It has been an absolute joy getting to know the InspyRomance reader family this year, and this month, I thought I’d give you a glimpse into the inner workings of Judith McNees so you can get to know me better as well. One of the more quirky aspects of my personality is that I love collecting things. There’s just something satisfying about starting a collection and adding pieces to it, especially when it’s a collection I can complete.
Now, before you nominate me for an episode of Hoarders, let me reassure you that, these days, I mostly collect experiences (like my bucket list of visiting all 50 states) and digital books and photographs, so my house isn’t overrun by anything other than my collection of kids and dogs–oh, and the mug collection that grows every holiday thanks to my husband and kids, who then complain that we have too many mugs for our cupboard. To be fair…it’s their fault I have so many!
One of my first collections was a set of books from the original Ann M. Martin series, The Babysitter’s Club. Ann wrote books for that series long after I stopped reading them, so I never quite finished that collection before I got too old for them and passed them along to younger relatives. I also collected porcelain dolls that I had grand aspirations of being able to sell for top dollar as an adult. That didn’t happen (thanks a lot Ashton Drake Galleries), so now most of my dolls sit in boxes in a closet so they don’t creep my kids out.
As a young adult, space constraints limited my collections to small items. While I still loved collecting paperbacks, I also started collecting Christmas tree ornaments. Any time I went on a vacation, I would try to find a new ornament as a souvenir. As a result, I have a lot of unique ornaments that I never get to display. You may remember from earlier posts that I’m an adoptive mom. The extra sensory stuff that goes along with Christmas doesn’t bode well for my kiddos, so we put up a fake tree with some generic, shatter proof ornaments for now.
My absolute favorite collection that I have is my collection of signed books. I started that when I was in high school, where the English department brought in several high-profile authors to give lectures. Some of my most prized books are signed by William Styron and Alice Walker. I also have a small but growing collection of signed CCR books by people like Meghann Whistler, Jessie Gussman, and Joy Avery Melville.
So, now I want to hear from you. Is there anything that you collect other than books, or do you have any signed books that mean a lot to you?
Ausjenny says
As a kid I collected postcards. I had them in the old fashioned scrapbooks and lots in a box. I had several thousand. Just recently I moved and I got rid of most of them. I kept some old ones my Aunt got just after WW2 on a trip to europe. and there were some others that are special that I have kept but most have gone. I put a lot in the recycle bin and gave a lot away on facebook. this house doesn’t have the storage of the last 2 places. People would give me their postcards cos they didn’t want to just throw them away.
I collected ornaments too but have given a lot away and again when I moved but did keep some. I went from the cute ones to now having more of the angel ones. I love the Elements ornaments and have quite a few. I have others ones as well.
On the Christmas ornaments I got some on the trips overseas and also been in a few ornament swaps. Its interesting we had some really old glass ones which survived my brother and me then my previous cats and the nieces and nephew and none were broken. But these two cats Libby mostly (Henry was better behaved but is currently missing) are not good around the tree. Libby made the tree have lots of naps the first year. I ended up having to get a smaller tree that I anchor down better. She was better last year. but don’t put the breakable ones on it but my pink trolley car from Hawaii goes on it even thought I don’t like pink.
Andrea Conner says
I don’t collect anything
Judith McNees says
Your comment about the postcards made me remember I also collected stickers as a small girl. I don’t remember what happened to that collection. Thanks for sharing!
Judith McNees says
Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
Renate says
Happy Friday from SW Michigan Judith, Inspy Romance authors and readers! As I look out my window leaves are beginning to change colors and down the street pumpkins are growing large and bright orange at DeVries Family Farm. Garden centers and local farmers are selling colorful mums. Our small resort town with its many beautiful beaches are filled with locals. Yes, this retired German American collects gnomes. I have 12 outdoor gnomes that protect my deck and front patio, plus 7 indoor gnomes that I rotate seasonally. Gnomes recently have become popular in the US – but it is a German thing. LOL
But as a retired teacher my biggest collection is books – different genre, in both German and English, and with grandkids children and Young Adult books – both physical and on my Kindle. My favorite purple t-shirt says I love gnomes and books.. Yes, I have some autographed books, including 7 paperback German books autographed by 7 East German authors that I met while in 1996 in Berlin, Germany at a conference for college professors. Their perspective on life behind the Iron Curtain was eye opening and intriguing. Best wishes. Happy reading this beautiful fall weekend.
Judith McNees says
Gnomes and books! I love it! Enjoy the beautiful weather this weekend.
Kimberly Rose Johnson says
I also collect Christmas ornaments when I travel. I don’t have a ton of them, but the few I have I treasure. My grandmother gave me one every year as I grew up and then my mom continued that tradition for many years.
Judith McNees says
I think that is such a lovely tradition. I actually have a hero whose parents did the same for him in my Christmas novella and started it as a new tradition with his love interest. ❤️ Thanks for sharing!
Bonnie says
I don’t really collect anything. I do have some signed books from some of the authors I’m a member of their ARC team.
Trudy says
I now have quite a collection of signed books by CCR authors! And, some by historical CF authors, too! I also have a collection of bookmarks and other things that I’ve received from authors. I also collect teapots, anything lighthouse, and Precious Moments. Most of the Precious Moments were gifts! I also have some Willow Tree figures that were given to me.
Kendra Muonio says
I collect puzzles and when I’m done with them I get rid of them.
Judith McNees says
That’s awesome that some authors send signed books for their ARC teams! Thanks for stopping by!
Judith McNees says
I love that you collect tea pots. I have one set that my husband bought me for tea parties when my girls were small, but I’ve always loved them. It’s why I made the Morgans in my series tea drinkers! Thanks for commenting!
Judith McNees says
I used to love doing puzzles. I can’t these days because my kids would lose the pieces unless I did them all in one sitting. Maybe it’s something I can take up again when they’re grown!
Sheri Merwin says
I also have a large collection of mugs. Most were gifted to me, so it’s hard to get rid of them. I also have a pretty decent sized collection of books, which I tend to read over and over. All of my books are printed, as I don’t own an ereader of any type.
Judith McNees says
I’m not usually one to reread books since I have so many on my to be read, but I do reread Carol Moncado’s royalty romances over usually once a year. Thanks for commenting!
Natalya Lakhno says
We collect magnets from the places we visit :)
RuthieH says
I used to love the Baby Sitters Club books lol.
I’ve never really collected anything, although a do have a LOT of books of all different types and genres. One is really treasure is a signed copy of ‘I Capture the Castle’ by Dodie Smith, I’ve loved it since childhood and money of my cousins found a signed edition as a gift for my 21st – I don’t think it’s very valuable as it’s in very used condition but it was such a thoughtful gift and I love it.
Judith McNees says
I have started doing that as well, but my kids usually take them and lose them…lol!
Judith McNees says
That’s amazing that they were able to find that for you. A treasure for sure!
Debra Pruss says
I have many signed ARC’s and books that mean a lot to me. Thank you for sharing. God bless you.
Judith McNees says
Thank you for your comment. Have a blessed weekend!
Marina Costa says
I have signed books too. As a child, I collected stamps, postcards in general and postcards with roses and with ships in special. Also actors and singers photos. Now I have given away the stamps and the postcards, keeping the postcards with roses and with ships.
I have plushies and dolls too. My husband complains that the plushies are going to outhouse us.
I do not understand why some people say that dolls are creepy – I played a lot with dolls when young, I destroyed a lot but from too much love (dressing and undressing them until limbs fell apart, or attempting to give them haircuts, injections, make-up with carioca colours, etc) And I kept some. I had to give away the biggest ones, but I kept the smaller, who are now 50+ years old. I see them as babies, children or young ladies, as they are intended to. I have also a sailor and a chimney sweep which I love, kept from my teen years.
Betty Armstrong says
Primarily because I was a school librarian, I’ve been able to get quite a few books signed by authors and/or illustrators. Many of those were acquired when I attended school librarian conventions. Others are from two graduate courses I took that included having authors and/or illustrators spend the day with us–an incredible experience! In several of the books signed by illustrators, they also drew little pictures, so that is extra special.
There is another book, though, that is probably the most special one for me. I was blessed to attend a “tea” in NYC sponsored by Victoria magazine in the mid-1990s, with Madeleine L’Engle as the guest speaker. She inscribed my hardcopy of A Wrinkle in Time as follows: “for Betty – Tesser well – Madeleine L’Engle”.
Other than books, the main thing that I have collected is cobalt blue glassware, especially Depression Glass and covered candy dishes.