MY LOVE AFFAIR WITH LIBRARIES
Okay, I admit I'm a library junkie. I love libraries. The tall stacks where I can get lost, the smell of the books, the high ceilings. Some of my best memories of growing up are of being in the library. My parents have pictures of me asleep with a library book in my hand (Bambi's Children was a favorite) and my local library knows me well. So when I found out Anathema was a finalist for the Best Books of Indiana award put on by the Indiana State Library, I was soo excited!

My books have won plenty of other awards so you'd think it would be no big deal, right? Wrong. I dithered about what to wear FOR WEEKS! I even changed my mind the morning of the award. LOL Should I get a pedicure? A new haircut? It was really a big deal to me. When we arrived at the state library, I felt like I was a little kid wandering in the library for the first time. I gawked my way to the Indiana Authors Room like I was five instead of, er, my age. :-) I was so happy I'd lost weight too! LOL The room was gorgeous and constructed of all Indiana materials: fabulous walnut bookcases and woodwork, Indiana limestone, ornate carved ceiling. My mouth was hanging open.

The Indiana state librarian, Roberta Brooker, was so gracious and sweet. Even though she didn't judge the fiction category, she told me she's read Anathema and loved it was now reading the Rock Harbor books. I had my sweet hubby run to the car for a copy of Cry in the Night for her. When the ceremony started, Roberta had all of us finalists come forward, sign our books, and place them in the collection. I about cried! When I actually won, I'm sure I made a total fool of myself. I blubbered about how my dream when I first started writing was just to have ONE of my books in my local library. Small dream, right? To me it was a huge, nearly unattainable thing.

Isn't God good though? He gives us the desires of our heart. Now my books are in libraries all over the country, and they're also in my state library. The library is going to get all my books for the Indiana Authors Room. I browsed the shelves and saw James Whitcomb Riley, John Jakes, Kurt Vonnegut. And me. All I can say is WOW!

So what's your dream? The one you're nearly afraid to speak of? Dream big! God can do it!

Labels: Best Books of Indiana, Indiana State Library, library