I can confidently say that getting my first library card was the most life-altering experience of my life. I haven't had a single experience to rival yet ( I secretly hope I never do). I was about 8 or 9 years old, I was already in love with my school librarian, Mrs. Purden. Her son Trevor and I were in the same grade — I thought he was the biggest jerk, but his Mom was the most amazing person, with the most spectacular job. When we would go to the school library as a class, she would teach us the basics of library science, and then read the latest book to us. She always wore a rubber thimble on her right index finger, and it was my favorite accessory. I seriously thought it held some type of superpower, and that in order to be a librarian I needed to possess a thimble. Frankly, I still want a rubber thimble. My love affair with language, words, and stories is neverending. I was an obsessive reader as a kid. If there is a photo of me it typically has me holding a book, reading a book, or it doesn't exist. I read everything from encyclopedias to the backs of cereal boxes. My writing heroes are everyone from Beverly Cleary to Toni Morrison, Jane Austen to Alexander Dumas.
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