Bring a Book to Bed Day! celebrates its third birthday on February 27th - and it's been fun every step of the way! Not many people know this, but I had a dream about Bring a Book to Bed Day! - not an I-wish-I-could-create-a-holiday type of dream, but I-went-to-sleep-and-I-dreamt-it kind of dream. When I woke up, I thought it was a good idea and kept it in my mind until one day I thought, why not? Why don't I create a holiday called Bring a Book to Bed Day!? My dream was realized and I feel so very grateful and blessed by all the love and support that my dear friends in the States, in Italy and in Turkey have given me to turn my dream into a reality - and a celebration of staying in bed and reading. Thank you one and all!

The first year was all about getting Bring a Book to Bed Day! off the ground. We had fun and we had prizes! The second year, I was inspired to create the giving back portion of Bring a Book to Bed Day! My dear friend, Ezgi Sorman, who shared her talents and offered her services as part of the prizes of Bring a Book to Bed Day!'s inaugural year had come to live in Turkey and was working on various projects here. One of them was creating The Rebirth of the East, an organization that gathered books to create libraries in schools in the eastern part of Turkey. Her organization was able to gather enough books to complete a library for a school in Van, a town close to the Iran/Iraq border. Building the library was the first step that enabled the school to get more government funding and services to the students.

After the library was completed, Ezgi talked to the kids at the school and each shared their deepest desires and dreams with her. One child wanted to play guitar, another wanted to become a photographer - and so Ezgi started gathering musical instruments, equipment and funds to help the kids in Van realize these dreams.

This year as part of Bring a Book to Bed Day! I plan on making contributions to DonorsChoose.org in the U.S., The Rebirth of the East here in Turkey (and if you would like to contribute too, just send Ezgi an email at ezgi@myblissandbalance.com to find out how.) And if you'd like to see the photos of that project, just stop by my Facebook page - I am the Alba Brunetti with the wind in my hair and the Bosphorus Bridge behind me. I hope you feel as inspired as I do and will give generously to help deserving kids realize their hopes and dreams. We all may dream alone, but to realize those dreams we all need a little help from our friends. And thank you again to my dear, dear friends who have helped me realize the dream of Bring a Book to Bed Day!

I came to Turkey at the beginning of October to visit my friends Ezgi and Irem and to explore the beautiful city of Istanbul. I think I must have fallen in love with Istanbul from high up in the sky - the lights and the patterns they made on the ground were so beautiful. It could be that I had forgotten what a night landing was like - or it could be that I was so afraid of flying I just wanted to be on the ground again - but I think the truth was that I was ready for something completely new and different and beautiful.

I stayed at my friend Ezgi's house and she graciously gave me her bedroom. As I unpacked and began to settle in, I looked out the window to the beautiful park and the shining blue lights of the Bosphorus Bridge. I turned for a moment to the bookcase by the window and on the shelf lay a book. The cover was bright, hot pink and on it was a delicate leaf that was shaped like a heart. I opened the book and looked through the pages. It was written in Turkish, so I didn't understand. The title said, "Ask" to me. And I took it as a sign, I thought the book was telling me to ask for what I wanted. So, I did. I asked for love.

It was a few days later that Ezgi and I were talking about poetry and Rumi and I happened to think about the book on her shelf. I had seen Rumi's name in the book, and Shams' too and I wondered what the book was about. So, I asked Ezgi about "Ask." The book, Ezgi explained, was not "Ask" but "Aşk" - Love. It is a novel written by Elif Şafak that is based on Rumi's love for his teacher and friend, Shams.

In reading the title to myself in English, I had somehow understood and misunderstood at the same time, because I did not understand Turkish, I had been unable to see something that was right in front of my eyes. It is a good metaphor for my new life here. I find myself a little out of my depth, a stranger to a language I don't understand, a little lost in translation, a little found there too. I think it is good for me to be caught between the meaning of the words - what they mean to me, what I understand them to be and what they truly mean. There is a lot, I know, I still have to learn about asking - and a lot, I know, I still have to learn about aşk. But then, again, don't we all?

I look out this morning from my kitchen window to the Bosphorus. I see The Maiden's Tower, which is not so very far away. The ferry boats are gliding on the water and on my right, I see Sultanahmet and the minarets around the Blue Mosque and the Haiga Sofia. The light is constantly changing and the view - although it really doesn't change - is always different depending on whether it is sunny or foggy or raining or just overcast. So every day I see something new, something is clearer to me or the colors are muted or brighter or everything shines like the pavement when it rains the way it only rains here in Istanbul. What I see is beautiful, what I hear is beautiful, what I taste is beautiful and what I feel is beautiful. And I am very happy. There are many reasons I decided to stay in Istanbul and many reasons I decided to return - and love, of course, was one of them.

In 2009, I celebrated Bring a Book to Bed Day! with my friend and yoga instructor Irem Greenfield. We took a lot of fun pictures together that I never posted (and hopefully, if I can get my pc up and running and connected to my home network, I will upload them for you.) We both brought our books to bed (mine was a copy of the book I am writing, The Goldberg Variations, as well as Natalia Ginzburg's inspiring Le piccole virtu'. I'll have to get back to you about Irem's book as I don't remember the title at the moment.) Then we practiced some yoga together and by the time we were through, I was ready to go back to bed! All this to say that there aren't any "rules" about Bring a Book to Bed Day! It's all about reading and relaxing in bed - you can do it for ten minutes or all day long - and now, even all month long. I like to stay in my p.j.s as much as I can - or maybe, you like to put on your sweats and cook a big breakfast then go back to bed. Whatever makes you happy!

There is one thing that really makes me happy about Bring a Book to Bed Day! that I will share with you. Last year, I included the giving back portion of Bring a Book to Bed Day! I chose an organization and donated money so that kids in need could have books to read. I will be doing the same thing this year and have already chosen where I will be making my donation in the  U.S. and in Turkey. I am now looking for an Italian organization that provides books and school supplies to deserving children as well, so if you know of an organization, please do let me know. Last year, I greatly enjoyed giving to DonorsChoose.org - and will be doing so again this year. This is a great charitable organization that provides needed books and other school supplies to kids in need across the U.S. Since I realize how fortunate I am to be able to bring my own books to bed, I feel it is important to give back. That is why I chose Ms. S.'s  class in the Belmont section of the Bronx. I chose the school because it was in the borough where I had gone to public school and the Belmont section is home to the borough's Little Italy - both definitely had meaning for me and for my roots. Ms. S. requested copies of Junot Diaz's The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, which Ms. S. said would help the students (mostly of Dominican descent) connect with the voices of literature that would include them. It is one of the best gifts I have ever given - and I can even say, it is one of the best gifts I have ever received. To read more about this project, click here.

Wouldn't you like to create this kind of joy? If you would like to give to DonorsChoose.org, please click on the link below or find another charity that inspires you and give!

Perhaps you've all been wondering what's been happening with me, Writers Lake and Bring a Book to Bed Day! The answer is "Lots!" When I started this blog, my idea was to prime the pump of creativity. I had always wanted to write a book, but about what? I didn't have a direction, even though I was often flooded by ideas. I needed to focus and beginning this blog was step one. Slowly, I began to turn my attention to other writers, books and ideas - and I began to write. It was nothing "important," just a story overflowing with plot. The Japanese husband falls down an elevator shaft, the ex-model mother-in-law begins playing bridge up and down the East Coast, the grandmother takes a ridiculously young lover - and falls in love! - the granddaughter develops bulimia - it was enough plot for ten novels and decidedly not in any style resembling mine. It primed the pump and then, WOW! Geyser! I had what I wanted - direction, focus, and certainly, the "what."

That is how a little over two years ago, The Goldberg Variations was born. I began writing, but very soon afterwards, I returned to work full-time (doing, among other things, this.) New York City life began to have its old, familiar tiring rhythm - and slowly, it exhausted me. The day-to-day stuff began to become all important and writing began to slide down the to-do list. Keeping my life in balance (sleep! shower! eat!) began to take precedence.

But so many big and little things happened. I began to realize I needed time to finish the book - and space. I also needed money - which full-time work provided. So instead of applying for grants and residencies and expending energy waiting for someone or something else to approve and fund my work - I decided to approve and fund my work. I gave myself what I consider my own personal Breadloaf. I knew I needed a big change, so I quit my job, packed up and moved out of my Brooklyn apartment and set off to the little town in Italy where my family hails from. In the back of my mind, I also began to think of this time as my own personal Eat, Pray, Love journey. (Maybe you remember that that is the book I brought to bed on the first Bring a Book to Bed Day! in 2008.)

I went to Italy and did a lot of writing. Although I did have the time to write, I discovered I didn't have the mental space I needed. Everyone seemed to need my attention and I needed to focus it on my writing. Then I came to Istanbul - and here things opened up. I had the time and the space. I have four more stories to write for The Goldberg Variations and I am more than halfway done with a screenplay called Princess Hipster. I have another book and screenplay just waiting to be born and all of Istanbul telling me its story too. What about you? What have you been up to?

1.   Because how many people do you know that invented a holiday.

2.   Because how many people do you know that invented a holiday that takes place in
      bed.

3.   Because I will probably invent other holidays that take place in bed.

4.   Because I look damn cute in my pjs.

5.   Because you look damn cute in your pjs.

6.   Because now you have a really good reason to stay in your pjs all day and look damn      

      cute.

7.   Because you don’t have to wear pjs.

8.   Because reading is good for you.

9.   Because you are too busy.
10. Because you can do it all by yourself.

11. Because you don’t have to do it all by yourself.

12. Because it will make you feel great.

13. Because you can donate books to a good cause, if you feel like it.

14. Because you’ve been dying to find out how that romance novel, book of
      short stories, or Finnegan’s Wake ends.

15. Because it is calorie free.

16. Because your kids, husband, wife, boyfriend, girlfriend, person you share a bed with will

      love it.

17. Because you want to.

18. Because you need to.

19. Did I mention how cute we look in our pjs?

20. Because you need a break from your internet, phone, and tv.

21. Because it is cold out.

22. Because it is February.

23. Because it’s Saturday.

24. Because it is a cold, grey Saturday in February.

25. Because what could be better than bringing a book to bed?

 

And here is the text of my Press Release that explains more about this years mission.

The Second Annual International Bring a Book to Bed Day! To Be Celebrated on February 28, 2009

United States of America (Press Release) February 26, 2009 -- Maria Alba Brunetti and Writers Lake announce the Second Annual International Bring a Book to Bed Day to be celebrated on February 28, 2009. We invite everyone to unplug, relax and enjoy a good book. In our hectic modern lives it is hard to find time to enjoy the simple pleasures of a good book. That’s why the cold and cloudy end of February is the ideal time to celebrate this holiday.

There is no perfect way to celebrate Bring a Book to Bed Day – whether all day, for an hour, five minutes or a little time before falling asleep at night – just take some time to enjoy a good book

Writers Lake hosts Bring a Book to Bed Day on the last Saturday of February every year. Maria Alba Brunetti currently works as an editor for Relegence – An AOL LLC Company and a blogger for AOL’s Bright and Spacious. She was the Experts Producer at iVillage.com's Parent Soup as well as the Editor-in-Chief of VirtualItaly.com. The blog Writers Lake, was launched in November of 2007 and is devoted to poets and writers who seek to share encouragement, tips, and ideas about creativity as well as a deep love of the written word.

(http://www.free-press-release.com/news/200902/1235671721.html)