From Bookstore Wonder to Author’s Desk

When I was younger, I used to marvel at how so many different people could come up with ideas. Every single one of them writing different stories! It absolutely boggled my mind.

Sure, they might have used the same basic concepts — some were about treasure hunting, some were about ghosts and goblins, others were about love lost or found — but each one was handled in a completely different manner.

And that astounded me.

(By the way, those “basic concepts” I just mentioned? They’re called tropes. But I didn’t know what a trope was back then. Probably hadn’t even heard the term!)

I would stand in bookstores — new or used — and just try to wrap my head around it all.

To think of all those minds, all those creative processes of each author represented on those shelves. Each one sitting at their typewriter or computer (or, heck, even with their quill and inkpot!) and banging out 100, 200, even 300 pages — each telling a different story.

Wow.

The sheer volume of human creativity represented in a single bookstore was overwhelming in the best possible way.

Every spine on every shelf represented someone’s imagination made tangible, someone’s dreams transformed into something others could hold and experience.

And now here I am! I’ve joined the ranks of those who went before me — thanks, Misses Austen, Brontës, Heyer, and Keene, and Misters Dickens, Hawthorne, and Stine! — and those who sit alongside me now in providing new thrilling adventures.

Each of us telling a different story. Each offering a new spin on an old familiar trope.

Wow! What an honor.

There’s something incredibly humbling about seeing your own work sitting on a shelf (physical or digital) alongside all those other creative minds.

You realize you’re now part of that ecosystem of wonder that once amazed you as a young reader.

Every time someone picks up one of my books, they’re giving me the same gift that countless authors gave me throughout my reading life — the chance to take them somewhere new, to show them something different, to maybe change their perspective or simply give them a few hours of pure escape.

That’s the magic of Read A New Book Month.

It’s not just about discovering new stories; it’s about participating in this beautiful cycle of creativity where readers become writers, writers inspire readers, and the whole magnificent wheel keeps turning.

I have to confess something that makes me a little sad: I haven’t shopped for a new book (for pleasure) in probably a year.

Oh, I’ve bought plenty of eBooks on writing techniques and book marketing. But those don’t count — they’re business books, not the kind that transport you to magical worlds or make you fall in love with fictional characters.

I’ve been WAY too swamped with writing my own books, creating email content, crafting blog posts, and developing short stories to take the time to search out a new adventure of my own.

And I really do miss it.

I love going to bookstores and just getting lost in the rows upon rows of hardcovers and paperbacks. There’s something about physically browsing that online shopping can’t quite replicate — the serendipity of stumbling across something unexpected, the tactile pleasure of holding a potential new favorite.

I miss putting on my Reader hat and wandering through a bookstore, new or used, searching for that one cover that speaks to me. (Yeah, I’m a writer who, as a reader, absolutely judges books by their covers!)

This is exactly why Read A New Book Month matters so much.

It’s a reminder that even those of us who create stories need to keep consuming them too.

There’s something special about reading a completely new author.

When you pick up a book by someone you’ve never read before, you have no idea what you’re going to get. Their voice is unfamiliar, their style is uncharted territory, their storytelling approach is a complete mystery.

That’s both thrilling and terrifying for a reader.

Will you love it? Will it become a new obsession? Will you discover your next auto-buy author? Or will it be a rare miss that reminds you why you usually stick to familiar favorites?

But that’s exactly why it’s worth doing.

Every reader has a story about a book they almost didn’t pick up that became one of their all-time favorites. Every bookworm can tell you about an author they discovered by accident who changed their reading life forever.

When you read only familiar authors or stick rigidly to one genre, you’re missing out on countless potential literary love affairs.

You’re limiting yourself to a small corner of the vast, wonderful world of storytelling.

Read A New Book Month is your permission slip to take those literary risks, to venture into uncharted territory, to maybe — just maybe — discover something magical.

So how do you properly celebrate Read A New Book Month?

Here are some approaches that honor both the spirit of adventure and the practical realities of finding your next great read:

Pick a new-to-you author in your favorite genre. This gives you the comfort of familiar territory while introducing fresh perspectives and voices.

Try a genre you’ve never explored. If you’re a romance reader, maybe sample some science fiction. Mystery lovers might enjoy historical fiction. The goal is expanding your literary horizons.

Ask for recommendations. Friends, bookstore staff, librarians, and online book communities are goldmines of suggestions tailored to your tastes.

Browse with intention. Set aside time for a proper bookstore or library visit. Don’t go in with a specific title in mind — go in ready to be surprised.

For me, this month is going to be about rediscovering my reader’s joy.

I’m committing to carving out time for a proper bookstore browse — something I haven’t done purely for pleasure in far too long.

I want to recapture that sense of wonder I felt as a child surrounded by infinite possibilities. I want to remember what it feels like to discover a new voice, a fresh perspective, a story that surprises me.

From the author’s side of this equation, Read A New Book Month represents hope.

Every novelist dreams of being someone’s literary discovery, of being the new voice that becomes a reader’s next obsession.

When you pick up a book by a debut author or someone new to you, you’re giving them the most precious gift possible: your time and attention.

You’re saying, “I believe your story might be worth my investment.”

And here’s the beautiful part:

When you find a new author you love, you become part of their story too.

Your enthusiasm might lead to recommendations to friends. Your review might help other readers discover them. Your support might encourage them to keep writing.

This is how literary communities grow and thrive. This is how unknown authors become beloved favorites. This is how the cycle of creativity I marveled at as a child continues to turn.

So here’s my challenge for you this Read A New Book Month: pick up something completely new.

Whether it’s one of my novels (I had to try!), a debut author you’ve heard buzz about, or a random selection based purely on an intriguing cover, give someone new a chance.

You might discover your next literary obsession. You might find a new comfort read. You might even stumble across a story that changes your perspective on something important.

Or you might simply spend a few hours in the company of a creative mind you’ve never encountered before — and that, in itself, is a beautiful thing.

Remember, when you read a new book, you’re not just supporting an author or participating in a literary observance. You’re giving yourself the gift of possibility. You’re opening yourself up to new ideas, fresh voices, and unexpected adventures.

In a world that often feels predictable and routine, reading a new book is a small act of rebellion against the mundane.

It’s choosing curiosity over comfort, adventure over safety, possibility over certainty.

And sometimes, that’s exactly what we need.