Blogger Recognition Award

BLOGGER RECOGNITION AWARD!

Book Buddies: Thank you so much to Nick (@NickRevws) at Out of This World SFF Reviews. He is an amazing supporter of bloggers everywhere, and an insightful reviewer. I would not have made near as many connections on WordPress or Twitter without Nick’s generosity. He always takes the time to boost my site and many others, especially newbies.  Here’s a fantastic review Nick wrote for Peter McLean’s Priest of Bones.

I was always encouraged to read when I was growing up. My parents and I would go to our city library every week, and my dad would sprint off to the spy novel section for his commute reading. My sister and I participated in all the read-a-thon events and were huge fans of Clifford and George. I also played a good deal of sports when I was young and began coaching when I started my teaching career. I was on the field for twenty years, but when our second child was born, I had to give it up because of the time commitment after school and into the evenings. I still help a couple friends and players out with events and lessons, but I have a good deal of free time now, mostly at night after the kids go to bed. That is when I do the majority of my reading. In January of this year, I started reviewing for NetGalley. It didn’t seem I had enough reach to get many of the titles I was requesting, so I started my blog. This has given me another outlet/ hobby that I can call mine, but unlike coaching, I can do it on my own time.

Here’s some tips that I have gotten over the past year of blogging, and just some lessons I have learned from my own experiences:

• It helped for me to be on NetGalley for a couple months before launching my blog. This gave me some content right away instead of starting from scratch.
• Be creative: Tell stories about your experiences with books, Make lists, Come up with fun titles for your posts… but don’t feel pressure to wow every time. A good review is great, but your own content can put some personality into your blog.
• Every review doesn’t have to be a piece of literary analysis. When a friend asks us about a book, we don’t always go into an 8-part explication of the thematic subplots and symbolism… We usually stick to the basics: Do you like it? Why? Who would you recommend it to? Basically, it’s sometimes best to keep it simple.
• Enjoy the perks, but don’t get caught up in them. In the last several months I’ve started to stray away from ARCs a little bit. I have 2-3 reads scheduled for each of the next 6 months. This allows me some freedom, and gives me the option of reading and reviewing books I have seen others rec. And I can go in other directions with my reading also. i.e. this graphic novel kick I’ve been on lately. And if I see another ARC I want, I can always try to request it. I’m just trying to stay away from drowning in ARCs. That can happen to any blogger who over-requests and gets backed up. I’ve been there.
• Stay connected to other bloggers. Share their work and be an ambassador of reading and reviewing. We are all in the same boat. Have fun!

My Nominations. Note: Take this as a compliment, not as a requirement to complete your own post. I have chosen you because you have either helped me in my blogging or inspired me with your content.

Kaleena at Reader Voracious Twitter

Jennifer at Tar Heel Reader Twitter

Susan at Books From Dusk til Dawn Twitter

Tammy at Books Bones & Buffy Twitter

Lashaan at Bookidote Twitter

Lisa at Way Too Fantasy Twitter

Nicole at Thoughts Stained With Ink Twitter

Stephanie at Stephanie’s Novel Fiction Twitter

Thank you all and Happy Reading!