This challenge was posted by Annelise Driscoll. 1. Copy and paste the questions into a blog post. 2. Answer the questions. 3. Leave a link to your post in the comments section below! Bonus! 1. City, all the way, especially in a city like Toronto, where we have tons of trees, green space, and wildlife– it’s the best of both worlds (my only complaint/regret is how few stars you can see at night because of all the light pollution). 2. Right now it’s the couch with my laptop, but anywhere comfortable and quiet will do. 3.
My writing is fuelled by iced coffees and matcha lattes. 4. Silence. 5. Probably Pinterest. 6. At the moment it looks like a bunch of pieces, unfortunately. 7. Fiction is arranged alphabetically by author and then book title (although I will keep series in order, rather than sorting by title). 8. I decided to go indie when I realized that being well known is more important to traditional publishers than being a good writer. 9. 10. How about you? Love Lies Bleeding Bleeding Heart. How to Move a Book Collection. As someone who’s moved enough times that I’ve lost count, I have plenty of experience in the unenviable task of moving a large book collection. It’s easy enough to move books when you have only a few– you can tuck them in with other belongings, or pack a box or two. But what if you have hundreds or thousands? Get ready for a lot of work… Start Early Start packing your books as soon as you know you’ll be moving, because it’s a slower process than it seems.
You’ll also need time to gather enough boxes and other packing materials. Sort As You Go Normally I would never advise getting rid of books, but when you have to move them, sometimes you can have too much of a good thing. Use the Right Boxes Size: I’ve had movers tell me that bigger, heavier (but fewer) boxes are preferable; others have complained about the weight after the first dozen or so.
New or Recycled: Either is fine as long as they’re strong, clean, and dry. Packing Label Leave a Few Out In the Truck Store Them Tip Your Movers Unpacking. A Library Under the Stairs. There are a lot of things you can do with that space under a staircase. like turning it into a design element, a closet or storage, a spot to do laundry, or a bedroom for an orphan (not recommended). But one of the best uses for that space is as a reading nook or small library. With that in mind, I thought I’d share some visual inspiration… This one seems as though it would be easy to build or have built: Love the cozy feel here: Perfect reading nook: Nice spot for a few books: This one just looks fun: These are apparently is put together with Billy Bookcases from Ikea: Nice use of mouldings: An interesting take on under-stair bookcases: Good use of the space: What do you think– would you like bookshelves under your stairs? Don’t forget to get some books for your shelves (or your e-readers)!
Love Lies Bleeding Bleeding Heart *Blood Magic *Tooth & Claw (Links take you to all available stores. Cheers, Aspasía S. As much as I love reading, I’m not going to lie– sometimes it can be frustrating. Whether it’s too many books and not enough time, or inconveniently getting the feels in public, read on to find out how I deal with the downside of bibliophilia… (Tag originally found on A.M. Molvik’s Ramblings.) You have 20,000 books on your TBR. How in the world do you decide what to read next? Between my physical books and ebooks, my TBR is probably pretty close to that number! You’re halfway through a book and you’re just not loving it. I used to always finish, no matter what, but I don’t have the patience for that anymore. . [2026 Update: Except for War and Peace, which I’m really not enjoying, but am stubbornly continuing to read because it’s a challenge I want to complete. The end of the year is coming and you’re behind on your reading challenge. I don’t do reading challenges– they seem like a great way to take the joy out of reading.
The covers of a series you love do not match. Definitely! Blood Magic. How to Get Books Cheap or Free. You might remember a few months back when a certain minimalism peddler debuted her show on Netflix and then went ahead and called books clutter, telling people they should get rid of all but a laughably small number in their homes. Yeah, I wasn’t impressed, either. And neither was writer Anakana Schofield, who tweeted that “every human needs a v extensive library.”
You’d think people would rally around that kind of noble sentiment, but before Ms Schofield had finished hitting send on the tweet, people were calling her out as “elitist” for suggesting people needed their own home library. Allow me to gently point out that “needs” an extensive library does not mean “must have” or even “should get.” For those of us who do know the value of books and a home library, we also know that building a collection can get pricey. Before I get to that, though, just a quick note to say that if you can afford to buy books at full price, please do so. Now, how can you get books cheap (or free)?
Trading. How to Get Books Cheap or Free. Reading matters! Give my books a try and download them now (links follow)… I just finished Labyrinth by Freya Picard. I’m currently reading War and Peace (Tolstoy) and Mushrooming by Diane Borsato. What are you reading? Share in the comments… Cheers, Aspasía S. Love Lies Bleeding Bleeding Heart *Blood Magic *Tooth & Claw (Links take you to all available stores.
Taking Part in a Reading Challenge. This is a bit of a departure from my usual posts, but I’m excited and wanted to share 🙂 I’m not usually one to take part in group activities, but my local library is holding a summer reading club for adults, and I didn’t hesitate to sign up (a first for my introverted self). There are interesting challenges besides reading– like borrowing a cookbook and making a recipe from it (I borrowed Powered by Plants and will be making “Smashed Avocado Chickpea Salad Wrap”). There’s also a challenge to experience local art and to borrow something other than a book from the library, among other options. It all seems like a lot of fun– and there are prizes too! Every activity you complete earns you a ticket, that you can then put towards weekly prize draws (wish me luck!) As part of the challenge, I’m currently reading Grendel & Beowulf, by C. Gockel, a re-telling of the classic story, now featuring vampires.
Have you ever taken part in anything like this, or any other reading challenge? Aspasía S. If I weren’t involved with books or publishing, I’d be a decorator/interior designer (not sure I have the artistic skills for it, but I would try). I love putting a room together and my tastes are highly eclectic–everything from Gothic Revival and Art Nouveau to Amélie’s apartment and the Gryffindor common room. I’m drawn to spaces that are comfortable, warm, colourful, and with some whimsy. In my own home, most rooms need to include books too.
Minimalism? No thanks. I thought I’d share some pictures of home libraries I find inspiring. I love the cozy feel of Vita Sackville-West’s library. Bookcase art, flowers, and comfy couch inspiration here: Floor-to-ceiling books and an old-fashioned library ladder–these are my goals. So many books… This is just the definition of cozy. Happy colours, orchids, and built-in shelves. Based on the way the shelves are set up, this is probably a bookstore, but I don’t care. Cozy and comfortable. Everything about this. Can’t get enough books? Bleeding Heart. I’m excited to announce that I’ve finished the first draft of a new story set in the Love Lies Bleeding universe and inspired by true events! Details and cover reveal to come–make sure to follow or subscribe so you won’t miss out… In the meantime, it’s always fun to take part in a book tag, and this one found its way to me via A.M.
Molvik’s Ramblings… Author You’ve Read The Most From: Isabel Allende. Best Sequel Ever: I’ll go with Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll. Currently Reading: The Library of Greek Mythology by Apollodorus (I’m trying to read more Classical Lit). Drink Of Choice While Reading: Water or tea, I guess, which are my drinks of choice most of the time anyway. [Update: I was trying to cut out coffee when I wrote this. E-Reader Or Physical Book? Mainly physical books, but an e-reader is perfect for travel or commuting (or school–I wish I’d had one when I was lugging around textbooks every day). Fictional Character You Probably Would Have Been Friends With In High School: The A to Z Bookish Survey. As we head into the holiday season, it seems like a good time to post something fun. I snagged this from A.M.
Molvik’s Ramblings. Feel free to share on your own blog (leave me a comment to let me know if you do). Enjoy… 1. Unfortunately, yes. 2. James Joyce. 3. This is a bizarre question, like asking someone to choose between ice cream or a painting of Elvis on black velvet. I’m going with Harry Potter, but since HP needs no defending, here are 3 reasons why everyone should forget about Twilight already: 1. 2. 3. UPDATE: My opinion on Twilight hasn’t changed, but my opinion of Harry Potter sure has, thanks to JK Rowling’s horrible anti-trans rantings. 4. If I bring a book along, I usually just hold it (unless it’s small enough to fit in my purse). 5.
Not really; I think I’m immune to book smell. UPDATE: I finally get book smell! 6. Illustrations are always fun, but not necessary. 7. A lot of books I read as a kid. 8. The really funny part might be that I still have it. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. The Ultimate Book Tag. Paju Book City, South Korea: 5 Book Towns to Visit. Book lovers are dreamers. We dream of other worlds and other lives. We dream of what we just finished reading and what we’re going to read next. We dream of homes crammed with our book collections, libraries that never close, and cozy local bookshops where we can spend massive quantities of both time and money. And some book lovers dream of entire towns devoted to books and then make them a reality. Did you know there are dozens of book towns around the world (enough that one writer even wrote a book about them)?
Here are five of the towns where you can live your book dreams. Hay-on-Wye, Wales Probably the best known of all the book towns, and credited with inventing the concept, Hay-on-Wye is home to numerous book and antiques shops. St. A Medieval village, St. Paju Book City, South Korea Located next to the North Korean border, this literal city of books was built to symbolize the importance of the common good. Featherston, New Zealand Hobart, USA You can also get my other books: Cheers,
Another tag snagged from the lovely blog A.M. Molvik’s Ramblings If you’ve ever wondered about what it’s like to be a writer (or what I do), this post is for you. 1. What type of writing do you do? Over the years I’ve written pretty much everything, from magazine articles to poetry to blog posts to novels. If I had to choose only one type, though, it would be novels. I have a lot of stories inside me, waiting to come to life. 2. My writing is a mix of literary fiction, gothic fiction, and fantasy, with hints of horror and magical realism. 3.
I started when I was about six and never really stopped (although there were a few long breaks). 4. Yes! 5. The first story I wrote (when I was around six) was a tale of woe about a flower that doomed anyone (in this case, Mary, Queen of Scots, although I have no idea how I knew about her) who picked it. 6. I don’t feel I have much of a choice. 7. You find time for the things that are important to you. 8. 9. 10. Silence. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 19. I always find it strange that people need to be convinced to read. I can’t remember a time when I didn’t love books. For me, books have always been magic, gateways to other worlds, other lives. They’re adventures and dreams, knowledge and potential, all packed into conveniently portable packages.
Forget apps–no matter what you want or need at any given moment in life, there’s a book for it. How could anyone not instantly see the value in that? And yet… According to the Pew Research Center, 26% of American adults have admitted to not reading even part of a book in the last year (and I’m sure the numbers are similar in Canada). Clearly a lot of people don’t realize they’re missing out. If magic, knowledge, and adventure aren’t enough to get you interested, maybe I should also mention that: Yale researchers found that people who read books for 30 minutes a day live longer than those who read magazines or who don’t read at all. Need a short story to get you started? Cheers, Aspasía S. Why You Need to Read Books. I thought I’d post something fun today, so I snagged this from A.M. Molvik’s Ramblings. Would you… 1. Rather read only a series or standalone books? A series. 2.
Female. 3. I’d rather shop online. 4. I’ll have to go with TV because that format offers the chance to fully explore a story. 5. This is a tough one. 6. Author. . [2025 update: Just wanted to elaborate that I’ve also reviewed books, and reading is less fun when you have to do it. 7. If I can still re-read books I’ve already read, then I’ll take a new book every 6 months. 8. I’ve thought about doing both, but I still sometimes dream about owning a bookstore, so I’ll go with that. [2025 update: Still dreaming of that bookstore…] 9. Genre. 10. Physical books. Looking for your next read? What do you think–do you prefer series or standalone books? Cheers, Aspasía S. Love Lies Bleeding Bleeding Heart FREE* Blood Magic FREE* Tooth & Claw (Links take you to all available stores. (*Free everywhere other than Amazon.) I have a theory that people who don’t read aren’t happy people.
Or at least, they’re not as happy as they could be. It’s a highly unscientific theory, and maybe a little unfair, but think of some famous readers you know, then think of someone who famously doesn’t read, and decide for yourself whether I might have a point. Actually, it turns out that I’m not entirely wrong. Science is discovering that to be a happier, healthier, and overall better person you do need to read…fiction. Apparently (and unsurprisingly) reading fiction teaches empathy, provides a sense of belonging, and relieves stress. Anyone who reads both non-fiction and fiction will recognize the difference in the two experiences. Read some fiction right now–download my FREE short story Blood Magic. Check out this new review of Blood Magic on Vamped.org.
Find out more about why reading fiction is good for you. Post: All Memories Are Everything.