every book is a map.

I dearly treasure the letters readers send me. I can't believe they take the time to read the book, much less share how they connected with the story. This is a snippet of a poem from a young reader named Eden, and it's so special to me. I'm so happy Midnight Gulch was a stop on her literary road trip.

I so agree with you, Eden! I wish I had more time to read.

Sometimes I wish I could rest my hand on a book cover and experience the whole thing, all at once, just upload it all to my brain. The wonder, the worry, the hope, the magic of it all - the same way I do when I'm reading it. Just 10x faster. But maybe that wouldn't be as fun?

I think every book is a map. Some books have maps as endpapers; they create whole fantasy worlds. But even books with settings more real, more close to home, have maps inside them, I think. They're not maps you see; they're maps you feel. Maps help you find your way and face your fears. They help you find a little bit of courage along the way. And a whole lot of hope.

After I read Eden's poem, I started thinking about the places I would want to go on a literary road trip. And places I've been, that I'll never forget. :) Definitely Narnia. Definitely Green Gables. Hogwarts, obviously.

What about you? What are some of the town and worlds and fictional wonders you'd like to visit?