As a child I couldn't get enough of books. I read with a flashlight under the blankets despite the dangers of being caught reading past bedtime. I read on the bus, ignoring the motion sickness. I stocked up at the local library, and raided the class library for good measure. My favorites, Superfudge by Judy Blume, The Little Gymnast by Sheila Haigh and The Boxcar Children series, were some of my most treasured possessions. I remember feeling desperate to share my fantastic book finds with someone. Why else would a 7-year-old kid teach her 5-year-old brother to read?

A few years later, I began to write and found it to be an incredible conduit of expression. It was no surprise when I decided to major in English.

Today, I look forward to the thrill of finding a book I truly love, and the impulse to share it is the same as it ever was. Working at Dystel and Goderich is a wonderful and exciting opportunity for me to approach that search in a different way. Not only will it give me a chance to find wonderful books, it will also allow me to play a small part in their creation.