BBAW for me always seems to sneak by (which is pathetic since I'm on the committee). I have this same predicament with Banned Books Week — I just struggle with September events. This is entirely due to the fact that school is about to begin. School begins here on August 25th but starting next week I'll be participating in a technology training camp. So all of a sudden the end of summer is here and I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed (although I do feel better now that I've been school clothes shopping).
So before I forget (and as it IS the last day), this is me reminding you to go register for BBAW 2011. A few Many things have changed this year so make sure to read the Awards Process Page to become familiar with the process of BBAW. Then continue on to Registration! Nominations does take a while so save some Saturday time for this.
BBAW is a great opportunity to recognize your favorite blogs — blogs that you visit religiously, blogs that never cease to recommend awesome books, blogs that go out of their way to help a blogger out. It's also a fantastic opportunity to find great blogs through the process and to continue to be an active participant in the book blogging community.
Don't forget — today's the LAST day! So if you were planning on registering and haven't yet you need to get it done! Yes, I'm in that same boat with you!
Also, you need to set up your profile (blog URL and name included) before the nominations link will appear. Just an FYI.
I've been hinting about "The Big Announcement" for a while now and it's time to finally unveil! I am now introducing Book Blogger Reader Appreciation Week (BBRAW) 2012! Spun from the idea of BBAW (hosted by My Friend Amy) , BBRAW is all about your readers. I find myself in constant awe of the brave few who stop by my blog on a regular basis and comment (or even who don't comment) and want to say a big huge THANKS! Anyone is welcome and encouraged to join in with me, but know that this is not a blog hop/giveaway extravaganza*.
On Monday (2.13) I encourage you to nominate the name of your MVR (Most Valuable Reader — the reader who you feel positively influences you as a blog writer). On Friday I'll announce the three readers whose names have been submitted the most. The first 15 names to be submitted as MVR will receive a small swag package in thanks for beings such awesome readers. The top 3 names will receive a gift certificate to Barnes and Noble^. I know that BBAW uses categorizes, but because I'm not sure how many people will participate I just want to keep it simple.
Like with BBAW, each day there will be a prompt to discuss on our blogs if you choose to participate. I will post the prompts the week before BBRAW so if you'd like to plan and schedule your post you may. BBRAW will be pretty "lax" as it's meant to celebrate the reasons we all blog — our readers. I remember that first month of blogging when I think I had three readers (and one was my mom), I was so appreciative and thankful. Every time I received an email saying "Comment" I was completely in awe. I know we always say that you should blog for you (and I agree), but blogging for you when you know others are reading what you're writing is (in my opinion) so much better and worthwhile.
I know I'm a bit scatter-brained but as BBRAW nears things will all come together. I'm so excited to finally share this idea with you all as I've been planning and brainstorming for about two months.
If you'd like to do a reader interview, I very much encourage it. We won't be doing an organized interview swap due to the fact that you'll probably want to be interviewing one of your own readers, rather than someone random (theoretically). Stay tuned throughout the next month for more information and more excitement! I have big hopes for BBRAW and am so excited to finally have shared the news. If you have any suggestions or ideas, please don't hesitate and send me an email or leave a comment! I'd love to hear your thoughts because, really, I'm sort of making this up as I go !
*If you'd like to host a giveaway of your own to thank your readers, please feel welcome to. But don't misconstrue BBRAW as a way to "win followers"; it's purpose to show thanks of the readers who have influenced you and supported you for years, months, or even weeks.
^Unfortunately because I am funding this myself, anyone receiving a prize needs to be in the US. In the event that an international reader would be elected they will still of course be announced. Sorry for any inconvenience and, yes, I know this sucks.
Huge thanks to KD Designs (Katie from Sophitikatied Reviews) for the awesome button!
It's almost time for Book Blogger Appreciation Week! I think this is a fabulous event and if you are unfamiliar with BBAW, it gives people a chance to recognize great bloggers and celebrate this wonderful book community. Last year I was a newer blogger so I mainly observed the event but this year I really want to find ways to participate. There will be giveaways, awards, and several people do special interviews or posts during that week. It's a lot of fun!
If you'd like to register and vote for your favorite blogs, USE GOOGLE and just use your google or twitter account. This year they added some new book categories and, of course, they have several blog categories. You do not have to nominate someone for each category. You can pick the ones you are interested in and then vote for your favorite blogger.
Check out this page for questions about the awards process, and nominations end on August 13th!
Sheila over at One Person's Journey Through a World of Books graciously awarded me with her BBAW Award for her favorite blogs that did not make the short list. Sheila thank you so much for thinking of me and I apologize it took me so long to post this.
Sheila has been such a great friend and role model for me as a blogger. I've known her for a couple months and I feel privileged to call her a friend. Make sure to stop by and visit her — especially her Morning Meandering posts (they are my favorite!).
BBAW is finally here and I am so excited to welcome Chachic from Chachic Book's Nook.
You're from the Philippines! That is so cool! Are there other book bloggers in your area? If so, what are they! I'd love to visit their blogs! I'm so glad you think it's cool that I'm from the Philippines! There are actually a number of book bloggers here. I only started blogging this year but I noticed that there have been Filipino book bloggers for several years and more and more are popping out lately. I noticed that we didn't have a site that brings together all Filipino book bloggers so I decided to create Filipino Book Bloggers (http://filipinobookbloggers.wordpress.com/) . I know the name isn't that creative but I'm happy to get to know some of the book bloggers out there. We're having our first meet up soon and I'm really excited for that.
That's so awesome about the meet up! I hope it goes awesome! Because English is your second language, is it hard to read YA novels written in English? What about writing the reviews? Here in the Philippines, we actually use English as the medium of instruction. The Philippines was colonized by the United States and it was Americans who established education in the Philippines. All of our subjects, starting from nursery up to college, are taught in English except for Filipino and a couple of other History subjects. That's why English books aren't translated to Filipino over here and I'm comfortable with reading books and writing reviews in English. Also, I've never mentioned this on my blog but I actually work with Americans. I'm a research analyst for a Business Process Outsourcing company and I report directly to people in the US.
As an international book blogger, what differences in book blogging have your noticed between international and US book blogging? One of the main differences is we don't get review copies. International shipping is really expensive so I understand that publishers would have a hard time sending review copies and it also takes a couple of weeks for the books to get here. I've never received a copy for review and most of the other Filipino book bloggers that I've talked to also haven't received any review copies. The books that I review on the blog are given as gifts, bought, or borrowed.
On a positive note, I love it when US book bloggers are amazed with some of the things that I mention in reviews like how I've never seen snow or how we don't have public libraries over here. You don't have public libraries! Wow, that really makes me appreciate my library. You host a meme called "Want Books?" where readers can highlight books that they want but can't have either to it not being released in their country yet, not having the money for it, a far-out release date, etc. Where did you come with the idea? When is your weekly post up? How many bloggers generally participate? I love the photo too! Are you familiar with the meme Waiting on Wednesday (WoW), which is hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine (http://breakingthespine.blogspot.com/) ? In WoW, you can feature upcoming releases that you're eagerly waiting for. I used to use that meme but then I realized that it would be better if there's a meme that lets you feature books that have already come out that you can't get for some reason. Instead of complaining about books not being available here, I thought it would be better if I could create a meme to highlight them. So that's how I came up with Want Books. I put up a post every Saturday and anyone can participate. It isn't a popular meme though and only a handful of book blogger friends have participated. I don't mind because I don't think I'll ever run out of material for the meme, there will always be books in my wishlist.:)
I see that you have a giveaway ending TOMORROW! What is it and who is eligible? Yes! I have a Mortal Instruments giveaway but sadly, it's only for residents of the Philippines. All you need to do to enter is tell me what review of mine is your favorite and why. Learn more about it here. We both read a lot of YA, what books would you recommend to struggling young adult readers? Oh gosh, I have so many recommendations! Here you go:
Fantasy The Queen’s Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith Sasharia En Garde duology by Sherwood Smith The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley Graceling and Fire by Kristin Cashore His Dark Materials Trilogy by Philip Pullman Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones The Bartimaeus Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud The Changeover by Margaret Mahy
Fairy Tale Retellings Beauty by Robin McKinley The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
YA Contemporary Fiction Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols Jessica Darling books by Megan McCafferty
Historical Fiction Sunbird, The Lion Hunters, The Empty Kingdom by Elizabeth Wein A Countess Below Stairs, The Reluctant Heiress and A Company of Swans by Eva Ibbotson Thanks for all the great recommendations! Wow! I'm going to steal one of your questions because it was so good! What is your "good read" preference — contemporary YA, epic fantasy, urban fantasy, science fiction or dystopian? I read read books from all of those genres but I have a special place in my heart for epic fantasy.
What are your comfort reads? Books that you go to on a rainy day for a reread when nothing seems to be going your way. The books that I listed in the recommendations section are my favorites so they're really my comfort reads. I've reread most of those several times already.
What book are you pinning for — that you can't wait to get your hands on? Oh so many! Check out my Want Books meme because I have weekly posts on books that I'm pining for. Although if you're asking for books that are yet to be released, I can't wait to get Bayou Moon and Magic Slays by Ilona Andrews, Pegasus by Robin McKinley and Seer of Sevenwaters by Juliet Marillier.
Chachic, thank you so much for stopping by! It has been an absolute pleasure getting to know you and discovering your blog. Readers, please remember to stop by and visit Chachic at Chachic Book's Nook.
Well, I survived my last fall semester of my undergraduate career. I surprised myself by being able to maintain all of my school activities and keep this blog running. Most of my inspiration comes from the fact that as of now (yes right now, I have three applications out) potential employers will be reading this blog.
Since August 15th, I have read and reviewed 18 books. And I have hosted TWENTY Guest Reviews that are posted as of right now. I'd like to give a big thanks to the bloggers who have made time out of their crazy schedules to be a Guest Reviewer — you have no idea what it means to me. Thank You!
I have received the following awards: Zombies and Chickens Award, Who Loves You Baby, Let's Be Friends, Zombies and Chickens Award (2), Sharon's Rose Petal Award, BBAW Sheila Award, Who Loves You Baby (2), Proximade Award, and One Lovely Blog Award. Thank you for all of these great awards!
I have hosted the following Giveaways: "Sugar Time, " "Thanksgiving at the Inn ", "Mr. Darcy's Dream, " and "The Man Who Loved Books Too Much. "
I have acquired 36 followers. Thank you — it means the world to me!
I created a Privacy Policy and a Review Policy. I also hosted my first Holiday Campaign for Guest Reviews. To date, I have 72 book reviews posted!
In the past six months I have met so many great people and because of these amazing people I have read some amazing books! Thanks to you all!
PS: Picture is of Pippin on Christmas Day — it's Santa Pippin
Well, like I predicted last week — I didn't get much done this week. Didn't even dent my to do list really. I did finish "Breaking Dawn," finally. Look for a review early this week. I also received a BBAW nomination for Best General Review Blog. I am so excited for this nomination! Thank you!
I am still at 26 followers — but totally loving it!:) I also received an email from CSN Stores about possibly reviewing or giving away a book shelf — so stay tuned!
This week's Guest Review was "Sugar Time" by Momma Remmers! If you're interested in submitting a Guest Review — please find out how. Bianca, from Wicked Good Books, won the copy of "Sugar Time."
I have one more week before residents arrive (so excited!) and I'd like to at least finish "Night of Flames" by Douglas W. Jacobson because I need to review that before Sept for the blog tour. I've been dealing with some 'boy' issues lately (when that happens I generally retreat to a book) so it would also be nice to start in on "Eighth Grade Bites". But we'll see.
I need to get back on track; school has started and I need a steady routine. I miss my blog and I miss having reviews to post. I hate having to use "fillers" so that throughout the week I've posted something. Life is stressful, my job is stressful, I have tons of work to do, lessons to prepare, and assignments to correct; but for the past three weeks it seems that is all I've done. The only time I read for me is on Fridays when six of my seven classes have recreational reading. As much as I love talking books with struggling readers who don't really believe me, I really miss talking books with people who already love to read. This is apart of my life I miss.
To "get back on track" I'm going to start a little list of things I want to accomplish this week (blog-related). I'm counting on you all to keep me accountable.
Do my BBAW interview (I've really neglected my partner)
Surprise Author Interview #1
Surprise Author Interview #2
Ask Author #3 for an Interview
Ask Author #4 for an Interview
Jane Austen Giveaway
Write culture post
Contact Publishers about Mysterious Classroom project
Find three author guest posts
Print off Author Pictures for bulletin board
Request Blogger Guest Posts
Devote at least thirty minutes a day to blog hopping and keeping up with my Google Reader
Read for an hour everyday recreationally — not the stories/books I need to read to teach
Collect at least ten Guest Reviews. This is a habit I got out of and it makes me sad. That, and I feel it's a huge loss for my students.
I finished "Need" last week and am currently almost through "Matched." It's been a crazy week and I haven't had a lot of time to devote to reading — but it's BBAW! Whoot!
Review Books: "Matched"
My Books/Recreational Read:
Class Books: "The Pedestrian," a short story by Ray Bradbury (I think).
I was so very excited to find out that my blog has been nominated for the Best General Review Blog! How exciting and unexpected! I need to send off five posts to represent this blog as a whole — do you have any suggestions? Any favorite reviews that I've written? I'm definitely going to need your guys help picking! Thank you so much to whom ever nominated me!
