Jan

Blog Love featuring On a Book Bender

Filed under: Blog Love, Blogger Interviews - | 675 words | Permalink

Blog Love is a feature where I spotlight those blogs that I love best. Hopefully, I can introduce you to some new great blogs. For more information check out my features page.

Meet Amanda! I think I came across her blog through the first Bout of Books read-a-thon. It could have easily been another way, though. Anyway, it’s become a favorite of mine since then. I always take the time to read her reviews when she posts them. She also has some other awesome features like her discussion posts and Clock Rewinders on a Book Binge (I always love reading her search terms). I also love following both she and Kelly from Reading the Paranormal on Twitter because they have some entertaining chats. Bottom line: Amanda is awesome and you should read her blog and follow her on Twitter and like her page on Facebook.

How long have you been blogging?

I’ve been book blogging since May 3rd, 2011. I’ve blogged before that, but book blogging has been my most successful blogging venture.

Why did you start blogging?

A couple of my good Internet friends had started book blogging, and I loved both the idea of it and the handful of people I’d met when I was a guest reviewer on one of their blogs. I like the process of writing posts and blogging in general, and blogging about books (I LOVE books!) seemed to be a natural thing for me to do.

What do you love most about blogging?

The community and the people. I grew up being “weird’ for reading as much as I do, and the book blogging community has welcomed me into their open arms and made me feel normal. (Normal-ish.) I’ve met so many amazing people. My life wouldn’t be the same without them.

What have you learned from blogging?

I have learned that communities are important and those who establish them will succeed, that having someone you can rant to about anything is probably the best and most important thing in the world, that bloggers/readers are some of most caring and giving people out there, and that the only thing I can truly control is me and my blog–and that’s what I should focus on.

Do you have any advice for new bloggers?

I have two pieces of advice. 1. Know why you’re blogging. When you hang on to the why, it will carry you forward if you start to doubt yourself or your blog. (And it happens. There’s a lot to get caught up in in the blogging world.) 2. Be yourself. YOU will be the reason people want to follow you. Own that.

Have anything to add?

Thank you for having me, Laura!