Welcome to The Paperback Porch

I don't think there's anything more magical in the world than a front porch. Maybe it's the childhood coming out in me, of growing up eating peanuts from a bucket in a cushioned chair, watching Papa's petunias grow in colorful planters, always with a dog at our feet. There were blurry hummingbirds, neighbors who honked as they drove past, a radio that (sometimes) played country gold or (almost always) weather alerts on muggy summer nights.

Now that my husband has gifted me a porch of our own, built with the makings of his powerful mind and capable hands, I find myself there daily. There's petunias (they're practically always on the cusp of death), there's a dog at my feet (either sleeping or bringing me a tennis ball), there's coffee in the mornings (usually iced) and a blanket in the rocker in the evenings. There is also, without fail, whatever book I'm currently reading and whatever notebook I'm journaling in.

The amount of times I've brainstormed and daydreamed in those journals about a blog and/or podcast combo where I could connect with others over whatever they're reading via a "digital book club on the porch" is endless. My plan: Everyone reads the books they choose --> just grab whatever’s stacked on your nightstand, your coffee mug, and maybe a dog or two curled up nearby. Or a chicken, if you're the local crazy chicken-lady. No judgements here. Each month I’ll share what I’m reading, and you can join the conversation whenever you feel like it.

Think this could be the place for you? Here's 5 Signs YOU Might Be a "Paperback-Porcher", too, even if you're sans-porch:

1.A. Your dog knows your reading spot is sacred. (Don't have a dog? Head to #1.B.)
They’ll curl up next to you, sigh loudly and dramatically, and side-eye you occasionally as you flip pages.

1.B. If you don't have a dog, sub this one in with: "Your spouse/children/roommate know/s your reading spot is sacred."

Same concept but hopefully there's less drool in this scenario.

2. You’ve mastered the art of one-handed reading because the other hand is always holding a coffee cup or your water flask of choice or your phone scrolling the Goodreads app or on BookTok.

Multitasking at its finest, baby. 

3. You’ve got more bookmarks than socks.

Receipts, old postcards, napkins, dog-eared corners... If it’s flat, you’ve probably marked a chapter with it.

4. You’ve spilled your drink on at least one book and called it ‘adding character.’

Books should be lived in, just like porches. And a little coffee ring on page 83? Simply evidence of a good chapter.

5. You’ve cornered someone into a conversation about your latest read and you don’t feel a bit bad about it.

“I need you to understand how good this book is.”

To be honest, I'm still sounding out all the schematics... I'm very much a "leap-before-you-look" kind of gal, you know? Plus, returning to Blogger makes me feel extra-nostalgic and all warm and fuzzy inside, as this was the first platform I ever blogged on +/- 15 years ago. 

Come join me on the Porch. Bring your book, dog, coffee, kids, sunscreen, margarita... you catch my drift - and tell me what kind of posts you’d like to see here on the blog. What would YOU be excited to read about? 

-Bri