I discuss with many on social media the reasons we love books. Even though the list varies, the main thing we mostly agree on is that books are escape from the world, our lives, or whatever we need escape from. We can be whatever and whomever we want to be inside a book. A few minutes ago I answered a question posted by an Instagrammer who asked whether we would want a mermaid tail in the water, wings in the air, or roots to stay planted in the earth. My reply was detailed, but in the end, I'm an author so I get to manipulate any scenario to fit my every desire - what power! The fun thing is readers can join me and get the same experience with my books! I took a chance writing The Web of Loki, because instead of putting in all my wonderful fantasies like I did in The Magical Things Collection or The Travelers Duology, I put in my childhood and teenage nightmares. My fascination with Vikings and their myths was the only "fun" stuff I added to cater to my author whims. The thing is, NO ONE is perfect, and I'm the most gloriously flawed one of them all. This world with its social media posts and movie star glamour, tries to make being perfect seem to be the norm. Those who appear without blemish have brushed over photos and hidden demons they don't let the world see. Even when we get a glimpse of their misery, the magazines glamorize it to be something they have to live with as a price for being perfect. Immediately, the poor perfect people on movies and television are getting even more popular for their secret shames and ability to show us their less pleasant sides. We latch onto the stories looking to find some acceptance that our own flaws aren't that much different than that gorgeous actor, but somehow instead, we feel less valuable because we can't even add up to their secret shames that go viral on Twitter or Instagram. I'm here to tell you we're all flawed and sometimes I can own this with my head held high, but sometimes I want to hide under a rock and ignore all the pep talks I gave myself earlier. The Web of Loki is my constant reminder to keep my head up no matter what. Books can help us escape, but they can also change our perspectives. Let me know why you love books in the comments. I love to talk books with anyone willing to give me the time, and I hope you take a chance on The Web of Loki and read it.
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Ramblings on life, travels, & books
Carla Reighard Archives
December 2023
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