Well, I did it. I spent two entire days transforming my office from a cluttered, crazy, chaotic mess to utter calm and cleanliness. (Clearly, I didn’t throw away my fondness for alliteration.) I didn’t undertake this feat alone — I had help in the form of my daughter, who has an organizational gene that I guarantee did not come from her mother. She pronounced me a “stuffer” — not to be confused with hoarder; that, I’m not. I actually throw a lot of things away because I don’t have a place for them. But if I don’t toss, then I get sick of something not belonging anywhere, so I “stuff” it away.
Oh, I wish I had before pics, but we didn’t think to take any. But here’s the end product, featuring my very own Niecy Nash, aka my darling, Mia. (Who happens to love watching Clean House and is a tough taskmaster when it comes to saying goodbye to stuff!) We gave away hundreds of novels, gutted my files, reorganized my shelves, alphabetized my books, compartmentalized my drawers, transferred a wall of computer Post-It Note passwords to a single notebook, hung some pictures, dusted, vacuumed, polished, positioned, and completely rearranged my office furniture to a configuration that, miraculously, gave me twice as much space. We even bulldozed “Manuscript Mountain,” as Mia called my stack of 2,000 (ouch!) pages of copy-edits and galleys from my last three books. The entire mess was just picked up by the recycle truck and I’m very excited to report I’ve been to Sherwin-Williams and there is a stunning new paint job in my near future. Oh, and a new computer, which was the reason I started this little “straightening up” job in the first place.
Best of all, Mia helped me find or make a place for everything. Now I have a cute little container for my reading glasses, a special box just for jump drives, a bin for mailing materials, a drawer for bookmarks, and my very own basket of office supplies.
But one thing didn’t change during all this upheaval: my keeper shelf, and that really got me thinking about the books I own that will never be shared, sold, donated, or (gasp!) thrown away. Of course, I had to take a few down and skim the pages to remember why these books had earned a permanent place in my office, and in my heart.
Well, sigh. There’s a reason those books are keepers. I visited Sam and Jaine in Linda Howard’s Mr. Perfect (possibly my all time #1 keeper), and Blair and Wyatt from Linda’s To Die For. The awesome Ms. Howard has three spots on my shelf, the last taken up by John *OMG page 303 the sexiest scene ever written* Medina in All The Queen’s Men. Lest you think I’m LH obsessed, I guarantee there are other genres and writers on my keeper shelf. You’ll find LaVyrle Spencer’s Morning Glory (gorgeous!), Judith Ivory’s Untie My Heart (brilliant!), and Katherine Sutcliffe’s Darkling, I Listen (complex!)…all authors who no longer write. 🙁
<–Here’s Mia with the some of the keepers.
Kresley Cole made the shelf with A Hunger Like No Other (I bet that book is on a lot of keeper shelves!) and Jennifer Cruise stole a spot with Welcome To Temptation. Of course Nobody’s Baby But Mine has a place of honor, since it was that fabulous book that inspired me to try to write a novel, and Stephen King’s On Writing is the only craft book that made the cut. Not too long ago, I slipped in Kris Kennedy’s The Irish Warrior, a medieval romance that knocked my socks off, and Louisa Edward’s delicious debut, Can’t Stand The Heat. There are more, of course, including Susan Wiggs, Kristan Higgins, and Elizabeth Gilbert. (I adored Eat Pray Love!)
These are not the only books I’ve ever loved, obviously, but these are books that had…something. Something so amazing that I simply don’t want them too far from reach.
And that, naturally, made the writer in me wonder what is that special something — and how do I get it in my own writing? What is it about these books that catapulted them above all others and made me simply unwilling to ever part with the physical copy? They’re all so different, culled from all possible genres and written by a tremendous range of authors, but there must be one element they all have in common that worked for me.
I think there is. In fact, I’m willing to bet that if you look at your own keeper shelf, you might find there’s a common denominator for you, too — and it won’t be the same for everyone. I have a theory that if any reader examines her short list of all-time faves, she’ll find one thing that every book has, and that’s what’s “important” to her. Knowing what that elusive something is makes it easier to find the keepers…and possibly easier to write them, if you are an author. (Although, my keeper shelf is more humbling than inspiring.)
For me, if I had to pick one element that every book on my keeper shelf had in common, I think I’d go with powerful voice. Yes, these books all have amazing stores, compelling characters, unforgettable moments of romance or passion or suspense or, in the case of On Writing, insight. But my keeper shelf is a testament to lovely, lyrical voices that transcend storytelling and, for me, touch both my heart and my reader’s “ear.”
But that’s just me. Your shelf is undoubtedly a shrine to something else entirely. It might be a collection of certain beloved premises, like secret babies or marriages of convenience, or your keepers might all share tortured heroes or twisting plots or unparalleled world-building. Maybe you’re just a sucker for a certain time period, trope, or writing style.
So, tell me, what’s on your keeper shelf? And can you find a common element that every book on that shelf shares? I bet we get a bunch of amazing recommendations today! Therefore, we need…money! One lucky commenter will win a $15 Amazon gift card which can be used to buy a couple of brand new keepers…or the services of my daughter to reorganize your office!
Wow! Lots of hard work and what a beautiful daughter! One of the many on my keeper shelf is Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris!
Ooh, no scary books like that on my keeper shelf, but I bet that one is on a lot of people’s shelves. Thanks! xo
I’ll take Mia! I’m in the process of trying to do something with my office/spare bedroom because I need more space in it. I recently became certified as a Reiki practitioner and would like to be able to fit a massage table into that room. First I need to reorganize the closet (I bought some extra shelves for in there) and then I might contemplate a new and smaller desk.
Oh… the keeper shelf. I have the complete works of Roxanne St. Claire on mine. Also the complete works of Kristi Gold. I also have a shelf dedicated to works by members of my RWA chapter (including my own personalized copies of Mr. Perfect and To Die For). I have a craft shelf (Stephen King’s On Writing is there along with GMC, Rodale’s Synonym Finder, the Flip Dictionary and Self-Editing for Fiction Writers). Then there’s a TBR shelf. And there’s a TBR stack in my living room on the bottom shelf of a table that holds my iPod dock. And a table in the spare room has a collection of divorce related books.
The common element? Most are romances because despite all I still believe in happily ever after.
P.S. Tell Mia she’ll have to sleep in the room she’s reorganizing because that’s where the futon is. 😉
LOL The Complete Works. You kill me. Congrats on the Reiki! What is that, exactly? And how do I get me some? Mia and I will fly up to work and be massaged ANYTIME. xo
She’s a Leo like me. Lucky you LOL.
From Reiki.org: “Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. It is administered by “laying on hands” and is based on the idea that an unseen “life force energy” flows through us and is what causes us to be alive.”
No massage involved. Just gentle touch. I know some folks are thinking “somebody cage the crazy woman” but this modality has worked for me for pain relief and stress reduction. However, your mileage may vary.
I’ll do 2 Reiki sessions for a Coach bag. 😉
I love & hate this question since I only buy keepers LOL. I answered this question on Louisa Edward’s blog:
Sweet Restraint & Wicked Burn by Beth Kery
Broken, Fragile & The Missing by Shiloh Walker
Anything by Christy Reece especially Last Chance
Edge Of Sight-Roxanne St. Claire
Dream A Little Dream by SEP
Unlawful Contact-Pamela Claire
Just The Sexiest Man Alive by Julie James
The criteria is simple. Not only do these books have passages that I’ve read over & over but they were books that stayed in my head long after I read them. BTW Edge Of Sight is still taking up real esate on my desk. Just saying…
That’s quite a list and I’m so honored to be included! Thank you! xo
BTW Mia is adorable! And your office looks great.
Oh, she’s adorable. And negotiating for payment right now. Apparently, the cost of two days worth of child labor now is a Coach bag. We’re hitting the outlets this weekend. (It’s her 14th b-day, too.) xo
Hoarder, not stuffer, from a long line of hoarders, so the shelves are filled with generations of must keeps. Services of your daughter, suitably equipped for HAZMAT duty, preferred, as a card for MORE books not wise.
Mention of Shiver of Fear — http://www.womenofmystery.net/2011/08/two-sentence-tuesday.html
Hey Liz – LOL on the Hazmat. I needed one, too. Thanks for the shout out on your blog – it’s always interesting to see which lines of a book reached a reader’s “ear.”
But I must correct the misconception that I’m leaving adult romance to write YA! I am writing YA – I have one complete that will be coming out in July, 2012 – but I’m also launching a new contemporary series next year, called Barefoot Bay. Now these books are not romantic suspense – there are no dead bodies or surprise villains or shoot outs. BUT, they are definitly NOT young adult! They’re sexy, emotional, community-centered romances with hot, hot, hot guys and the women who tame them. The first one will be out in May, 2012, called BAREFOOT IN THE SAND. Hope you love it! xo
Not my blog (don’t have one). Just saw your name and the part about loving your writing.
Oh, my bad. Will have to go back and leave a comment there! Thanks! xo
your office looks great. and your own personal spokesmodel in the pics!!!
having moved around alot in the last 10 yrs, my keeper shelf has shrunk quite a bit. my original, dog-eared gone with the wind….the first romance i ever read! there are so many more…..linda howard, suzanne brockmann, tara janzen, cindy gerard, Roxanne St. Claire (!), SEP, susan mallery…oh i could go on forever!
Hey, Kris! I’ve got a well-loved (falling apart) copy of GWTW on that shelf, too. Mine is from 1960-something – it was my mother’s. So honored to have a spot on your KS! xo
I have Mr PErfect on my shelf too. And NAked in Death. I have everything Cindy Gerard has ever written. Just added Shiver of Fear and CHasing Fire.
Hi Trish! I love Cindy’s books, too. Can’t wait to read her newest. And, wow, SHIVER is there? Cool! xo
On my keeper shelf I have all Urban Fantasy. Not quite sure how that happened. I think it’s the combination of the supernatural aspect which I’ve had a weakness for since I was 7 and the fact that all the main characters are strong, kick ass women. Good role models, yet most have flaws.
I could use someone strong to toss all the stuff I don’t use. I was telling my sister about all the great 25 year old clothes I have in storage (for when I lose the weight) last weekend. We were laughing about whether I’d be able to wear them if I did lose the weight, taking out the shoulder pads and having the shoulders droop to my elbows. I can’t bear to get rid of them, I like them so much. Next move, they are NOT coming with me.
Last Goodwill drive, I actually gave up a dress I wore once and a purse I’d never used. I gave several backward longing looks. I loved that dress, but I looked like a midget linebacker in it.
LOL Anne – shoulder pads will come back!! I keep telling myself that!!
Interesting that your keepers are all UF. I hope you pick up Kristen Painter’s BLOOD RIGHTS in October. OMG so freaking amazing good you will die!! The cover alone makes it a keeper, but the trilogy (coming out back to back this fall) is flat-out breathtaking. Bet you love it! xo
Thank you for the spot on your Keeper Shelf! I’m totally honored to be in such illustrious company. You’ve got a place on mine, by the way, with FACE OF DANGER…
And the only other overlap we share is MORNING GLORY by LaVyrle Spencer. What a boundary-breaking book that was! Now I feel like I need to search through bookstores for the others on your shelf…
LOUISA!!! Happy Release Day!!! There’s a new keeper in town and it’s TOO HOT TO TOUCH – out today. I’ve read enough of this book to know that it is funny, sexy, fast-paced, sexy, emotional, delicious, did I mention sexy, and holy guacamole the food is to die for!
Run out today, get a copy, and drool over the cover!!!!
xoxo
Hi Rocki, keeper shelves…A majority of the books I own are Keepers. I do have a “special” shelf for ones that I love above them all though. That shelf has only a few books, most of which are CLASSICS! Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, all Jane Austen’s books, Colleen Gleason’s When Twilight Burns, your Face the Danger, Kristan Higgins’ My, One and Only, Jessica Andersen’s Storm Kissed, J.R. Ward’s Dark Lover, and two Leslie Parrish books, Cold Touch (a Extrasensory Agent novel) and Black at Heart (a Black CATs novel). La Nora hasn’t made that particular shelf yet, and I LOVE HER. These particular books hit me on a very visceral level upon first read, and every time after that. It takes a lot for today’s authors to make it to that particular shelf. I would really have to take some time to look at my shelves to see a common thread as to why they are keepers, but off the cuff, I would say VOICE and STORY are two elements that work the most for me.
Peace and love,
Paula R.
Thank you, Paula! I’m thrilled to be in such amazing company. You know, I’ve never read a JR Ward book, but then I read very little paranormal. That said, Leslie Parrish’s books ROCK. And, yep, that list has a lot voice on it – like Kristin Higgins, who has a spectacular contemporary voice. xo
My keeper shelf- a tall bookshelf that I desperately need to re-organize because it’s a mess right now (my dumb cat knocked a bunch a books to the floor). Some books that I will not part with for love or money:
– all my original Linda Howard editions both paperback and hardcover
– my original used paperback copy of ‘Carnal Innocence’ by Nora Roberts because this is the book that made me want to be a romance novelist.
– My writing/craft books: my dictionary, Bartlett’s Famous Quotations, ‘Goal, Motivation, Conflict’ by Debra Dixon, ‘Heart and Craft’ by Valerie Parv.
I love alphabitizing and organizing my books, cd’s, and dvd’s because as I tell my friends I like being able to find something when I go looking for it. And I love the organizing itself because I get to visit with all those old friends. 🙂
Cool, Michele. I wonder if we should do a blog on “which book made you want to be a romance writer.” Mine was Nobody’s Baby But Mine. OMG, I loved CARNAL INNOCENCE, too. xo
I’ll add to your LH with Blair/Wyatt book 2-Drop Dead Gorgeous
Ransom-Julie Garwood
Into the Shadow-Christina Dood
Show No Mercy–Cindy Gerard
Ilona Andrews, Nalini Singh, Catherine Coulter, Julie Garwood and that Rocki St. Chick =)
Never forget, Jack and Lucy from Now You Die
Lest I forget the classics, there is always room for To Kill A Mockingbird
Luckily, my keeper shelf is getting easier to manage. So much now goes on the Kindle and Kindle app for the iPhone. Too bad the Amazon account is getting out of hand
The office is WOW!. What a thrill it must be to look up and see those cover flats shining on the wall!!!
LOL Rocki St. Chick. My new pen name!
And, oh yeah, I loves me my Kindle! xo
I obviously need your daughter’s services since my keeper bookshelves have recently been reduced – to 10. Not books, book cases. Sigh. I’ve been to a few writer’s conferences and have met some amazing authors who have signed books for me – those treasures are never going anywhere (hands off, darling Mia!). My collection of JD Robb In Death books is also staying put. On my “special” shelf, I have Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Alice in Wonderland, The Princess Bride, and everything by Chelsea Cain. Eclectic, I know. Congrats on your new space – it’s beautiful!
Yes, she DOES want to get rid of too many things. So far, in three days, I’ve remembered two things I wanted but Mia talked me into getting rid of. But, wow, you do have an eclectic KC, Dawn! I like it! xo
Great office, wonderful daughter! Wow!
I love some of those on your keeper shelf–the Howards you mention are among my favorites (as well as her Cry No More.) Gone With the Wind is my original keeper shelf book. Early works by Robert Crais, Michael Connelly, and Lee Child are also there.
Good keepers, LSU. Why…they are men! I don’t have too many of those, LOL xo
I don’t have a keeper shelf because my mom alphabetized my books … my mom has a keeper shelf with all the books of a few of her favorite authors (me, Mariah Stewart and Lee Child, I think … )
I love that your mom organizes your shelves for you! And you can pay her in books, LOL! xo
What a great helper. Such a sweetie. Your office looks wonderful. A few books that I would keep are East of Eden, Jane Eyre, Sarah’s Key.
Ruth, she IS a great helper. I could have done an entire blog just on how much FUN we had together doing this project. Also, how encouraging she was when I wanted to quit. And by encouraging, I mean she screamed at me when I inched toward the computer to check my email! xo
80% of my books are YA fiction and the other 20% are business strategy books.
After surveying my kepper shelf, I’ve come to the conclusion that I want to be a rich teenager and live in, be from, a different world.
Throw in the sexy adult romances and suspense mysteries and I’d say my books truly reflect my eccectic reading taste.
The common thread is that all of the books are written so well that I can “visualize” and place myself there (where ever “there” is).
A rich teenager that lives in another world? Shannon, you better add LIVIN’ THE DREAM to your keeper shelf next year!! That’s my upcoming YA – I think it will speak to you, LOL! xo
HAHA! Can’t wait to read it!!!
🙂
Looks like you also took down the inspirational poster of me. I’m sure it will go back up as soon as you start working on another Rom/Suspense.
I don’t have a keeper shelf. I keep them all, though that might change in the future. I’ll only be keeping signed copies, I suspect, which I have from quite a few friends.
But there are books that I re-read on occasion, so I suppose those would be the keepers. Nelson DeMille, Carl Hiaasen, Audrey Niffeneggar and a few of those fat Fantasy novels.
Yes, re-reads count as keepers.
Your poster is in a secret place, with Bullet Catchers and Guardian Angelinos. xo
I’ll admit it, I am a book hoarder. I keep almost all of the books I read. But, I have a good reason! I share my books. With my mother, my sister, my aunt, and friends. If I enjoyed the book, I keep it. This is the reason I have four bookcases stuffed of books plus more. I like to go back to books and read parts of them again and I like having them available if I can’t remember a detail and want to look it up. I don’t keep all books, if I don’t like it I will trade it. Some books I will never get rid of though are Stephen King collection and my Ann Rule collection.
A book hoarder is a GOOD thing! xo
Clean office? What’s that?
SO jealous of you right now 🙂
I don’t have a keeper shelf — I have shelves, I cannot seem to part with books.
One of these days…I’ll buck up and tackle the overloaded shelves…when is Mia free? 🙂
I’ll send Mia out west right away. She accepts cash or Coach bags. xo
“Knight In Shinning Armor”by Judith McNaught. All of J.D. Robb. Actually I don’t have a “Keeper shelf” I have 3 Keeper bookcases.
Oh, KISA by JM – a GREAT book!! xo
Your office looks great — I think Mia could make a small fortune with her own organization business. 😉
I don’t have a keeper shelf… I have a keeper room. It’s getting to the point where I’m going to have to whittle some of those books down/out, and I keep putting that off because I don’t want to part with them. (That doesn’t mean I don’t part with books–I frequently do giveaways to our local library when they’re doing book sales.)
Though, somehow, I can’t believe your two favorites from LH are two I’ve never read! Must correct that immediately.
LOL on Keeper Room. Yes, Mia is already planning to start a Professional Organizer business! xo
All of the books I buy are keepers. I will lend them out, but my friends know I better get them back. 😉
Sorry, I can’t pick favorites. I don’t play favorites with my kids either. Though I have told them the cat is my favorite. She doesn’t have teenageitis – a disease I’m hoping clears up when they start college. 😉
We’re having a rash of teenageitis here, too. Sympathies. xo
the lords of underworld ; gena showalter
You can never go wrong with Gena Showalter! xo
Can I adopt Mia? My DD got the Pack Rat gene from both sides of the family.
Keepers? Wow. THE SPY WHO LOVED ME by Ian Fleming (NOTHING like the James Bond movie of the same title!). THE MOONSPINNERS by Mary Stewart. All of JD Robb’s books (Uhm…SERIES!) but if I could only pick one, it would be NAKED IN DEATH, the one that started it all. And Andre Norton’s WITCH WORLD (plus the whole series, there, too!) There are other keepers, too, but those are the ones I’d want on a desert island. It’s a diverse group but their are a couple of common threads: author’s voice, taut action/plot, descriptions that read like prose, and interesting characters. I’ve reread all of these books numerous times. I’m still enthralled with them and each time I open one of them and start reading, it’s like the first time all over again. THAT’S what makes a keeper for me.
Dang. I need more coffee. Y’all just ignore the goofs. *assumes Obi Wan voice* Those are not the typos you seek.
We see no typos! If I had MOONSPINNERS, I’d put it on the shelf. Is that available as an ebook? I’d kill to read that book again. Totally changed my life. I read it when I was about 12 or 13 – LOVED. xo
Nope. It’s not available in digital. 🙁 There are used paperbacks available for cheap and a few hardbacks. I almost ordered one just to send you but worried you might have already done so. If you haven’t, I will. 😀
I have several of the titles you mentioned in your post on my keeper shelf, too. Others are:
Escapade by Joan Smith
Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters
His at Night by Sherry Thomas
Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison
Shana Abe’s Drakon Series
various books by Joey W Hill
Good additions to any keeper shelf. I did a bus tour with Sherry Thomas and she was absolutely lovely and talk about a power voice – wow! xo
Rocki, your new office is wonderful! And your daughter so cute!
You listed a LOT of my fave books. It’s all about voice and emotion for me 🙂
Thanks, Jen! It feels so good to have finished the job of cleaning. Now, if I could just get back to *writing* !! xo
OMG I forgot Just One Taste by Louisa Edwards.I hadn’t listed it on her blog – she only let us pick 5 books!! so I stuck it in the comment there.
JUST ONE TASTE is one of my very favorites, too. Do you know Louisa is chatting tonight on http://www.writerspace.com. I think it’s 9 eastern. BE THERE. It’s going to be a blast! xo
Look at your office! Gorgeous! Also, Rox, I think your daughter would run screaming if she saw my room/space…
The only thing remotely organized is actually my keeper bookshelf. Six feet of books stacked (packed) sideways for maximum space usage. In fact, the shelves have been reinforced, as once one collapsed, pinning my finger – but that’s another story for another time.
Keepers? Lisa Kleypas – almost all of her books. A number of Christina Dodd’s historicals. Nearly all of SEP’s books. Jennifer Crusie… for Judith Ivory I actually have Black Silk. Deirdre Martin, nearly all of Rachel Gibson’s books, and Shannon McKennas. As well as, you know, 100+ more. :X The “b team” lives on a shelf that runs the length of my room in my closet. One day it’s going to collapse on me and kill me.
Limecello! Hi there! She wouldn’t run screaming — but she’d make you clean! You might run screaming, LOL. xo
I dunno… she hasn’t seen my room :X From college on, I always said my room was an outward manifestation of my inner self. And… I’ve been feeling rather conflicted…
I’m really fussy with what I read, so, I research thoroughly before I buy a book. From everything I read, most often, I don’t follow up with the author, I give up after the first book. Just the fact I keep reading an author means a lot already! 😛 So, I pretty much keep everything I buy, especially now with the Kindle. So, I don’t really have a keeper shelf. But I have a “favorite” shelf. And I have a shelf of books that have spoken so deeply to me I must have multiple copies of!
I have a few copies of ♥ FACE OF DANGER ♥, by an amazing author named Roxanne St. Claire. You may have heard of her. I have to confess, there are many authors I truly love, but she’s my favorite. I have all her romantic suspense in digital copies and the only reason I don’t have them all printed is due to some financial and geographical (aka difficulty to find + shipping) issues, but I will some day! ♥
I also have a bunch of copies of Karen Rose’s I’M WATCHING YOU!!! 🙂
Authors I have printed and digital books I read and reread that have spoken to me and I love include Allison Brennan (LUCY!!!!), Toni McGee Causey (Bobbie Faye!!!!), Karin Slaughter, Tess Gerritsen, Sabrina Jeffries and Sophie Kinsella 🙂
ahhhhhhhhhhh, that wasn’t supposed to be ALL bold!!! I hate when that happens, grrrrr!!! 🙁
We love the BOLD and we love you…it’s obvious that’s mutual!! Thank you, sweet girl, and congrats again on your new little sister! Maya is lucky to have you! xo
i recently did an office purge or two, and while my end result wasn’t nearly as lovely as this, i loved the feeling of everything being organized. as far as the keeper shelf – i thought about what you said and tried to decided what unifies my books. I think there is definitely something to the idea that it’s in the voice. That, and strong emotional stories – every single book on my shelf is highly dramatic. No surprise there!
Dramatic? You, Sophie? Really??? xo
I wish we could trade daughters for a bit. Unfortunately mine has inherited my pack-rat gene. BTW, stuffer is a fabulous description!
I have a bookcase overflowing with foodie fic. Everything from romances to mysteries. I love them all and they hold a special place in my book world.
You wouldn’t want to trade today. There was a trip to the Coach store for upcoming birthday. Ouch. xo
my keeper shelf has a lot of books by the same authors. i have a ton of books by Louis L’Amour and Iris Johanson’s Eve Duncan series. Also Kathleen E. Woodiwiss
was the 1st romance author i read and is still one of my favorites. Then there is Elizabeth Lowell,Jude Devereaux,Julie Garwood and so many others that i could go on for hours. My keeper shelf is actually several cabinets full of books.
i think the one thing that all of them have in common is that the author have/had the ability to transport me from my everyday to where ever the story was.
In Mr. L’Amours case it was the old west as only he could tell it,with men and women like the Sacketts to set the stage
it was a wonderful place to grow up in.
With Mrs. Woodiwissi I learned about overcoming obstecles on the road to love and how the love of a woman can change a man’s heart.
i could go on and on but the truth is i learned something from each of my favorites and i hope to find new authors to learn from still.
Love Kathleen Woodiwiss. Like, I genuflect to her talent! Good stuff! xo
my keeper shelf (or bookcases as it is) contains mainly my series books…i always buy paperback. such as Pamela Clare I-Team & historicals, JR Ward Brotherhood, Lara Adrian Midnite Breed, Loralei james Rough Riders(also have on kindle obsessive) & blacktop, twilight series, megan Hart books, Karin Tabke blood swords and many many more…sigh i just hope i never have to move them..
Oooh, some of my co-bloggers on that list! I like it! Good recs! xo
Your office looks beautiful! And Miss Mia is a girl after my own heart! I just love to organize things..much to my hubby’s annoyance. He hates it when I touch his stuff..lol
My keeper shelf is is bursting since I love to re-read books and rediscover the reason I kept it in the first place!! I have everything by you and Christy Reece, Everyone Loves a Hero by Marie Force, several by Linda Howard including the ones you mentioned (love John Medina!!!) and the entire I-Team series by Pamela Clare…
You organizers! Where would we stuffers be without you! Tell your husband to count his blessings – and good recs. I have to try a Marie Force book. She’s KILLING it in sales on Kindle with her new contemps. xo
Oh and I forgot to say that the common thread for me is probably the the happy ending 🙂
I have sooo many books on my keeper shelf but some of them are the Psy/Changeling series by Nalini Singh and the Dark Hunter series by Sherrilyn Kenyon.
I love Nalini! We used to be Desire authors together – we both had books in a “Dynasty” collaboration and it was a blast working with her. Her success is so well-deserved – her books are fabulous! Good rec! xo
Twilight series is on my daughter’s keeper shelf.
Now, that one’s not on my daughter’s keeper shelf. She’s got THIRTEEN REASONS WHY, WATER FOR ELEPHANTS, DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS, HIT REPLY (honestly!), a couple of Lauren Myracles and OUT OF MY MIND. But no TWILIGHT, LOL. xo
Congrats on getting your office in order. I bet it was a nice bonding experience for you and your daughter. Sometimes I let my son help me re-organize my “kissing Books”(as he calls them). He loves stacking them just so. So far I don’t have a lot of keepers, but my TBR pile it out of control. Thanks for the chance to feed my addiction with the amazon gc!
LOL on “kissing books” – too funny! It was good bonding time but, to be honest, we have some Crazy Glue between us already. I’m not sure Mia and I could get any bond-ier! xo
Okay, I am so NOT kissing up, but my keeper shelf includes a whole bunch of Roxanne St. Claire books, Nora Roberts, some Sandra Brown, and a few Kathleen Woodiwiss stories for when I need to go back in time to another era!
Tough to figure out what the common thread is here, huh?! Romance stories to fill a need, romantic suspense stories to keep me excited and hopeful for a happy ending!
Oh, Rose, I LOVE YOU for putting my name in the same *sentence* (let alone the same shelf) as Nora and Sandra! xo
I am always re-arranging and cleaning up my room. I find it therapeutic and when it comes to organizing my books it’s fun to find forgetten favourites! Some books on my keeper shelf (which is expanding at an atrocious rate) are books by Judith McNaught, Brenda Joyce, Susan Wiggs, Kristan Higgins and Lisa Kleypas to name a few. Roxanne, it looks like you have organized your books according to genre and series which is how I organize my books. I like to have complete series like the Lakeshore Chronicles on hand 🙂
I love the Lakeshore Chronicles, don’t you? Susan Wiggs is a huge, amazing talent, in my opinion. I’m not sure I’m arranged by genre, but that’s a great idea! xo
and what’s so interesting to me is how many of the same keepers are on my shelf — on mine is Linda Howard (Mr. Perfect too, and about 8 others), Jennifer Crusie (Welcome to Temptation, Bet Me and Getting Rid of Bradley)…. I also have Cindy Gerard’s Black Op Series, Cherry Adair’s first 5 T-Flac books and the entire Bullet Catcher series 🙂 in romantic my suspense keepers section —
now I’ve also started to add some more mainstream keepers and I just found John Sandford’s books and his Lucas Davenport series (by his own description Lucas is 1/2 cop and 1/2 rockstar) and wow, I’m in love all over again!
What ever would we do without our keeper shelves!
Christy
Well, if we have that similar taste, Christy, I’m going to try any book you recommend! Thanks! xo
I love John Medina, too. He’s certainly one of my favorite alpha heroes. My keeper shelf includes all of Julie Garwood’s historicals, Stephanie Laurens, Shannon McKenna and Julia Ross.
How could I forget Julie Garwood?!? I love everything she’s written. I met her once on a plane to RWA Nationals and she was *so* gracious in the midst of a few fangirls! (Marley!!! I’m talkin’ to you!) xo
John Medina *fans self*
Sam in Mr Perfect is still all-time Howard fave along with Phin in Welcome to Temptation, the Crusie I recommend to newbies. I love your Lucy’s book b/c I love her. Also Vengeance in Death, Montana Sky, SEP’s Dream a Little Dream Kinsale’s Uncertain Magic and Shadow and the Star, Outlander – tip of the iceberg, babe.
It’s all definitely voice, but the other common denominator for me is strong, if wounded smart ass characters. I love resilience in people and a sharp sense of humor. Wimps need not apply. In books as in life, I guess. 😉
Obviously, we LOVE the same books, K. What is it about John Medina? Must reread ATQM stat. xo
I have discovered the more i read new to me authors the bigger my keeper pile expands. #1 author in the shelves is Julie Garwood. If she write it i am pretty sure I’ve read it. Everything Christine Feehan has written I’ve read. All the Jr Ward Black dagger brotherhood books. All of miss Rocki St Claire’s Bullet Catchers and Guardian Angelinos plus some strays, Most of Susan Mallery’s books, All Linda Lael Millers books, Oh Nora Roberts. I have lots of her books. I would be forever trying to read them all but i keep trying. lol Lots of Linda Howard too. Mr Perfect was the first book of hers i read and it’s written in Warren Mi which was cool since I’m from MI. This past year i got into Cindy Gerard too and have lots of her books. My shelves are really really full. I am not sure what the one element is though except these are books that usually pull me in right away. Humor is a must for me so there is that as well. I just consider it a keeper if when i finish i wish it hadn’t ended or if a series the next one was read to read right NOW! lol
Lisa B
Oh, Lisa, Lisa, Lisa. I don’t belong in that paragraph, but thank you! Good names, every one! xo
Mr. Perfect is on my keeper shelf too along with Dream Man and Open Season. Lord of Scoudrels and Devil in Winter are wonderful historicals that are also on my shelf.
Maureen, is LORD OF SCOUNDRELS by Loretta Chase? I’ve seen the name, have never read. Shame on me! xo
I am a stuffer like your and I hide things away. As far as my keeper shelf goes there are so many. I have all of Kaki Warner’s books which is only four so far on my shelf, that’s not counting the ones I have boxed up. I have all of Constance O’Banyon’s books boxed up. Come to think of it I have al lot of books boxed up maybe I am a book horder.
And QL, Kaki Warner is another I’ve heard so much about bu haven’t read. What should I start with? xo
I have way too many keepers – Linda Howard, Julie Garwood, Robin D. Owens, Nalini Singh, Christine Feehan, your books, Allison’s, Laura’s, and Debra’s to name a few.
Thanks, Joyce! Is there such a thing as TOO MANY keepers? I think not! xo
Wow that office looks great nice job!
My keeper shelf includes some of the following.
Christine Feehan’s most of her books. SEP Nobodies Baby but Mine. (most of hers also) Someone names Rocki is there too
I’ve added Larissa Ione’s books there recently As well as
(sorry I hate this laptop)
Nalini Singh
I also have space for Linda Howard’s books
Hi Mary! Oh, that Rocki. She has to horn in on everything! Larissa is AWESOME! xo
I think your daughter would enjoy a trip out to San Diego….she can go the beach in the afternoons after spending the mornings helping me with some much needed organization. Your office looks awesome!
Yes, I do have a keepers on my shelf….Eat, Pray, Love…definitely there. Marley and Me…ah yes, even though I sob at the end. Several romantic suspense, mysteries, and thrillers, including some by (you included) authors here at MSW. And definitely my Harry Potter collection.
Linda, I think she just packed! LOL. If Mia goes to San Diego, the *I* go to San Diego. xo
I considered getting rid of the physical version of my keeper shelf, since I’m a book whore and have re-read most everything I own multiple times (to the point where I can almost recite them verbatim) but lack the physical space to actually house my growing book collection. I have digital copies of all the books I own in print. Then all three shelves on my bookcase collapsed under the weight of my fantastic literary collection and/or my meagre postgraduate stipend that does not allow for purchasing quality furniture, so I was mighty glad for those print books, which now hold up my shelves and need to continue to do so for the remainder of my doctorate :).
Said keeper shelf is a hotchpotch (yes, because I speak the Queen’s English :P) of genres. There’s the entire Harry Potter series, Stieg Larsson’s Millennium trilogy, my favourite childhood manga series (hello growing up in Asia), the Star Wars novelisation (can you say boffin?), an insane amount of Nora Roberts, most everything by the institution that is SEP, loads of vintage Julie Garwood, A Kingdom of Dreams by Judith McNaught, several Agatha Christie novels, a couple of science books, essentially everything romantic suspense by the MSW ladies, several contemporaries of the Julie James persuasion, several books in Castilian, and my collection of Jorge Cham’s Ph.D. comics series. Enough “keepers” to hold up three shelves… and that’s not counting the extras I have on my Kindle! *coughabsolutebookwhorecough*
The office is looking good! I’m an organisational fiend myself, so I sympathise 😛
Wow – I don’t know what to be more impressed with…your shelf or your beautiful writing! I love Book Whores! xo
I don’t have a keeper shelf anymore. My tbr pile takes up so much space, I don’t have room.
Hey Chey! As Niecy would say, you better get to gettin’ on that TBR and turn some of them into keepers!!! xo
any that is signed. of course. but i have most of the bombshell, ( my daughter was really into the covers a couple of yrs ago. and wanted to keep those) i try to keep the whole series of books. cause i do like to reread alot fo those, especailly if they came out pretty good time in between.
Oh, so true – if you love a series, you might have the whole thing. Like ALL of JD Robb? That would take the whole shelf! xo
It’s a long list: Linda Howard of course, JD Robb’s In Death, Catherine Coulter’s FBI. Julie Garwood, historicals and contemporaries, Catherine Anderson, love her books; Jayne Ann Krentz in all her names…. So many.
hey Diane – Linda sure makes a lot of keeper shelves, doesn’t she? xo
I have a pretty large and diverse keeper shelf. Some highlights include:
Lori Armstrong
Catherine Coulter – FBI series
Jessica Andersen
Jacqueline Carey – Entire Kushiel series
Karen Marie Moning
Gena Showalter
Sherrilyn Kenyon
Suzanne Collins
and so many more…
My adult keeper shelf has:
Lorelei James
Maya Banks
(my brain is so tired that I can’t remember the rest!)
Is Catherine Coulter’s FBI series romantic suspense…or is it a recurring couple a la JD Robb? I don’t know what’s kept me from trying either of those and I wonder if that’s it. xo
There is such a large variety of books and authors on my keeper shelves. Some authors include: Lynsay Sands, Kerrelyn Sparks, Hannah Howell, Sabrina Jeffries, Karen Hawkins, Larissa Ione, and soooo many more. I have recently started getting more ebooks, to store on my new kindle, which is great because they take up no additonal space!
The Kindle is definitely letting us add to keeper shelf! I’ve already got a few stored there, and I’ve only had mine a few months. My first Kindle Keeper was WATER FOR ELEPHANTS. xo
A few times a year I go through a classics phase, so Dickens, Bronte, Austen, etc etc are ALL keepers. I have to admit that other books tend to come & go.
I love when I’m in classics phase. I started reading A TALE OF TWO CITIES the other day – love! xo
My keeper shelf is huge! You’ll be able to tell that I like my romances spicy based on the authors I read the most. I have Lauren Dane’s entire Brown Siblings series and her futuristic Federation/Phantom Corps series. I also have Megan Hart’s books for Spice and her Order of Solace books. Maya Banks’s Sweet series plus several Jaci Burton books too. Many of Lorelei James cowboys have a permanent spot on my keeper shelf.
Some of the books on my keeper shelf are on yours. I love Linda Howard she’s such a great author and I’ve only found one of her books that I couldn’t get into. I also have Lori Foster, Lora Leigh, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Christine Feehan, and my number one keeper is Jayne Ann Krentz/Amanda Quick/Jayne Castle. I had actually quit reading historical romance until she pulled me back in.
On my keeper shelf are books by Connie Mason, Kathleen Woodiwiss and many more. I have a huge cabinet full of keepers.
Your office is so neat! Mine so isn’t! It never is when I’m in manic writing mode.
on my keeper shelf, The Wolf and the Dove, The Flame and the Flower, Gone With The Wind, To Kill a Mockingbird, Mr.Perfect. Oh, and Hit Reply!
I never get rid of a book…. So every book I own is there!! 🙂
Ahhhhh….”The Keeper Shelf (or should I say shelves)…..
My keeper shelves overran the house…finally my hubby figured it would be cheaper to buy me a nook and and convinced me to put alot of my keepers on my virtual shelves. Still there are many I just could not part with…The Bulletcatchers, The Darkhunters, The Black Dagger Brotherhood, Lora Leigh Breeds, Nina Bruhns,Maya Banks, and Lorelei James Rough Riders. My all time favorite keeper is Rachel Gibson’s “Truly, Madly, Yours”. I have wore out several copies of this book …. What constitutes a keeper is book where the characters truly live on long after you have closed the book.
mostly authogrpah books i like to donate to the library and firends
bu t i lots of seires books
look nice
congrats on your books and shelf