megan. If I would stop bringing so many books in the house, maybe that would be such a big job, but it's gotta be done sometimes. :(
I am also a book a holic I
I am also a book a holic I don't think there is a thing as too many books. I'm currently re reading Elizabeth Lowell's Chain Lighting. A contemp romance. My book shelves are overflowing. I wouldn't have it any other way.
Yes!
Oh, I love that book! That's a keeper!
definitely
I love overflowing shelves...there's not a neat gene in me that fights too many books on the shelf. :) It's comforting to me to have all those "friends" (yep, I'm really sick) so close by. But lately, I've been having this heart to heart about...you're never going to get to that book, just face it. And if so, I get rid of it (usually on Writeminded if it's a new book, as so many of mine are! lol)
Current reads...
I'm a bookaholic, but I don't have any trouble getting rid of clunkers, or something I haven't read in ages. I do regret getting rid of my Karen Robards after I finished my thesis, though, LOL. Too many moves, plus 2 years of living in hotel rooms while DH and I were consultants, plus a small NYC apt made me learn to get rid of the chaff...but it was hard.
I'm currently rereading THE WITCHING HOUR by Anne Rice, and am part way through a bunch of books on writing mysteries/crime fiction. A friend/fellow knitter sent me FRIDAY NIGHT KNIT CLUB and a really cool-looking non-fiction book called THUNDERSTRUCK.
Wow
You read several books at a time...I'm impressed! I've been known to maybe read 2 at once in odd circumstances, but I usually stick to just one.
I'm a book addict, too!
Amy, great post! I'm a fellow addict and have to have my book fix. Most of the time I have several books going on one time. One in the car, one downstairs, one by my bed, one in the laundry room and one in the bag I take with me everywhere. LOL My husband just looks at me and shakes his head. I tell him it's cheaper than therapy. ;)
Love the blog switch!
Kay
Kay Stockham
A Christmas To Remember, Harlequin Superromance, November 2007
Another Man's Baby, Harlequin Superromance, March 2008
Hannah's Choice, The Power of Love Antho, Berkley, June 2008
His Son's Teacher, Harlequin Superromance, July 2008
Want to win fabulous prizes? Check out www.kaystockham.com
LOL
I just posted to the last comment that I usually read one at a time. If I'm really involved in a book, I'll take it everywhere, but if I had a different book in all those places I think my head would implode. *g*
Bookaholic
I'm reading 3 books right now. Demon's Are A Ghoul's Best Friend by Victoria Laurie (Para mystery); The Luxe by Anna G (YA Romance) and finishing Get A Clue by Jill Shalvis
Another multiple book reader!
You guys all commented together! I love Jill's books. :) And how is The Luxe? I'm always on the lookout for good YAs!
Waving to Amy!
Great to see you here, Amy. Three hundred books? Someday I must count my books. I never thought of doing that. I just stack and then stack higher.
I love romance because it gives me hope. Yes, things can look super dire, but they can work out. And people who didn't think they could find happiness, can. Romance makes me feel GOOD. I like good. And I really like to escape. Romance helps me do that.
Jeannie
Count
Do it do it do it, Jeannie. I have no idea why I feel compelled to count my books. LOL I guess that's the analytical side of me rearing it's ugly head. Scary place up there in my brain. *g*
Yes!
Hi Amy - I agree 100% with what you wrote, and that's just how I am! I might as well copy this post and paste it into my own blog :-P. I absolutely love romance and need my happy endings- and its why I read romances. I love the character development and exploration of relationships. I read all types of romance novels - just picked up an old Diana Palmer book (Bound by a Promise) last night -and I just got Extreme Danger by Shannon McKenna, Dawn's Awakening by Lora Leigh, and Hard to Handle by Lori Foster in the mail :D. I absolutely love books and have overflowing bookcases - and I want more!
characters
That's me too, LOVE the character development and the psychology of falling in love. Enjoy your new books! :)
I'm so lucky!
When my daughter moved out I got my own library! It's filled with romance; historicals, paranormals, contemporaries and some suspence, all with Happy Endings!!I can't get rid of any, most of them are keepers and I want to re-read them some day...
I'm a real bookaholic!
I'm also reading three books right now;Taken by the Night by Kathryn Smith, His Captive by Diana Cosby and In My Wildest Fantasies by Julianne MacLean.
Jackpot!
That sounds like so much fun to go through all those new-to-you books!
I am a book junkie also...
One of my winter projects is getting some new bookshelves and trying to organize my books. Currently they are everywhere through the house. I mainly stick with romance as far as fiction but I have a ton of travel and decorating books also since those are my other two passions. If I had to guess I would say I have around 350-400 books. I read so quickly that I re-read quite frequently. I have been known to reread a whole series in anticipation of a new book coming out.
I just finished reading Mine to Possess by Nalini Singh and am getting ready to read Demon Night by MelJean Brook... There were quite a few books that came out on Feb 5th that I had to have. I think I bought seven books that day and I am working my way through those.
Oooh,
I've been meaning to try Nalini. Must do that soon. There just aren't enough hours in the day!!!
I love Nalini Singh!
Her Psy/Changeling series is one of my favorites! I usually read her books in one sitting because I can't put them down. You can read the books individually but to get the full effect I would read them in order starting with Slave to Sensation.
Hi Amy!
I'm a total booklover. I'm juggling multiple books right now, having just finished reading Grandfather Twilight to my daughter, as well as listening to our daily chapter of Harry Potter. Personally I'm reading Nora's High Noon right now, along with Julia Cameron's Walking In This World.
Waving to Amy
Hey there girl! Hmm, what am I reading right now? A Nicholas Sparks yawner. A friend lent it to me and assured me I'd love it because, you know, I write romance and NS writes romance. Huh? Okay, news flash. NS DOES NOT write romance. And I'm pretty much hating this book. I'm just not the right reader for his books, apparently. The completely distressing part is that I started it WEEKS ago and it typically only takes a day or two for me to EAT a book. This is like staring at a lump of cold spinach on the plate knowing that if it gets past my tongue my gag reflex is going to kick in. :-P
Anyway, that's what I'm reading.
Somebody...please save me.
Just walk away
Step back from the nasty romance-wanna-be! lol I remember you mentioning that on the Supers board, Kim. I know exactly the feeling when you really have no interest in reading a book. I'm dealing with that now for a book I'm judging. And of course there's a timeline on that too. Ugh!
Hey Tawny
How is Nora's? I was just talking about her with my writing group the other day...I haven't read anything new by her in a couple years and really need to remedy that. There's just so darn many of hers to choose from, I'm lost! lol
Definitely worth it
its great, Amy! Like you, I haven't read her in awhile - things just get SO busy... the last I read was the vampire trilogy she did... um, awhile ago? LOL, not sure when. So this is a nice treat before I dive into my next book.
Someone told me this weekend that her JD Robb books have been coming out in hardback for the last few years. Shock! Thats how far behind I am, and it blew me away.
More Books
I was never a reader when I was growing up because my parents spoke another language. But now that I started reading since I work in a library, I started collecting books that I think I will need for future use or reading. I also just started visiting blogs, and I'm learning more and more great authors.
My bookshelf is full now that I have to put them sideways on top of books. Same goes for ebooks...well I try to keep them in a folder. :) My favorite genre would be romance...I like contemporary, historical, erotic and suspense.
I just finished reading Santa Baby, which is an anthology by Jennifer Crusie, Lori Foster, and Carly Phillips.
Santa Baby
How is that? Those are some great authors...I bet it's a fun anthology!
If I worked in a library (or bookstore) I think my book problem would be even bigger! *g*
Fun Read
I actually enjoyed the book. It was my first time reading Jennifer Crusie and Carly Phillips.
Add me to the list
Hello, my name is Tasha and I'm a bookaholic. Unreformed, unrepentent bookaholic. Love 'em. My collection began with Laura Ingalls Wilder and never stopped. I have every Nora on my shelf and am working my way up to having all of SEPs. (I also have a Knupp and a Van Meter up there too!) I stray occasionally to other more "literary" books, but also find myself to be bored by the middle. And don't get me started on Sparks! My very favorite credit card is my Barnes and Noble mastercard - not only do I get an extra 5%, they send me gift certificates! So here's to Mom for teaching me to read and starting a lifelong habit!
-Tasha
Hey Tasha
You sure know how to talk sweet! :) Thanks for adding a Knupp book to your collection. I love your unrepentent tendencies. *g*