Happy ❤️ day x

I don't love Valentine's. But I love books.

Today is not just Valentine's Day.

It's International Book Giving Day.

It started as a way to encourage people to share the love of reading by giving books to children and adults who have limited access to them.

I still dislike days for days sake but if that’s not a heartfelt cause to boost, I’m not sure what is.

I love giving books. I love receiving them.

It turns out I might even like writing them.

I have a bookshelf buffet of leadership titles, but the ones I treasure are those from my childhood.

I was fortunate to have unlimited access to books and I’ve kept every one.

As a child, books were escape routes and secret worlds. I still remember the fizz of possibility the first time I read The Famous Five under the duvet by torchlight, the words glowed, and they always had incredible vivid picnics!

Words always remind me: you are not alone.

Author Alan Bennett said it best:

'The best moments in reading are when you come across something - a thought, a feeling, a way of looking at things - which you had thought special and particular to you. And now, here it is, set down by someone else, a person you have never met, someone even who is long dead. And it is as if a hand has come out, and taken yours.’

Because that’s what stories do. It’s why many people post, write.

They give language to the things we’ve been carrying but didn’t know how to say.

Perhaps you know that feeling, when a word, lyric or story reaches out and touches something so true inside you that you whisper, ‘me too’.

So on this commercialised day of love, maybe gift someone a book you love.

Donate one to someone who doesn’t have access. Share an audiobook recommendation. Pass a story on.

I can’t gift you my book just yet. And even if I could there are no delicious ‘lashings of ginger beer’ style picnics scenes in it. I think I’ve missed a trick there. But if you add your email to my list, I’ll send you a preview chapter.

And if you’re already subscribed, thank you.

A gift is on its way. ❤️📙

#bookgivingday