We need to talk about books! #16

This week I have the pleasure of catching up with Maud van der Veen from My Passion Projects, where she writes about finding your passions and purpose in life.

Are your bookshelves a ‘work in progress’ like mine or are they clearly and systematically organised?

I don’t think I put that much thought into my bookshelves if I am honest. I am a bit of a messy reader. I try to keep my books in series and in the right order, but that usually doesn’t last too long. I also have two bookshelves and something that I’ve named my bookledge. It’s my favorite part in my house!

What do you do with books once you’ve read them?

I am collecting them for my personal library that I will have one day haha! For now, I just store them in bookshelves and on my bookledge.

Do you tend to re-read books?

Yes. I can endlessly re-read books I love. I have read The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Harry Potter, Ready Player One, A Walk in the Woods multiple times. Sometimes even more than twice. If I enjoy a story, I never fall out of love with it.

How do you feel about lending books to friends?

I believe books should be read, so yes, I loan my books to friends. However, only after I read them myself and I’m a bit more cautious about signed copies or books that hold high sentimental value (like Harry Potter). And my heart tends to break a little when my copies are returned to me with damages, but that’s the risk, I suppose. Sometimes I don’t really mind because I also like that my book had “a life” and have been read a lot.

Do you write in books, do you use sticky notes for your comments or something like that?

I don’t write in storybooks, but I do tend to highlight things and make notes in study or self-help books. That way I don’t have to re-read the whole thing, but I can just look at the most important things the next time I pick it up. It saves me some time.

What is the prettiest book to be found in your current TBR pile?

I have absolutely fallen in love with the cover from Everless. So, that one’s solely on my TBR pile because I loved how it looked haha.

If you take physical books on holiday with you, how do you choose them?

I usually take two or three paperback books and my eReader with me. More often than not I end up buying books there too. Sometimes as a souvenir. For example, I bought Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in French last year.

Do you take a book with you whenever you go out, just in case?

I tend to always have a book with me. Either my eReader or a paperback. Just to be on the safe side.

Have you ever met an author?

Yes, I met one of my favorite Dutch fantasy authors, Thomas Olde Heuvelt. It was awesome. I got to take part in a writing workshop. It has taught me a lot and I felt so inspired by him. I always loved his books, so it was really cool to meet him in person.

If you were to write a book, what genre would it be?

I am writing a book! I am writing New Adult Fantasy (young adult for a slightly more mature audience).  It’s going to be about Amara, who is a psychology student who believes she’s losing her mind. She becomes a powerful player in the ultimate fight between good and evil, where humans are merely pawns in the game. The question is: is she willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to save humankind from its demise?

And that was my last question for you. Thank you so much for joining me today!

If you'd like to keep up-to-date with Maud and her writing, do check out the links below:

Blog: https://mypassionprojects.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/blog_mpp

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mypassionprojectsblog/

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