These past few days, as I’ve been trying to get my life into some kind of order, I find it’s often hard to stay on task. I’m re-reading the fifth Harry Potter book prior to the movie’s release, and I find it’s always beckoning to me, tempting me to crack open its pages yet again. I should be composing cover letters or making phone calls… or writing blog entries… but first, just a few more pages, just one more chapter. J.K. Rowling’s brilliant fictional world pulls me in so completely, I don’t want to leave. So, sometimes, I don’t. I keep reading instead of doing the things I’m supposed to be doing. I’m aspiring to be a writer. Or perhaps I am a writer; I’m writing right now, aren’t I? And I think, wouldn’t it be great to be that writer whose work is so addictive you just can’t get enough? The author of that book or essay you simply can’t put down, the work that causes you to neglect other parts of your daily life, just so you can finish reading it. Of course, I don’t think I’ll ever author any 800-page novels, but no matter. I will write, and I hope people will enjoy it, so much so that they’ll delay work or chores for a few more minutes, just so that they get it all in. I don’t want anybody to fail to do something REALLY important, so that he loses his job or leaves a loved one stranded at the airport or anything. I’d feel pretty bad if something like that happened on account of me. No… I just want to people to put everything else aside and thoroughly enjoy what they read. Like taking a five-minute vacation from everyday life. Like enjoying a chocolate-covered strawberry… taking in something a little bit luxurious and special, a little decadent, but a little bit healthy and good for you too. Pleasure mixed with guilt (as most pleasure is). Can my writing be that enjoyable treat in somebody’s day? I hope so. Let’s see. Bon voyage!