Happy Tuesday! Because of the holiday, today is the first official day of Armchair BEA, a virtual convention for book bloggers who aren’t in New York City of publishing’s big book conference, Book Expo America (BEA). I’ve been at BEA for the last few years (three, I think), but decided to take this year off for some personal and financial reasons. While I already miss everyone I am not going to get to see, I’m excited to jump more fully into Armchair BEA instead.
Today’s blog discussion topic is introductions in the form of a five-question survey:
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 Kim and I’ve been blogging since May 2008 (five years!). I got into blogging soon before I graduated from college with a B.A. in English because I was looking for a way to talk about books now that I wouldn’t be in class anymore. Book blogging has turned into a lot more than that, but that’s why I started.
Have you previously participated in Armchair BEA? What brought you back for another year? If you have not previously participated, what drew you to the event?
This is the first year that I’ll be really participating in Armchair BEA because this is the first year since bloggers going to Book Expo America was a “thing” that I won’t be going myself. I’ve posted on some of the daily topics in the past, but this year I’m really hoping to get involved and meet new bloggers virtually, mimicking my favorite part of BEA — meeting other book people.
What are you currently reading, or what is your favorite book you have read so far in 2013?
My favorite nonfiction book from the year so far is The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown (out June 4 from Viking Books), and my favorite fiction book this year is The Round House by Louise Erdrich.
If you could eat dinner with any author or character, who would it be and why?
I would really love to sit down and talk with Tracy Kidder. He is one of my favorite nonfiction writers, and I think it’d just be cool to pick his brain about what it takes to write the way he does.
What is your favorite part about the book blogging community?
Without a doubt, my favorite thing is the wonderful relationships being part of this community has helped me build. Some of my dearest friends are people I met through book blogging, and I continue to make friends in my “real life” through books and this blog. It’s amazing.
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The Boys in the Boat…onto the wishlist it goes! You always give me great nonfiction recommendations!
Nice to learn more about you Kim!
I didn’t realize it but the author of The Boys in the Boat also wrote Under a Flaming Sky about the great fire in Hinckley, MN. Have you read that?? Amazing book.
I did not know that! He is a new-to-me author, but I loved The Boys in the Boat so much I’m excited to read more from him.
You are the coolest. Happy ArmchairBEA-ing.
Aww, thanks! I miss seeing you around blog-land. How’s the boat?
Glad to see you participating in Armchair BEA since you’re not in NYC. Great to have you in either locale. 🙂
I really need to try The Round House. I haven’t read any of Erdrich’s stuff, but I have Shadow Tag on my shelves.
I haven’t read much by Louise Erdrich either, maybe one book in college before The Round House. But that one was amazing, and now I want to read a bunch more.
I was surprised to see your name on the list. I thought to myself, doesn’t she usually go to BEA? Great to have you participating.
I have gone for the last few years, but decided I needed a break. Now that I see everyone in NYC I wish I were there, but I think this is for the better this year 🙂
I used to scoff at people who said they made friends over the internet and now I have tons of friends I met that way!
I am in the same boat!
I’m so jealous of you being able to be at BEA! I want to go at some point for sure. I wanted to go this year, but it just didn’t happen.
Here’s my Armchair BEA introduction.
BEA is such a fun time — it’s just sort of crazy to be in a place that is all about books. I hope you will get to go sometime!
I hope you enjoy your foray into ABEA. It really is the best virtual version of what we miss at BEA. Glad to see another longer term blogger! Tattooed Books
Yes, absolutely. I haven’t gotten to explore as much as I’d like, but I’m hoping to go read some posts and leave some comments tonight 🙂
Welcome to Armchair BEA! It’s so cool that your blog won that award.
Thank you! It was a huge honor!
luck girl who went 3 times to BEA!! one of my booking dreams…
Ha. You make a good point — I shouldn’t complain about not being there this year when I’ve already gotten to go a few times.
Ah lucky duck at having been to BEA but sometimes you just need the rest from an event. I almost was an English major, but went towards History instead.
Have a great week participating in Armchair BEA. 🙂
I think history and English have a lot in common == lots of stories and thinking about how we tell stories.
I went last year for the first time but only for the conference and one day of exhibits. I had planned to participate in Armchair BEA for the rest of the week, but was so tired I don’t think I did anything! This year, very pressed for time, but doing Armchair BEA this morning instead of other things I should be doing!
I had to squeeze in post-writing over the weekend, and commenting late at night when I should be in bed. Isn’t summer supposed to be more relaxing?
Good to read this 🙂 I have to agree with what you’ve said about relationships and the community. No fun in blogging without it.
Nope, other bloggers are the best part of this whole project.
We started our blogs just weeks apart after finishing our English degrees as a way to continue discussing books with others . . . bloggy soulmates! 🙂 Also agree that friends near and far are the single best reason to blog. I’m sad I’m not in New York this year, too, but it’s nice to participate vicariously from afar.
We are bloggy soulmates! I knew we started about the same time, but I didn’t realize all the other details. That’s so wonderful.
I remember meeting you at the first Book Blogger Con and being so thrilled about it.