Hi friends,
With great pleasure, I want to introduce my guest blogger and friend, Joy Tiffany. She’s a voracious reader and author-supporter extraordinaire. If there was reader superhero–it would be her. She’s blessed me with gift bags full of deadline items to keep me going and to surprise me daily. She’s made me awesome scrabble-letter coasters with names of my characters and book titles. She’s flat-out amazing and today she’ll be sharing a secret with you all. I know you’ll enjoy the day spent with her! ~Dani
I’m going to let you in on a little secret. I love surprising people with little gifts that make me think of them. Gift-giving fills my heart with great joy. I get giddy just thinking about it! A couple of years ago I stumbled upon a hashtag that combined my love of books and surprising people. And oh my! It has been incredibly fun! The hashtag was #IBelieveInBookFairies. I discovered a group of people from around the world who take the books they’ve read and hide them in fun places for others to find and read. I knew instantly that I wanted to join this movement.
Becoming a Book Fairy, it turned out, was extremely easy. I visited their website and ordered some stickers that are placed on the cover of the book. That is the only challenging part of being a Book Fairy; trying to place the sticker on the cover in a spot that won’t cover a key piece of it. Most readers will agree that stickers on book covers can drive us crazy! And OK, I also fell in love with the tote bag pictured below because (and here’s another little secret for you) I am addicted to tote bags. I have far more than any one person should ever have. It’s true… and I’m not sorry.
Once my tote bag and stickers arrived, I simply had to find my favorite books to share with others. A cute ribbon around the book made it feel like I was hiding a little gift. It didn’t take long for me to run out of books, despite being an avid reader. I turned to online and local used book stores to restock my book fairy stash. I’ve chosen Christian fiction specifically and pray over each book that God would lead the person who needs that book to my hiding spot.
I’ve lost track of where all I’ve hidden books at this point but whenever I travel (near or far), I make sure I have a few books on hand in case I happen upon a fabulous hiding spot.
It only seems fitting to leave a Dani Pettrey novel in a coffee shop. Ha! And if you look closely, you can see her reflection in the photo on the lower left
Sometimes I write a little note inside for whoever finds the book. I think it adds a personal touch and encourages the finder to read it. I also include a bookmark for a similar Christian fiction author as my way of saying, “If you enjoyed this book, you might like this one, too
What about you? Do YOU believe in book fairies? What creative ways have you found to share your favorite books with others?
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What a great idea. Love it!!
I know. Isn’t it wonderful! Thanks so much for stopping by, Lynn. I LOVED your post on Monday. It was so much fun! I need to start writing about places in Europe and convince my husband I need to research on location. It’s been over a decade since we’ve been back. 😀
This is SO, SO SWEET! And as a reader, it inspires me to think about how I could become a book fairy.
As an author, we so appreciate when readers are inspired to cheer writers on in whatever way they’re gifted 🙂 So glad you enjoyed the post!
It truly is so much fun, Shelley! I hope you find your wings!
While I haven’t been as creative as our book fairy, I do share my books. I have several reading friends with whom I share my books after I’ve read them. Ultimately I donate my books to my local library used book store, or I sell some of them to Half Price Books. I do believe in keeping the books circulating. I also love to email friends about the books that I’m reading and enjoying. Recently I’ve made a habit of reviewing online the books I’ve read.
Hi Suzanne,
That’s wonderful! What great ways to share <3
How kind of you to share your books with friends, Suzanne! I have two sisters and often let them read my books as well before they wind up in my book fairy stash. Reviewing books online is a great help to authors as well!
I love this post so much! Joy is a gift giver extraordinaire and a fabulous book fairy! It makes me smile to imagine the people who find those books and how the Lord can work in their hearts and minds through the reading of those stories.
Hey friend,
SO very true!
agree!!!
Someday I hope authors start to hear that readers first found their books via the book fairies!
What a neat idea! I have been in the process of finding homes for many of my voluminous piles of books. I started with giving away my teaching collection of 35 years after I retired in 2014 and finally finished this year. I have also been sending books I have read to friends and church libraries. You have inspired me!
Hi Betty,
Thanks so much for stopping by! I’m so glad you enjoyed Joy’s post and found it inspiring. Congrats on 35 years of teaching. I’m sure you blessed a lot of students!
I’m sure those church libraries are appreciative of all those books! I wish all churches had libraries full of Christian fiction. So many lives would be impacted. I hope you find your book fairy wings, Betty!
I do believe in book faeries. I have some of those stickers and need to share some books.
Such a great idea!