It’s book club meets micro-journalling in August.

Who else keeps hard copies of their favorite books close at hand?

We can look at them, page through them, pick them up and remember the trouble they guided us through, re-read them, descend into them over and over seeking golden treasure, open them at will like oracles or saviors.

Some of them are fetish objects emanating angelic auras.

For me this would be a book like Clarissa Pinkola Estes’ Women Who Run with the Wolves or Edith Hamilton’s Mythology (I still have the copy from my elementary school library – I “forgot” to return it).

Others are worn, weathered, dusty, and tattered. Like my Volumes of Leonardo de Vinci’s journals I found in a used bookstore . Or the copy of Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar.

Some of them are interactive objects like Keri Smith’s This Is Not A Journal.

And some of them . . . some of them just make us happy. Like SARK’S Juicy Pens, Thirsty Paper.

As I look at my favorite books, I see a beautiful mess of writers’ stories, words, and memories.

I also see my story flowing through each book like a shiny embroidery thread. In particular, I remember the gift each book gave me and why I needed it.

In honor of the beautiful books that change our lives, remind us how powerful words are . . . or just bring us closer to our childlike joy and wonder, I’m sharing 30 of my favorite books.

I’ll also write about how they impacted me and brought beauty into my life.

I invite you to join me and share your favorite books and how they impacted you in the #30daysofbeautifulbooks challenge on Instagram.

Each day in August I’ll post a book and how it impacted me.

Go ahead – take a trip down memory lane with me, book geek style.

And remember to use the hashtag #30daysofbeautifulbooks!

This is how we do it up in here. A few weeks ago I was listening to a coaching call with @linda_sivertsen and @daniellelaporte for writers. These ladies always floor me with thier heart, expertise and encouragement. But one thing in particular stood out. You know when you’re writing a thing and you have to stay present to it so it can be born?? If so, you know how scary this can feel and how the rooster in your head is always yammering about how you need to know exactly what’s happening and when. Linda suggested we honor the relationships we have with what we are writing by telling it, “I love you, show me what’s next.” Of course, planning and dancing with the spirit of a thing is a fine balance but every little cross-stitch helps. I myself have been making loads of progress in my book, not in words but in understanding what this book actually wants to be. I’m almost even ready to talk about it … #writer #writerscommunity #writerslife #instaquote #writerslife #authorsofig #writersofig #writingretreat #writersresource #writingtips #writersoninstagram #writersofinstagram #books #beautifulbooks #beautifulwriters #creativity #crossstitch #etsy

A photo posted by Cynthia Lindeman (@cynthialindeman) on Jul 27, 2015 at 10:00am PDT