Book Blogger Appreciation Week: Future Treasures

Here we are at the end of Book Blogger Appreciation Week.  I didn't quite get in on everything this time around, as I missed signing up for a few things here or there, but I did get a chance to vote this year and wanted to give a Congrats to all the winners!

For the final meme for this week, we were asked to reflect on and consider a few things:

What you enjoyed about BBAW?  As many others have said, it's always fun to learn about new blogs that have started up recently, or been around and I just missed them!  In the end, we all really love books and want to share that with others.  What could be better? 

What are your blogging goals?  One of the things I've really tried to focus on this past year was to not get so caught up in self-imposed deadlines and posts that I forget why I started blogging in the first place!  In the end, it always comes back to good stories, and I want to continue to read and share great stories.  I'd love to feature a few more authors this next year and even help feature some of our great local authors.  Before I began blogging about books, I was pretty unaware of authors.  That is sad to say, but really quite true.  Today authors have blogs of their own and they reach out their readers in so many ways that I really can learn more about the artists who keep my life filled with great reading material. 

I know.  My goals are not all that exciting.  They are simple, but they spell out a pleasant year ahead of great reading and great friends with which to mix and mingle.

BBAW Book Giveaway Winner

Congratulations to:

Jemima, at The Reading Journey.

She has won a copy of Harriet Evans' lovely novel A Hopeless Romantic. This is a whimsical read, and one of my favorite "escape reads" of this past year. I'll be emailing you to get your address Jemima!

BBAW: Goals for One Literature Nut

On this last day of BBAW, I finally have made it back amidst midterms this week, to make it back for our final topic for this great week of book blogger love! The question is:

What do you like best about your blog, and where would you like your blog to be a year from now?

Likes:

Personally, I enjoy the variety of my posts. Although I mainly review books, I also discuss or review films, post topics pertinent to many busy readers, and share a bit about my life as a busy high school English teacher. In general, I'm not out to break into a new profession, but have found that the book blogging community allows me access to other passionate readers...and the books they're reading!

One Year From Now:

Honestly, I'd simply like to put myself on a better review schedule. I'm finding that I have put too many books on Mt. TBR (To Be Read), and as life is prone to do, I get busy and can't accomplish or keep track of all I need to read. There is a slight intimidation factor for me in book blogging, as many bloggers read much more voraciously than I do. I don't think I read slowly, but I do get side tracked pretty easily, and find that I have to read on my own terms.

I also would like to change the look of my blog. I can't say that I'm going to get into self-hosting, and pay for the upkeep of my blog. I'd love to say that I am, but I just don't see it happening. However, I would like to expand the columns, add pages, and spruce it up a bit!

Final Thoughts:

I really want to thank those that are in the community, those that put together these great events, and those that follow my blog for being a surrogate "support group" of sorts. Through your posts and comments, I've had the chance to meet and discuss books, topics, and life with many great people, and for that, I want to simply say "Thank You!" Book blogging for me is a hobby, and one that is meant in all the best ways; it pushes me to read and explore my own interests more. For every one of you who have stopped by and commented on a review, posted a kind word, or Twittered a bit of encouragement...or just a laugh...thanks. You all are great!

***Just as a quick reminder, don't forget to enter for a copy of A Hopeless Romantic, as my giveaway in honor of BBAW!

BBAW: Blogger Interview With Ooh...Books!

For Book Blog Appreciation Week (BBAW), I had the opportunity to interview the engaging Cara of "Ooh…Books!” Thanks to our Book Blogging community, I was introduced to Cara and was able to visit with her over the phone over Labor Day weekend. What can I say? If you can learn something about someone by their voice and presence, Cara is definitely one to put a smile on your face. She is engaging, vivacious, and generous, and so excited about reading and reviewing, that what’s not to love!?!

Facts and Details: Cara comes to us from the east coast as a blogger since June of this year. She most likes to read classics (of the old variety), but found that during a stressful time in med. School—yes, did I mention that Cara has a degree in Biology and an MD!—that she branched out into Science Fiction and Young Adult Fiction. Although she first started off with “old” classics, she now reads modern literature, mysteries, comedy, and authors such as Koontz.

Unlike some of us here (like myself), Cara started off as a book reviewer from her very first post. The first book she reviewed, after a short introduction, was Harper Lee’s famous To Kill a Mockingbird. While many of her reviews are over classics, old and new, she has also branched out into wonderful pieces of YA fiction such as Graceling, by Kristin Cashore. She also covers great informational industry pieces, adding to the book/publishing conversations pertinent to many readers.

I really enjoy learning about other readers’ habits and abilities, so I asked Cara about her reading speed and consumption. Like many of you, she clips along and puts away a mass market paperback in about three hours. She also is a one-at-a-time reader, unless she’s not enjoying her current read, or finding it to be slow.

Cara generally reads just about anything, although admitted to being a bit of a book snob in high school. After telling her I was an AP Literature teacher, she revealed that she was one of my dream students, who read as many of the required books on the AP list as possible. Today, she will read and review just about anything, minus romance that goes straight to paperback!

I have to say that Cara came across to me as a very sweet, generous reader and reviewer. It was great talking about books, our blogs, and our future goals with one another. Cara has amazing goals for herself in the future, which includes a real desire to turn book reviewing into a career. Out of a love for reading, springs yet another great blogger with a desire to spread that love, one post at a time. Why don’t you drop by her blog today!

For more information, see: Ooh...Books!

Book Bloggers Appreciation Week: A Thanks and Giveaway

As part of Book Bloggers Appreciation Week (BBAW), we've been asked to mention a few blogs that didn't make the award lists or shortlists. I have to be honest and say that there are so many that I'd like to acknowledge, that I can hardly keep track of them! At this point, the blogs that I've been following with the most regularity, are those that I've been friends with for some time, those that Twittered their posts, and those who have left comments on my own posts. I'm going to make the list short, but that doesn't mean that there aren't a hundred or more others who I'd like to mention!

Babbling about Books, and More!
Heidenkind's Hideaway
Bookscoops
Books, Lies & Alibis
Booking Mama
Books on the Brain
Emily's Reading Room
Hawaii Book Blog
It's All About Books
Ooh...Books!
Alaine--Queen of Happy Endings
Angieville
Confessions of a Book Habitue
Lost in Books
One Librarian's Book Reviews
Pudgy Penguin Perusals
Starting Fresh
The Biblio Blogazine

Each of these blogs have inspired me in their own ways, so thanks for all you do!

As for part two of my post, I'd like to post a giveaway in honor of BBAW! I've already given this book away earlier this year, after LOVING the escape factor in this fun, romantic, chick read. For my giveaway, I'd like to offer a copy of Harriet Evans' novel A Hopeless Romantic. Yes, I'm offering yet another copy!

If you'd like a chance to win this fun romp of a read, all you have to do is post a comment here with your email address attached. Yes, I'm making it super easy! This is my thank you to all those I've met here, in the hopes of meeting a few more. I will be closing the giveaway on Sunday, 9/20 at midnight MST. For more information about this fun read: A Hopeless Romantic.

Best wishes!

Book Blogger Appreciation Week Meme

As many of you know, Book Blogger Appreciation Week (BBAW) is just around the corner, September 14th through the 18th. Is it okay for me to admit that I'm excited for two reasons? Number one, because I'll be in my new home and can settle back into some of my favorite blogging activities, and number two, that I will get to interact with an ever-growing circle of wonderful book blogging folks! It should be a great week, and I really am quite excited.

Thank you to those of you who nominated me in two categories, Best Reviews and Best General Review. Thanks so much for the nominations!

Now, seeing as how I've fallen a little behind in my blogging activities, I missed the BBAW Meme when it first came out, but wanted to go back and catch up a little by responding to the Meme posted for BBAW.

1) What has been one of the highlights of blogging for you?

This has two parts for me: people and books. What's not to love there? Especially when the people in that list love books? Really, I have loved having a place to post my thoughts on the books I'm reading, and also to have wonderful discussions with other bloggers/readers!


2) What blogger has helped you out with your blog by answering questions, linking to you, or inspiring you?

How can I list them all? I think that Eva, at A Striped Armchair actually was one of the first to reach out to me with some helpful information about the book blogging community, and to really get me interested in becoming a part of the group. This was followed closely by Natasha, at Maw Books Blog, who has been a great example and local blogger who is a real professional at what she loves to do! There have been so many others who have been great Twitter/Blog friends, such as Tasha at Heidenkind's Hideaway who I'm book buddies with, and who has dual interests on her blog in books and art, as I do with books and films. J.C., at The Biblio Blogazine really inspired me to write better reviews by her hard-hitting questions and posts! (Although, she also scared me as I watched her switch to self hosting! :) Maybe at some point I'll try J.C., but for now, I'm too scared!) Then there's Pam, at Bookalicious for all those great, late night conversations about books and blogging. Whew...how can I name you all?!? Sigh. Honestly, I can't name you all! All I can say is that MANY of you have and continue to shape my blog and my blogging experience!

3) What one question do you have about BBAW that someone who participated last year could answer?

I really don't know at this point. I know that sounds lame, but I hardly know what to expect. I'm just excited to be a part of this great community!

Having said all of this, I want to thank all of those who are putting this wonderful week together! All of us who blog on a regular basis know how much time and energy you've put in to pulling us all together for this event. Thank you so much!