Armchair BEA: Tips for Book Bloggers

 Armchair BEA is for those of us who can’t travel to the Book Expo America in New York City.

Today’s topic is Ask The Experts. In your post, ask the visitors to your blog for blogging advice. What did you always want to know about blogging but were afraid to ask? Now is the time! Alternatively, if you’ve been blogging for awhile, you’ve probably learned a thing or two. Whether you stumbled upon a something that makes blogging easier or made a mistake you’d never want anyone to repeat, share your experience and wisdom with others.

I’m not sure if I can offer any new advice to bloggers but here are my tops tips:

1.  Comment: If you want to make genuine connections with other bloggers- comment, if you read a post – comment, if you want to acknowledge a bloggers hard work  – comment, if someone comments on your blog visit them and leave a comment. Or even press that Like button so the blogger knows you stopped by.  Comment, comment, comment! And comment some more. {click here for some suggestions for commenting easier}

2.  Feed Reader: Whether its google or gator, a feed reader makes it much easier to keep up with other blogs – not sure how it works? Read my post HERE

3. Plan ahead: I know schedules don’t work for every one but I would be hopelessly lost without mine. Making note of galley and ARC deadlines means I can plan my reading so as to best meet my obligations to publishers.

4. Back up your blog: It’s easy with WordPress – just go to Tools>Export. I do this once a week.

5. Don’t feed the (drama) llama: just don’t.

I look forward to seeing what tips you offer.

Thanks for visiting Book’d Out during BEA 2012, I hope you visit again soon!

Armchair BEA: Beyond the Blog

Today is the launch of Armchair BEA for those of us who can’t travel to the Book Expo America in New York City.

Today’s topic is about moving beyond the blog in terms of freelancing, monetising etc. None of those apply to me exactly but what the blog has encouraged me to consider is going back to school to earn a diploma in library studies.

When I finished high school I wanted to study to become a librarian but the only place the course was available was out of state. Instead I chose to do a Bachelor of Teaching degree and taught young children for 8 years until (technically) becoming a stay at home mum when my third child was born. I have always worked part time though – I teach photography and photo-editing to adults in regular courses and I design and sell digital scrapbooking products online as well as doing freelance graphic design work sporadically.  When my youngest child started school last year I had to start thinking about going back to work full time sooner rather than later and to be honest, going back to teaching children is not something I want to do.

The blog has confirmed that my original career goal is what I want. I have had to adjust my dream slightly. I can’t afford to go back to university to do a second degree, and once again distance makes it impossible anyway but  TAFE (college) does offer a one year online course for a certificate in library studies. It’s expensive at $2200 which is an issue, and next year my oldest daughter is in her final HSC year at school which will require my support, so I am aiming to study in 2014. After I gain my certificate in library studies, I will then aim for the diploma (for which the certificate is a prerequisite), which is a two year course, hoping to work in my local library.

So that is me,  moving beyond the blog… but hopefully not leaving it behind.

Armchair BEA: Networking

Today is the launch of Armchair BEA for those of us who can’t travel to the Book Expo America in New York City.

Wednesday’s topic is Networking and participants are encouraged to share your positive experiences of using your blog to get involved in your community. This can involve partnerships with the local literary scene, attending author events and signings, or getting together with bloggers in your area.  We want to hear it all!

I have, as I begin writing this,  just walked in the door after spending the afternoon with authors, Karly Lane and Kerri Williams at my local library.

At the beginning of the year, I was chatting to a librarian as she checked out my books and mentioned my blog. It just so happens it is the National Year of Reading here in Australia and Danielle asked if I would be interest in becoming a community ambassador for the program, a role I was happy to accept.

As we chatted  she mentioned she would like to host Australian authors regularly at the library, but has never much success with publicists, partly because we are nearly a four drive from the nearest major city. At the time I had just gotten involved in the Australian Women Writers challenge and offered to directly contact some of the authors I was featuring on my blog to see if anyone would be interested.

That first inquiry was nerve wracking but to my surprise she agreed to come and talk to us (Thank you Lisa Heidke xx). She was so lovely about it and encouraged me to contact other authors she knew. So far this year we have welcomed an author each month including Lisa,  Helene Young,  Jaye Ford, Kirsty Eagar and Karly  with more authors on their way in the next couple of months. Not only do I get to listen to them talk and get my books signed but I have shared dinner or a long drink with them as well and been able to chat about everything for hours!

The library and I coordinate with our local bookshop (we only have one – Manning Valley Books) who provides the books for sale at the events., so I have been able to build a relationship with the owner as well.

I can’t tell you what a thrill it has been to get to chat with these wonderful authors – as if they are real people and not rock stars I hope that I can continue to liase for the library, even after the National Year of Reading is finished, its been a fabulous experience so far.

Armchair BEA: Best of 2012

Today is the launch of Armchair BEA for those of us who can’t travel to the Book Expo America in New York City. Tuesday’s topic is to choose your favourite reads of 2012, and those that you are looking forward to.

I’ve given a handful of the books of the 120+ I have read 5 stars this year (you can see them all by clicking on the 5 star category in my sidebar).

I highlighted Bitter Greens by Kate Forsyth yesterday, here are three more favourites: Night Beach is a fabulous Australian YA with a hint of paranormal, The Betrayal is a shocking crime novel, Gone Girl is an extraordinary story of suspense. Click on the covers to learn more…

Of the BEA titles I am most looking forward to

 

Armchair BEA: Introductions

Today is the launch of Armchair BEA for those of us who can’t travel to the Book Expo America in New York City.

This year’s theme is all about community, and the main goal is to encourage visiting and getting to know the vast number of bloggers/participants. To that end, participants have been asked to answer a handful of questions, and here are my answers…

Please tell us a little bit about yourself: Who are you? How long have you been blogging? Why did you get into blogging?

My name is Shelleyrae and I live in a small town on the north coast of Australia with my husband and four children aged 6 to 16. I have two part time jobs (teaching & graphic design) and I read whenever I can. I’d been active on Goodreads for a while when I decided to start a book blog in  2010, just for fun really. Blogging about books is still fun, but it has also become something I take quite seriously and is now a big part of my life.

What are you currently reading, or what is your favorite book you have read so far in 2012?

This weeks reading list includes

I have read a lot of great books so far this year but if I have to choose just one, a  favourite it is  Bitter Greens by Kate Forsyth, a book that I didn’t expect to like but was swept away by.

Tell us one non-book-related thing that everyone reading your blog may not know about you.

I suffer from a chronic condition that means I take daily painkillers to get through and don’t sleep very much. Eventually I will have to have major surgery but I have been putting it off for years because it will leave me helpless for around 6-8 weeks. We can’t afford for my husband to have that much time off work and I don’t have anybody nearby to help with the children and so I live it with, and read to escape.

What is your favorite feature on your blog?

This year I am running a feature on Australian Women Writers as part of the the Australian Women Writers Challenge. I have posted reviews, guest posts and interviews with the aim to raise the profile of the fabulous women authors we have in Australia. So far this year I have read 50 books for the challenge, my personal goal is to read 100. You can see the entire list – linked to reviews and features – on my AWW challenge page.

Have your reading tastes changed since you started blogging? How?

I have always read a lot and across genres but blogging has introduced me to a wider range of books. I used to rely mostly on my library or second hand stores for my reading choices, now I get books via NetGalley, Edelwiess, publishers, Amazon and Book Depository – so much more choice!

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you take the time to look around a little, and I’ll be visiting you soon!