Book Blogger Confessions --- about BEA and ALA

I'm late this week .... Monday just disappeared, and all of a sudden, I'm at Wednesday.  But I thought this was an interesting topic this week, so I wanted to add my two cents.

Before we begin, here's the info about BBC:    Book Blogger Confessions is very nicely co-hosted by two bloggers, Midnyte Reader and For What It's Worth, and is a Monday meme (that very helpfully runs through the week).     :)

This week's question is: Question: BEA, ALA. Have you ever been before? If you've been before, share your experiences; both pro & con. If you haven't gone before, do you participate in online events like Armchair BEA? Do you hope to go one day? Do you feel too intimidated to go? Are you jealous of the big book hauls and tweets during the events?(question from Julie – My 5 Monkey’s)

I'm weighing in on this question because as a librarian and a book blogger, I definitely have some thoughts on this.   And that means this is a long post (feel free to skim, if you like).

Let me start by saying that I've never been to BEA, although I would really love to go some day.  However, right now, it never seems to work out with my budget (because, um... librarians don't usually have huge salaries), or my work schedule. Armchair BEA also never seems to work out for me, mostly because right now, my work schedule ramps up (Summer Read time) and by the time I get home, I'm not in the mood for any more time on the computer.  However, I think that one of these years, I'm just going to bite the bullet, eat super-cheap for months and save up my money, and figure out a way to go.    As a book blogger, it would be a wonderful experience and opportunity to hear authors, meet other bloggers, etc.    Plus, I could then stop being so envious of everyone else who gets to go.  

ALA is a bit of a different animal, in my mind.  As a librarian, I relish my opportunities to go to ALA because it's time that I can spend meeting other librarians, hearing speakers, going to panels, meeting library vendors and publishers, and basically, getting ideas that I can bring back to my library, to better serve my patrons.  I think it makes me a better librarian because I'm getting all the information and ideas --- and I always find it re-invigorates me, which is something that I periodically need.  This is because I work with the public, and sometimes, the people I encounter at my library aren't sweet and nice and make me feel wonderful about being a librarian.   So, I sometimes have some low moments, which are usually brought back up by some of our great patrons .... but going to a conference usually counts for a big power-up.   ALA does move around, but luckily, comes to Chicago every few years (I live in one of the Chicago suburbs).

ALA is also great because it gives me an opportunity to meet authors, and talk to publishers --- and yes, have the opportunity to pick up some books.   As a librarian, a big part of what I do is push books and reading in general --- so being able to see what's going on with publishers, and pick up books that I can read, and then recommend, is wonderful.    As a book blogger, I admit that the mere sight of all of the books on the display floor is breathtaking.

So here's where I bring in a bit of, shall we say, crankiness, about ALA and the free books.   

As a librarian, who works really hard, and who goes to ALA as part of that work (it's considered a full working day when I go, and I do spend my entire day going to panels, groups, discussions, etc.), it can be a little frustrating when I'm in line to pick up a book, or talk to a publisher, and someone who is a book blogger is very pushy (either verbally or physically).   The last time I was at ALA, I had this happen a few times ---- I would be in line, and a book blogger would be there with a friend, loudly talking about how many books they were grabbing, and there would be a bit of pushing and shoving.

I do not mind that book bloggers attend ALA.   I do not mind that they are there to get books, because the good book bloggers get these books, read them, and then post about them, thus spreading the word about great books, and reading, in general.    

I do mind that some people who attend ALA seem to not have much respect for other people around them, in their quest to grab as many books as they can carry.   I also do not care for bloggers who post about their huge book haul, and then don't seem to ever post any reviews of those books.  

ALA is a library conference, and thus, is aimed at librarians.   Librarians who work hard, for not a lot of pay, and who consider this conference an opportunity to network, and meet authors and publishers as part of their work.   For librarians, ALA can be a once-every-few-years kind of opportunity, and because of work schedules, we might only have 1 day that we can attend.  We  might not live in or near the city that's holding the conference, and our libraries do not always have the money to send us to conferences.   Even if the library is in Illinois and the conference is in Chicago.   So there are librarians and library staff who save up their money and travel to an ALA conference on their own, just because they are that dedicated to their profession.

I welcome book bloggers who attend ALA for the experience of meeting authors (because I know authors are our rock stars!!), and who are respectful of others when they're in line to get a book, or meet an author, or attend a panel.    But, I'd ask that non-librarians who attend ALA please be aware that this is a library conference ---- respect that there are a lot of us there who work in libraries, and who may only have one day to attend this conference --- please don't cut in front of us in lines, step on our feet, or try to elbow your way in front of us (seriously, I'm a solid enough person that if you elbow or shove me, I'm not only not going to move, but I'm going to get really, really cranky.  I used to dance at industrial music clubs, so I can hold my own, ok?).   I treat everyone around me as if they were a professional, so I expect the same courtesy.   If  that happens, we can all enjoy ALA and have a good experience.


And .... that's it.    If you've read this post, I appreciate your sticking with me as I rambled on.   :)  

Book Blogger Confession: Book Tours and Cover Reveals

It has been a REALLY long time since I've participated in a Book Blogger Confession.   But, I'm trying to back on track with my blogging, and today's topic caught my attention.

But first, I want to give credit to the two bloggers who host this: Karen at For What It's Worth and Pam from Midnyte Reader.

Today's question is:  Does participating in book tours/cover reveals and author guests post drive traffic to your blog? What type of problems have you encountered when hosting them? (please keep it civil - no names or calling specific people out) As a blog follower, are you ever turned off by these kinds of posts? How much publicity is too much? 

I have not participated in a book tour for a really long time, and I guess it's because I had some mixed experiences with them.   While it did drive some traffic to my blog, it felt like it was more a one-time thing, and not something that really made an increase that lasted very long.   I didn't participate to bring traffic to my blog, so I wasn't really bothered by this.    What I liked about tours was the whole participating with other people who were interested in the book.

I think the tricky part was sometimes coordinating things --- if one person was behind on things, and you were directing traffic to them, it could jam things up.   I admit that I was sometimes the one running behind schedule, and then I felt awful that I was the one creating a problem for other bloggers.    

I do like having author posts or interviews, even if those posts don't get a lot of comments --- because maybe that gives the author and their book some more attention.  I know it can be hard for authors to get the word out about their book(s) if they are new authors, or aren't with super-big publishing houses.

I've never participated in a cover reveal.  It's just not my thing, I guess.  As pretty as a cover is, my interest in the content of the book, so it's just not something I pay that much attention to (as opposed to a release date, for example).

There's a second part to today's question: As a blog follower, are you ever turned off by these kinds of posts? How much publicity is too much? 

I find it depends on the book, the author, and what's actually happening.    As I said, cover reveals don't really interest me much, so I tend to pass those up on blogs.  I do prefer blog tours that move from blog to blog, and maybe have different features; when it's all the same kind of post from bloggers on the same day, with the same information, it feels like I'm reading the same thing again and again.

What I do find to be a turnoff is when blog tour seem to focus less on the book, and more on encouraging bloggers to compete with each other.  It takes the focus off the book, which I find to be the opposite of what's supposed to happen.
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I'm looking forward to seeing what other bloggers have to say on this topic, especially those who participate in blog tours.

Book Blogger Confession -- blogging goals for 2013

I'm determined to get back on track with this blog, so I'm starting off this week with my Book Blogger Confession.   Hosted by Karen at For What It's Worth and Pam from Midnyte Reader, the Book Blogger Confessions is a meme for the 1st and 3rd Mondays of every month.    

So, this Monday's question is:   Question for Monday January 7th – Happy 2013! What are your blogging goals for the new year? Are you making any changes or testing out new ideas for reviews or organization? Have you joined any challenges?

What are the trends you noticed in blogging from 2012 and what do you hope to see for the blogging community in 2013?

For the new year, my big blogging goals are:

• Get back on my usual schedule of trying to keep to one review per week, with a Wordless Wednesday post at least every other week.
• Not kick myself if I don't keep to that schedule.
• Leave more comments on other people's posts.  It's easy, and I just need to do it.

My smaller goals are:

• Keep to the one challenge I signed up for.
• Read more from my own shelves (the books I own, not the ones I get from the library) and write thoughtful posts about re-visiting those books.
• Keep up with my regular posts over at my other blog (MarbleTowns).

Last fall, I took an online public library administration class, and usually, an online class isn't enough to slow me down by too much.   But, then work got crazy for a few months.  And my personal life popped a few little extra challenges up.   Before I realized it, my personal reading was slowing down, and then my blogging started slowing down.  And then, the worst thing happened: I started feeling sulky about blogging.  I turned into a petulant child --- "But I don't wanna write a blog post!  I wanna sit and watch TV!!  And NAP!!!!"    

But, the class ended in December, and I got through the holidays, and now, feel invigorated and ready to pull up my socks and get back to blogging.   The fact that I signed up for another library administration class is something that I'm determined will not be slowing me down (fingers crossed).

Either way, I'm determined to keep moving .....

And there was a second question today: What are the trends you noticed in blogging from 2012 and what do you hope to see for the blogging community in 2013?

I don't know if what I saw as trends were actually trends, or just things that I was noticing in what seemed to be a lot of places.   But, I do feel like I'm not the only person who felt overwhelmed at times by blogging, and I'm hoping that in the new year, that we all relax a little more about this and remember why a lot of us started blogging, which was to have fun, and share our thoughts.  I did notice some of the scandals last year (authors behaving badly, bloggers behaving badly, etc) and I'm hoping that this year, things are a bit quieter.  I don't tend to get involved at all when something blows up in the blogosphere, and while it can make for entertaining reading, it's disappointing, as well.  I hope that in this new year, we can all get along.   And write our own content (or give credit when we get some ideas from someone else).   And agree that it's okay to disagree about how we feel about a book, and it's perfectly okay to not like a book.

Okay.   Whew!    Happy New Year!!!

Book Blogger Confessions - Scary Books!!!

Twice a month, Karen at For What It's Worth and Midnyte Reader host a meme called Book Blogger Confessions.  It's a good opportunity to have some thought-provoking conversations, which I always appreciate.

This week's question is:  Happy Halloween!  Do you like to read scary books? Why or why not?  If so, what is the scariest book you ever read and why does it deserve that honor?

Bonus question:  Have you ever dressed as a literary character for Halloween?

I DO read scary books from time to time, although I don't read them on a regular basis any more.  I did go through a phase when I was about 10, and read a lot of Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Clive Barker and John Saul.   I think Stephen King is the only one that I still read, and re-read.

I like a good psychological thriller from time to time, as opposed to something more on the horror end of the scale.  Scary books can give an adrenaline rush, and really get my imagination going, which is fun.  What I think it interesting is how different readers define "scary" --- for some people, it can be something with monsters, and lots of gore.  For others, it can be something post-apocalyptic, where the world, itself, is frightening.

I think one of my favorite scary books is The Stand by Stephen King --- I find the idea of a flu killing off most of the world to be scary, and King also adds in some pretty scary characters, as well.   In fact, that's something I like in a lot of King's more recent books, like The Stand, Misery, and Bag of Bones -- there are unpredictable, scary people.   And don't think I'm going to leave out King's super-scary book, It.   After all, how do you top a creepy clown and something that lives in the sewers and tries to snatch you away?   Chills.

Death

Bonus question answer:  Yes.  One year, when I was in my early 20s, I dressed up as Death, from Neil Gaiman's Sandman graphic novels, and went out clubbing with friends.  Sorry, no pictures.  It was an easy costume, especially since I wear black clothes most of the time, and just required a wig and some makeup.

I'm looking forward to seeing all the other scary books people list for this Confession!

Book Blogger Confession for 10/1 --- Blogger Envy

Twice a month, Karen at For What It's Worth and Midnyte Reader host a meme called Book Blogger Confessions.  It's a good opportunity to have some thought-provoking conversations, which I always appreciate.

This week's question is: Blogger Envy:  Do you have a bad case of blogger envy?  Do you covet they neighbor bloggers book hauls/follower numbers/blog design?  How do you tamp down the green-eyed monster?

Well....... I'd be fibbing if I said the green-eyed monster had not made an appearance from time to time.  However, I've mostly banished it (which doesn't mean it won't at some point turn up at my door, whispering snotty comments to me).

Envy happens, in some form, I think, to the best of us.   I will say that I do not tend to suffer envy for bloggers who have huge book hauls; I'm a librarian and I'm surrounded by more books than I can shake a stick at, so I don't have that kind of envy.   I also don't suffer envy for blog design ---- I contacted Lori at Pure Imagination Designs a while back and paid her to do up my blog design (heck, yeah I paid someone to do this .... I have no idea how to design a blog and make it look this good) -- and after all this time, I still love it.  So, no envy for other designs, although I certainly do appreciate some of the beautiful blogs out there.

What I have suffered from is ..... comment envy.   I don't make myself feel blue over my number of followers because the way I see it, the people who Follow are the ones who use Blogger (thus leaving out any Wordpress bloggers).    However, I sometimes sigh when I go weeks without a comment on a book review post, and see other bloggers who regularly have loads of comments.  However, when I get myself in a blue mood over this, and the little monster is doing its best to sit on my shoulder, I remind myself that I blog because I just wanted to put my thoughts out there.  Just because I write a book review doesn't mean that a lot of people have something to say.   I also know that to get comments, I need to get out there and comment more on other people's posts ..... and that bit of knowledge kicks me in the butt and also squashes down the envy monster.

Of course, I'm looking to see if anyone out there has some good advice on how to deal with comment envy ......

This is the only monster that should make a regular appearance in my house.

Book Blogger Confession --- Blogger relations

Twice a month, Karen at For What It's Worth and Midnyte Reader host a meme called Book Blogger Confessions.  It's a good opportunity to have some thought-provoking conversations, which I always appreciate.

This week's question is: Blogger relations:  Are there blogs you  visit and comment on because you like their style, voice, etc. (maybe you even converse with the blogger on Twitter and Facebook) but those comments are never reciprocated on your blog?  Do you get a bit offended or do you understand that they may be busy?  Or do you comment just because you like a post not expecting anything in return?

My commenting style is this:  when I read a post, or see a photograph, that I really like, or that makes me think, I leave a comment.   I don't expect a comment in return, especially since I just assume that a lot of bloggers are busy and do their blogging in their spare time.  I mean, that's how it is for me, so I don't take it personally if someone doesn't visit me back and comment on one of my posts.  When I do get a comment back, it's always nice ---- but I comment mainly because I want to ..... meaning, I want to let someone know that I liked their post, or their photo, or because I'm joining in a conversation (like the one in this meme).  Recently, I will admit that I haven't been leaving comments as often as I'd like ---- because I've been a bit busy, so I'm whipping through my Google Reader sometimes and just quickly reading.   Now that things have settled back down, I'll be commenting more.

That being said, I do like it when people leave comments on my posts --- and I'm seriously trying to get better about responding back to comments (I cannot for the life of me get Blogger to make the "reply" action work, so I now just leave a fresh comment).   I think I feel like a lot of bloggers do about comments --- they make me feel like someone's actually reading my blog (which makes me feel less like I'm just writing and throwing my posts into the vast winds of the Internet).

I'm curious to know what other bloggers have to say, so I'll be visiting around the other blogs that are participating this time  .... and leaving comments!!!

Book Blogger Confessions --- choices, choices....

Book Blogger Confessions is a semi-monthly Monday meme hosted by two bloggers: Karen at For What It's Worth Reviews, and Tiger at Tiger's All-Consuming Media.   And here's how it works:


Book Blogger Confessions is a meme that posts the 1st and 3rd Monday of every month, where book bloggers "confess" and vent about topics that are unique to us. Feel free to share, vent and offer solutions. Just keep it respectful - no bashing authors or other bloggers! 

If you want to participate just grab our button and include it in your post with a link to either Tiger's All Consuming Media or For What It's Worth. We will be providing a linky at the end of our posts so people can "hop" to see all the participants answers. 

So, today's question is:   Choosing your next book. How do you decide which book to read next? How do you balance “review” reading with “fun” reading?


Since this is a two-part question, I'll break it down accordingly.   First, how do I decide what to read next?  I wasn't sure if this meant what I chose to read next from the stack of books I usually have in my book bag, or what's waiting for a review, or what I choose from the library when I'm looking for a book.


If I have a stack of books in the house already, along with review requests, I'll usually balance reading one "review request book" with another book.  It's usual for me to have 2 - 3 books at home going at one time (since I read for pleasure, and also have to read 2 books every month for my library book groups - but I'm able to do most of that reading at work).   That way, just in case I'm not loving the book I received to review, I can balance it out with another book.    If I'm doing this, I will deliberately choose a book that's nothing like the other one.


I will admit that sometimes, I accept too many requests for reviews, and then start to feel a bit overwhelmed.  This happened just recently --- I thought I'd be able to whip through a bunch of books, and then I got sick and all I was doing was sleeping, doping myself up on painkillers and antibiotics and going to work, and then coming home and going back to bed.   I was sick enough that I didn't feel like reading (that's how my husband knows I'm really sick ...... I almost never feel like reading).   As a result of all of this, I got behind in my reviewing, and I feel like I'm still scrambling a bit ....   and I'm reading these "review request books" first, and not anything else.


Now, I'm thinking I might only accept 1 - 2 requests per month.   The feeling of not being able to read other books, and concentrate on the review requests has made me feel a bit cranky.  Of course, it is my fault for taking too much on ....  so I'm going to get that under control.


If I don't have anything that's waiting for a review, I will usually start with what's in my book bag (I keep loose library books there .... it keeps them contained, and not roaming through my house), and I'll just choose what I feel like at that moment.   This is actually my favorite kind of reading --- pure pleasure reading.   I usually have a bunch of library books handy, so if I start a book and I'm not wild about it, I can choose another.   If I run out of library books that I want to read, I just go into my personal library and choose something.    As a librarian, I'm surrounded by reading material, so I constantly have a supply of books --- things I've put on hold, or things I've just grabbed off the shelf.  


I'm looking forward to seeing how other bloggers handle the whole "review request books" versus pleasure reading --- I'm hoping for some good ideas!

Book Blogger Confessions .... to meme or not to meme ?

Book Blogger Confessions (hosted by For What It's Worth and Tiger's All-Consuming Media) is a meme that posts the 1st and 3rd Monday of every month, where book bloggers "confess" and vent about topics that are unique to us. Feel free to share, vent and offer solutions.   


Today's question is: Memes. Love em or hate em? How many do you participate in? Which kinds do you like best? Do you feel like there are too many?


I have gone back and forth on some memes, and now, I feel like I've settled into my groove with them.  I admit that I don't participate faithfully every single week (because some weeks just get away from me).  Also, for the ones with a weekly question (or semi-weekly question), I don't always find I have a lot to say, so I might not choose to participate that week.  However, the ones I participate in are ones that I not only enjoy posting for own my own blog, but ones where I have an opportunity to spend some time visiting other blogs.


The ones I participate in are Wordless Wednesday, TGIF, and Book Blogger Confessions.   This is enough for me to keep up with, more or less.  I like WW because I like the opportunity to post my own photos, and also see all the wonderful photos other bloggers are posting.  The other 2 memes create discussion, which I really like.  


I do try to make sure that my blog isn't just memes -- I try to post at least 1-2 reviews per week, so that there's a balance here.   And that's my answer --- what are your thoughts??

Book Blogger Confession .... to spoil or not to spoil...

Book Blogger Confessions is a meme that posts the 1st and 3rd Monday of every month, where book bloggers "confess" and vent about topics that are unique to us. Feel free to share, vent and offer solutions. Just keep it respectful - no bashing authors or other bloggers! Hosted by Tiger's All-Consuming Media and For What It's Worth, there's always a thought-provoking, discussion-worthy question.

This Monday's question is: Spoilers in review: Do you read them, do you include them?  How do you describe (or avoid describing) spoilery parts of a book?

It's easiest for me to break down this question into two parts --- Do I read spoilers, and do I mind them and Do I include spoilers in my reviews on my blog?

As far as spoilers in the reviews that I read, many of the reviews I come across in my library sources don't tend to have spoilers.  Journals like Booklist, Publisher's Weekly and Library Journal don't tend to have spoilers in the reviews/summaries, so that's not really an issue.   When I read reviews on blogs, however, I do keep an eye out for any "spoiler alert here" that the blogger has put in.   Most of the time, spoilers don't ruin it too much for me, but if it's a book I'm really curious about, or in the middle of reading, I'll usually stop reading the review at that point and come back to it later.   What I don't like is when a blogger goes ahead and puts in spoilers, with any kind of "alert, alert --- spoiler ahead" kind of note ..... that can be annoying.   If you can't contain yourself, and must write about something in the book that turns out to be a spoiler, fine --- but give me a heads-up first, please.

In my own reviews, I try to avoid spoilers.  I'll maybe lead up to something and then say, "And yes, you'll have to read the book to find out what happens."   That being said, maybe I should go back and look at some of my past reviews to double-check that something I wrote about didn't turn out to be a spoiler.  Just because I didn't think it was doesn't mean it totally blew the cover off something for another reader.   I try to hint at things, but if I feel like I'm coming too close to a spoiler, I stop.

I have a friend who sometimes will read the ending of a book first, so that she knows what to expect when she's reading (and doesn't have any nasty surprises waiting for her at the end).   I don't do that, although I do admit that I often turn to the book jacket to see what the author looks like.

and hey ... does the word "spoil" look really weird to you right about now?  It totally does to me.  I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone else is confessing on this one.