Meet Amelia Atwater-Rhodes' Bookshelf!
How do you organize your bookshelf?
I have five tall bookshelves in my small home office, so almost all my wall space is covered in books. I’ve also taken over a couple of shelves in our basement and most of our living room bookshelf space. My books leak into every room in the house. I wish I were more organized, but mostly I just try to keep them off the floor! In the picture, you’re seeing my YA shelf on the left, somewhat alphabetized, and what I love is that many of these books are signed and written by authors who are friends or who I’ve met. On the right shelf, which is closest to my desk, I have books I use for writing reference, inspiration, and teaching. Also a couple of what I call “working shelves” – books and reference materials related to the current book in progress. Then I have my books, and books with a pressing need to be read, followed by a shelf for swag items I send out frequently.
What is your favorite/most prized book on your shelf?
A slim little volume called The Census Taker: Stories of a Traveler in India and Nepal, by Marilyn Stablein. I took a writing workshop from this author when I was in high school, at a writing camp that totally changed my life. Her book made me want to write and travel, and to write about travel. I still dip into it to find inspiration in its unconventional style and its adventurous subject matter. Whenever I rearrange my bookshelves, that’s one of the first books I put back up.
What makes your bookshelf awesome/Unique OR what does it say about you as a reader?
Many of my shelves are organized by obsessions. I collect a lot of books when I work on a novel, so now I have mini-collections books about Japan, books about art, books about crime, books about South America, cycling, and Turkey. I can look at any of these shelves and remember the fun I had working on a book and immersing myself in that world.
Come meet Amelia Atwater-Rhodes at the 3rd annual Boston Teen Author Festival! Saturday, September 27th from 11am to 4:30pm at the Cambridge Public Library. For more information, check out our website at www.embraceya.weebly.com!
