If you’re a reader, you know the formula:

       A good book  +  coffee/tea/wine  +  uninterrupted time  =  Bliss.

That’s all it takes, which is reason #97 why reading is the ultimate pastime for us book lovers!

However, in the vein of making a terrific situation even better, find tips below to help get even more from your blissful moment!

1. Hang a sign on the door announcing you can’t be disturbed.

No exceptions. Folks don’t need to know what you’re actually doing behind that closed door.

2. Answer nature’s call before settling down to read.

This applies to both you and your pet. Ever notice Lassie always has to go out just when the hero is about to save the day?

3. Check the author’s website for tidbits about the book.

Authors often offer insights into the setting of the story or background on how the story came to be, or countless number of things they want to share.

For example, in my novel What the Moon Saw, I used a real location: the Bedford Springs Resort. I anticipated receiving questions about the place, and I certainly did! Find it here.

Wondering about the characters? I posted photos to help readers get a sense of what the main characters in my trilogy (The Crossings Trilogy) look like. Find it here.

Point is, if I’ve thought of posting such insights, then other authors have, too!

Spoiler alert: Tread carefully. You don’t want to learn key plot elements from the website.

4. Silence your phone!

And, turn it upside down. Most smart phones, when muted, will emit lights and flash a message announcing a call or text. Avoid that distraction.

But, keep your phone close….how else are you going to look up words you don’t recognize (and isn’t that always fun, to learn a new word?). Further, sometimes authors will employ real people or places in their work. It’s fun to search for a photo or a tidbit as you read.

5. Have a second cup of your favorite beverage available.

We’ve all been there—the tea runs out before the reading experience. Be prepared. Like your beverages hot? Use a thermos to keep a second cup handy.

6. Assess your needs before getting comfy.

You know the furniture you’re going to use, and the position (sitting, reclining) you’re going to choose. But, will you be comfy long-term if that book snags more of your time than anticipated? Why disturb a good reading experience by having to go after a foot rest, more pillows, or a neck support?

Do you mark your books? If so, then keep a pen or pencil handy. Perhaps a piece of paper, too. When a character sparks a memory of something I need to do or check on, I don’t want to leave my reading to make a note.

Do you read outdoors? I do! We have porches on all four sides of our home, and they each face nature! Because we live in southeast Georgia, we get good use of them most of the year. However, this location is rife with bugs and insects. When I head out, I take bug spray, sunglasses, and rawhide chews for my dogs.

7. Keep a blanket or throw within reach.

Because you’re relaxing, you may find you get colder the longer you’re stationary. How delightful to reach to your side and pull the throw over you, without breaking the flow of the plot.

8. Look at the title of your book each time you snuggle down to read.

My husband pointed out that since we’ve started using Kindles, we can rarely remember the names of the books we read because once purchased, we don’t see the covers anymore. If we had purchased a tangible copy, we would see the title each time we pick it up. Not so with Kindles and Nooks.

Bottom line: We want to remember the names of our books! Besides, the title is usually a painstaking choice in an author’s life. You may want to ponder what you think the name has to do with the plot. It helps the reading experience.

9. Mark up that book!

I know this goes against most book purists’ beliefs, but not me. If I like a turn of phrase or beautiful description, I underline it. (Or, in the case of Kindle, I highlight it). I love picking up books months or years later and leafing through them to see passages I’ve marked. It’s a chance to enjoy them once again. (See #6 about keeping a pen handy!)

If the book features a lot of elemental characters, I flip to the inside of the back cover and start making a list. That way I have a reference to help keep the characters straight. (This is what I love most about Kindle— if I need a refresher on characters, I use the search feature and re-read their introduction into the story.)

10. React to the book: Post it on social media. Tell a friend. Definitely write a review at Amazon and Goodreads.

After all, if you enjoyed the book and your reading experience, then wouldn’t you like the author/publisher to know so that the author will write more of them, and so the publishers will give them contracts to do so? Reviews add up and they mean a lot to your future reading enjoyment.

If you didn’t enjoy it, then let it go. No sense practicing in the negative. Just because you didn’t like it doesn’t mean it won’t be someone else’s ideal book. Move on to find a book you enjoy!

11. Suggest the book to your book club.

Discussing a book you like with a group is always eye-opening. Other people will have perspectives that might surprise you.

Most clubs have a list of books developed far in advance. Thus, if you suggest one after reading it, you won’t be bored re-reading it by the time it rolls around for the club’s monthly selection.

12. Pray, meditate, or ponder silently about your reading.

I’m a Christian, so I like to seek guidance in helping me to glean what I should from what I’m reading, or in applying it to my own life. This especially pertains to reading non-fiction, like my Bible, for instance.

Or, you could meditate on what you read. Even if it’s fiction, we can extract bits of knowledge from characters. Is it historical? Ponder that era. What was it truly like? Visualize the characters in that setting. Is it science fiction? Focus on that make-believe world for a bit so you can better live it as the characters do.

We prep for other activities, why not reading?

Phew, these tips may sound like a lot of extra work, but not to me. In my experience, a riveting book and the perfect reading experience are just as joyful—sometimes more so—than attending a sporting event, concert or party. Yet, look at the prep we go through for those activities (clothes, travel, packing snacks, drinks, etc.)

What’s more, I’ve had several people tell me that a book has changed their life, helped them decide on a career, or prompted them to step off a negative path. How many times have you heard of a concert or game having that impact?

What about you?

What do you do to make your reading experience the best it can be? Share your tips so others can benefit too!

An award-winning writer, former journalist and corporate escapee, Debra Koontz Roberson (writing as D. L. Koontz) is the author of What the Moon Saw and the Crossings Trilogy (first book: Crossing into the Mystic). She has been published in seven languages. Growing up, she learned the power of stories on the front porch of her Appalachian farmhouse in rural Pennsylvania. She now lives with her husband in coastal Georgia on a cattle ranch, where she divides her time between writing, reading, running her dogs, and endlessly “going to town” for supplies.