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Friday, February 27, 2009

Confessions of a Bookaholic - Susan Gable

All right everyone, step away from the refreshment table. It's time to get the meeting started, so find a seat.

I'll go first.

Hi, my name is Susan, and I'm a Bookaholic. It's been three days since my last read. If you were to search my house, you'd find books stashed everywhere. Not just on the bookshelves in the office, but also on my nighttable. And on the floor next to my bed. And under my bed. There's another whole shelf in the exercise room. Some are stashed in the bathroom, on the back of the toilet. On the vanity. In the kitchen on the table and the counters.

I even keep them stashed on my cell phone now so I'm never caught without a "fix."

I blame my parents. They were bookaholics, too. Still are. I grew up watching them guzzle one book after another. You could find books scattered all over the house I grew up in. My father actually read during dinner. Right out there in the open, at the table. Scandalous!

They haven't found the gene that causes bookaholism yet, but I think it's just a matter of time. Because if it was learned behavior, then my sister would be a bookaholic, too, but she's not. She just has one from time to time. I must have been the lucky one who inherited the book gene.

All kidding aside (well, mostly ) books truly are my vice. I'm thrilled that I inherited the "disease" from my parents. Hey, it doesn't cause cancer or kill your liver or lungs. It doesn't make you fat, and books are legal. As far as vices go, I think it's the best one to have. And given what a pack of cigarettes costs these days, it's not too bad as far as cost.

I love books. Love, love, love! I still have some the books I owned as a kid - and if I hadn't moved some many times, and faced critical space issues, I'd still have more of them. I have numerous copies of The Hardy Boys, and Nancy Drew, Trixie Beldon, and The Three Investigators. I've got a couple of the first Heinleins I ever read, and my Star Trek book collection is massive. Then there are the newer books – the Nora Roberts/JD Robbs, the Janet Evanovich, the Julia Quinns, Susan Wiggs, Susan Anderson, Susan Grant (notice how many Susans there are that write books? Hmmm...I wonder if there's some sort of genetic predisposition that goes with the name, too.) There are the numerous series romance novels, too. And mysteries.

There's just something special about a book. It can take you anywhere, from historical America to a far-off world called Pern, or a magical place called Xanth.

I don't think I'll ever recover from this addiction – nor do I want to.

So who's next? Are you a bookaholic, too? What's your "drug" of choice when it comes to books? How long have you had this addiction? Do you want to overcome it, or do you think it's okay to just live with it?

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Susan Gable has sold five books to Harlequin's Superromance line. Her books have been Rita and Golden Heart Finalists, she's been a Waldenbooks Bestseller, been twice nominated for Romantic Time's Best Superromance of the Year, and she's won numerous other awards, including the National Readers' Choice Award. Her next book, A Kid to the Rescue, got 4.5 Stars and a Top Pick from RT. It hit shelves on Feb. 10th, and is the story of a heroine who assumes custody of her nephew after the little boy witnesses his father murder his mother. The hero, a comic book artist who's also an art therapist, brings hope and laughter to their lives, along with love. And he teaches both aunt and child to fight for what they love. Visit Susan's website: www.SusanGable.com

13 comments:

Jennifer August said...

Hello, my name is Jennifer and I'm a bookaholic. Thank goodness! I'm also the parent of a bookaholic. My kid's book collection rivals my own.

I read A Kid to the Rescue and absolutely loved it. I laughed, I cried, I sighed.

Thanks for such a great book and a great post! Books ho!!!

Cindy Procter-King said...

Great post, Susan! Yes, I'm a bookaholic, and I have no idea where I got it from. My parents have a lot of books in their house now, because they inherited a bunch when a relative passed away. My father has an extensive history book collection, but he didn't have that when I was young. I remember my mom reading quite a bit when I was a teenager, but she didn't have a collection. Whereas me, I've hoarded books all my life.

I have A KID TO THE RESCUE in my TBR pile and look forward to reading it. However, right now, I'm on a post-RITA judging reading binge, and am reading outside the genre.

Lisa said...

Hi My name is Lisa and I'm a bookaholic and wouldn't have it any other way. I have books all over my house and I have the most amazing husband who enables my addiction and always says sure you don't need more when at the bookstore.

Diana_Duncan said...

Here I thought I was the only one who hid books in the bathroom!

I think it's genetic...my Gramma was a librarian. My Mom devours at least 1 book a day, sometimes more. And both my kids have loved books since they were little.

Hey, there are worse "vices," right? *G*

Just Call Me Star said...

Hi, my name is Claritta and I'm a bookaholic. No desire to overcome this addiction. First choice is romance, but I will read just about anything.

I carry a book with me everywhere. Never know when I will have some free time ie red light, traffic jam, waiting for my children to get in the car when I pick them up from school.

If things in my world keep me from reading, I get moody, frustrated, and sad. Books and reading is and always will be a part of my life.

gNat said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
gNat said...

(Something went wonky back there - sorry.)

Susan, I'm so proud of you. Sob. And now that you've admitted that you have a problem, you can--

Oh. You're not going to quit? Cool. Then can I hit you up for a quick read? Just one? Come on. I only do it when I'm breathing.

"Hi. My name is Natale and I'm a book-a-holic." Heck, you could subdivide large rooms with my TBR 'piles' alone.

Helen said...

My name is Helen and I too am a bookaholic and love being one my mother was the same.

I love reading romance historicals catergories romantic suspense some paranormals. I too have books stashed everywhere and there are always books in my bag as well.

I wouldn't have it any other way

Have Fun
Helen

TinaFerraro said...

I have another problem...I seem to be a recovering bookaholic because since I sold my first book in 2007, I haven't had as much time to read, and it's becoming THE NORM for me now, rather than a temporary problem. Oh, I still buy like crazy, but my pile is getting bigger and bigger (and bigger). Yikes!

Fun blog, Susan!

~Sia McKye~ said...

Absolutely a bookaholic from a long line of them! Who says it's not hereditary? Pffft, what do they know?

The latest book I read was from some chick named Susan Gable. Strange name, I know. I hadn't read a HQN SuperRomance in years--they had gotten so hokey and uninteresting and she had to go and wave her book in front of my face...how could I resist? It's an addiction right? Even if it was called A Kid to the Rescue. I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It was a good read, solid and layered. It was real and very well researched without that preachy tone. Her characters are endearing and chocked full of attitude, laughter, and realistic.

As far as other books, I always keep a book with me where ever I go. I have a stack of *To Be Read* books near my bed that resembles the leaning tower of Pisa, lolol! Some of my favorite books The GhostWalkers, by Christine Feehan, Nora Roberts, Jayne Ann Krentz, Julie Garwood, Rachael Gibson and JoAnn Ross. I absolutely loved Pern and am convinced I can get there if only I can figure out the transportation...Maybe they would send a Dragon for me?

Nope, I don't want to be cured from this addiction. Too much fun. I can live with the addiction fine, my husband has some problems with all the books I've toted around over the years but that's another story....

Estella said...

Hello, my name is Estella, and I'm a bookaholic. I never want to be cured.
My house , including the attic and my sewing room are filled with books.
I read all genres.

Susan Gable said...

Oy! I have been trying to post here all day, and finally, FINALLY I think I can do it.

Thanks, everyone, for letting me know I'm not alone in my addiction.

Sia, I'm LOL. I'm so glad you liked the book. (And hey, I didn't make the title on this one. LOL.)

Books really are a pretty good vice to have. :-)

Unknown said...

Yes I am a bookaholic as well. LOL I love books and I have three in my workbag and a couple in my car, just in case. MY daughter takes after me. I am going to have to find a kid to the rescue, it looks awesome