The Bold Bookmark

About The Bold Bookmark

I’ve always loved the written word. As a child, I would stay up until all hours of the night reading, until my parents would finally confiscate the book so I would finally sleep. Books were an escape. A way of broadening the tiny, rural farming town I grew up in. It let me try on different lives I couldn’t then live. It fueled my curiosity and fed my growing need to understand the world and find my place in it.

After moving to Seattle for college, I fell in love with the classics. I’d dreamed of becoming a doctor, but came alive when I took courses on politics and religion, ultimately double majoring in Political Science and International Studies: Comparative Religion. I used to joke that I’d be a nightmare at cocktail parties. Now I realize that, at their core, politics and religion are both based on the power of stories. And I don’t aim to belittle either. I am – and always have been – a person of faith. And despite its many flaws in application, I am an ardent supporter of democracy. I merely mean that humankind is held together by storytellers. And I, for one, think that is a beautiful thing.

After college, I read my way through law school. I learned how truly dry and mind-numbing a tome could be while highlighting my way through case law and rules of civil procedure. For 15 years, I was then a litigator. Through highs and lows, I learned the mechanics of legal writing. And I had the privilege to work alongside some truly beautiful writers.

And through it all, my love of reading has endured and deepened. And not only in my profession. My entire worldview shifted when I read Adam Grant’s Give and Take: A Revolutionary Approach to Success. Adam’s premise is that three types of people inhabit the world: givers, matchers, and takers. And that despite a suspicion that takers get all the glory, in actuality, it is the smart givers who most succeed. As a (very short, very blonde) woman in a profession dominated by men, I’d at times felt that I needed to act “tough” to fit in; act callous to get ahead. Give and Take gave me the confidence to embrace my innate “giver” without shame.

As I mentored others at my firm, I’d been known to gift books that I hoped would empower them through whichever struggle they’re currently facing. When I teach at a local law school, I share a book recommendation list that I hope will resonate with tomorrow’s lawyers.

I’ve also had the immense pleasure of sharing my love of reading with my two children, whom I hope will never lose the joy found in a truly stellar book.

A couple years ago, I had the opportunity to participate in a Girl Scouts project that brought a Little Free Library to our local Art Park. I invested more time and energy into that Little Free Library than I envisioned. But it brings me so much joy to see community members opening the Little Free Library’s doors and checking the current literary offerings as I pass by.

I also started volunteering at the Reading Hall of Fame program at my children’s elementary school a couple years ago. Every month, students who read 400 minutes and turn in a sheet attesting to the same get to select a free book. Helping kindergarteners through fifth graders choose books they may enjoy lit up my soul in a way I couldn’t turn away from. Last year, I led the program and while the amount of time, brain power, and money that I spent on the program bordered on the obscene, the joy that I derived from engaging with these students every month was boundless. So much so that I’ve questioned whether my true calling is to be an elementary school librarian.

I recently turned forty. I have long dreamed of writing a book myself. It is a spark that I’ve held close, tending to keep it shielded away for fear exposing it to the world and the critiques that may follow would snuff it out entirely. But if the heroes and heroines of every great story has shown, life is not to be lived in fear of failure. The protagonist only truly starts to shine once she puts herself out there and dares to be seen and known.

So here I am. Putting myself “out there” through the written word in hopes of encouraging others to foster their own love of reading. I’m currently taking a sabbatical from active legal practice to, among other things, dedicate more of my energy to children’s literacy projects. I’m volunteering at my son’s middle school library and trying different initiatives to get these tweens and teens excited about reading. I’m also investigating how I can make a larger impact throughout my community, particularly when it comes to fostering a love of the written word.

I’ve said that my “dream job” would be to open a bookshop, with a café and lots of cozy seating for patrons to settle in and read. Where I’d set up displays highlighting fantastic new books I’ve discovered and want others to experience. Where there would be plenty of space to host community events – book clubs and read-alouds, classes, and support groups. A place where people can gather in comfort, build community, and encounter books that will enhance their lives. I still dream that someday that bookshop will be built. But until then, I’ll claim this tiny corner of the internet and start pursuing the core goals of the bookshop. I’ll use this space to discuss books that I love, share ideas I’ve tried for instilling a love of reading in those around me, and to celebrate the joy of connecting another person with a book that touches their heart, expands their mind, and stays with them long after the cover is closed.

Will you read along with me?