Why I Need Books...

I love books. I love the way they feel in my hands, the way they smell. I love seeing them on the shelf in my room. I love buying them, shopping for them, and, most of all, I love reading and writing them.
Reading is an escape. It's an even better escape than watching television. When you watch T.V., you have commercials, news tidbits, and commercials. The same commercials over and over. And over. Before you get your panties in a twist, I'm not bashing the tube. Admittedly, I don't watch a lot, but just because I'm not watching, doesn't mean it's not on when the family is home. And I think I have an obligation to pay attention to the news and what's going on in the world. But it doesn't have to consume my life. I read to forget about life for a little while. To immerse myself in a different world - whether it's a world filled with paranormal elements, or just a journey into the character's lives and love.
I love writing for the same reason. Creating different worlds, characters, villains. Not only do I write for myself, but I write in the hopes I can affect others with emotions (hopefully good emotion) as they escape from their lives with my characters.
I don't think it matters how you read - a paper book, an e-book, on an e-book reader (I want one) - as long as you read. You should never be too busy to read. A lot of people say they are, and I just don't see how that's possible. Heck, I'm busy. Everyone I know is busy - writers and non-writers. Even if I didn't write, I'd still feel driven to read. I always have. There are times during the day where you can squeeze in a few minutes - in the bathroom, waiting at the doctor, waiting at the post office, waiting in line at the grocery store, waiting for your computer to load, waiting for water to boil. When your little kids want to play in the tub longer (I got a lot of reading done during that time of our life). Anyway. You get what I'm saying.
Read a book.
And...
Behave!