BookCrossing Story

I have found many wonderful opportunities to make someone’s day by bookcrossing, that is, by registering books on the bookcrossing.com site and leaving them in public places. If I’m lucky, the person who finds the book will make my day in return, by writing a journal entry on bookcrossing.com to say what they thought of the book. But I’ve found that releasing books I really care about brings the most reward.

My favorite book to release is Traveling Light, the first novel of a good friend of mine. She had a story she felt so compelled to tell, she quit her job to write the book. Time Warner published it about 5 years ago, and although the book received good reviews, it never found the success I thought it deserved. So, I decided to release a few copies out into the world. I bought 10 inexpensive copies, released them around town, and watched in amazement as the journal entries rolled in. I rushed out and bought 15 more copies of the book to release, and got the same amazing results. People were excited by both the book and the concept of BookCrossing.

Then I spread the gratitude again by forwarding all the journal entries to my friend Katrina, so she could see what everyday people were saying about her book! One of my favorite journal entries is below:

I picked up this book at the Magnolia Cafe on Congress Street. I had only been in Austin for about five weeks at that time and felt like finding this book was like receiving a present, especially because sometimes it’s very hard to eat alone. I enjoyed the book very much, it was so sad at times but what made it so good for me was the strong bond between a brother and sister. I have a son and a daughter and I have always hoped that they would love each other like that. I have sent this book to Albuqerque, NM with a good friend of mine who works at the University of New Mexico Hospital in the pediatric oncology department. She has promised to release the book after she is done reading it. Thanks for my welcome to Austin gift!”

With an entry like that, how could I resist releasing still more copies of the book!

— Rebecca R.

Posted 9 February 2006 | Link to This Entry