-Melody Beattie
Recently, my wife bought me a Nook e-reader. New toys always fascinate me and the very thought that I can hold an entire library in the palm of my hand does things to me that I really don’t feel comfortable articulating on this blog. Of course, the first book I downloaded onto my reader was my novel Demon in my Head (yes, it is self-serving to be sure, but I made a vow to myself that if I ever received one, that would be the first book I would download). The elitist in me is waging a desperate war with the bibliophile in me (of course, the Neanderthal in me is scratching his head in quandary).
The elitist in me yearns for less technology in my life and loves the idea of opening a book by candlelight as the poets and novelists of old did. To follow in the very footsteps of the old masters and crack open the worn spine of a classic, to smell the yellowing pages, and hear the creaking as the spine is stressed makes me feel as if I am doing what the greats have done. I am walking in their worn paths and maybe, just maybe, I will create a similar mindset as those masters and will be inspired to write a work that may just light a candle to what the geniuses have done. There would be little of this when reading a Nook.
In response to said elitist personality trait, the bibliophile in me would remind me that I did read a book by candlelight. The reason was because the electric company turned off my electricity! Also, said bibliophile reminds me of the immense enjoy of the idea of having access to hundreds of books on one portable device. While waiting for my car to be repaired, I can read a novel, surf the internet, or even do a crossword puzzle (of which I am an undeniable addict). Plus, I can bookmark my page to pick it up at a later date. The latest books are cheaper on the reader than a hardcover text.
(FYI: The Neanderthal in me is still scratching his head in quandary!)
Like most scribes, I am a person who enjoys storytelling. The platform that the story is being relayed by is irrelevant. Whether I am turning a page, moving my finger across a screen, clicking a mouse, or watching a television, I am enthralled with the idea of being transported to someone else’s world for a moment in time. I revert back to a child and listen while my grandmother would tell me stories of when she was a little girl, or with my nose in a comic book (sadly, I can reference times when I was six years old or just a few days ago). For quite a while, I agonized over the idea of whether I should get a Nook or not. Thankfully, my wife solved that problem for me. When I read through the first book that I downloaded onto my e-reader device, I realized that where the story came from was not the important thing; the important thing was just how entertaining the story was for me.
Lately, I have worked with two different writers on separate projects. One was my young niece, who worked with me enthusiastically on creating a comic book character. Sparkle Girl is a superheroine who comes from another planet. She has a magic ring (sorry Green Lantern) which gives her powers to change her image into whoever (or whatever) she wants. She can fly, but she has a fire-breathing dragon that has a penchant for hunting down robotic birds (of course). I drew the line against writing abusive plot scenes regarding shaving the heads of boys and laughing while they were crying. We spent a few hours chatting about what the character’s first adventure would be.
The other was editing an unfinished novel by a student of mine. This one was much more mature, but the imagination and zest for storytelling was the same in my little niece (which mirrors my own). I enjoyed working with both writers/creators because of that zest for storytelling. It is true creators that will not care whether the platform for storytelling is by Nook or by book. Getting a peak into another person’s world is a wondrous thing, indeed. Keep writing! If your work doesn’t get published, at least you’ll be happy and entertained for doing it.
