Bermuda Triangle Love and Libraries by Keith Melton + Giveaway

Filed in 1000 follower celebration , Giveaways , Guest Post , Keith Melton , The Geeky Lover Posted on October 14, 2011 @ 5:53 am 25 comments

We are happy to welcome the wonderful Keith Melton to our Book Lovers United celebration today. Keith is not only a great author he’s also my secret little author crush (please don’t tell bf *wink*). Today he is here to tell us about libraries and what they have to do with the Bermuda Triangle for him. Please give him a warm welcome and be sure to check out the giveaway he brought along. 

I haunted the Tucson Public Library as a kid, ghosting through the stacks, slipping like a silent shade past rows of books that towered above me like idols built of ink and paper. The air smelled of musty books and metal shelving. I’d peer at the titles arranged on the shelves, pull them gently from the packed rows, read the back blurbs, and scrutinize the cover art on books I’d not yet read. Every choice had to count. There were only so many I could check out at once, and, for a kid, two weeks was a long time to wait before we returned.

Without a doubt, those were magical times, full of promise and wonder. Full of potential. Any book might hold a new favorite story, new characters to love, and new fantastic worlds to explore. There were no restrictions that I remember. I wandered from the fantasy and science fiction section to the children’s section to the nonfiction areas, unhindered in my explorations. I even logged serious tours of duty reading nonfiction—everything from battle histories of World War II to UFO investigations, to books on dinosaurs and outer space and volcanoes and the Bermuda Triangle. God, I loved the Bermuda Triangle.

Why do I mention this? Simple. My love of reading was nurtured in libraries, fed, watered, given sunlight and shelter from storms. Everything in my life would’ve turned out differently if the libraries had closed their doors. My family did not have much money. We did not starve, but we were certainly seated in the blue collar, working class bleachers of my country’s economic stadium. Money went to rent and food, gasoline and clothing, same as everybody else. This meant there was no possible way to buy all the books I yearned to read. My love of reading might’ve first been born with the adventure stories and picture books my parents read to me, but it was fully fed here in the library by a banquet table that seemed nearly infinite.

Often in these hard economic times, library budgets are the first on the chopping block, and that is tragic. Quite simply, the library changed my life. Reading instills empathy. Reading promotes thought and wonder and curiosity. Reading creates the next generation of writers. If we, as societies, wish to instill a love of reading our future generations, we must support our libraries.

At times I wonder if we here in America always choose the right path by funding another thirty-five million dollar war machine instead of investing in the vital pillars of our communities, one of which is libraries. The Spartans were warrior elite, but the Greeks remain the ones remembered for their culture, whose lasting influence played an important role in Europe’s Renaissance and ultimately upon the birth of America. We put our culture, our love of the arts, humanities, and the sciences at risk when we fail to invest in, protect, and support our society’s libraries. The treasures in them, the books, the computers, and more than anything the access to all the gathered knowledge must remain attainable for anyone, regardless of economic status, cultural background, race, gender, and so on.
This is freedom, and libraries are one of its brightest flames.

Places to find Keith:
twitter, facebook, website, blog, Scribbling Ninjas

About the book:

Christopher Hill is a knight in the Order of the Thorn—a hard charger packing a submachine gun and a sword. His mission is simple: destroy the ancient, profane evils that prey upon humanity.

But Hill’s mission becomes much more complicated when a young boy is kidnapped by flesh-eating ghouls. Barricaded inside a run-down house, the ghouls slowly gain the upper hand, while outside, mounting casualties and internal power struggles threaten both the mission and the boy Hill’s vowed to see home safe, no matter what…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~*~*Giveaway*~*~
Keith generously offered a digital copy of any of his backlist titles or you could choose his forthcoming title 9mm Blues. Your choice!
(you can find a full list of his books here)

You’re also getting an extra entry for the main giveaway if you entered our Big 1000 Followers Giveaway here.


All you have to do is leave a comment or question for Keith or just tell us if you love libraries too and why?
(You can read our full giveaway policy here)

Please leave us a way to contact you.
(Email or twitter name – no way to contact you – no entry).

This giveaway is open worldwide!

Giveaway ends on 22 October and we will announce the winner on Sunday.

Good luck!
Copyright 2010-11 Book Lovers Inc.

About Susi


Susi is a geeky vegetarian from Gemany. She just finished university and now works as a civil engineer in steel construction. Besides her reading addiction she also knits like a maniac while listening to audiobooks. Susi also blogs at the Secret HEA Society.

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25 Comments

Join the Discussion
  • Sharon October 14, 2011 at 8:39 am

    I agree whole heartily! and well said. Thanks for posting 🙂 I remember getting excited about the Bookmobile when I was young. I am so glad my kids love going to the library. I just wish I had a better memory about returning them. I think I have paid enough in fines to fund my own wing 😉

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  • Bookwyrm369 October 14, 2011 at 10:35 am

    Great post! I don't visit the library often because I'm a hoarder and must keep all the books I read 🙂 But I definitely agree that we need to keep our libraries open!

    smaccall AT comcast.net

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  • draconismoi October 14, 2011 at 10:46 am

    @Bookwyrm369 – I feel you on the hoarding. I am pretty sure my 10-year-old self inspired a change in how the library processed returned books – just so I wouldn't keep rechecking out my favorites.

    Then I outsmarted the system in college by working at libraries. MWAHAHAH!

    I assure you all, I used my powers for good. Mostly.

    cas at sigmadog dot com

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  • Yto October 14, 2011 at 11:04 am

    i love libraries! especially the first one i entered as a clueless 8-year old school kid ^^ that's when i fell in love with books. i love small cute little libraries who have some charme.

    witchvela at web dot de

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  • Keith Melton October 14, 2011 at 1:55 pm

    @Sharon LoL, yeah the fines…the biggest downside. My local library has a great children's reading program and story hour. My kids love it.

    @Bookwyrm369
    I do love the sight of a well stocked bookshelf, whether at the library or in my house.

    @draconismoi
    Well, as long as you're using your powers for good 70-79% of the time then there are no worries. 😉

    @Yto
    Exactly.

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  • roro October 14, 2011 at 1:56 pm

    Great post lov libraries
    but there r no new books here , nedrlands givs our only public library books but mostly in dutch and 20 year old books

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  • roro October 14, 2011 at 1:57 pm

    4got twittr handle @rocapri and email

    rogcaprino at hotmail dot com

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  • SacredmOOn October 14, 2011 at 3:28 pm

    LOL! I'm terrible when it comes to returning books on time (though I try really hard to) the same as movie rentals. *sigh* Though mostly I use the library to see if the books I have my eye on are worth buying.
    Like allot of the above I'm a hoarder and that's putting it mildly. TY for the giveaway chance! 🙂

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  • SacredmOOn October 14, 2011 at 3:29 pm

    *face palm*
    DeAnna S
    sacredmoon1(at)gmail(dot)com

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  • Maria (pronounced Mariah) October 14, 2011 at 4:41 pm

    I used to love libraries but haven't been in ages. Now that kindle is offering to borrow books from them I will be a taking a trip to my library to get a card again!

    mmafsmith at gmail dot com

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  • Jen B. October 14, 2011 at 7:12 pm

    I feel so sad for future generations because they will never fully understand the draw of a library or local bookstore. It kills me that library budgets are small and shrinking! I won't get on my soapbox here because I could post a huge commentary and I think everyone here already agrees with me. Thanks for the giveaway.
    +1 1000 follower giveaway
    jepebATverizonDOTnet

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  • JenM October 15, 2011 at 12:04 am

    I adore libraries. As a kid, I knew (and had read) just about every book in the children's section of our small public library. Nowadays, I don't borrow books (my TBR pile of purchased books is already too mountainous), but I still donate lots of used books and I regularly shop at the Friends of the Library book sales.

    jen at delux dot com

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  • Keith Melton October 15, 2011 at 1:22 am

    @roro
    Only 20-year-old books? I sympathize, my friend.

    @SacredmOOn
    Yeah, I've paid my share of fines–usually for video rentals. Although there are still times I'm listening to an audio book right up to the last day of the due date.

    @Maria
    I'm very excited about libraries lending ebooks. I'm glad libraries are shifting/changing/adapting to stay relevant and a community resource. Also, I love them for audio books.

    @Jen B.
    While they did cut the library's hours down in my city, the librarians have gone out of their way to provide activities and story time hours for children. I look forward to the day when my library is open 5 days a week again.

    @JenM
    I love library book sales. They fill my little reading heart full of joy. ^_^

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  • Camille October 15, 2011 at 7:09 am

    wonderful competition and very well said Keith! though I do love my gadgets I don't think e-readers or ipads or whatnots can ever replace the magic of libraries. I didn't grow up going to libraries but then I lived in a house that had one (grandparents were English teachers XD)

    but I have come to love them growing up- great place to sit and *travel* places 🙂

    Usually I went to borrow books before I decided to buy them but I like to check out the paranormal non-fiction section too or real life ghost stories hehe

    midnite dot fantasy at gmail dot com

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  • Tore October 15, 2011 at 9:58 am

    I love libraries because they have so many books to choose from to read. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com

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  • Julie October 15, 2011 at 10:08 am

    Yes, I LOVE libraries!! I don't have a lot of money (which is why I enter book giveaways) and can't buy many books, so the library is a Godsend! Some of my favorite memories as a youngun are going to the library when I was little:)
    jwitt33 at live dot com

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  • LSUReader October 15, 2011 at 1:39 pm

    Oh, I do love libraries. I'm in one now, as a matter of fact! I visit my home library at least twice a week in person. On line, I visit every day–You never know when they're going to be adding new titles. I've been a library fan for many years. Thanks for a good column, Keith.
    Mochfly(at)swbell(dot)net

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  • Keith Melton October 15, 2011 at 3:22 pm

    @Camille
    Very well said.
    I love books on real hauntings or ghost stories. Creeeeeepy. 😉

    @Tore
    I completely agree.

    @Julie
    Glad to hear it. And who doesn’t love book giveaways? ^_^

    @LSUReader
    Thank you. It’s good to hear from fellow library fans.

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  • Lesley D October 15, 2011 at 8:09 pm

    I love libraries! I usually buy the novels I read, but my university library has so many amazing resources that I wouldn't normally have access to! The special collections are super interesting, and I can find almost any academic source I want. I'm going to be so sad when I graduate and can't check things out anymore.

    Thanks for the giveaway!

    drakeLa90 at aol dot com

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  • Marissa October 16, 2011 at 1:20 am

    One of the first things I do when I move to a new city is get a library card. I spent most of my childhood in books and, like Keith Melton, as an adult most of my money goes to the realities of living with not much left over for the "splurge" of books. I can't live without them, so without my local public library, I would be lost. I LOVE MY PUBLIC LIBRARY!!!
    msculp@gmail.com

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  • mbreakfield October 16, 2011 at 1:57 pm

    I love libraries. They are great for research and to find hidden treasures in.

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  • erin October 16, 2011 at 2:21 pm

    Thanks for a great post! I have such wonderful memories of spending hours at the library while I was growing up. Don't really visit much now b/c of time, but I need to, and it would save me money.

    +1 entered main giveaway

    efender1(at)gmail(dot)com

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  • Keith Melton October 17, 2011 at 11:52 am

    @Lesley D
    I’m right there with you on university special collections. Also, inter-library loan has to be one of the greatest inventions ever.

    @Marissa
    Right on. ^_^

    @mbreakfield
    Exactly.

    @erin
    I’ve heard from a great many people who share our wonderful memories of time spent at libraries when growing up.

    Link
  • Brenda Hyde October 17, 2011 at 2:55 pm

    I can't imagine growing up without a library…our library was VERY small but I read constantly. I remember having headaches for some reason and they STILL couldn't keep me from reading. Even now when I get to visit a big library- we just went into the college library where my son started classes in the fall-I get all excited at the shelves of books. I started taking my kids to the library before they could even read. LOL We get picture books and I'd read to them:)

    wayfaringwriter at gmail dot com

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  • Keith Melton October 19, 2011 at 12:06 am

    @Brenda Hyde
    I love your comment and your enthusiasm for reading/libraries. 😀

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