I guess it's been a VERY long time since the last time I posted a blog. And it appears, after looking back, that I was very angry. Glad I am feeling better these days. I suppose I should clean things up a bit as more people may be viewing my blog since I'm getting out there and involvig myself in more things. I am very excited about a book giveaway contest I heard about from author Jennifer Lancasters site. Her friend Stephanie Elliot is holding an amazing book giveaway for the month of March. From the list, it looks like some great new books are being offered. Even if I don't win one book, I have a great list of books to choose from the next time I go to the store. Which brings me to a sad note. In order for me or my family to buy new books, we will have to travel to Kansas City or Topeka to do it. The local Borders is closing down in Lawrence. I couldn't believe it when I heard it. I knew, with the bankruptcy, they were going to be closing stores. I never thought a book store standing alone for so many miles in a college town would be forced to close. I'm not sure what they were thinking. We have some used book stores, but nothing that carries new books. Even the Hastings, while it has a book section, doesn't even begin to compare to a full on book store. Not to mention the hours upon countless hours I spent searching the shelves of the store and being introduced to new authors and great writes. Sometimes I would buy a few of the books, grab a coffee and sweet, and retire to the cafe for a nice quiet read. We will no longer have the convienence of this luxury. I sort of feel bad for the company, and yet a small portion of me can't help but feel the company hurt themselves in the end. While I may not have a business major, it appears the electronic e-readers they were so eager to push and downright give away during the holidays, set them back a bit. Amazon will not be hurt by the newest rage, being based online, there are no stores for them to have to close. But just look at the damage they have caused Borders and even Barnes and Noble. It's just very sad to see this happen. I don't have an e-reader. I didn't see the point in buying one when I could download the application for free on my cell phone for all the different companies and have books at my fingertips in seconds. For me, the feeling of never reading an actual book again makes me sad. I'm not sure what it is about books, but there is really something to being able to hold onto an actual book, turn the pages, visually see the progress you're making through the work, smelling the newness (or the oldness), and having something to search on your bookshelves at home. It's not really about wealth for me, or seeing how many of something I can get, but I just love collecting books. Books have more purpose than just reading and enriching the mind, they are a decoration piece for your home. They are conversation starters as visitors aknowledge your collection. To think that one piece of electronic equipment could change this forever makes me sad. Not to mention what this mean for the writters out there. I'm sure it's hard enough to make it as an author the way things are currently set up. To think of the decrease in sales one would have by not being able to sell an acutally hard copy of their work, is very sad. I'm sure there is a sense of satisfaction and job well done, as there should be, for seeing your name and title in print on the shelves in a store. The hard work and talent that is put into each book is something to be proud of and something to be seen. I just hope there are enough people out there like me that can help to save the future of books.
