I have this dream.
I’m not sure where it came from, maybe the fact that I purchase many more books than I can possibly read. I know I have almost 900 books in my Nook library (which is Barnes & Noble’s answer to the Kindle). Before we moved, I sold and donated I don’t know how many boxes of books and still filled somewhere around twenty boxes to store, and my “office” box that I carried with us for the journey was half books. Now that we’ve created a home base in Ithaca, my physical book buying started again, and I have a bookcase and bedside table filled with new books to read.
And I keep thinking, when am I going to read all these books?
I make time to read every day. That’s just how I roll. I start my workday reading ten pages of a book on the writing craft or creativity practice. Most of my fiction reading happens in the nighttime, a few pages before falling asleep and then more during the night if I wake up and can’t get back to sleep. That’s when I read cozy mysteries, ghost stories, and my found family/queer sci-fi and fantasy novels.
And yet…when will I have a chance to read all of my Queer History books? What about the comic memoirs for my genre research? My other nonfiction reading about subjects that just inspire me? And how about the paper novels that sit on my shelf waiting for a luxurious spare moment?
Plus, just when I find that space, one of the books from my hold list at the library shows up in my Libby app and I’ve got to read that one first because it will be due soon.
How can I catch up?
Thus, I dream of a reading retreat. This lovely space would be a place where all of my needs are supported while I read in a little cranny, curled around a cup of warm tea. Making progress through a stack of books over a weekend, reading those cozy mysteries, making my way through a difficult piece of queer history, delving into a luxurious bit of comic writing.
All while someone else makes my meals, tops up the hot water in the tea kettle, and suggests breaks from reading with easy walks to the local bookshop.
When I started researching reading retreats, I discovered luxury breaks that cost thousands of dollars and not much else. But you know what? We all deserve space for reading! So I began to create an accessible reading retreat.
Thus, I visited Delhi, NY (named after the city in India but pronounced “Dell. Hi!”) to meet with a new friend who is starting a retreat for creatives there, Birdy’s House.
Delhi is two hours from where I live in Ithaca, nestled into the Catskills. Birdy’s House contains nooks and crannies, plumpy sofas and cozy chairs, porches and patios—perfect for the Reading Retreat!
If you need to fly into the area, aim for Ithaca and we’ll drive down together. You should also plan for any other sundry expenses like “just the one” book from the bookshop (which is called The Lost Bookshop—how adorable is that?!) or lunch at a nearby restaurant.
But lodging and meals are provided by Birdy’s House.
What do you think? Do you want to read books with me this autumn?
Leaves will be beginning their colorful display. Warm days will be offset by cool nights.
We’ll arrive on Friday afternoon, September 27th and leave on Monday morning, September 30.
Two days of reading all those books. Making progress on your shelves. Delving into those tomes that you haven’t started because you need uninterrupted time.
Maybe we won’t make it all the way through our TBRs, but I expect to see a dent by the time we leave.
Cost is $100, with the intent of making this opportunity affordable. If you are in, write me at la@labourgeois.biz and apply by letting me know how this Reading Retreat will benefit you and what talents you can share with the group.
Each Wednesday at 3pm, we meet for Parallel Universe Time, a co-working session over Zoom. Working on our own projects at the same time brings a focus and a timelessness to activities that otherwise are hard to make happen. Let’s make progress together!
Wednesday at 3pm Eastern/2pm Central/1pm Mountain/12pm Pacific.
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81225576289?pwd=MnJvdk1mdEo0RW0vNWFONUFQUWc4dz09
See you then!
Now, let’s all feel the freedom in our dance party with Elton John!
I'm LA (as in tra-la-la) Bourgeois, Kaizen-Muse Certified Creativity Coach
Contact me at la@labourgeois.biz to allow me to empower you to manifest your creative dreams.
I’m definitely pondering this idea. I love the concept.
📚 luscious reading time 📚