Posts filed under 'Booklover – YA Bloggers'
August 13th, 2010
I’m counting down the days to my deadline for CINDY ON A MISSION, the sequel to THE CINDERELLA SOCIETY, and have some fun things planned for the web site to finish out the year! Here’s what’s in store in the months ahead…
It’s Big Blog World
Coming this fall, look for these fun features on the blog:
– A month-long Booklover Spotlight series on dozens of awesome YA book bloggers
– A month-long Author Cave series (See where the magic happens and get the inside scoop on what your favorite authors’ writing processes are like!)
– The return of the Bundle of Bookmarks giveaways!
Newsletter goodness
I’ll also (finally!) be launching my newsletter this fall with some long-awaited HUGE (and totally exclusive) giveaways just for newsletter subscribers.
Haven’t signed up yet? Just sign up in the left hand column of the home page. Easy peasy and your email address will never be shared – this is a no spam zone because SPAM ROTS.
Just For Writers
And coming in late 2010 and early 2011, a brand-new section of the site called FOR WRITERS. I’ll be including the Teen Author Challenge here for easier use and adding loads of articles about embracing your own writing process, boosting your productivity, having fun with effective marketing and social networking, keeping your sanity in the business, and much much more. I’ll also have some awesome words of wisdom from tons of your favorite authors to share!
But first, it’s back to work. Just wait until you see what the Wickeds manage to pull off in chapter one of CINDY ON A MISSION (coming Fall 2011). It shakes the Cindys to the core and threatens the Sisterhood in ways Jess and the Sisters never imagined.
September 30th, 2009
This week, I’m delighted to feature a terrific young blogger who is also participating in the Teen Author Challenge. (Not only that, but she also designed the winning logo for the TAC!) Please help me welcome the fabulous…
Kelsey
(aka Reading Keeps You Sane)
Welcome, Kelsey!
Booklover Basics
Name: Kelsey
Blog Name: Reading Keeps You Sane
Blog URL: readingkeepsyousane.blogspot.com
Country: USA
Teen or Adult? Teen
Short Bio:
Hi, I’m Kelsey! I’m a blogger, reviewer, reader, writer, among other things. I overall just love to create and imagine. 
Questions About You 2.0
The You 2.0 blog is about becoming everything you’re meant to be. It’s about pursuing your dreams, changing your world, showing gratitude, and paying it forward. Here’s a chance for our Booklovers to share what You 2.0 means to them.
1. PURSUING YOUR DREAMS: Everyone has the ability to be extraordinary, they just have to embrace what makes them unique and special and pursue their dreams with passion and confidence! Tell us a little about a dream you’ve achieved or are pursuing right now. If you’ve achieved it already, how does it feel to know you’ve made your dream a reality?
I have about three dreams that I am pursuing now. One: To get into a good college and work toward a career in the publishing industry. I have a few more years before I would go to college though. Two: Write a novel. And maybe even publish it. And for three: Buy a Volkswagen Beetle in a sky blue color and a convertible one. It’s my dream car since I was playing with Barbies. 
2. CHANGING YOUR WORLD: Changing the world doesn’t have to mean finding a cure for cancer or creating lasting world peace (though it definitely can!). It just means finding a way that you can make the world a little better off for having lived here, whether it’s making a difference to one person or a million, to the earth, to animals… whatever is important to you. What is one way you would personally like to make the world a better place?
Well, I thought about it and I think something I would really like to do is write a novel that will be about something that means a lot to me and hope that if I ever write it, and publish it, it’ll make a difference for the people who read it.
3. GRATITUDE: Gratitude is a huge part of the You 2.0 life. Taking a moment to count our blessings is the best way to remember what’s truly important (especially when life is hectic and crazy!). What are you grateful for?
I’m grateful for a tonnnnn of stuff. My dog, who I can always count on. My family, who is there for me and loves me. The authors of the books I read, who allow me to open my imagination and for inspiration. And to a tonnnnn of other stuff that I could keep on naming.
4. PAYING IT FORWARD: If everyone took a moment to pay it forward, even just once, the world would be changed in ways we can’t even imagine. What is one thing you’ve done (or plan to do) to “pay it forward” in some way?
I don’t think you really need to think about it when you pay it forward. I think it’s a spontaneous thing. Sometimes I don’t know what I will do until I just know I need to do it!
Questions About You, The Book Blogger
5. Why did you decide to start blogging about books?
It was a completely spontaneous move and I had no idea what I had gotten myself into. But I’ve kept strong for almost a year and a half now and I hope to continue doing so.
6. What do you love most (and least) about being a YA book blogger?
I love learning new books to read and being able to read them, all the blogger buddies I’ve met. I don’t really like how time consuming and totally addicting blogging is. haha
7. What do you love most about the YA and middle grades genres right now?
Well, I don’t read any MG books, so I have no say on that, but as for YA books, well, i don’t know if I can really say. All the YA books are different, but I do love that there are soooo many YA books out there. And I love how most YA authors are available online and blog and tweet, etc. It’s really nice to know authors in that way.
8. What makes you fall in love with a book?
The writing, the characters all have to be good. Poetic prose, strong female characters. Romance with a good guy is always a favorite of mine. Some sort of paranormal activity. Originality. It has to wow me and make me think about it for hours after I finish it.
9. Which books have inspired you most?
All books have inspired me. I can’t pick just a few! Truthfully, whenever I read a book (which is a lot!) I always stop and think about how the authors have gotten the book to where it is now (me reading the book). Really, it’s not the books that inspire me, it’s the authors who finished a complete novel, got an agent, sold it, and went through the entire process to have it published. The authors are my inspiration.
10. Are you also a writer yourself? If so, what do you like to write?
I don’t really know if I consider myself a writer. I like to write, even though I don’t usually get past 30 pages. But I like to write contemporary coming-of-age romance novels, I suppose. Maybe with a little paranormal in it?
11. What advice would you give to other avid readers who want to launch their own book blog?
Whatever you do, don’t do it to get free books, do it for the fact that you want to share your opinions on the books you read. I didn’t even know ARCs existed when I started my blog!
Will the Real You 2.0 Please Stand Up?
12. I love the game Three Truths and a Lie because there are so many unexpected and interesting things about people that we never get a chance to learn about them. What are three truths and a lie that our blog readers can guess about you?
–When I lived in Germany I was in a huge car pile-up that was started when a guy tried to jump off an overpass. **UPDATE: Here’s the lie!**
–When I was younger I once hid somewhere for no apparent reason while my mom’s friend babysat me long enough that eventually the police were called to help find me.
–When I lived in Germany a guy in the apartment building across from mine held his family hostage but ended up only killing himself.
–I broke someone’s arm once before.
(Readers: Your guess gets you an entry into the You 2.0 monthly contest for an ARC of The Cinderella Society or a prize dive in the awesome You 2.0 Prize Basket. Guess correctly and you get a bonus entry! I’ll update the post tomorrow to spill the big lie, so get guessing and have fun!)
Thanks to Kelsey for a fabulous interview!
September 16th, 2009
I absolutely LOVE Booklover of the Week features. I have such a blast with them, especially when I get to know people like today’s guest even better. This week, I’m delighted to welcome the fabulous…
Sophie!
(aka So Many Books, So Little Time)
Welcome, Sophie!
Booklover Basics
Name: Sophie
Blog Name: So Many Books, So Little Time
Blog URL: solittletimeforbooks.blogspot.com
Country: United Kingdom
Teen or Adult? Teen
Short Bio:
I’m a seventeen-year-old girl doing her A-levels at Sixth Form college. I love to read and write, but I’m also a bit of a science nerd!
Questions About You 2.0
The You 2.0 blog is about becoming everything you’re meant to be. It’s about pursuing your dreams, changing your world, showing gratitude, and paying it forward. Here’s a chance for our Booklovers to share what You 2.0 means to them.
1. PURSUING YOUR DREAMS: Everyone has the ability to be extraordinary, they just have to embrace what makes them unique and special and pursue their dreams with passion and confidence! Tell us a little about a dream you’ve achieved or are pursuing right now. If you’ve achieved it already, how does it feel to know you’ve made your dream a reality?
Right now I’m trying to get the grades to do an English Literature degree at university. It’s hard and takes a lot out of my reading time but I do it because I know it’ll be worth it in the end. And my mum will kill me if I don’t! I’d also like to write a novel some day, but I’m waiting for inspiration to strike!
2. CHANGING YOUR WORLD: Changing the world doesn’t have to mean finding a cure for cancer or creating lasting world peace (though it definitely can!). It just means finding a way that you can make the world a little better off for having lived here, whether it’s making a difference to one person or a million, to the earth, to animals… whatever is important to you. What is one way you would personally like to make the world a better place?
It’s really simple and kind of cheesy, but I try to smile at everyone whom I make eye contact with. You could make someone’s day or at least make them feel a little better. It always makes me happy when a random stranger smiles at me so I try to pass it on.
3. GRATITUDE: Gratitude is a huge part of the You 2.0 life. Taking a moment to count our blessings is the best way to remember what’s truly important (especially when life is hectic and crazy!). What are you grateful for?
I’m grateful for having a home and a loving family to come home to after a horrible day at college. Friends to moan to and a room full of books also helps!
4. PAYING IT FORWARD: If everyone took a moment to pay it forward, even just once, the world would be changed in ways we can’t even imagine. What is one thing you’ve done (or plan to do) to “pay it forward” in some way?
My mum and my best friend’s mum have had cancer in the last couple of years so together we’ve taken part in fundraising activities to help raise money to care for the patients and raise awareness of the effects and symptoms of the illness.
Questions About You, The Book Blogger
5. Why did you decide to start blogging about books?
I’d been reading book blogs for a long time, always wanting to start my own but never quite getting around to it. One day during college I finished reading my book and really wanted to talk about it so I decided to finally set up a blog. I did it as soon as I got home and the rest is history!
6. What do you love most (and least) about being a YA book blogger?
My favourite thing about being a YA book blogger is the friends I’ve made. I can talk about books and bookish things until I’m blue in the face with like minded people and they don’t get bored. Much.
Blogging takes up a lot of time. Writing reviews, reading others’ reviews and commenting takes a lot longer than I originally thought it would! But saying that, I enjoy it anyway!
7. What do you love most about the YA and middle grades genres right now?
There is no limit to imagination. Whether something could happen in reality isn’t often taken into consideration and you can lose yourself in a completely new world which is a lot harder to find in adult fiction. I also relate to characters that are nearer my own age a lot easier than I do adults.
8. What makes you fall in love with a book?
Honestly, a brilliant guy! I’m not entirely kidding. That mixed with a good storyline that I can get my teeth into and a protagonist that I like and sympathise with makes me a happy reader. I’m not hard to please!
9. Which books have inspired you most?
Roald Dahl’s books made me fall in love with reading. I suddenly found myself watching these characters inside my head and I could identify with them and feel for them too. It was a complete revelation that turned me into a voracious reader and I haven’t looked back since.
10. What advice would you give to other avid readers who want to launch their own book blog?
Go for it! It’s hard work but you get so much back that it’s completely worth it. Read what you want to read and write what you want to write and have fun!
Will the Real You 2.0 Please Stand Up?
11. I love the game Three Truths and a Lie because there are so many unexpected and interesting things about people that we never get a chance to learn about them. What are three truths and a lie that our blog readers can guess about you?
- I have five brothers and two sisters.
- I had an operation on my eye.
- I’m 5’11″. **UPDATE: Here’s the lie!**
- I could eat ravioli by the bucketful.
(Readers: Your guess gets you an entry into the You 2.0 monthly contest for an ARC of The Cinderella Society or a prize dive in the awesome You 2.0 Prize Basket. Guess correctly and you get a bonus entry! I’ll update the post tomorrow to spill the big lie, so get guessing and have fun!)
Thanks to Sophie for a fabulous interview!
September 3rd, 2009
It’s time for another Booklover feature! WordPress thwarted me at every turn yesterday, as some of you saw me tweet, so this week we’re doing the Booklover series on Thursday instead of Wednesday. Ah, technology.
My Booklover of the Week guest this week is incredibly sweet, charming, and full of life. Please join me in welcoming the wonderful…
Kim Pickett
(aka The Book Butterfly)
Glad to have you aboard, Kim!
Booklover Basics
Name: Kim Pickett
Blog Name: The Book Butterfly
Blog URL: butterflybookreviews.blogspot.com
Country: USA
Teen or Adult? Adult
Short Bio:
Hello everyone! My name is Kim and I’m a business professional who also happens to love escaping into the world of young adult books! I’m married to the love of my life and we happily reside in Florida with our two mischievous dogs, Henry and Charlie. I’m a New England girl at heart though, and I miss my hometown in New Hampshire with the changing seasons and green mountains. As a passionate reader, my blog is a much needed outlet for my book addiction and I enjoy running it not only for my own entertainment, but for the entertainment of others as well. When not blogging, I enjoy spending time with my family, taking in Broadway shows and operas, running in charity marathons, nature hiking with my dogs, and of course- reading!
Questions About You 2.0
The You 2.0 blog is about becoming everything you’re meant to be. It’s about pursuing your dreams, changing your world, showing gratitude, and paying it forward. Here’s a chance for our Booklovers to share what You 2.0 means to them.
1. PURSUING YOUR DREAMS: Everyone has the ability to be extraordinary, they just have to embrace what makes them unique and special and pursue their dreams with passion and confidence! Tell us a little about a dream you’ve achieved or are pursuing right now. If you’ve achieved it already, how does it feel to know you’ve made your dream a reality?
Running is very important in my life and I’ve recently set the goal of completing a 10K for myself within the next year. I have participated in a few 5K races, but never a 10K. Charity races are such great events to get involved with. You can help support worthwhile causes, get great exercise and also mingle with some really positive, fun individuals. Running doesn’t come easy for me though, (and sometimes feels like torture) but seeing that finish line at the end of a race is such a great feeling!
2. CHANGING YOUR WORLD: Changing the world doesn’t have to mean finding a cure for cancer or creating lasting world peace (though it definitely can!). It just means finding a way that you can make the world a little better off for having lived here, whether it’s making a difference to one person or a million, to the earth, to animals… whatever is important to you. What is one way you would personally like to make the world a better place?
As a strict vegetarian, I’m naturally very concerned with animal rights and welfare causes. I do what I can by supporting events for local animal shelters and making donations for items in need like towels, food, cat litter, etc. I refuse to buy my pets from breeders and more importantly, from pet stores—which often acquire animals from inhumane “mills” where they are neglected and abused. Both of my dogs were rescued from animal control, and I try to educate people about the importance of adopting as opposed to buying. Why buy when you can save a life instead?
3. GRATITUDE: Gratitude is a huge part of the You 2.0 life. Taking a moment to count our blessings is the best way to remember what’s truly important (especially when life is hectic and crazy!). What are you grateful for?
I’m grateful for my husband. He supports every new adventure I undertake and keeps me motivated with his enthusiasm and positive attitude. My book blog takes up a great deal of time but he never complains – in fact, he is my biggest fan and will keep up with my feeds even though he doesn’t normally read the types of books I enjoy! I’m also grateful to all the bloggers out there who follow my blog and have been so helpful and encouraging with their comments and emails. When I first started, I worried that no one would even read my blog!
4. PAYING IT FORWARD: If everyone took a moment to pay it forward, even just once, the world would be changed in ways we can’t even imagine. What is one thing you’ve done (or plan to do) to “pay it forward” in some way?
I am a recycling fiend! I have bins all over the house for paper, plastic, cans, foam trays, egg cartons, newspaper, etc and I’m a bit of a control freak about it. I’ll even take my empty bottles home from restaurants or sporting events just to make sure they will really be recycled! It’s amazing how much material accumulates by the end of the week when you pay attention to it. I love knowing I am doing my part to stop needlessly filling up already overflowing landfills with materials that could’ve easily been recycled. In my own small way, I feel like I’m doing my part to “pay it forward” to our environment!
Questions About You, The Book Blogger
5. Why did you decide to start blogging about books?
Before I became a blogger, I didn’t really have a forum where I could talk to other people who felt as fervent about books as I did. So starting a book blog was such a great outlet for me! I never realized either how MANY great people out there are truly impassioned about books and are just as eager to converse about them as you are.
6. What do you love most (and least) about being a YA book blogger?
I love seeing what new books are on the horizon and often times they are ones I probably wouldn’t have known about if it weren’t for other bloggers. I also enjoy reading reviews for books I plan to read and writing reviews for my own site.
What I love the least about blogging is the limited time I have to devote to it due to my “real” job. If I could somehow translate my love of reading and reviewing books into a career within the book industry, I would be the happiest person in the world! (I’m sure many bloggers feel this way too!)
7. What do you love most about the YA and middle grades genres right now?
To me, the YA genre exists in a space where magical elements from children’s fiction can successfully intertwine with the more serious, thought provoking issues of adult novels. I love how characters in YA novels are often on the edge of a discovery, or are about to make decisions that will shape the type of lives they will end up leading. In addition, I find it refreshing how YA novels often tend to be more character based and less reliant on sexuality than books in some adult genres.
8. What makes you fall in love with a book?
Lately I’ve really been drawn to YA novels with paranormal elements. My newest addiction is the House of Night series by PC and Kristin Cast. I devoured all of them within one week. Anything with a good love triangle in it will usually draw me in as well. I love getting hooked at the beginning of a book and being so intrigued, that I can’t stop thinking about it, or reading it. One time my alarm clock actually went off while I was still sitting up in bed reading!
9. Which books have inspired you most?
Jane Austen’s works are my all time favorite novels. She saw through people’s polite facades and into what their true motivations were. The way she managed to call out her characters on their inconsistencies without ever having to really come out and say so was so brilliant to me. It made her writing twice as witty and exceedingly humorous to boot!
10. Are you also a writer yourself? If so, what do you like to write?
I wish, but sadly no I’m not!
11. What advice would you give to other avid readers who want to launch their own book blog?
There are many bloggers out there who have great posts on the nuts and bolts of getting started. I’d urge anyone interested in starting a blog to research these posts prior to doing so. Two posts in particular were crucial to me—check out Presenting Lenore and the Story Siren for great entries with a wide variety of topics covered.
Will the Real You 2.0 Please Stand Up?
12. I love the game Three Truths and a Lie because there are so many unexpected and interesting things about people that we never get a chance to learn about them. What are three truths and a lie that our blog readers can guess about you?
– I’m something of a speed reader who can tear through 100 pages or more an hour!
– I once auditioned for American Idol in Orlando, Florida but didn’t make the cut.
**UPDATE: Here’s the lie! (The formatting looks funny here, but it’s the above tidbit about American Idol.)**
– I have extreme Insectophobia—I can’t stand anything creepy crawly buzzing around my face or on my clothing/skin. Needless to say, my husband is the pest exterminator in our home!
– I’ve been known to stay up all evening after rushing out to get whatever Harry Potter book was released at midnight!
(Readers: Your guess gets you an entry into the You 2.0 monthly contest for an ARC of The Cinderella Society or a prize dive in the awesome You 2.0 Prize Basket. Guess correctly and you get a bonus entry! I’ll update the post tomorrow to spill the big lie, so get guessing and have fun!)
Thanks to Kim for a fabulous interview!
August 19th, 2009
It’s Wednesday which means it’s time for another Booklover of the Week feature! This week’s guest is one of the most fun, enthusiastic bloggers I know. She’s passionate about books and about discovering new authors. I’m delighted to welcome the fabulous…
Khy!
(aka Frenetic Reader)
Welcome, Khy!
Booklover Basics
Name: Khy
Blog Name: Frenetic Reader
Blog URL: freneticreader.blogspot.com
Country: USA
Teen or Adult? Teen
Short Bio:
I am a teen who likes books (obviously), writing (even though I can never find the time to), and musicals (even though I can’t sing).
Questions About You 2.0
The You 2.0 blog is about becoming everything you’re meant to be. It’s about pursuing your dreams, changing your world, showing gratitude, and paying it forward. Here’s a chance for our Booklovers to share what You 2.0 means to them.
1. PURSUING YOUR DREAMS: Everyone has the ability to be extraordinary, they just have to embrace what makes them unique and special and pursue their dreams with passion and confidence! Tell us a little about a dream you’ve achieved or are pursuing right now. If you’ve achieved it already, how does it feel to know you’ve made your dream a reality?
Hmm. I’m not sure. My dreams change all the time. I mean, when I was little I really wanted to be a dolphin trainer, but then I stopped wanting to. Then I wanted to be a chef. (I was a bit addicted to the Food Network at this time.) But then I didn’t want to. Then I wanted to be an author, and still do, but I can never find the time to practice writing. So now I want to work at a publishing house and live in NYC one day, but I wouldn’t be surprised if that changed. When I can find a dream I can stick to, I’ll let you know.
2. CHANGING YOUR WORLD: Changing the world doesn’t have to mean finding a cure for cancer or creating lasting world peace (though it definitely can!). It just means finding a way that you can make the world a little better off for having lived here, whether it’s making a difference to one person or a million, to the earth, to animals… whatever is important to you. What is one way you would personally like to make the world a better place?
Making people more motivated to do stuff for others. That includes myself, because I can be very, very lazy. I think once people feel like helping and are motivated to do so, they will.
3. GRATITUDE: Gratitude is a huge part of the You 2.0 life. Taking a moment to count our blessings is the best way to remember what’s truly important (especially when life is hectic and crazy!). What are you grateful for?
My family and friends, obviously. They can be crazy, but I love them. For all the stuff I have; food, shelter, and all the standard answers that go along with that. And for books, because whenever I need an escape, I can read one and feel better.
4. PAYING IT FORWARD: If everyone took a moment to pay it forward, even just once, the world would be changed in ways we can’t even imagine. What is one thing you’ve done (or plan to do) to “pay it forward” in some way?
I’m planning on joining one of the volunteer clubs at school (when school starts again, that is.)
Questions About You, The Book Blogger
5. Why did you decide to start blogging about books?
Because I was bored one day. Really, that’s it. xD My friend had just made a personal blog, and I wanted a blog, but didn’t want a personal one. And because I had two other YA review blogs, I started my own one night when I had nothing else to do.
6. What do you love most (and least) about being a YA book blogger?
I love the community the most. The friends I’ve made through blogging are awesome. =D The thing I like least is finding all these books that sound great and knowing I will never get to read them all.
7. What do you love most about the YA and middle grades genres right now?
That there is so much out there! It’s never boring; something new and exciting is always coming out.
8. What makes you fall in love with a book?
A combination of a great plot and great characterization. I can’t be bored or feel like the characters aren’t real, or else I won’t like the book much.
Also, if a book is written by David Levithan, I will fall in love with it easily.
9. Which books have inspired you most?
I’m not sure. I’ll just say The Outsiders because after I read it, I kind of fell back into reading and read a lot more.
10. Are you also a writer yourself? If so, what do you like to write?
Yeah, but I never manage to find the time to write anymore. School gets in the way, blech. I like to write “realistic” YA. No writing about other worlds or zombies for me.
11. What advice would you give to other avid readers who want to launch their own book blog?
Be patient- you’re not going to be super popular or get a million books right away. It takes time. Make sure you work hard on your content to make it the best you can.
Will the Real You 2.0 Please Stand Up?
12. I love the game Three Truths and a Lie because there are so many unexpected and interesting things about people that we never get a chance to learn about them. What are three truths and a lie that our blog readers can guess about you?
– I have swum with dolphins.
– The only concert I’ve been to is the American Idol concert.
– I can surf. **UPDATE: Here’s the lie!**
– I’ve driven a fire boat under a bridge.
(Readers: Your guess gets you an entry into the You 2.0 monthly contest for an ARC of The Cinderella Society or a prize dive in the awesome You 2.0 Prize Basket. Guess correctly and you get a bonus entry! I’ll update the post tomorrow to spill the big lie, so get guessing and have fun!)
Thanks to Khy for a fabulous interview!
August 12th, 2009
This week, I’m delighted to welcome one of my favorite teen bloggers. Her Booklover of the Week feature was one of the first I received, and I was so impressed by her mature and positive outlook on the world. She’s one of the most articulate and professional young bloggers I’ve had the pleasure of chatting with. Please help me welcome the awesome…
Tirzah
(aka The Compulsive Reader)
Welcome to You 2.0, Tirzah!
Booklover Basics
Name: Tirzah
Blog Name: The Compulsive Reader
Blog URL: thecompulsivereader.blogspot.com
Country: USA
Teen or Adult? Teen
Short Bio:
I’m a high school senior (this fall) from Michigan, and I’ve been blogging for over two years. I love to read, write, and ride my horse. I hope to go to college in New York and eventually work as an editor for YA books.
Questions About You 2.0
The You 2.0 blog is about becoming everything you’re meant to be. It’s about pursuing your dreams, changing your world, showing gratitude, and paying it forward. Here’s a chance for our Booklovers to share what You 2.0 means to them.
1. PURSUING YOUR DREAMS: Everyone has the ability to be extraordinary, they just have to embrace what makes them unique and special and pursue their dreams with passion and confidence! Tell us a little about a dream you’ve achieved or are pursuing right now. If you’ve achieved it already, how does it feel to know you’ve made your dream a reality?
My dream job is to be an editor of YA fiction (besides published author!) for a major publishing house. I have fallen in love with the YA community—the authors, the books, the readers, and the multitudes of editors and publicists and others who put YA books on the shelves. Through blogging, I’ve made so many great contacts in the industry already, and I am looking forward to going to college in NYC with the hopes that I can gain some internship experience as well before I graduate.
2. CHANGING YOUR WORLD: Changing the world doesn’t have to mean finding a cure for cancer or creating lasting world peace (though it definitely can!). It just means finding a way that you can make the world a little better off for having lived here, whether it’s making a difference to one person or a million, to the earth, to animals… whatever is important to you. What is one way you would personally like to make the world a better place?
I mentioned that besides being an editor, I’d love to be a published author as well. I love to write almost as much as I love to read. To me, besides being an escape, books are a wonderful source of advice, but sometimes I grapple with issues that aren’t documented in YA fiction available right now, and I want to write those books that confront the issues I deal with in my every day life or I’ve had to deal with in the past. If by writing about those things that I’ve experienced, I could help one person, it would be totally worth it.
3. GRATITUDE: Gratitude is a huge part of the You 2.0 life. Taking a moment to count our blessings is the best way to remember what’s truly important (especially when life is hectic and crazy!). What are you grateful for?
My parents, who never once said, “You won’t be able to do that, you can’t possibly imagine we’d let you go to NYC, and it’s just too much,” and for raising me the way they did. My teachers for going above and beyond in order to help me succeed. The multitudes of authors, publicists, and even editors who were always happy to chat, lend some advice, and gave me the opportunity to make my blog the way it is.
4. PAYING IT FORWARD: If everyone took a moment to pay it forward, even just once, the world would be changed in ways we can’t even imagine. What is one thing you’ve done (or plan to do) to “pay it forward” in some way?
I’m excited this summer to be helping a group of 4th-6th graders with creative writing twice a week. Though I’m young, I do know that I’ve learned a lot about writing and I’m excited to share what I know with them because I think it is important to encourage and challenge the younger kids. It’ll make them better writers, and being a good writer is important in life—even if you never take a single English or Creative Writing class after you graduate from college. I wish that there had been a similar writing program when I was their age.
Questions About You, The Book Blogger
5. Why did you decide to start blogging about books?
It was more like the books demanded it of me. My freshman year of high school, I had a substitute teacher who was fantastic—he didn’t teach a single word of the lesson left for us, but instead talked to us about changing the world. It sounds so cheesy, but he was just so engaging, he had our entire class completely enthralled. He told us to start a blog if we wanted an effective way to get our thoughts out into the world, and was the one who introduced me to Blogger blogs. If there was one thing I knew better than anyone in my class, it was YA books, so that’s what I blogged about. The prospect of getting books for review honestly never crossed my mind until I got my first offer. The passion for books and reading was always there, but it was that substitute teacher who really motivated me to do something with my talents and passion. I wish I had thanked him before he passed away.
6. What do you love most (and least) about being a YA book blogger?
I love, love, love the readers and the discussions we have. Everyone has an opinion, and we’ve had some really great discussions and debates about everything from book cover trends to clichés to what makes a book “edgy”. I love the sharing of ideas that goes on.
However, I do get a little tired of the competition that sometimes occurs, and the way some bloggers are always vying for free books. Certainly getting review copies is a major perk, but I don’t think it’s the most important thing, nor should it be.
7. What do you love most about the YA and middle grades genres right now?
There’s always something new and exciting. Just when I think, “Oh, not another [insert book type]”, something new comes along that makes me really excited about the creativity and diversity of YA authors.
8. What makes you fall in love with a book?
I do like tons of different types of books, but I have to admit, I love humor. If a book has a lot of smart, quirky humor, I’m all over it. I recently finished The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (not a YA book, but I definitely recommend it to anyone), and I just adored the main character’s sense of humor and the irony in the book. I also love the ridiculousness and the quirkiness of Louise Rennison’s over-the-top heroine, Georgia Nicolson. Her titles may make some parents raise their eyebrows a little (her second book, On the Bright Side, I’m Now the Girlfriend of a Sex God, for example), but it is just pure, silly fun.
I also am a fan of a good fantasy novel. I grew up enamored with Tamora Pierce’s Song of the Lioness Quartet, so anything to do with magic, action, and clever plots will hook me.
9. Which books have inspired you most?
When I finished Willow by Julia Hoban, I was floored. I admire her so much for her ability to create such a realistic and moving novel about grief, addiction, and pain, and Willow just overwhelmed me. It gave me a peculiar, restless feeling that made me want to jump up and pace back and forth, and just revel in the plot, the writing. Those books that make me jump up and down and overwhelm me ultimately inspire me to just be better—in everything. I had that feeling after reading The Hunger Games and its sequel Catching Fire, Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer, A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly, and After by Amy Efaw.
10. Are you also a writer yourself? If so, what do you like to write?
Yes! I write nearly anything that comes to mind, really. I have written a few supernatural type books, but I really enjoy writing about things and situations that I observe in my every day life. Hopefully one day, one of those books will be published.
11. What advice would you give to other avid readers who want to launch their own book blog?
Be patient. Nothing happens overnight, or in a week, or even in a month.
Be persistent. If you post at least three-four times per week, you’ll show readers that you’re serious, and there’s a better chance that they’ll come back.
Be respectful. Not all authors or publicists appreciate being hounded for books, interviews, guest posts. Most are more than willing to help out, but you know the old adage, “You catch more flies with honey than vinegar”? It’s totally true. Be polite and professional, but know where the line is.
Be positive. This ties in with Be Respectful—you don’t have to like everything, but think of others’ feelings before you publicly proclaim your dislike for a book. Be constructive, and make sure you point out something that an author did right along with what they did wrong. You don’t want to burn all of your bridges. There are some people who feed off the constant snarky attitude and brutal critiques, but mostly, it’s just so tacky.
Be happy. Do this because blogging makes you happy, telling others about great books brings a smile to your face, not because you want free books. If you are passionate about what you are doing, it shows. But if you aren’t, that also shows. Blog because you know that the YA book community is a great one and because you want to be a part of making it better.
Will the Real You 2.0 Please Stand Up?
12. I love the game Three Truths and a Lie because there are so many unexpected and interesting things about people that we never get a chance to learn about them. What are three truths and a lie that our blog readers can guess about you?
– I am taking Calculus II and III this fall.
– I am also studying Ancient Greek.
– I’ve never been to a book signing.
– I once hung a sign in front of my high school on the first day that read “Warning: Zombies Ahead. Turn back now!” **UPDATE: Here’s the lie!**
(Readers: Your guess gets you an entry into the You 2.0 monthly contest for an ARC of The Cinderella Society or a prize dive in the awesome You 2.0 Prize Basket. Guess correctly and you get a bonus entry! I’ll update the post tomorrow to spill the big lie, so get guessing and have fun!)
Thanks to Tirzah for a fabulous interview!
August 5th, 2009
Back to bloggers we go, but this time with a twist! This week, I’m delighted to host our first ever dual YA book blogger/bookseller Booklover feature with the fantabulous…
Heather M. Riley
(aka Want My YA)
Welcome, Heather!
Booklover Basics
Name: Heather M. Riley
Blog Name: Want My YA
Blog URL: www.wantmyya.blogspot.com
Country: USA
Teen or Adult? Adult
Your Bookstore: Borders
Bookstore Location: Rockford, IL
Short Bio:
I’ve been a booklover for as long as I can remember. The first book I ever read was Little Bear and I haven’t stopped since. I’ve worked as a bookseller for over 6 years and in that time I’ve accumulated quite a library. My love for books extends beyond my work. I love talking about books so much that I got into reviewing online and eventually started my own blog to discuss my favorite YA titles.
Questions About You 2.0
The You 2.0 blog is about becoming everything you’re meant to be. It’s about pursuing your dreams, changing your world, showing gratitude, and paying it forward. Here’s a chance for our Booklovers to share what You 2.0 means to them.
1. PURSUING YOUR DREAMS: Everyone has the ability to be extraordinary, they just have to embrace what makes them unique and special and pursue their dreams with passion and confidence! Tell us a little about a dream you’ve achieved or are pursuing right now. If you’ve achieved it already, how does it feel to know you’ve made your dream a reality?
I’m still in the pursuing phase right now. I would love to be a published author some day. I’ve only just begun pursuing that dream, I just need to get into the habit of treating writing like a job and doing it every day. My other big dream is to run my own independent bookstore. I’m still going to school in pursuit of that dream.
2. CHANGING YOUR WORLD: Changing the world doesn’t have to mean finding a cure for cancer or creating lasting world peace (though it definitely can!). It just means finding a way that you can make the world a little better off for having lived here, whether it’s making a difference to one person or a million, to the earth, to animals… whatever is important to you. What is one way you would personally like to make the world a better place?
Personally I like working with animals in any way I can. I’m a volunteer with my local PAWS Humane Society (http://www.pawshs.org). Once a week I volunteer at our cat adoption center feeding the cats and cleaning the cages; I also talk with anyone who stops by and is interested in adopting one of our cats. Aside from helping in the adoption center I assist with fund raisers when I’m able, like with our 1st Annual Fur Ball this past February.
3. GRATITUDE: Gratitude is a huge part of the You 2.0 life. Taking a moment to count our blessings is the best way to remember what’s truly important (especially when life is hectic and crazy!). What are you grateful for?
I’m grateful for my family, and that includes the four-legged members. I’m just so glad to have them and their support; especially my Mama. She gets so excited about every little accomplishment. It certainly makes a person feel good.
I’m also grateful for my job, despite its occasional frustrations. I love working with books and I love getting my favorite titles and authors into the hands of customers.
4. PAYING IT FORWARD: If everyone took a moment to pay it forward, even just once, the world would be changed in ways we can’t even imagine. What is one thing you’ve done (or plan to do) to “pay it forward” in some way?
I was on my way home today from my eye appointment and as I approached a rather busy intersection I noticed there were some policemen or firemen (or maybe both) out collecting money for “Jerry’s Kids”. It’s tempting to just keep on driving and pretend you don’t see them, but rather than ignore them I did help them out and make a donation (especially since me having cash on hand is such a rare occurrence anymore). Standing out in the sun in the middle of traffic can’t be fun. Better to make it worth their while and help out a good cause. Hopefully some of the other cars behind me saw that and decided to help out also.
Questions About You, The Bookseller & Blogger
5. Why did you choose to work in a bookstore?
I LOVE being around books, I love talking about books, and most of all I love finding a great new author and telling my customers all about him or her. Not to mention all of the bonuses like employee discount, the book loan program, and ARCs (advance readers copies). I’ve also discovered that being a bookseller carries a lot of weight with authors. It can instantly make you their favorite person. For someone like me, that is extremely exciting.
6. Tell us a little bit about what you do at the store.
A little of this, a little of that. It generally depends on what I’m scheduled to do, which can change by the hour. I might be ringing up customers at the registers one hour and helping them on the sales floor the next. I’m also the Romance Expert for the store, so I’m the go-to girl for all things Romance. My co-workers will typically send those customers needing recommendations in the Romance department to me. I maintain an endcap display of my current favorite Romance novels, and I also run the brand new Romance Book Club at our store. I still handle some special order related tasks, however most of that has been made obsolete by our new website.
7. What do you love most (and least) about your job as a bookseller?
I love being able to connect a customer with the perfect book. It doesn’t matter to me if it’s a title they knew they were looking for, or one they weren’t aware of until I made the connection. I just love knowing I’ve made someone’s day by helping them find that one special book.
What I like least? Pretty much the exact opposite of what I love. I can’t stand it when the book someone wants is just out of reach, either we’re out of stock or it’s just plain not available anymore. The most frustrating however is when a customer has zero information on a title, but still thinks I should be able to find it. I can work with some information, even if it’s very little, but I can’t do anything for you if you have nothing for me.
8. Why did you decide to start blogging about books?
Well, once upon a time I was a reviewer with Romance Junkies and I loved it. However, life kept getting in the way leaving me playing catch-up on a regular basis. So I chose to resign from the site. Then one of my close friends started a Romance blog and asked me to help her out. I had a ton of fun talking about my favorite Romances over at Crave More Romance. After a few months I approached her about starting a YA blog and she said “Go for it.” So I did. And thus Want My YA was born. It started as a companion to CMR, but WMY has really taken off and I’m very excited about that.
9. What do you love most (and least) about being a YA book blogger?
I love being able to tell everyone all about the fabulous new books I’m reading. I also love it when I find a new or new-to-me author to sing the praises of. Every Monday I post an interview with a different YA author, and coming soon I’ll have interviews with YA readers as well. And of course I would be lying (by omission) if I didn’t at least mention how much I love getting ARCs. Who doesn’t love free books? Plus there’s the bragging rights that I got to read it before the general public.
The only thing I don’t like about blogging is when real life gets in the way and I can’t get to my blog. I hate feeling behind or that I’m letting my readers and my authors down if I can’t get an interview, review, or feature posted on time.
10. What do you love most about the YA and middle grades genres right now?
I love the way YA titles are pushing the boundaries right now. By their very nature YA books are full of young characters who are still growing and learning. In some ways young people are more accepting of new situations (they’re not set in their ways the same way adults are) which gives YA authors a lot of room to roam and experiment.
11. What makes you fall in love with a book?
A book where I can connect with the characters is the best. If I finish reading a book and find that I miss the characters, the author has done his or her job. I need to care about the people I’m reading about; if I don’t care about the character then I don’t feel the need to keep on reading.
12. Which YA/middle grades books have inspired you most?
That’s a tough one. Hmm… I’d say the book that had the greatest effect on me recently was Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta. It’s not the kind of book that I would normally pick up on my own; I read it for the Yaedge online book club. Once I read it, I was so glad I did. It’s a difficult book to explain; you just have to read it for yourself.
13. Are you also a writer yourself? If so, what do you like to write?
I would like to be a writer, and I think that some day I will get there. Right now I think my WIP has about 2 or 3 pages. Lol I need to gain the discipline of a real writer. Once I learn to treat writing like the job it is, then I’ll be doing good.
As for what I write, well YA of course! Initially I thought I’d be a Romance author since Romances are my first love when it comes to books. However, once my character finally started talking to me, I realized she’s only 15 years old. There may be some minor romance in store for her, but it’s definitely going to be much tamer than the type of Romances I read.
14. What advice would you give to other avid readers who want to launch their own book blogs?
Write about what you love. And write often. If you can’t blog everyday then try for every other day. After you post a blog, tell the world about it. Mention it on Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, or whichever social networking site you use. If you’re featuring a specific book or author make sure you tell the author about it. Authors like to know when people are talking about their work and many authors will announce it on their networking sites when they receive a good review.
Will the Real You 2.0 Please Stand Up?
15. I love the game Three Truths and a Lie because there are so many unexpected and interesting things about people that we never get a chance to learn about them. What are three truths and a lie that our blog readers can guess about you?
– I’m a vegetarian.
– I have a Pembroke Welsh Corgi named Jasper. **UPDATE: Here’s the lie!**
– I own the ARC for Twilight and I still haven’t read it yet.
– I watch Scooby-Doo obsessively and own nearly all of the movies that have been released.
(Readers: Your guess gets you an entry into the You 2.0 monthly contest for an ARC of The Cinderella Society or a prize dive in the awesome You 2.0 Prize Basket. Guess correctly and you get a bonus entry! I’ll update the post tomorrow to spill the big lie, so get guessing and have fun!)
Thanks to Heather for a fabulous interview!
July 22nd, 2009
I kicked off the Booklover of the Week series with the first two of three YA book bloggers that I’ve been following since way back when. This week, I’m delighted to round out the trio by welcoming the wonderful…
Kristi
(aka The Story Siren)
I was lucky enough to be able to meet Kristi at the ALA conference a few weeks ago, and she is every bit as delightful in person as she is in her vlogs. Welcome, Kristi!
Booklover Basics
Name: Kristi
Blog Name: The Story Siren
Blog URL: www.thestorysiren.com
Country: USA
Teen or Adult? Adult
Short Bio:
A Siren by definition is a device that makes a loud signal, or if you refer to Greek Mythology a siren can be referred to a mermaid or a winged creature whose singing lured sailors onto rocks. As a Story Siren, I’m not so much into the death by drowning, but I am interested in “singing” the praises of novels that deserve such a melody.
I’m a twenty something dental assistant, I’ve snagged my prince charming (who’s still currently being held hostage) and my only child is my rottweiler Xander.
The Story Siren is basically my outlet for my book addiction. My drug of choice Young Adult novels.
Questions About You 2.0
The You 2.0 blog is about becoming everything you’re meant to be. It’s about pursuing your dreams, changing your world, showing gratitude, and paying it forward. Here’s a chance for our Booklovers to share what You 2.0 means to them.
1. PURSUING YOUR DREAMS: Everyone has the ability to be extraordinary, they just have to embrace what makes them unique and special and pursue their dreams with passion and confidence! Tell us a little about a dream you’ve achieved or are pursuing right now. If you’ve achieved it already, how does it feel to know you’ve made your dream a reality?
One of my biggest dreams that I’ve accomplished was graduating from college. I’m one of the only people in my family that has actually gone to college and finished, so it was a big deal for me to do that. Education has always been important to me, so to accomplish that dream was completely fulfilling. I’d love to go back to school and pursue something literary related possibly, maybe someday. I’m one of those weird people that love learning. I think maybe that’s why I like to read.
2. CHANGING YOUR WORLD: Changing the world doesn’t have to mean finding a cure for cancer or creating lasting world peace (though it definitely can!). It just means finding a way that you can make the world a little better off for having lived here, whether it’s making a difference to one person or a million, to the earth, to animals… whatever is important to you. What is one way you would personally like to make the world a better place?
I’m such a cynical person at times, I mean honestly, can one person change the world? And it seems whenever I think that, there will be some news story about some 12 year old kid making a difference somehow, and it’s like fate is telling me: yes, one person can.
I don’t think I do enough to help make the world a better place. Sure I give donations every once in a while to a good cause, I recycle, carpool and buy green products. But even though I do a few things here or there, I don’t really feel that it adds up.
Personally I’d like to volunteer more. I’d like to volunteer at the library for the young literacy program they have, because I know how much joy reading brings me. I’d like to volunteer at my local humane society, because I know how much joy having my dog brings me. I like to volunteer at the nursing home, because I know how much I miss having the company of my grandparents.
I’m going to get on that changing the world thing. I might not change the world, but I think I’ll make a difference to someone.
3. GRATITUDE: Gratitude is a huge part of the You 2.0 life. Taking a moment to count our blessings is the best way to remember what’s truly important (especially when life is hectic and crazy!). What are you grateful for?
I have an AWESOME family. Not only my family, but my in-laws are even awesome. I’m very close to my parents. My dad is actually my step-dad, but he is the only father figure I’ve ever known. People actually tell me that I look like him all the time. I totally think people are a product of their environment. Have you ever heard the country song “He Didn’t Have to Be” by Brad Paisley, that’s what my dad and I danced to at my wedding. That’s my dad. He didn’t have to be my dad, but he did and I’m thankful for that. He married my mom when she already had a rugrat, lots of guys wouldn’t do that. So, my family is the epitome of my gratefulness.
I’m grateful that I have a very loving and understanding husband, who tolerates my book addiction, and lets me spend hours on the internet when I should be gazing intently into his eyes! I’m grateful that my husband cleans the house, he does dishes too. I really only do the laundry…. how bad of a Susy Homemaker am I!?
I have lots of things, too many things really, but the things I’m most grateful for aren’t things at all, they’re the people in my life.
4. PAYING IT FORWARD: If everyone took a moment to pay it forward, even just once, the world would be changed in ways we can’t even imagine. What is one thing you’ve done (or plan to do) to “pay it forward” in some way?
I believe in paying it forward in little ways. Like holding a door open for someone, smiling, giving your last five bucks to charity, letting a car in front of you in line. I really think that little things like that go a long way. You’d think something like that would be commonplace amongst everyone, but it’s not, at all. Truly sad.
Questions About You, The Book Blogger
5. Why did you decide to start blogging about books?
I used to blog and read, but not together. I never thought people would be interested in what I thought about books and on top of that I didn’t even know there were book blogs. Ultimately I started blogging because I had a need. A need to find people like me, people that liked the same books as me. I found a book blog (The Page Flipper) and it was like I found an old friend! And I thought, hey I could do that, I should do that. I had NO IDEA what I was getting myself into! But honestly I love it just as much today as I did then.
6. What do you love most (and least) about being a YA book blogger?
Things I love:
Getting to meet other bloggers/non-bloggers/bookish people, having and belonging to a community of book lovers. That in itself is so fulfilling. My family thinks I’m crazy when I talk about my “friends on the internet” but I really feel like I know these people! It’s fantastic.
Getting to meet authors. Who would have thought that authors are regular people. Regular people that will even talk to you! That still to this day totally blows my mind.
Books. If I didn’t say that I love getting the books, I’d be lying. I mean free books are freaggin fantastic, because if I bought all the books I wanted there is no way I could pay my bills. I still buy a ton of books, because I want to give something back, obviously, but the free books are a very nice incentive.
Things I could live without:
The guilt of not reading every book or not reading them in a timely manner. I try, I really do. I feel bad when I have a book three months early and it’s still sitting on my shelf to be read when its release date rolls around. I could definitely do without that feeling.
Blog drama. I never knew there was blog drama, but it happens. It usually happens in bursts too it seems. I’m just glad when it’s over.
But the things that I love far outweigh any of the bad things.
7. What do you love most about the YA and middle grades genres right now?
That they are bursting with fantasy! I love books about made up places, I mean I owe Harry Potter for re-instilling my love of reading.
8. What makes you fall in love with a book?
Really that varies from book to book, but one thing that makes it or breaks it for me is characters. If the characters fall flat then so does the book. I can read a book with a so-so plot line and so-so writing, but if the characters are so-so? Forget about it!
9. Which books have inspired you most?
I’ll just plug Harry back in here. When I was growing up I read all the time, my grandma taught me how to read before I started school. I probably just had the books memorized, but she swears I could read. I’ll never know for sure! They always had a different book series every season at the grocery store, so I would get a book every time we went. Raggedy Anne and Andy was one I remember. But I was the kid that had forty book-it pins, was one of the highest readers in my grade. I remember the Amelia Bedelia books. I think the one that started my love of fantasy was The Castle in the Attic. Loved the Goosebumps books too!
I didn’t do a lot of reading in high school, until I took my youngest sister to see Harry Potter the movie. Then I just had to read those books, but by that time I was in college and read my text books more than anything. But after college is really when I started hitting up the books again. Harry Potter led to Twilight, Twilight led to everything else.
10. Are you also a writer yourself? If so, what do you like to write?
I try to be a writer. I guess I should say I’d like to be a writer.
I have a few stories I’ve sort of outlined and started.
One is a story about an abusive relationship that is roughly based on my own during high school.
Another is a fantasy, about a mythical creature…
11. What advice would you give to other avid readers who want to launch their own book blog?
Whenever I get emails from readers about starting book blogs, I always tell them to go for it! It’s such a fun thing to do. I usually also point them to some posts about blogger tips I’ve done. I wish I would have had some of that information when I started. Three tips I’d give that I think are the most important are:
1. Do it because you love reading and talking about books, not for any other reasons.
2. It’s what you make it. You DO NOT have to post every day. It’s your blog, do what YOU want.
3. Have fun! If you’re not having fun doing it, it’s not worth doing.
Will the Real You 2.0 Please Stand Up?
12. I love the game Three Truths and a Lie because there are so many unexpected and interesting things about people that we never get a chance to learn about them. What are three truths and a lie that our blog readers can guess about you?
– Besides YA novels, my second genre of choice is romance novels.
– Richelle Mead is the first author I met.
– I prefer paperbacks over hardcovers. **UPDATE: Here’s the lie!**
– I like to read in the bathtub.
(Readers: Your guess gets you an entry into the You 2.0 monthly contest for an ARC of The Cinderella Society or a prize dive in the awesome You 2.0 Prize Basket. Guess correctly and you get a bonus entry! I’ll update the post tomorrow to spill the big lie, so get guessing and have fun!)
Thanks to Kristi for a fabulous interview!
July 15th, 2009
Last week, I kicked off the Booklover of the Week series with the first of three YA book bloggers that I’ve been following since way back when. This week, I’m delighted to welcome the awesome…
James
(aka Book Chic)
Welcome, James!
Booklover Basics
Name: James
Blog Name: Book Chic
Blog URL: bookchicclub.blogspot.com
Country: USA
Teen or Adult? Adult, but still very much a teen (I’m not that much older, lol)
Short Bio:
Well, I’m 23 years old and my name is James. I’m currently at a temp job doing data entry, which then causes me to check email and Twitter a lot because it’s not a terribly exciting job. But you know, it pays. In my free time, I tend to be lazy and sit in bed reading or watching DVDs. Also, I hang out with my roommate and we play Mario Party 8 on the Wii and also play around with our cats. Cats are awesome.
Questions About You 2.0
The You 2.0 blog is about becoming everything you’re meant to be. It’s about pursuing your dreams, changing your world, showing gratitude, and paying it forward. Here’s a chance for our Booklovers to share what You 2.0 means to them.
1. PURSUING YOUR DREAMS: Everyone has the ability to be extraordinary, they just have to embrace what makes them unique and special and pursue their dreams with passion and confidence! Tell us a little about a dream you’ve achieved or are pursuing right now. If you’ve achieved it already, how does it feel to know you’ve made your dream a reality?
It’s an ongoing dream really, as I’ve achieved a little part of it so far a few years ago. Back in my junior year of high school, the drama club was hosting their annual One-Act Festival and they made the decision to include some student-written plays since the directing, stage managing, and all that would already be done by students anyway, so why not extend it further? They set up a one-act writing group that met up after school. I think there were about 8 of us, though 2 were collaborating on a project and I think another was just moderating the group. We met up and did our sessions like any creative writing class- talking about our ideas, fleshing them out, passing around our scripts and critiquing each other. It was a really fun time since most everyone there were friends of mine.
Anyway, we finished and submitted our stuff and the drama club teacher selected the best of the bunch, which consisted of myself and another writer. This was the first year they had done something like this and it had made me so happy to find out that my play got selected (mainly for its humor- all the other plays were downers or at least not AS funny, lol), that my play would be a part of its beginning history. So we went through auditions, rehearsals and opening and closing nights (both right next to each other- the One-Acts always only ran for two nights). And for like two weeks after it, everyone was stopping me in the hallways and congratulating me on my play, telling me how much they laughed during it, and how they enjoyed it. It was a short little play- just like 10 minutes, but it was awesome.
My friend Gaia (the director) and I did such a wonderful job with everything- I feel like we probably had the most fun putting our show on than any other one-act team. Anyway, my ultimate dream is to be a published author, so having this one experience really gave me confidence in my own writing.
2. CHANGING YOUR WORLD: Changing the world doesn’t have to mean finding a cure for cancer or creating lasting world peace (though it definitely can!). It just means finding a way that you can make the world a little better off for having lived here, whether it’s making a difference to one person or a million, to the earth, to animals… whatever is important to you. What is one way you would personally like to make the world a better place?
I would just love to help people with my humor. I think humor really helps when you’re feeling down about something or someone or with whatever is going on in your life. I love bringing my friends out of their funk by making a joke and seeing them smile. I hope to be able to do that through my writing later in life and reach more people aside from those immediate in my life.
3. GRATITUDE: Gratitude is a huge part of the You 2.0 life. Taking a moment to count our blessings is the best way to remember what’s truly important (especially when life is hectic and crazy!). What are you grateful for?
I’m grateful for a TON of things- my friends both in real life and here in the blogosphere, my job (yay getting paychecks and not being homeless and starving!), my family, my blog, and a myriad of other things I can’t think of right now due to it being early.
4. PAYING IT FORWARD: If everyone took a moment to pay it forward, even just once, the world would be changed in ways we can’t even imagine. What is one thing you’ve done (or plan to do) to “pay it forward” in some way?
I’m not sure if this really counts since I’m not sure exactly how to go about paying it forward, but when I become a published author, I would hope that my books would help people through their hard times, either through my humor or through relating to the characters or situations presented.
Questions About You, The Book Blogger
5. Why did you decide to start blogging about books?
When Lauren Barnholdt was promoting her then-upcoming release Two Way Street back in May 2007, she offered herself up to do interviews with her LJ friends who would be helping to spread the word about her book. I wanted to do an interview. While I was coming up with questions, I found that I really enjoyed making up interview questions and wanted to do more. I’d never heard of a book blog being done before, but I knew that I couldn’t be the first person to do one, lol. But I just spent a few weeks in June talking with my friend Lauren about it and then in late June 2007, Book Chic was launched and it’s become so much more than I ever intended it to be and it just makes me so happy. I love my readers, my fellow bloggers, and the authors who send me review copies, let me interview them, and are just all-around awesome. I could not have continued doing this without all you guys.
6. What do you love most (and least) about being a YA book blogger?
What I love the most has to be the community that’s built up in the past couple years. The kidlitosphere is just such a joy to be a part of- everyone is so nice (ok, yeah, there’s drama sometimes, but there’s always bound to be that) and helpful. I’m glad that I can be a part of it. And of course, I’d be lying if I didn’t say that I also enjoy receiving the free books.
My least favorite thing probably has to be the reviewing itself, lol. I really enjoyed doing them back in summer 2007, but as time has gone on, I dread it more and more. I’m a lazy person at heart, so I wish that I could just be like “This book is awesome! Go buy it!” and have that be it, but unfortunately, people wanna know about characterization, how well it’s written, and all those other details.
7. What do you love most about the YA and middle grades genres right now?
I love the variety that’s in these genres. In adult fiction, everything is divided up- sci-fi/fantasy, regular fiction, mystery, suspense, horror, etc. but in YA/MG, authors are combining so many of these elements into one novel that, if it were adult fiction, no one would know where to put it! I just love that there’s such a variety in the section and, heck, even just on one particular shelf. I think that’s a great quality to have because it means there’s always something new to try out every time you look at the YA/MG sections in the bookstores.
8. What makes you fall in love with a book?
Honestly, I don’t even know. I find that, in reading the amount of books that I do, it’s really a lot of things- a certain character, how a setting is described, humor, a particular plot twist, the suspense, etc. But maybe if I had to pinpoint something, it’d be humor. I really value humor- I love to make people laugh and I love to laugh myself, so reading a book with lots of humor (or even in little patches) is something that endears me to the novel.
9. Which books have inspired you most?
Books generally don’t inspire me, but if I had to pick something, it’d probably be the Princess Diaries series, as they were the first YA books that I read and Meg got me started on branching out to other YA and finding this amazing and wonderful section of the bookstore.
10. Are you also a writer yourself? If so, what do you like to write?
I am a writer, and of course, I love to write YA! Don’t ask me what particular genre because it’s just whatever comes to my mind. I have ideas for a contemporary series, a fantasy series, a contemporary historical (think Prada and Prejudice by Mandy Hubbard, but not exactly the same), and who knows what else is in store for the future, lol. Although actually, one of the things I’d love to write is gay romances; I think we need more of those in the YA market.
11. What advice would you give to other avid readers who want to launch their own book blog?
My advice would be to know right off the bat that it is a LOT of hard work. It can look easy, like “Oh, I read and review all the time on Amazon. This won’t be hard.” But you have to take into account the social networking that goes on, how long it takes to come up with interview questions and guest blog topics, emailing authors, reading the ever-expanding TBR pile, and so many other things. It takes up a lot of time, so be willing to devote to it if you want it to be noticed. Also, don’t get into it just for the free books- it really gives bloggers a bad name if you’re doing it just for that and that can really ruin it for all the good bloggers out there. That’s all the advice I have for now, but I’m doing this before 8am, so my brain isn’t working as well, lol.
Will the Real You 2.0 Please Stand Up?
12. I love the game Three Truths and a Lie because there are so many unexpected and interesting things about people that we never get a chance to learn about them. What are three truths and a lie that our blog readers can guess about you?
– I visited London with my family while I was in high school.
– I played the drums in elementary school band.
– I have been in the same room at the same time as Sarah Dessen, Melissa Walker, and David Levithan.
– I love rollercoasters. **UPDATE: Here’s the lie!**
(Readers: Your guess gets you an entry into the You 2.0 monthly contest for an ARC of The Cinderella Society or a prize dive in the awesome You 2.0 Prize Basket. Guess correctly and you get a bonus entry! I’ll update the post tomorrow to spill the big lie, so get guessing and have fun!)
Thanks to James for a fabulous interview!
July 8th, 2009
Welcome to the inaugural post of the Booklover of the Week feature!
Since gratitude is a big part of the You 2.0 life, I decided to show my gratitude by saying thanks to some of the people who are as passionate about YA and middle grades books as we are as authors. Some Booklovers are agents, who cheer their authors on and help them succeed in their writing careers. Some Booklovers are editors, without whom books simply wouldn’t get made! Some Booklovers are booksellers who have that magical ability to match the right book to the right person at the right time. And some Booklovers are book bloggers who introduce us to a wide range of books we might never have known about otherwise.
To all of them–for all that and more–I say:
“Rock on, Booklovers. Rock on!”
To kick off the Booklover of the Week series, I thought it would be fun to feature the first three YA book bloggers I ever began following. Kristi (The Story Siren), James (Book Chic), and today’s fabulous guest…
Chelsea
(aka The Page Flipper)
In true You 2.0 style, I’ve broken the Booklover of the Week feature down into two separate sections. Each Booklover will be sharing their You 2.0 stories about pursuing their dreams, changing their world, gratitude and paying it forward. Then they’ll be talking about why they love the YA and middle grades genres and why they love what they do.
And since participation always makes for a fun feature, every Booklover will be sharing three truths and a lie that you’ll be able to guess about. (And remember, your guess gets you an entry into the monthly contest!)
So without further ado, please join me in welcoming the ever fabulous Chelsea!
Booklover Basics
Name: Chelsea
Blog Name: The Page Flipper
Blog URL: thepageflipper.blogspot.com
Country: USA
Teen or Adult? Teen! 17, to be exact.
Short Bio:
I love reading, obviously, but I love to write, too; I aspire to be an author, even if it’s an obscure one. I’m a huge movie and tv buff, too, so I can talk for hours about most forms of entertainment (except sports, bleck). There are a lot of other quirks about me, but that’s the basic stuff. Nice to meet yah.
Questions About You 2.0
The You 2.0 blog is about becoming everything you’re meant to be. It’s about pursuing your dreams, changing your world, showing gratitude and paying it forward. Here’s a chance for our Booklovers to share what You 2.0 means to them.
1. PURSUING YOUR DREAMS: Everyone has the ability to be extraordinary, they just have to embrace what makes them unique and special and pursue their dreams with passion and confidence! Tell us a little about a dream you’ve achieved or are pursuing right now. If you’ve achieved it already, how does it feel to know you’ve made your dream a reality?
When I was younger, I wanted to be an artist – the painting/drawing kind. Bad idea. When I finally realized my cats looked like deformed lumps of dog crap, and my trees like crooked toothpicks, I moved to the reading/writing pursuit. I mean, I was always there. I used to carry a huge stack of books with me in a milk crate before I could even read. I would just lug them around and flip through them, running my hands over the pages. But I never really set my sights on being an author until the past few years, when I realized it’s actually possible. Having a book blog has helped that a lot, because I have more access to information and publishing and everything. Being an author really is my biggest dream, and I hope I’ll be able to accomplish it one day! Meanwhile, I’ll keep reading and writing. And staying away from paint.
2. CHANGING YOUR WORLD: Changing the world doesn’t have to mean finding a cure for cancer or creating lasting world peace (though it definitely can!). It just means finding a way that you can make the world a little better off for having lived here, whether it’s making a difference to one person or a million, to the earth, to animals… whatever is important to you. What is one way you would personally like to make the world a better place?
There are so many ways I could answer this. But I’d like to make the world suck less. Like, anything I can do to make someone happy, even for a margin of one day, I’d love to do. It’s not going to change the whole world, but if I can change a couple people’s worlds, then I’ll be happy.
3. GRATITUDE: Gratitude is a huge part of the You 2.0 life. Taking a moment to count our blessings is the best way to remember what’s truly important (especially when life is hectic and crazy!). What are you grateful for?
I am so unbelievably grateful for the internet. I know that sounds totally materialistic and selfish, but it’s true. I wouldn’t be able to connect as much with other readers, authors – or be in the place I am now. I love reviewing. And writing. And talking about books. All of which the internet provides. And, of course, I’m grateful for readers and writers. More than anything. Oh, and for my cat, Kringer. He rocks. (I guess I should mention my family and friends here, right? There they are.)
4. PAYING IT FORWARD: If everyone took a moment to pay it forward, even just once, the world would be changed in ways we can’t even imagine. What is one thing you’ve done (or plan to do) to “pay it forward” in some way?
A fellow reviewer (Lauren from Shooting Stars Mag) and I put together the Leave a Mark auctions last year and raised over $800 for First Book, an organization that provides low-income families with books. We both get free books for reviewing, so it’s kind of our way of paying it forward to others who don’t have that privilege.
Note from Kay: I SO love this! Can’t wait to participate.
Questions About You, The Book Blogger
5. Why did you decide to start blogging about books?
Well, I can’t shut up about the books I read – duct tape and physical violence may be the only things that can stop me, once I get started. And none of my family or friends are interested (their eyes just glaze over), so I decided I would put my opinion somewhere where people would actually like to hear it. Bookish people rock.
6. What do you love most (and least) about being a YA book blogger?
I love, like in question 5, talking about books. The YA blogging community is so huge and fun, and it’s just great to get to know everyone and chat about our reads. The least I like is how overwhelming it can get. With life and school (and everything else), it’s hard to always keep up with the books I get, or post as often as I’d like to. Really need to learn how to stop time sometime soon.
7. What do you love most about the YA and middle grades genres right now?
Oh boy. I love everything YA. There are just so many sub-genres and so much to choose from. I love how it’s getting more popular, and more and more writers are joining in. I think YA has so much to offer. Where else can you find books about killer unicorns or road trips with lawn gnomes?
8. What makes you fall in love with a book?
The characters. I think the plot of a book is always important, but it’s not going to matter if your characters aren’t developed well. If I find a character I can identify with, it makes all the difference. Or even one I can drool over (Jace, Finn, etc). There are personalities, like Holden Caulfield or Scout or Dumbledore (just to name some popular ones), that come alive, out of the pages. That’s what gets me.
9. Which books have inspired you most?
Inspiration. To write? Anything by Laurie Halse Anderson. Although sometimes it works in reverse, because I know I’ll never come anywhere close to her expertise in writing. She also inspired me to read YA, which you can read about here. I’m totally in awe of her.
10. Are you also a writer yourself? If so, what do you like to write?
Yes! I love writing, and I try to do some every day. I love when I can get lost in something I write, and it just flows. I like to write anything, really – I’m working on a kind of paranormal book now, but I like to write short stories and essays, too. Really depends what mood I’m in, but it’s usually fiction.
11. What advice would you give to other avid readers who want to launch their own book blog?
Go for it! Just keep at it, and don’t focus on “free books” – if that’s what you’re starting a blog for, just give it up. Reviewing needs to be fun for you or it’ll get old fast. So try and just keep an open mind – review to get your opinion out there, but don’t worry about anything else, like being formal or being too shy to post your thoughts. Just do it and enjoy it! The perks, like free books and talking to authors, will come later. For now, just get started, have fun, and be patient. There’s a whole community out there, and we’d love to have you.
Will the Real You 2.0 Please Stand Up?
Note from Kay: I know this isn’t everyone’s favorite thing, but I love the game Three Truths and a Lie because there are so many unexpected and interesting things about people that we never get a chance to learn about them.
12. What are three truths and a lie that our blog readers can guess about you?
(Readers: Your guess gets you one more entry into the monthly contest! I’ll update the post tomorrow to spill our Booklover’s lie. Have fun!)
– I have a cat that can say “hello.”
– I swam with dolphins on a family trip to Florida. **UPDATE: Here’s the lie!**
– I once got a piece of metal lodged in my right eye.
– I’m a vegetarian.
Thanks to Chelsea for kicking off the Booklover of the Week series with a fabulous interview!
