The Sunday Post: Life Goes On

The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted at Caffeinated Reviewer.

 

LISTENING:

The kpop music world is starting strong with a sweet rock song from Monsta X that I've been listening to a lot this week:

But Fall Out Boy had a "comeback" too! (Do you call it a comeback in the nonkpop world? I don't even know anymore!)

WATCHING:

I still haven't finished my latest kdrama watch because another Korean show took over... called Single Inferno. It's a Bachelor type dating show, that is totally different than the Bachelor (at least what I've seen of it.) I was leery going in, but everyone was right, it grabs and you are invested so freaking fast! I was annoyed that no one liked my favorite boy. Whatever. I hope he ended up finding love somewhere else with some real girl, lol.  (The girls felt very fake I must say, except one of them who was so different from all the rest of them!) 

Our household has also been watching the Harry and Meghan documentary. I've found it to so very interesting and quite sad and depressing too. The crazy lives some people lead, you know what I mean?  hope to get to his book someday to read down the road soon too. 

We also watched Super Junior's documentary thanks to Jenni and her Hulu! LOL! It was a quick two hour thing that give us a glimpse of how this, my favorite kpop band, came to be and rose to fame and how they have managed to stay together for these almost 20 years now despite some really really painful and hard moments. They are seriously some of the best humans out there. 

READING:

I finished My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You I'm Sorry for book club. That was an awesome book and made for a petty good book club discussion.  I will say more about it on my monthly review post. 

I started An Ember in the Ashes, which is one of my books from my forever TBR that I'm hoping to get through some of this year. Pretty intense and harsh story so far!

WRITING:

I signed up for the annual Storymakers Conference which takes place in May. 

I'm hoping to be brave enough to query my 80's story this year!

And the finishing up of the space opera story is slow slow going. I am so bad at this!

BLOGGING:

I've posted my top ten books of 2022, my top ten dramas of 2022, my goals for 2023, I crunched some numbers from 2022, and caught up on reviews with a couple of mini review posts. I think this will be my formant from now one. Anyway, be sure to scroll through and check them all out!

YOUTUBING:

On the KPOP channel I've uploaded a bunch more year end videos, but here I'll share my favorite title tracks of the year. Great songs, yeah?

Or you can watch my narrowed down favorites in a quick 1 minute short here!

One of these groups I get to see in person in two weeks... AHHHH!!!

One the BOOK channel I did another bookstore tour:

And also introduced my "Forced Phases" idea to the world. I hope to do a separate post about this here, but in the meantime, go watch it and I'd love for you to join me!!

HEALTH WATCH:

Trying to get back into the exercise routine still. Some weeks I manage it and others are quite rough. The struggle is real, for sure. I really need to stop eating stuff again too.

MISC:

Trying to think if there's anything else interesting to report on in life.  Lots has been going on but nothing that will be too very interesting to most I would imagine. I hope all is going well for you all! I hope the reading is being fun! 

         

"Old" Blogger Shout Out! #BookBloggerSupport22

The task for the Support Book Bloggers Challenge this month is:

FIND 10 BOOK BLOGGERS YOU’VE ENJOYED READING IN THE PAST AND GIVE THEM A SHOUT OUT

I mentioned Susan (from Bloggin' 'bout Books) when I first posted my plan to do this challenge... one of my all time favorite bloggers and someone I've even met IRL, even if it has been YEARS since that happened! She is so inspiring to me with how much she reads and all the smart reviews she posts. Amazing.

So who else have I followed these many years?

Jenni Elyse of course! She is the one who has especially been encouraging me to keep this blog going despite my wariness that I have any sustainability here. Thank you! She is just generally inspiring in her tenacity to push through some really rough life issues and I am here to cheer her on with that!

Kami from Kami's Library Thoughts also recently started to get her blog up and running again. She is the one who reads more books than anyone else I know. Crazy cool! And have I said lately that I am still just a bit excited they she is willing to give kdramas a chance these days. Oh my word....

Tif from Tif Talks Books is one of my favorite bloggers from over the years. We've had a connection with the desire to do the writing thing and I need to re-connect with her to see how that's going! 

Ang from Eastern Sunset Reads is another long time blogging buddy. Looks like she is still at it too. And oh, I remember that she also reads A TON of books! 

Serena at Savy Verse and Wit... my poetic blogging buddy! From so so many years back! Wow, this is like a trip down memory lane! I feel like it was all from another life for sure. Serena is always hyping up poetry and writing poetry and I love it!

Lisa at Lit and Life is another blogger I've loved reading over the years. And it looks like she has kept it up. Way to go! I will be reconnecting here for sure.

Another favorite blogger over the years has been Angie from Angieville. Looks like she is still around, but not posting a lot. I hope all is well with her! We had such fun back in the day!

Jeane from Dogear Diary is one of the bloggers that has still commented on my random posts over the past few years of struggling! Thank you for that Jeane! And I'm realizing for some reason you aren't in my blogroll which I will fix now! And hopefully that also means I will comment on your stuff more often. 

And finally, a very LONG LONG time blogger, Nancy at Bookfoolery! She not only posts about books, but CATS too! In looking at her blog right now I see that she has a blogroll that is much more complete than mine and now I need to go through that to see who else is still out there in the blogging world!

You know what I really miss is Google Reader, right? How to keep track of everyone without that! All the other blog organization ones I've tried just didn't cut it. I have my blogroll on my page, and it's so sad to scroll through that and see how many people haven't blogged in forever. But also fun to see the ones that have hung in there! I feel like I'm struggling with the blogging, but still I am getting a few posts a year! So go me! And go everyone else still hanging in there!

Now next month I need to find some new bloggers! 

Supporting Book Bloggers

 #BookBloggerSupport22

Just when I was moaning about connecting with bloggers again, Susan from Bloggin' 'bout Books posts about this fun challenge hosted by Pages Unbound Reviews. So it appears I really need to put my money... aka. time... where my mouth is and join in and find bloggers again! Right?

There are twelve tasks to try and accomplish every month, along with some mini challenges. If you are interested, be sure to click and see this list! I'll write a post each month to report my success or failure. (I may cross over to some of my other places while I'm at it too, we'll see how it goes.) 

Anyway, let this be a declaration of my intention to try this! 

And first up on the list is this task:

1. FIND 10 BOOK BLOGGERS YOU’VE ENJOYED READING IN THE PAST AND GIVE THEM A SHOUT OUT

The shout out can be as a blog post on your blog, a list on Twitter, or any other ways you want to show them support.

1. _______Susan __
2. _______________
3. _______________
4. _______________
5. _______________
6. _______________
7. _______________
8. _______________
9. _______________
10. _______________

And with this post, I've knocked one of the list already! WOOT!

To Blog or Not to Blog

It's quite apparent that I'm struggling keeping up on the blogging lately. For years now I've wondered about trying to keep going. I'm not very motivated to hang out here these days, the connection isn't here anymore. I feel like a party started somewhere else and I wasn't invited. So I'm not sure if I need to just move on, or figure out what the new thing is. 

But when I imagine quitting, I feel like I'd be so lost without it! It's been part of  my life for so long... like... I really truly don't think I could actually do it! 

And thus the conundrum as they. 

In my fantasy world, this is what I would hope for regarding blogs and writing:

• keep reviewing books and dramas here, and at the same time figure out how to reconnect with the blog blogging world (and kdrama world for that matter.) Whether that's here or Instagram or MDL or where ever. (TikTok? Please say it isn't so!)
• start actually blogging on my kpop site...another place no one goes! But that thought makes me feel so very snarky about all the stuff I could go on about without fear! LOL!
• spend most of my writing time actually writing books... finish the ones I've started and find a way to share them, and find a place to share that journey, whether it's here or an actual author site (something I created once upon a time, but has since lapsed)

Can I keep up on THREE blogs?

Highly unlikely. But we know that everyone likes their categories separated out! Even though for a me good mash up of kpop/kdrama, books and writing sounds quite heavenly. 

Then add the YouTubing (another place I struggle with what to do or not to do) and then you have a glimpse into my crazy mind.  

Anyway. That's my wish and dream. Stuff I think about at night. 

So... what to do? 

Blogiversary?

Well, so do people still mark the passage of time by "celebrating" their blogiversaries around here? I realized the other day that I've passed through yet another year, making it 12 years since I started this book (and life's other adventures) blog. GO ME!

At any rate, it's made me think about the state of the blog and the state of blogging yet again. And the state of it is sad. Have I fallen out of it enough to not know where the action is anymore? Are people still blogging? Where do I go to reconnect if I'm ready to fully commit again? Are all my old faves still out there? Am I just being a bad blog connector myself these days?

Yeah, I'm pretty baffled with the demise of all things blogging. And I blamed it on my own changing interests, but I'm thinking that it's not all me and that many people are also finding other interests and connecting other places these days, yes? But I feel like I'm missing something. Let me know what you think is the THING these days and where I should be talking books if not here! Should I move my book thoughts to instagram for instance?

Anyway, I do miss the good old days. I'm sad that it's peaked and falling down the other side now. I will always look back fondly on so many fun things that happened through blogging! What a fun ride it's been. I plan to keep writing stuff here, but it tends to now truly be more of a journaling place and a spot for me to keep track of books/dramas and such just for myself, as I think not many people are out there keeping up on blogs anymore. But it will be interesting to see how long I last! Twelve years and counting. Let's see what happens!

Blogging Slumps

Tomorrow for Bloggiesta's Twitter chat, I'll be hosting a conversation about pushing through the blogging slumps. Please join us even if you aren't participating in Bloggiesta! I want to have a fun and energetic discussion about this since I know many of us are suffering!

It will be at 8 pm EDT/6 PM MDT... use the hashtag #Bloggiesta and you'll find us!

To get you thinking, I thought I'd start the discussion right here right now!

This past week I've reached my 11th year of blogging... well, book blogging that is. I had another blog for a year before that which eventually died when the book blog became the main place. So let's say 12 years. Many of you have blogged for even longer, I know. During all this time, I never thought I'd get tired of it. I figured I could talk about books forever and ever! I also never thought new and exciting other passions would take over.

Well, so about two years ago all those things I thought would never happen, happened. 

1. I didn't have much more to say about books and reading. For instance I felt like all the topics from Top Ten Tuesday I'd done a thousand times already. And I couldn't think of any new discussion posts on my own to throw out here either.

2. A new passion entered my life and that's all I wanted to talk about. Books suddenly took a back seat.

3. Which meant I wasn't reading as much so I didn't really have anything to review either.

4. Life just continues to get more and more complicated...having kids get older just makes things harder even than when they were younger. Just sayin'.

So between all these things, the blog suffered. But I was determined to not let it end. But, I figured that blogging isn't a matter of life and death and that it would wait for me to figure things out. So this is what I told myself:

1. You don't have to blog every day. (I had nearly been doing this for all the years.)

2. You don't have to blog only about books.(While I hadn't totally been doing this already, it was still mostly "all about books".) And since there was a new passion,  who says I can't just start blogging about that? 

3. Blogging is for fun and you can take breaks and then come back. No one is going to freak out.

4. Speaking of freaking out, the real blogging buddies will stick through the slumps with you. So hopefully worry about losing followers and such is not a thing.

It was painful though for a good long while. I felt guilty skipping days, then weeks. And almost months. I felt guilty talking about things besides books, knowing that people that came here to read and check in expected the discussion to be about books. I felt tired and lethargic just thinking about sitting down and writing something to post. I felt like everything was boring with regard to the blog.

It's been a sad time.

And I'm not totally sure it's over. But I feel like that after more than two years of slumping, I can see the light again, for this blog. I feel more energetic again. I'm reading more again. I'm not caring so much about what I post and telling myself that it's my blog and I can post whatever I want on it. I can change it's direction throughout it's lifetime as much as I want and as often as I want. I can try to recruit new readers that match that new content. Or not. And, I can have readers and followers that enjoy some or all of things I do.

And so it's all okay.

So at this point, I don't see the blog ending anytime soon. But I can't promise anything about what the future holds for it! Who knows what direction it will take? The possibilities are endless!

And now I want to know:

What struggles have you had with blogging? Have you gone through some of the same issues and thought processes that I have? Do you get blog guilt sometimes and feel like you owe people something? Let me know how you've struggled and how you've gotten through it! Or if you still are suffering, let me know what's up and how we as a community can help!

Comment here, and/or  if you can, please join us tomorrow at 8 PM EDT on Twitter (#Bloggiesta)  to talk more and see what others have to say!

BLOGGIESTA Is This Week!

It's already time for another Bloggiesta! The annual week long spring cleaning event! It starts tomorrow and goes through Sunday. I don't have a whole lot of things I want to do but there are things I SHOULD do! I'm looking at my list from last time and I plan to just pick up where I left off:

• Archive lists...I started this last time but didn't finish. Let's see if I can totally catch this little, ugh, task up!
• I fixed my social media icons last time, but it looks like it needs fixing again. 
• Maybe try to tackle some email mess. 
• Think up some discussion post ideas 
• Do some housekeeping on the YouTube channel messiness, organize files, and etc.
• Participate and HOST a twitter chat. Yes, please join me for my chat on Thursday at 8 PM EDT! We'll be talking about how to push through a blogging slump! #Bloggiesta on Twitter. :)
• Get some review posts written and scheduled.
• Edit videos.

Will you be joining the fun? What things do you need to do with your blog/channel/website? Let's do it together this week! Check out all the info here and link up with your to do list!

Mini Bloggiesta Is Coming! February 3 and 4

Ever since I handed Bloggiesta over to new hosts, I haven't been able to participate! WHAT'S UP WITH THAT?? Life... yeah. Life. And lack of blogging mojo and.. mostly life.

But I think I pretty much have no excuses for this mini event coming up next weekend and my blog needs a TON of catching up sort of tasky things so I plan to participate and... catch up.

Want to join in? Post your to do list and link up over at the main Bloggiesta site! Spread the word! Don't let this event die! Come and join the fun!


Here's my working list:

• Archive lists... I'm so behind. But since I haven't been reading as much this shouldn't be to hard! *I started this but haven't quite finished yet...
• Fix my little social media buttons on the side bar... I think they died. *DONE
• Clean up my Bloggin Buddy List... so many people have totally stopped blogging! SADNESS! *DONE
• Add some reviews to Amazon *DONE
• Add links to the lists on the tabs. *I did some, but not sure I can call this finished.
• I would say clean up email, but I know I won't do it... *Yep, I did not...
• Think up some discussion post ideas *Nope
• Do some housekeeping on the YouTube channel messiness *Nope
• Participate in the Twitter chat if it's at a time when I'm home... *DONE!
• Write two posts. *DONE

I will add to this as I think of stuff and as I get ideas from others. I hope you guys can participate too! Let me know if you sign up!

Nine Years Old!

Nine years ago today I published my first post on this blog. It's been a fun nine years! And after all this time, I'm suffering through my first real and true slump. Keep your fingers crossed that I can dig myself out! (Well, unless you don't really care! LOL!)

I, for one, am hoping I can dig out. But in the meantime, I'll post when the mood strikes, and when I ever read something, and about other things I might be doing.

Anyway, that being said, I thought I'd celebrate by getting a new profile picture. It's time to come out from behind the book stack, don't you think?

I had my daughter and son-in-law take some pictures of me awhile back. They are amazing photographers and I have a bunch to pick from. Here are some of my favorites.

I like this one the most actually. It just looks... normal.

I like the red.

This one is... okay, but others that have seen these choose this one as the best.

A little different take on the red.

Showing my feelings at the awkwardness of getting my picture taken.
It's probably one of my least favorite things ever!

And so, which one (if any) do you like? Or do you think I should stick safely behind the book stack? :)

Oh, and if you like numbers, here are a few from the past nine years:

2918 published posts
20,662 comments
912,580 page views according to Google Stats which started in June 2010
14 Bloggiestas hosted, 6 or so participated in before that
4 Utah Book Months hosted
700+ books reviewed
40+ authors interviewed
10  Dewey Readathons
30+ blog tours
30 posts tagged with Markus Zusak
105 monthly recaps
12 yearly top ten posts
220 top ten lists posted

And... so on and so on and so on!

It's been fun! Here's hoping I'll be here to celebrate number ten next year! And, here's to blogging!

What to Blog About When There are No Books to Review: Analyzing a Slump

I'm fast approaching my ninth blogiversary and I think there has never been a time in all these years where I truly have gone for weeks without finishing a book or having a book review to post. So I'm sitting here staring at my blog wishing for a book to review and... I've got nothing.

So I thought I'd blog about this weird phenomenon.

Why am I not reading and/or finishing anything?




Yes, I'm extremely distracted by the addition of other forms of entertainment that I've been referring to way too much lately. I've always maintained that a person can have all sorts of interests and consume all sorts of fun media type things during the day and as long as they are vigilant and aware of time you can pretty much fit it all in... or at least spread all the things over the week.

But I'm finding that this time around I'm struggling. And books and writing are feeling the sacrifice. I hope I can still figure it out. I'm telling myself that one month of not reading isn't the end of the world or anything, so relax. But still, I feel weird.

You may think the new grand baby might be causing some shifting in activities, but really that was only a couple days last week and since then, my life has pretty much resumed normality.  (Except for the worry and anxiety about things, though I live with worry all sorts of things constantly, so that's not really different either.)

And yes, the books I've been trying to read just aren't doing for me either. One I thought I could read in just a couple of days, but sadly I fall asleep or my focus drifts every time I try it. I will finish it, but it might take awhile.

So I tried another one, one that was due to disappear off my Kindle.. and it had moments, but again, wasn't nearly as engaging as I'd expected given my feelings for the first book.  So it was a slow go and disappeared before I could finish it.

Little Women is going well, but I'm reading it slowly and as it's a re-re-read, I'm not as fully engaged as if it was my first time through.

Then, I look at Winter, this huge book on my nightstand, and think... just pick it up... just do it, do it, DO IT!

And I look at all the other piles of books on my shelf and floor and I can't find the energy to even grab one and try it!

So then I roll over, grab my tablet, plug in the earbuds and am soon wrapped up in the drama on my screen instead!

versus 

I'm starting to get worried here!

Will it pass? Is there hope? Is it a normal run-of-the-mill blog/reading slump or are we talking about something worse here? Have I ruined my reading/writing life by letting in new things? Will I be able to figure out how to balance all the good things?

What a trivial problem, eh? And yet, one that I really need to address! Or else this blog might have to change its name!

At any rate, here's hoping I finish a book soon...

BBAW Day Five: Blogger Burnout

Blogger burnout... that thing that happens when you are sick of blogging, out of ideas, bored with what you have to say, tired of keeping up and etc. I suppose it happens after you've been at it for awhile, but it happens to newbies too I'm sure. I've been at this awhile, and have had only rare moments of it, thankfully, so for today's BBAW prompt I thought I'd just make a list of things I've found that helps.

• take a break
• try something new
• keep reading and continue to at least write reviews
• start a project with another blogger
• blog about something not book related
• participate in an event that kickstarts the enthusiasm again
• forget about the rules 
• take a longer break
• review a movie
• host a read along
• be easy on yourself
• don't stress about it because it's supposed to be for fun and not a job
• take time to comment on other blogs instead of writing a blog post
• if you take a break, when you miss it, start up again!

That's all I have. But I think it covers the basics for getting through a burnout period! What things do you do when you're feeling this?

Utah Book Month 2015: Bloggers!

The theme this week for Utah Book Month is "Utah Bloggers." I just don't even know how to approach this post! The whole finding and connecting with Utah bloggers over the past few years has been a life changer.

Once upon a time (and you've all heard this story but here I go again) I decided to hide my love for books. It was too weird a hobby. People thought I was crazy. Yes, I was a little fanatic and that freaked people out. So I decided I wouldn't talk about it much and tame the reading down a bit and rein myself in.

Then the internet happened. I found online book clubs. I chatted with other readers. It was so awesome. Those readers started blogging. I'd heard about blogging but was scared to try. Then, one day, I jumped in.

But at first, it wasn't a book blog. It was a "whatever" blog. I blogged now and then about books there, but no one responded. It bugged me. The, I thought about the online book club people who were blogging about books. And finally, I changed my approach and decided to do just book blogging. Well, mostly book blogging. A blog with a very strong book emphasis.

And then... I discovered other people in close geographic vicinity were doing the same thing! We ended up at the same book events together. (Going to book events... something that only happened after I started blogging. What did I do before this???) We were like, wait, WHAT? You blog? You read? You come to book things? WE SHOULD TOTALLY BE FRIENDS! :) (Natasha I'm looking at you!)

And then, we found more and more people who blogged, read and lived near by. Somewhere about that time I realized I didn't have to hide my love/fanaticism/craziness about books any more. We were all crazy and we all got it and life has been SO MUCH FUN ever since!

I think this calls for a collage.

Yeah, actually, making a collage is scary because I'm sure I've left off someone that I really shouldn't have. Do know that I tried to include a few more, but couldn't find an image for you! I included some currently blogging bloggers, some formerly blogging bloggers, some bloggers that blog about lots of stuff other than books, some bloggers that only do books. Some of these bloggers I know really really well, some just a little! All are wonderful and lovely and amazing!

Here are their links from top to bottom, left to right:

Jenny from Alternate Readality
Cindi from A Utah Mom's Life
Jenni from Jenni Elyse
Emily from Emily's Reading Room
Angie from Angieville
Penelope from The Reading Fever
Heather from Fire and Ice
Britt from Confessions of a Book Habitue
Becky from One Literature Nut
Melissa from Bookmark Dragon
Jessica from The Bluestocking Society
Jessica from Books: A True Story
Marissa from Raegun Ramblings
Kathy from Read This Instead
Kami from Kami's Library Thoughts
Kim from Good Clean Reads

A couple others I wanted to shout out:
Alison from So Many Books So Little Time
Kelley from The Road Ever Goes On

Thanks to you all for letting me find a place to be the book crazy person that I am! I hope you all keep blogging or start blogging again...and if you happen to be reading this and are pondering a blog and thinking about maybe joining the crazy book people here in Utah... just do it! It's the best thing ever.

Best Blogging Advice: Have Fun and Be Yourself!

As part of Bloggiesta week this time around, we thought it would be fun to have a linky going where everyone could link up a post they've written about the best blogging advice they have to share. Either something you've been told, something you tell everyone, or something you've found works for you. We'd love for you all to join us!

Please go here to the Bloggiesta page to link up and then click around to see the advice others are sharing today and throughout the rest of this week!

As for my advice, the thing that I say over and over and over again to new bloggers:

BE YOURSELF!

Everyone thinks... should I do this, or that or the other? Should I write only reviews? Should I participate in memes? Should do personal posts? Should I try to be funny? What if I'm too serious? What if I don't post everyday? What if I go weeks without posting? Maybe I don't like this or that or the other. Then what should I do?

Or.. maybe I have blog that says right in the title that it's all about books. But I really like music too. And movies. And writing. And The Walking Dead. Maybe I want to talk about "A Day in My Life" and share pictures and blather on and on about , I don't know, Josh Groban or something.

You know? Maybe that!

So, does that mean I stress about it?

No, I just do what I want, when I want, how I want, and have fun with it! No stress allowed.

And if I do get down, I can talk to people about it and vent a little maybe and share and find out that everyone stresses and that it's okay.

And then just keep having fun.

So I'll add to my advice:

HAVE FUN AND BE YOURSELF!

What's your best blogging advice? Link up over at Bloggiesta!

Happy Eight Years to Me

Eight years ago I finally acted on something I'd thought about for a long long time and I sat down and created a book blog. And what a ride it's been since! So many things have been part of my life because I hit that publish button! It's big enough that I can't really imagine what I'd be doing right now if I had decided against hitting that button. It's a weird thing to think about.

So, I wanted to highlight some of the firsts for this blog, but then I remembered that I did that already for my five year celebration. You can click here if you are interested in that list. Very fun! Not a whole ton as happened since then. Just more awesome author events, more awesome connections with bloggers, great read along experiences, the start of my own adventure in writing, and Bloggiesta still going strong three years later!

All I know, I'm happy to still be here! It's not over yet!

Top Ten Tuesday: Blogger Confessions

The prompt over at The Broke and the Bookish takes a bit of a turn this week. Today, we are all confessing stuff! Oh boy.

Top Ten Blogging Confessions

1. I confess, I don't spend very much time on my reviews. I just want to get my thoughts out there quick-like and then see what you think about the book too.

2. Speaking of reviews, I confess that I don't read many reviews on other blogs. And then I wonder why no one reads mine!

3. I confess, I've never really had the desire to make money blogging.

4. I confess, I pretty much hate, well let's say dislike, the name of my blog. I didn't give it enough thought when starting so many years ago! But, I guess it's grown on me.

5. I confess, after over seven years of blogging, I still get excited about comments and sad when they don't happen (which seems to be a lot lately I must say.)

6. I confess also, that after over seven years of blogging, I still wonder if my blog is "interesting enough."

7. I confess, ever since Google Reader left, I'm REALLY having a hard time keeping up with you all! And I like and enjoy Feedly and everything.

8.  I confess, I have a really hard time passing up a review offer when an author emails me personally. Ah, the pain and agony! But I can't say yes to you all!!

9. I confess that I wish I could be more creative and come up with something to do here on the blog that would be like.... WOW and everyone would love it and the whole world would visit and it would be so awesome. Some day?

10. I confess that I totally can't think of any more confessions to make! Cop out!!

What blogging things do you feel like confessing today? Come on. Spill!

Armchair BEA: Expanding and Growing

Today's Armchair BEA topic is about expanding our blogging horizons, something I'm always interested in, doing the next cool thing, right?

Here are the specific questions:

What do you think about when you think about going beyond blogging or expanding your horizons? Is it a redesign of your blog? Have you branched out into freelance writing or even published a novel of your very own? Or, have you moved into a different venue like podcasts or vlogging? This is the day to tell us about how you have expanded on blogging in your own unique way.

I think for me, expanding just simply means staying involved. That's why I'm trying to keep Bloggiesta going, and why I've been helping Armchair BEA this year and why I sometimes (depending on timing and such) cheer-lead for different things, and why I'm figuring out Google+ lately and such. I think it just means that it's good to try (I know it's hard and overwhelming) to stay current and keep up!

I've always found the idea of podcast fascinating, but haven't figured out how to make that happen. Besides, I'm not a good talker, so why would I even think about a podcast? Kinda funny I'd say. But still, it seems like it would be really fun especially if you were talking to a buddy and could just ham it up or something.

As for vlogging, I'm also intrigued, but watching me talking sounds even worse than listening to me talk! So, why would I even think about it? Because it's a challenge and something different and it's fun! I don't know. I think if I were to do something like this, I'd have to think of a whole new spin on what everyone else is doing because I wouldn't want to be boring or anything! :)

Of course you all know (if you've been reading here lately) that I've been bitten by the writing bug. Well, I was bitten a long time ago, but have only recently acknowledged it. I think that sometimes morphing from a crazy reader to a wanna be writer is inevitable. And not a very unusual thing, but still, it's fun to try and to see what writing a book is like. I'm having fun, and I think that's all that matters right now!

Anyway, for me, and I've said this a gazillion times, this blogging thing will always be a hobby and if it seems to be moving from that category, I'll know I've crossed a line I didn't want. So as long as expanding keeps it in the hobby realm, I'm all for it!

How about you all? What are you doing to make sure you blog is growing?

Thinking About Branding: A Bloggiesta Mini Challenge

One of the Bloggiesta Mini Challenges for this Bloggiesta weekend is Branding by Amanda at On a Book Bender. She asks some questions that I thought would be fun to answer here in this post. I figured after nearly seven years at this, it would be a good time to ponder my brand!

Here's what she wants us to think about:

How well does your blog name reflect what your blog is about? When I sat down seven years ago to make a book blog, all I could think to name it was something very obviously pointing to what it was about. The name It's All About Books popped into my head and I went with it. Many times over the years I've regretted my choice and my quickness with which I just typed it in and went for it. But now that it's grown on me, I can't change it! Sadly, many others have had the same idea and I know I'm not the only blog out there with this name, but hopefully I'm the most active and prolific one!

Create a tagline. When I made up this blog name, I added the tagline "...and life's other adventures too!" because I knew I wouldn't be able to keep my posts to only about books. And because of this simple tag line, I feel justified in branching out to posts about movies, TV shows, music and other posts on life. I find it it be perfect for my other rambles. It encompasses everything!

Look at the name you use to leave comments. Change it to reflect your brand. One of the things I didn't understand when I created my blog was to make the blog name and the URL match. Oh well on that. But I did decide at some point to be known all over the internet by my nickname. And my URL ended up reflecting that. And this nickname is what I use to comment and I find it to be unique enough that I don't usually use my whole blog name along with it. So far, I haven't come across any other Sueys! (Except that Jamie Ford mentioned to me the other day that he has a friend with that name!) So anyway, I'm hoping that the strange and weird nickname sets me apart somehow!

Do you have the same profile picture on all social networks (including your blog)? This is one thing that I did understand in the beginning, that if people want to recognize me wherever I go, I should use the same picture. I've only changed my profile picture once. Some places (mostly commenting apps) are still connected to my old one, but they are similar enough that it hasn't mattered too much. I'm starting to get itchy to change it again, but this is something that I think is such a BIG DEAL that it freaks me out! And I want to be creative and yeah... the pressure!

Is the picture of you or an avatar?  Sadly, it is of me, but I guess that's a good thing? But, I hate pictures of myself. Thus, the hiding behind books. Ugh. Maybe when I do get the guts to change it again, I can think of something else. Suggestions?

What do people expect from YOUR blog?  I'm not sure, but I would hope that readers expect some very casual and chatty book talking and occasional book gushing. Hopefully a friendly and welcoming place. A blog where all sorts of books are talked about. A blog with a fun dose of other media consumption items discussed. Pretty much a blog where what you see is what you get.

Look at your Twitter timeline. What’s the ratio between interacting with people and self-promoting tweets? (Eyeball it.) Well, my recent timeline is promoting lots of Bloggiesta posts of other people! But yeah, most of my tweets are interactions with other people. I tend to forget to plug my own posts except for the dlvr.it app that I started using during a previous Bloggiesta, one that posts your new posts automatically. Anyway. Yes, actual conversations on Twitter are my favorite!

Write a social media update about your latest post (or your latest FAVORITE post) that teases and gives people a reason to click through. This is one thing I've really been trying to work on lately, the eye catching, click inducing tweets to make people want to come visit! It's hard! If I were to write one about my latest post it might look something like this: Flawed characters are the best! What are some of your favorite flaws? What do you think? Would you click?

Fun stuff to think about! I'm actually fairly happy with my "brand" and find that it has been established in such a way that truly reflects who I am and what my blog is all about. Yay for that!

How do you feel you've branded yourself and your blog? Are you happy with the results too?

15 Day Book Blogger Challenge: Days 11-15

In which I finish off the last five days of this fun blogging prompt from Good Books and Good Wine.

Day 11: My Five Best Blog Posts

Okay, so I just looked and I've published, as of this very moment (which means not counting this one, or the couple I have currently scheduled!) 2135 blog posts. And I'm supposed to pick my five favorites? Well...okay. (I do have a little list on my blog here, but if I were to narrow those down even further?)

Discussing Books With Family (in which I write script of a conversation that was had with my family about my bookish pursuits)

90% of Everything is Crap (in which I discuss a Brandon Sanderson speech and wonder why we bash certain books)

Remember that One Time When Markus Zusak Came? (in which I compile quotes from other bloggers about their thoughts on MZ's visit to Provo a few years ago... during Markus Zusak week that I hosted on my blog last October.)

The Trouble with Author Signings (in which I list the ways I make a fool out of myself while meeting authors)

Edgy Books vs. Gentle Books (in which I discuss the difference and the market for each type)


Day 12: Fighting Blogger Fatigue: Here are some of my suggestions:

-- Do things like this fun meme/challenge thing that I'm doing right now.
-- Stop blogging for a bit and read a lot of cool books and then you'll get excited to tell about them.
-- Participate in a read along, or host one
-- Join some other fun thing someone is doing that is blog related, but not necessarily book related
-- Meet and mentor brand new bloggers
-- Start a new blog project that you've thought about, but have been scared to do.
-- Host an event
-- Write a random, rambly or ranty post!
-- Write a post about something you are really passionate about, bookish or not.


Day 13: An Under Appreciated Book

Everyone loves and almost everyone has read The Book Thief by the very brilliant Markus Zusak, but not very many have read his OTHER wonderful book, I Am the Messenger, which you have, without a doubt, seen me hype up here on this blog enough times that I don't need to do it yet again! But, I truly think it is very much under appreciated!

Day 14: Deal Breakers

If I'm reading along and suddenly a book has these things, I'll be...I don't know.. MAD! (I'll still probably finish the book though.)

-- way too much preachy crap
-- a hidden, or not so hidden, agenda
-- much too much abuse
-- much too much torture
-- a stupid "hero" or "heroine"
-- a way too convenient ending
-- a big political speech stuck in the middle of the story
-- symbolism that goes over my head
-- a gazillion F bombs

Day 15: Book Blogging Mentors

I started so long ago that back then, everyone was pretty much new at this thing. But really, I didn't know that, so I looked up to and wanted to be like and learned a lot from:

Kailana from The Written World
Dewey from Hidden Side of a Leaf (sadly no longer with us)
Andi from Estella's Revenge
Chris from Bookarama
Melissa from Book Nut
Raidergirl from An Adventure in Reading

15 Day Book Blogger Challenge: Days 6 - 10

More blogging prompts for book bloggers! I think this is nearly over now, but I'm still "catching up!"  Check out this post from Good Books and Good Wine for all the details.

Day Six: How I Shop for Books

I'm thinking that most of the time when I buy books it's because I'm going to a signing and I either want to support the author, or the bookstore, or I just really want the book! Also, I'll buy books in a series that I love and want to collect. Or I'll buy books by an author I love and want to collect. But usually, I have some idea of what the book is before I buy it, I'm not much into buying a random book anymore these days. Oh, and I'll buy cheap Kindle books too! Now and then.

Day Seven: My Blogging Quirks

Hmm... I'm  a little stumped with this prompt! What ARE my blogging quirks? 

• I'm bugged if I miss a day, though I'm trying really hard to get over that.
• I don't get very behind in reviews, not sure what this means. I don't read as much as everyone else maybe?
• I don't like writing detailed reviews. I feel it gives away too much of the book.
• After so many years at this, I still get instantly sad if a blog post has no comment love at all!
• I use these things....... way too much. 
• I'm a haphazard blogger and don't over obsess about my posts, usually. I just throw them up.
• I'm not into the technical things because I feel that bottom line, I just want to talk books and reading, and that's pretty easy, technically.
• I love writing discussion posts, but I'm out of ideas for discussions.
• I blog much better if there is music blasting... and when I say blasting, I mean blasting.

Day Eight: 15 Things I Like (and I'll add... or Dont Like) On Blogs

1. No clutter
2. Some white space
3. Fun colors
4. Lots of personal and not just reviews
5. No moving or glittering parts
6. No auto music, but talking about and sharing music is fun!
7. Lists and resources included
8. About me pages
9. A search bar
10. Social media contacts easy to find near the top
11. Easy to read fonts
12. NO CAPTCHA
13. I like it if I don't have to "click more" to read more, know what I mean?
14. I like the comment button at the bottom of a post NOT the top.
15. Drop down menus are cool and I'm starting wish I had some

Day Nine: Why Do I Blog About Books?

Because I feel this overwhelming need to talk about them. And the overwhelming hope that someone might want to listen and talk back.
Day Ten: How Do I Choose What to Read Next?

Mostly by mood, but a lot of times it's because it's something that I've committed to review and the publish date is coming up, or I'm going to a signing and I want to read the book first, or a movie has come out and I want to read the book first, or whatever book club is reading, or I just bought it and I'm going to drop everything else to read it, or I join a read along, or.....


Coming up this week.... Days 11 through 15! Don't you LOVE how I'm doing this all wrong!! :)

15 Day Book Blogger Challenge: Catch Up Days 1-5

When I got home from vacation, I discovered this fun little blogging writing prompt going on, so I want to participate even though I'm behind! Check out this post from Good Books and Good Wine for all the details.


Day One: 15 Book Related Confessions:

1. I'm an old middle aged mom that loves to read YA romances.
2. And I always seem to like the dark haired one...almost always.
3. I don't care about plot holes, at all.
4. I also don't care about grammar mistakes.
5. I'm okay loaning out books as long as you've proven yourself a good returner...
6. ... that is unless it's a signed book, especially a Markus Zusak signed book, and then no one will be getting that one!
7. I'm not overly concerned about matching book sets, because a book is a book is a book.
8. Which also means I've come to terms with the whole ebook/ereader thing and have embraced it!
9. And about cover art? Eh, I'm not that into it, at least I don't think I am. Unless I'm being somehow subconsciously messed with.
10. I used to read tons of classics, and now I think they are hard.
11. I'm worried that I tend to remember some of those classics overly fondly, and that if I re-read them, they won't be as good as they were before.
12. If I absolutely love a book with all my heart and someone argues against that book, it makes me so sad. 
13. I lay in bed at night and stare at all my unread books on the shelf and worry about ever getting to them.
14. I think messy books are just as fun as organized books (do you remember Sabrina's dad's apartment in that movie, the one with Harrison Ford? I loved that place!)
15. It doesn't totally freak me out to see the movie before the book... only a little.

Day Two: Bedtime ritual: I don't really have a ritual for reading at bedtime, except that it must happen. Lay down, grab book, and read... every night, without fail.

Day Three: Blogging BFFs: I can't tell you how much I hate this question. I have many blogging BFFs! Too many to list! You all know who you are! Many have become IRL friends thanks to the wonderful bookish community we have here in Utah! It's awesome.

Day Four: Book I flung: That other Yann Martel book! Loved Life of Pi, but hated Beatrice and Virgil! Talk about a book that manipulates its reader. Crazy. (Okay, so this is not the LATEST book I flung, but the one that stands out in my mind. Actually, I can't think of a book I flung lately.) And yes, I literally threw this book on the floor when I read that last sentence.

Day Five: Tear Jerker: The first book that I remember making me cry was The Good Earth. Even though that Chinese farmer was a mean old cuss, he worked so hard to make it on his farm, and in the end, all his sons wanted to do was sell it right from under his dying body. That KILLED me people!

Stay tuned for more catch up prompts!