Thursday, January 20, 2011

Do Books Inspire You?

We probably all have books that we love. Maybe a book from your childhood. Or a book you read over and over.

If a book inspires you, what does it inspire you to do? Give it as a present to a friend? Read it to your grand kids? Request that your library carry it?

How about…get a tattoo?

Publisher Black Ocean says if you get a tattoo inspired by one of the press’ books, you’ll get a lifetime subscription to its titles.

Sound a bit over the top? Three readers have already gotten tattoos. If you’re thinking of doing it, you can’t just take a picture of your tattoo. To insure that your tattoo isn’t drawn on with a black marker, you have to have a picture made as you’re getting the tattoo.

Think those people are a bit too inspired? They’re not alone. According to GalleyCat, the most popular literary tattoo inspirations are “Kurt Vonnegut, e.e. cummings, and Shel Silverstein.”

Any book or author that would inspire you to get a tattoo?

38 comments:

  1. I have 2 tattoos, but they aren't inspired by books. To get a tattoo for free books? That would be going too far.

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  2. Oh gosh, no thanks. But I did name my daughter after a character in one of my favorite books. . .

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  3. Books inspire me in more ways than I can tell you here, but never that. No. Are you kidding? Who wants their rosebud to become a runaway oleander shrub?

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  4. Books inspire a lot of things but getting a tattoo will never be one of them.

    Mason
    Thoughts in Progress

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  5. No tattoos for me, unless they were the temporary stick on ones. For one thing, just like clothes and purses, I'd get tired of the tattoos and want to change them.

    As far as books influencing me, I can't think of any particular ones, but I have a feeling their combined affect has made a difference in my thinking.

    Morgan Mandel
    http://morganmandel.blogspot.com

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  6. Tatoos ~ no thanks! I don't want to be one of the ones who in ten-twenty years say, OMG! What was I thinking?
    Janet Evanovich inspires me to lighten up, relax and enjoy the journey of life. Simple, easy reading gives me the jump-start I need to keep going!
    DL Larson

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  7. Why not? People get tattoos of their favorite cartoon characters or their favorite beer, why not something more literary? I looked at Black Ocean's catalog and the titles are surreal enough to inspire some weird tats. I'll pass, but I'd like to have a drink with someone who was so inspired.

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  8. I hate needles but I've always pondered getting the Knots Landing logo tattooed across my shoulder blades.

    Alex
    Breakfast Every Hour

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  9. I do believe I've seen some Winnie the Pooh tattoos. Not one me, mind you!

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  10. It's funny you brought this up, because I've been thinking about getting another tattoo. But it won't be about a book.

    If I ever do get inspired to get a tattoo based on a book, it will be one of mine. :)

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  11. No. I don't have any now, and I cannot imagine anything or anyone inspiring me to get a tattoo. My husband has one, I like it, but not for me. I'm just not inspired by tattoos, but I can totally believe others will be.

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  12. I've been a lifelong fan of Edgar Allen Poe (used to read his poems to my daughter). I've already decided I'm getting a Raven tattoo as a reward for my first published book.

    Would I do it for free books, nah. I think if you're going to do something like that it has to be meaningful to you - the free books exploits that. (Hugs)Indigo

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  13. Not a chance! My body is a temple. Okay, the structure's off a bit, but it's still a temple.

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  14. Ha! This is something I had not thought about in the least. Very interesting and humorous. It makes me wonder what I would pick if I was going for a literary tatoo...

    Sarah Allen
    (my creative writing blog)

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  15. Nope. It would take a lot--and I mean a lot--to inspire me to get a tattoo.

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  16. I'd get a golden snitch or something if it meant I could sit down and chat with JKRowling for a while. The books really got me writing (not to mention connecting me to some of the people I love most in this world) and I think she's an amazing woman as well as a fabulous author. I think it's a fun idea, but I wouldn't do it lightly. (I have toyed a little with getting a (very) small tattoo for each book I publish, hoping they eventually are a belt or something...)

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  17. I hereby admit that I'm too much of a wimp to get a tattoo. Thinking about it makes me cringe.

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  18. I can appreciate Black Ocean's marketing technique (afterall, I guess it's better for the tattoo-inclined to get a literary tattoo instead of something really silly), but it's not enough to drive me to get some ink. Free books for life is tempting, but what if their publication house goes under?

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  19. LOL I wouldn't even get a tattoo of my own characters let alone someone else's. Ouch!
    Nancy
    N. R. Williams, fantasy author

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  20. I'm with all of you. No tattoos for me.

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  21. The book would have to be pretty darn amazing for me to tattoo myself.

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  22. OMG, I love Dennis Lehane and Craig Johnson and Raymond Atkins, and Laura Lippman, and Harlan Coben and........ But I would not get a tattoo for any of them.

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  23. Four C-sections, various knee surgeries and donating blood as often as I can, no thanks to more needles.

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  24. I hear you, Susan. And I second that emotion.

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  25. Fun idea - but NOT gonna happen! :)

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  26. Very interesting! I've always said no tattoo, but lately I've thought, well, if I did get one, it'd be literary in theme. Simple yet wordish and powerful.

    Still not ready, but this would be so cool if I was!

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  27. Hi Helen .. no thank you! I remember the kerfuffle re getting my ears pierced - & only one piercing! .. You'll be scarred for life - glad I am .. !

    I love books - but not via a tattoo .. thanks for the fun thought or otherwise .. Hilary

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  28. New marketing tool. Maybe I should ask my readers to send me their home made videos...if they got inspired, after reading my books (sexy romance is my forte).

    Fire and Cross

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  29. Books might inspire me to do lots of things, but getting a tattoo is not one of them.

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  30. Books inspire me for different reasons but never to get a tattoo. That would take more personal thought. I'd actually like to get a tattoo but I haven't found a place where my skin isn't sagging...

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  31. Well I do give the publisher credit for their innovative idea ... Even if few readers respond with actually getting a tattoo, look at all the talk and buzz their offer has generated ... all publicity, just the same, tattoo or not!

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  32. Janna, if you get one, come back and let us know! Maybe post a picture.

    You made me laugh, Laura.

    You're right, Joanne. They got publicity and did not have to get a tattoo themselves!

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  33. I have one tattoo - I got it because I was young and living on the west coast. I don't regret it - another - yes - I might get another but not for that reason. Maybe for the beauty of the image or no...really I can't imagine a reason these days for getting another one. Not one.

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  34. That could still be faked...although I doubt anyone would bother. If someone knew a tattoo artist, they could just have the artist pretend to be giving them a tattoo. That's just strange, though. I guess it's great publicity for them!

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  35. Yes, Anne McCaffery. I love Dragons. It wouldn't be a hardship to have a dragon tat if I was going to have a tat. :-)

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  36. I don't have any tattoos, but if I did, they would definitely involve the written word... "Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known" would be a good start. Carl Sagan might have appreciated the thought.

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  37. I think DH would be a bit miffed if I chose a book over him. LOL.

    No tattoo for me, no matter how much I like books. Crazy springs to mind.

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