You know that feeling you get when you finish a book you absolutely love, and you want to hold onto the characters and the story a little bit longer? And as much as you love to read, you just can’t bring yourself to step into another story world quite yet. All you want to do is think about the book you just read. Maybe go back and reread the book you just read. Hey, if you could, you’d live the book you just read. Some people call it a book hangover. But I’m just going to call it “that special feeling.”
I love that feeling. And I also dread it. Because it happens to me not only when I finish reading a book, but also when I finish writing one.
And that’s where I find myself right now. With my newest book, Not Until Someday, happily out in the world (if you haven’t had a chance to read it yet, you can still get it for the special launch price of 99¢), I know exactly which book I’m going to write next (more on that in a future post!).
The only thing is, I’m not quite ready to let go of Grace and Levi yet. Not that I have to let go of them completely, since they’ll continue to appear in future Hope Springs books, but still … I need to let go of them enough to get inside another set of characters’ heads. And that takes time.
How much time? Hopefully not too much! In the past, I’ve found that it takes me anywhere from a week to a month to brainstorm the next book to the point where I’m ready to start writing it. And I’ve already got ideas for this one floating around (in my head, on my computer, in my phone’s notes app, on my phone’s voice recorder…), so I’m optimistic that it won’t be too long before I’m ready to start writing it. Until then, I’m keeping busy with plenty of authory and non-authory tasks (like catching up on projects around the house that get sadly neglected when I’m in the throes of finishing up a book—fortunately I find doing household tasks a great time to brainstorm!).
Thankfully, when it comes to reading a great book, it usually doesn’t take nearly as long before I’m ready to start another—maybe a day or two. How about you? Do you get that special feeling? From every book or only some? How long does it take before you’re ready to start reading another book? One commenter will be chosen at random to receive an ebook of their choice from my Hope Springs series. Comment by September 16 to enter. And don’t forget that all comments made before September 10 will also be entered in our Back to School Giveaway!
“One of the most beautiful love stories I have ever read! I chuckled, cried, smiled, oohed, aahed and had tummy dips – a delicious rollercoaster ride! Definitely in my top 5 books for 2020!!!” -Goodreads Review
She’s waiting for her someday. He thinks his has already come and gone.
After spending the past five years caring for her ill grandfather, Grace Calvano is eager to honor his memory by turning his stately old house in Hope Springs into a bed-and-breakfast. All she has to do is fend off her mama, who keeps pressuring her to come home to Tennessee, marry the new youth pastor, and start raising a passel of children. Sure, Grace wants to settle down and marry someday. But only when God sees fit to send Mr. Right her way. Until then, she’s content to wait.
After a career- and relationship-ending injury, former NFL quarterback Levi Donovan is sure his someday has already come and gone. Returning to Hope Springs for the summer to help out at his dad’s construction company is not his idea of a bright future. But maybe it will be a chance to make up for lost time with his brother—and to make his dad proud at last.
The day Levi shows up to help renovate her bed-and-breakfast, Grace is sure of one thing—she and God must have gotten their wires crossed when she asked him to send Mr. Right to her doorstep. Because the motorcycle-riding, football-playing bad boy is the very definition of Mr. Wrong.
But as they get to know one another, Grace is challenged to rethink everything she thought she wanted. Can she and Levi move past their own plans to let God give them the someday neither has dared to hope for?
Get NOT UNTIL SOMEDAY for the special launch price of 99¢ or read free in Kindle Unlimited (also available in paperback).
Valerie M. Bodden has three great loves: Jesus, her family, and books. And chocolate (okay, four great loves). She writes emotion-filled Christian fiction that weaves real-life problems, real-life people, and real-life faith. Her characters may (okay, will) experience some heartache along the way, but true to her tendencies as a hopeless romantic, she will always give them a happy ending. Valerie is living out her happily ever after in Wisconsin with her high-school-sweetheart-turned-husband and their four children. Visit her at www.valeriembodden.com to get a free story.
I remember that feeling as a young man encountering new authors. These days, not so much. Occasionally I’ll have it for a movie, though. Perhaps I’m jaded. Perhaps just well-read. Perhaps just not with the program. :) I can see how, though, as a writer of many stories, you would experience a special connection with a new story. I suppose I have had the feeling of wishing I could learn more of the details about the characters I just read about. What are they doing to get ready for the wedding. Where are they going for their honeymoon. Is their trip going well? A curiosity for things the author didn’t choose to include. No need to include me in the drawing. My Hope Springs collection is complete! :)
I love that feeling too! I so enjoy series for this very reason😊
I love to read and enjoy anything contemporary romance. An “addiction” to reading is what I have :)
I enjoy that feeling too. I’ve not had the opportunity to read any from this series though would be checking them out.
I so loved this story! It doesn’t take me long to get into another book! I did take a break of a couple of hours between two the other day, but honestly, a good book just makes me want to read another one! As soon as I finish one, I’m usually picking up the next one! Or, on my Kindle, picking out the next one! There are books that stay with me, though, that I’ll think of the next day, week, month, and there have been a few of those, lately!
I love that feeling and I usually will see what other books the author has written or if it is part of a series I cannot wait to read the next book!
I love that feeling, but most of the time within a couple hours I can read another book. But with characters that you create by yourself it cost time. After I had written the first draft of a story, it cost me two weeks to begin writing another story.
I have experienced that as a reader. It’s been long enough though, that I can’t recall the length of time I waited before starting another book.
I’m guessing a week, but it’s impossible to say.
I love that book hangover feeling! I only get that feeling from really good books, usually with characters that I have grown to love. It often takes me several days to get over it. I find myself daydreaming, sometimes even nghtdreaming about the characters or what might happen next. I get this way from movies, too. There are some stories that just keep swirling in my head. Often it’s a plot twist I didn’t see coming or an ending that wasn’t satisfying enough to me so that I need to imagine my own ending.
I think that makes sense… finding a new author whose books give you that feeling is both easier and harder these days, I think, with so many more books available. And I’ve definitely had that feeling about movies as well. I do often feel the curiosity of wanting to know what happens next too–one of the reasons I love series, lol!
Yes, exactly! The longer you get to stay in the story world the better! :)
A good “addiction” to have! I think I have it too. :)
There’s nothing quite like the feeling of finishing a wonderful book, is there!?
Thank you, Trudy! And I think it’s awesome that reading one good book makes you ready to pick up another and start reading right away! That definitely makes authors happy to hear. :)
Oh yes! Series are the best because you can keep that feeling going all along!
A couple hours sounds reasonable! And you’re so right that writing your own characters does take time and energy–definitely need a little more of a break before writing another story. Two weeks is great!
I’ve gone a week before I could pick up another book too. Or even if I’ve picked up another book, I’ve found myself still thinking about the last one weeks later. Love those kinds of books!
Yes! I find myself spending days daydreaming about books I’ve really loved too (though I don’t think one has ever appeared in my night dreams–at least not that I remember!). But I agree that it’s usually because of the characters I’ve grown to love. It’s hard to let go of them and open my heart to a new set of characters–but I remind myself that I might love them just as much!
Definitely get that. Series help. Occasionally I do read the story straight through again. Fan fiction can be another relief avenue for me. Occasionally I get the “nothing I’m going to read is going to be this good” feeling and don’t read for a couple weeks. And then I’m over it and back to binge reading.
Yes, that’s a great way to describe it–feeling like nothing you ever read will be as good. But you’re right, eventually you get over it and can binge read again. Thank goodness, lol!
I get that feeling from my very favorite books!
Yes! Isn’t that the best!?
I get that feeling from most books I read but there are some that are so moving and special they just stick with you and you don’t quite know how to move on to another book right away. I love it when that happens though, its such a special feeling to have a book move you so much you can’t/won’t forget it after you’ve read it.
Yes, I read every day. There is never much time between books.
I get that special feeling too. Only from some books – very special books that stay with you for some time….
How long does it take before you’re ready to start reading another book? It really depends…since, I’m an avid reader – not long :)
some books do that to me. I want to be in the book. I love it when its part of a series although hate seeing a series end. The only time I hate it is if its part of a series and ends on a cliff hanger and have to wait up to a year for the next book.
Often when I am reading I will start another book in a day or so. But with those books I don’t want to let go I will often then email or contact the author to tell them how much I loved the book.
I agree! There’s nothing like the feeling of reading a book you know you won’t soon forget!
That’s good to know! I’m glad you’re eager to start another soon after you finish reading one!
Yes, there are just those books you know are going to stay with you–I love those! I’m glad it doesn’t take you long to start reading another! :)
Nothing like a great book.
Hahaha I actually like “that special feeling” a lot better than “book hangover”. I’ll maybe borrow it in the future ;)
Honestly, I do get that feeling, but only for some books. Usually, it’ll be the ones I connected the most with either emotionally and/or spiritually (if it’s CF). Before, I’d just jump into the next book after only a couple of days, tops (“too many books too little time” and all that jazz), but now, and thanks to my having to focus on another (bigger, more important) project, my reading time has become limited, and thus, I’ve learned to just savor the experience, letting a week (or even two!) pass by before picking the next book :)
Yes to wanting to be in the book! That is the wonderful thing about series for sure, though you’re right that it’s always sad to see a series end. And I’m not a fan of cliffhangers either. It’s wonderful that you contact the authors of the books you really love to let them know–trust me, that makes an author’s day! :)
So true!
Yes, book hangover has never been my favorite term, lol. I agree that not every book leaves me with that special feeling, but definitely the ones I connect in which with the characters and/or faith journey most. Savoring the experience is a great way of looking at it!
I love reading, but I can start reading a new book immediately after finishing one.
Your book sounds like a great read and I love the book cover. Yes, I agree, I really get to know the characters and when I’m done reading the book I want to know what became of them , so I love books to continue, though some of them don’t. I love reading book series because I want to know more of what went on in their lives. After I finish a book I start reading another after 2 days . Have a Great rest of the week and stay safe. God Bless you.
Love that feeling when I finish a book! Makes me want to pick it back up and re-read favorite parts and then it stays on my mind for several days. That’s how I know a book is really good.
That’s awesome! I know as an author it makes me happy to think of someone diving right into a new book as soon as they finish the old one. :)
Thanks so much, Alicia! I love books in series too, even when they don’t follow the same characters because often characters from previous books will make a little appearance. :) Two days sounds like a good amount of time to be ready to start reading the next book!
That’s a great idea! I rarely reread an entire book except my very favorites, but I love the thought of going to back to my favorite parts of a book I’ve just finished. I agree that you know a book is really good when you can’t get it off your mind for days after you finish it.
I do this quite often with series books….I hate letting characters go! They become part of me, almost like living, breathing people that I come to care about. So it will take me a good two days or so to really want to move on before I start a new book. There has been a rare book that has left me so bereft that it’s almost impossible to move on….I have to force myself to pick up a new book.
I treasure books that make me feel like this because it means the author has done their job in making me want to care about the characters they’ve created in my mind :-) That’s a sign of an excellent writer!
So true! Those are definitely books to treasure! You know a book is good when you care about the characters so much that you don’t want to let go of them even after the book is done.
I always can’t wait for another book from the author if it’s one of my favourites. I’ve even seen ones that weren’t very popular & want the author to make one just for me.
Great series of books
It can definitely be hard to wait for the next book from a favorite author! I know I always wish I could write them faster, lol!
Thanks so much, Sylvain! ❤️
Sounds like a great book! I love reading a series that builds secondary characters into main characters for future books.
Thanks so much, Melynda! It’s so fun to give secondary characters their own stories–and to revisit previous main characters as secondary characters in later books. So much to love about series!
I love the feeling of finishing a good book! But then I end up getting in a reading slump, however, if I am reading a series it isn’t too bad.
True! Sometimes that feeling is hard to get past, and it makes it difficult to start reading again. Series are definitely good for preventing that slump!
I get that feeling when I finish some books; like some other commenters, especially a series. Sometimes I can start another book right away, sometimes not.
So true! I was just talking with my husband about series and how wonderful it is to return to this town and world and characters you’ve come to love!
I recognise that special feeling at the end of a great book. It’s not there with every book though. Sometimes I find myself pondering on the book for a while, even creating further scenes in my head too – a really great book is such an amazing platform for my imagination! So glad that you have that feeling too! Congratulations on the release of Not Until Someday! Enjoy your break and the new book that is wanting to be written.
Thanks so much, Dianne! And I have to say that as an author, I love to hear that readers continue to think about characters and even create new scenes for them in their heads. It really shows how real characters can become!
I definitely can relate to that special feeling as you call it where you want to continue the journey with the characters. I find it never fully goes away with some series as there are some that I remember quite fondly and wish the author could revisit 😊
I feel the same way about not wanting the stories to end. Leaving the characters world is a little like losing a new friend. I haven’t started this series yet but am anxious to. Thank you for putting so much heart into your work.
I have that feeling when I read a series that starts with a couple, then adds good friends, then their kids and continues to the grandchildren , and great grandchildren .
I have that feeling when I read a series that starts with a couple, then adds good friends, then their kids and continues to the grandchildren , and great grandchildren .
So true! Some series you just want to go on forever. :) I love it when I randomly think of a book years after I’ve read it!
That’s a great way of putting it–it feels like losing a new friend. Although I don’t typically reread a book, I do love the comfort of knowing it’s always there if you want to go back and revisit that friend, though. :) Hope you enjoy the series when you get a chance to read it!
Oh yes! I haven’t read a series that continues through the generations in a while, but there’s definitely something special about following that family line!
For some reason, I have extreme loyalties to the characters (especially the main ones) that I read in the book. Series that follow a couple, then moves to their children, and perhaps their grandchildren don’t continue to hold much enjoyment for me. Maybe it’s partially because I feel old (hahaha!) when the story moves to the next generation, or maybe I get nostalgic, making me want to go back to the original (or the first book that I read, not necessarily the first in the series). If I think about it, this is maybe why I only like “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” and not the rest of the books, only the first three books of the Penderwicks where the four main characters haven’t grown up too much, and the first one of Redwall and–you guessed it–not the rest. It doesn’t take me long to switch to a different book, but it may take me months to even venture and try the next one in the series!
I just want to read the next book in the series! I’m usually ready to start reading something else pretty quickly.
I really enjoyed Not Until Someday. It resonated with me.
I get that feeling more with a series, especially a Christian series when they really make me see points that are either something I need to work on or have gone through in the past. Books can hold tremendous life lessons, for me at least! I have never waited any time at all between books, especially lately! It does make it harder to remember one stand alone from another though unless I get to about 4 or 5 rewrites before the final is done! I love the feeling watching the ‘fine-tuning’ process you all go through as authors though! It is amazing to see a glimpse of what you go through having only read the finished products before. I have developed a much higher appreciation for the labor intensity an author possesses!
That’s interesting! But I can definitely relate to getting extremely attached to characters, so I can see why it would be hard to then think of them getting older and not being as much of the story (or maybe even dying!) as you read about their descendants.
When it’s the next in a series, I’m usually ready to keep reading fairly quickly too, especially if I know those characters will reappear. I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed Not Until Someday!
Hi Deb! I agree that that feeling is often stronger with series. And a big yes to the life lessons, especially in Christian fiction!
I know you’ve been busy reading lately, and I’m glad you’ve enjoyed the process of seeing books go through rewrites! It’s definitely labor intensive–but a labor of love (even when it makes you want to pull your hair out, lol!).
Usually I’m ready to start another book within a day or two. I have the habit of reading several books at once. Some are daily devotional type, and then I have a book on my phone as well as a paperback or hardback I read before going to sleep at night (if I’m not too tired).
Oh wow! I have a hard time reading a bunch of books at once, other than a devotional type book plus a novel (and maybe a nonfiction writing book). Okay, maybe I read multiple books at once more than I thought, lol! Yay for always having a book (or two…or more!) at hand. :)
I love that ‘special feeling’ but it really doesn’t come very often for me. But I know the books you write make me feel that way. :) I’m excited to read this latest book, I’m sure I’ll get the same feeling when I’m done!
Aww, I’m so glad my books give you that special feeling! I can’t wait to share the next one with you (as soon as I write it, lol!).