Our yard has pretty much looked like this all winter . . . which  means the roads are often slick and the temps are below freezing. I end up staying home whenever possible.

This might be torture for some, but heaven for skiers—and readers like me! I have the luxury of being surrounded by books nearly all of the time, and this winter is no exception. I’m reading research books for my current writing project, a couple of books I received for Christmas, books I’m judging for a contest, book club books, books that were written by friends, even audio books I enjoy on my iPhone or for those times I really do have to drive and can listen in the car as I go so slowly along the snowy roads. As an avid reader, I couldn’t be happier—especially since this winter has been so cold, snowy, and loooong (it’s still January!).

How do non-readers who don’t ski or like winter get through it? I know there are more entertainment choices than ever out there, but I couldn’t imagine not wanting to escape into a good book. No more snowy roads to worry about! Just grab a blanket and snuggle down to be swept away into another world.

Speaking of entertainment choices, in this day and age there are more books than ever to choose from. Several of the books I’ve enjoyed lately have been self-published, which is broadening my choices even more than I expected. My goodness, how self-published books have changed! While I still haven’t raved over the cover art on many and I’ve occasionally spotted areas where a good editor would have come in handy, I realize that’s just me being nit-picky. I’m so used to critiquing my own work as well as the work coming up in my critique circles that I can’t turn off the editor in me. But I’m fairly sure someone who reads purely for enjoyment wouldn’t even notice some of the things that cross my mind. As a writer, though, reading self-published books released by established writers (those already having worked with traditional publishers) is fascinating. It’s like getting to read their writing in its purest form, without any other voice influencing it—sometimes for worse but very often for better. It’s a great study in the truest presentation of that writer’s voice; I guess I feel like I’m getting to know them even better than I would have otherwise.

So today I’m celebrating hibernation, because it’s such a good excuse to read, and I have more books at my fingertips than ever!