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It is a big week in the book world. Book Expo of America kicks off in New York City and for all the bloggers who, for whatever reason, couldn't travel to NYC, it is Armchair BEA. Girl Who Reads's normal posting schedule will be interrupted this week to bring you discussions on various topics. Below is the schedule of topics, and I will be discussing most of them.
Day 1: Introductions and Literature
Day 2: Author Interaction and More Than Just Words
Day 3: Expanding Blogging Horizons and Novellas/Short Stories
Day 4: GIVEAWAYS and Beyond the Border
Day 5: Middle Grade/Young Adult Literature
Even if you are not participating in Armchair BEA, I hope you will still join in with your comments. If you are visiting from Armchair BEA, feel free to leave links to your posts in the comments.
Introduction:
Please tell us a little bit about yourself.
I'm Donna, the master mind behind Girl Who Reads. I started it 3.5 years ago as an experiment. Now it has expanded to include a reviewer, feature writer, and starting in June an interviewer. I've also have gone from the goal of 1 post a week to posting 7 days a week.
When I'm not reading and blogging, I work at the local university and do home DIY projects. I also spend a lot of time with my two dogs and two cats.
This is my 4th time at Armchair BEA. Since last year I published a how-to ebook Secrets to a Successful Blog Tour. The post that kind of kickstarted the book was from an Armchair BEA topic.
Describe your blog in one sentence. Provide your social media links.
Your site for book reviews and author news.
Twitter: @Girl_Who_Reads
Facebook: Girl Who Reads
I run a blogging group on Facebook, if you want to join. Blog tour and other author promotion opportunities are listed as well as discussions about book blogging topics.
Pinterest: Girl Who Reads
Goodreads: Donna Huber
What genre do you read most? I love to read because ____________.
I read a lot of psychological thrillers. I'm loving everything by Chevy Stevens. I don't know why I'm so drawn to the dark and twisted side of human nature. However, I don't read horror. It is sometimes a fine line between a thriller and a horror, but I'm much more interested in how the characters are effected, the emotions, the psychological impact. With horror you can get those things, but there is usually a more graphic component to the violence. Maybe? The closest I've come to a horror novel is J.B. Lynn's The First Victim (read my review).
I love to read because I can explore the world from the comfort of my couch. I sure don't want to get up close and personal in real life with the shadier side of human nature, but a book allows to get delve into the dark corners. Reading can put me into someone else's shoes, see someone else's view on a subject in ways that is often impossible in the real world.
What was your favorite book read last year? What's your favorite book read so far this year?
I strongly dislike answering "favorite book" questions. My favorite book at the moment is a little easier, but even that changes depending on my mood. So I'll start with the second question. So far this year, Lexicon by Max Barry (read my review).
Last year, hmmm... That's a bit more difficult. I'm loving The Gateway Chronicles by K. B. Hoyle. The sixth book came out last year, The Enchanted (read my review) and I believe it is my favorite book of the series. I know it is my niece's favorite.
Spread the love my naming some of your favorite blogs/bloggers.
Two, three years ago I joined up with an awesome group of bloggers. We all have our own take on book blogger, some are authors, but we are always there for one another.
Amanda at Living, Learning, and Loving Life
Karen - check out her author blog, also there's a link to the blog one of her characters writes.
Alison - she writes a monthly column here, but also has her own blog at Fresh Pot of Tea
Angela at Library Girl Reads & Reviews and her new blog Living This Moment
Kriss at Cabin Goddess
Amy at Lady Reader's Bookstuff
A. B. Shepherd - check out her author blog for lots of book goodies
I know I'm missing a few people from the group and I greatly apologize for those I over looked.
Literature
When I hear the word "literature" I automatically think about the reading lists I had in high school. Yet, there is so much more to literature than just the classics. This year particularly I've read a number of books in literary fiction. They are likely to become classics it will be years from now and it does not diminish their impact on the written word, story telling, etc.
Broadly, literature is any written word. It would include poetry all the way to the guiltiest of pleasure reads. And I love it. Indie publishing has further broaden the scope of literature. Lines between genres is being blurred and in some cases completely obliterated.
I don't understand people who say they don't like to read. There is something for everyone out there. Finding it might take some work, but today there is more available than ever before. The bookworm in me both cheers and cringes (now I will NEVER get through my TBR pile).
I'm excited about this week where people from every corner of the world is celebrating the written word in all its forms.
Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate; a small fee is earned when purchases are made at Amazon through the links above.
Posts
I hadn't yet heard of Lexicon, but will check it out now. Happy Armchair BEA Monday!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by. I hope you enjoy Lexicon as much as I did.
Deleteglad to know you a bit better, enjoy your Armchair BEA week
ReplyDeleteSo good to meet you! You'll have to clue me in on how to manage to go from 1 post a week to 7!! I'm doing great if I occasionally get in two!
ReplyDeleteYour comments on Literature were very well said! It's my genre of choice usually. I scored a entire tote full of Psyc thrillers the other day! Looking at it is sort of like looking at a treasure chest :)
Check back on Wednesday for the expanding blog topic and I'll let you know how to go from 1 to 7.
DeleteI love these intro posts because its nice to get to know the blogger more... I love seeing the bloggers you like to read as well because there are so many bloggers out there that not everyone knows which is really nice. I look forward to reading your posts this week
ReplyDeleteWelcome to Armchair BEA! It's so much fun to meet bloggers I haven't seen before.
ReplyDeleteAH@badassbookreviews.com
That's what I think when I think literature also. I know that's changing though. So many high school reading lists are including Hunger Games, and Divergent. They are growing with what kids can connect to, an I love it!
ReplyDeleteOh yeah. My niece and nephew are reading much more modern titles than I did in school.
DeleteLexicon looks like a great book. I'll have to add it to my TBR! And I like what you wrote about the lines between genres becoming blurred and sometimes obliterated - I think some of the best books I've read recently have done this.
ReplyDeleteNice to meet you! The blogging community is so wonderful. Its great when you can find your niche group :)
ReplyDeleteYou're braver than I am! I like the occasional psychological thriller but I find that reading too many of them can leave me feeling a bit down and/or freaked out :) Lexicon is a book I'd really like to get to, since I've recently read and loved several other books about books, including The Word Exchange and Mr. Penumbra's Book Store.
ReplyDeleteI hear you about picking absolute favorites. Can sometimes be an excruciatingly difficult task, especially when it it's in relation to something that's one among many. For book lovers that read often and widely, that's like asking us to pick a favorite drop of water in the sea. Gah!
ReplyDeleteRecently read Always Watching by Chevy Stevens! Oh my gosh it was awesome. I also rather enjoy Chelsea Cain for the psychological thriller aspect too.
ReplyDeleteLisa @Just Another Rabid Reader
I love Chevy too... read all her books. They are all individually awesome in their own way.
ReplyDeleteI love horrors myself , especially in zombie form but I will read a bit if anything as long as the story is a good one. I will definitely be checking out the books that are your faves Donna
ReplyDelete