Confessions of a Book Addict: The Truth About My Reading Obsession

Are You a Book Slut or Just an Avid Reader?

As an urban fantasy author, I thought I was simply an avid reader.

But book slut? I scoffed at the term. I am an author. (Say that in a haughty British accent. It helps.) But sometimes truth hits you like a Chosen One developing magic in the worst possible circumstances.

But the other day, my blinders were ripped off, and all I was left with was the cold, hard truth.

When the Truth About My Book Addiction Hit Me

Picture this: I was six books deep into a contemporary fantasy series when I declared that I'd had enough. I have no problem with series that from book one promise little to no character growth and just a merry adventure or mystery in every book. That's fine. But when a series starts off promising character growth and then devolves into the paranormal romp of the week, I get testy.

Which was exactly my observation with this series. I was done. Out. Finished.

Until NOT FIVE MINUTES LATER, my friend said that I should read the sister series to this one and then the next book in this original series. And instead of saying, "thanks, but no thanks." I found myself nodding and reserving them at the library faster than a werewolf shifts on the full moon.

Cue the slow-motion car crash moment. Not only was I going to finish this series, I was going to read an entirely other one in support of the first!

The Ugly Truth: My Book Addiction Runs Deep

That's when I had to acknowledge the cold, hard truth. Wave a book in my general direction, especially if there is a good hook involved, and I’m there, Kindle in hand, whispering "yes please."

I couldn't believe it. How was this possible? I tried blaming Goodreads. Bookstores. Mind control tactics (i.e. "hey, have you read this?") of evil book pimps everywhere.

Bargaining with My Inner Book Slut

In a last-ditch effort to preserve my dignity, I shifted into crafty bargaining. I'm not a book slut. I'm a literature hussy. I posited myself as the elegant hostess of the 18th century salon whose duty it was to be au currant with the latest reads. That lasted until I realized that I was going to need to find a lot more friends and actually throw a party to pull that off. (Yeah, yeah and get a time machine but given that I'm a crabby shut in, really the time machine is the easy part.)

Then I had a glass of wine, thought “fuck it” and one-click binged my way through paranormal books for adults on Amazon. What was the point in showing any restraint? Pretending I was anything other than what I was?

A Revelation: The Best Women Are Book Sluts Too

That’s when I had a very important epiphany: most of the cool women I've met are book sluts, too.

So here I stand: Deborah Wilde, urban fantasy author, unapologetic book addict, and proud book slut.

And darling? I wouldn’t have it any other way.