First Post (A Mission Statement)

So, I was trying to remember how many books I've read in the last 6 months recently and I couldn't think of them all. That might seem strange, but I read a lot of books. I work in the sales department of a publisher and read between one and three books a week. There are even more books I read just a bit of and don't finish, and I also have a few manuscripts going at any one time that I read when I get a rare quiet moment at work.

I'm annoyed at myself for not readily remembering the books I've read recently, plus, I get paid to talk about books, especially those I've read. This blog, then, will be a place for me to note books I've just finished reading, and as I remember them, a place to list books I've already read. Why a public blog? Well, for two reasons. The first is slightly more self-absorbed (as blogs necessarily are, I suppose). I figure people value my opinions on books (I'm paid money to do just that so there must be something to my conceit), so here I can share them with an even wider audience, and for free, to a wider audience, if I'm lucky. Second, I like to advertise books I like. Authors' careers are built on the sales of their books. If I like an author, I want them to write more, so that I can read more of their books. Perhaps my recommendation of a specific book will lead to more sales of that book (again, if I'm lucky), leading, maybe, to that author getting to publish their next book. When more people buy books by authors I like, I am more likely to get to read their next book. And, then, maybe, I'll remember to post about it here.