I come from a family of readers. My parents were both night owls and would read well past midnight even when they were very old. My five brothers and sisters and I are the same. Our houses and nightstands overflow with books, and we devour them late at night. We love the covers of books; the smell of books; the way a writer uses words; their invitation to enter a different world; the way they help us to escape. In our large family often four of us would be reading in the living room with no talking. We had an unspoken agreement: don’t bother me when I am reading!

I chose a perfect path. I was an English major and then became a high school English teacher. I got to spend my days reading books, discussing books and encouraging a love of reading. I give away boxes of books every year but the bookshelves refill quickly. I just can’t help myself.