I Love Books!

Break out the summer reading!

Sheila here.

To me, there's nothing better than sitting on a beach or by the pool with a good book. Last summer when I was on vacation, I saw quite a few women engrossed in juicy reads on their e-readers. I personally resisted getting one because I just love the feel of a book, and I figured I didn't really need to drop the money on one.

I started to re-think my position on that when I realized how many other things you can do with one. My friend Jan showed me her Nook, how easy is it to get books on it, share them with friends, and even look at the internet. Plus, e-books are cheaper than books, and they can be downloaded instantly with no trip to the bookstore or library. Rob got me a Kindle for my birthday, and I have really been enjoying it.

Then recently something hit me. How do you have an author you like sign your Kindle? Over the years in my job here at Fox 19, I have interviewed dozens of authors, and I have the books they signed with personal messages to me. They line the book shelves of my home, and they are special momentos.

I am a huge fan of Jodi Picoult - she was on our show! I've been reading Mary Higgins Clark mystery novels since high school - she's been in our studio twice! I've interviewed John Glenn, Pete Rose, Oscar Robertson, Nick Clooney, M*A*S*H star Mike Farrell and Ziggy's Tom Wilson, just to name a few. I've interviewed Greg Hoard about his bios on Joe Nuxhall and Gary Burbank, along with Neil Armstrong's biographer, not to mention quite a few fascinating people you might not know by name, but people who also have written amazing books. Local entrepreneur Dick Hannan's book (also by Greg Hoard) is one of the best motivational books I've ever read. Even my husband Ric is an author - his book, Cop: The Truth Behind the Badge has an extra special place on our shelves.

A few weeks ago, I received a free Kindle edition of a newly released book by another author I admire, Rick Robinson. (Yep, there are two of them in Northern Kentucky - only one is my husband.)

But I digress. Rick Robinson, local attorney and the author of political thrillers, sent me the Kindle edition of Writ of Mandamus, and I scheduled him to come in with Rob and me. As I prepared for the interview, I thought, "Well, that's sort of a bummer. I won't have a copy of the book for him to sign after the interview." But Rick must've read my mind, because he showed up with a copy. I opened it to find a personal message, signed by "the Real Rick Robinson."

Yes, I do like my Kindle a lot, and it's ever so convenient. But I don't think I'll ever give up my special friends - my books.