Moderator: Zoraida Córdova
Panelists: Kaye M., Camryn Garrett & Michael Waters
The push for inclusive or “diverse” books has swept the YA and kitlit publishing worlds over the past few years. Bloggers will discuss what blogging inclusively means and how they can blog inclusively, as well as discuss what has or hasn’t worked for them in the past. Continue reading “#BlogBoundCon Panel 1: Blogging Diversely”
Do you know Smashwords? Did you know the annual Summer Sale is occurring? If you answered yes to either question – way to go! Join me in cursing this month as I try to remember I can’t spend $100 just because it means all the books are on sale. If you answered no to either question – this post may not be the best thing for you or your budget.
Turn back lest you realize “oh god I should have listened to the crazy book lady I read on the internet what has my life become” when you look at your bank account. I’ve warned you, my moral obligation is fulfilled. Continue reading “Smashwords Summer Sale!”
Books! The very air I breathe, the sun in my sky and the moon in my dreams. The reason I attend book conferences (aside from seeing friends) and the reason I’m sure many of us do as well. The discussion of the books, the pretty covers and author meet & greets. The ability to get the inside look at some of the hottest new books and giggle over some recent favorites.
This is what book conferences are to me.
This was my Vacation Group’s first time to ALA Annual. Long time friends and followers know that usually my group (consisting of myself, Tasch, Jenn and Tegan) typically attend Book Expo America. Its where I met Tasch (oh so many years ago) and the highlight of my year. We’ve attended the last three years of Midwinter (Philadelphia, Chicago, Boston), but we took the plunge to attend Annual too. Not really knowing what to expect to be honest.
In many ways Annual is very like Midwinter for purely Exhibit Hall attendees. Its larger, with specific areas for Graphic Novels or Gaming or an Artist Alley, plus space for Zine creation, but its largely the same as Midwinter, just on a bigger scale. From what I understand on the librarian side its MUCH larger. More sessions, lots of association meetings and education workshops.
The books Lexie! Talk about the bloody books! Okay okay I will.
Are you excited about THE BEAUTY OF DARKNESS by Mary E. Pearson? You know the final book in The Remnant Chronicles when we find out what happens to Lia, Kaden and Rafe? Will Lia choose Rafe – who sought her out, trusted her judgment and supported her (sometimes very) crazy plan? Or will she choose Kaden – the guy who betrayed his mentor and hero, who went against his training to protect her?
I know who I want her to choose…do you?
The hosts are Bridget & Michelle from Dark Faerie Tales, Kristen from My Friends are Fiction, Christina from The Book Hook Up, Stacee from Adventures of a Book Junkie, and Jamie from Two Chicks on Books as we spend the next three months leading to THE BEAUTY OF DARKNESS’ release re-reading the first two books together. Continue reading “Remnant Chronicles by Mary E. Pearson Read-Along”
Well its the end of Armchair BEA. Is it weird that I also feel the same kind of sadness as when I leave physical BEA? I mean, don’t get me wrong – damn are my knees happier that I didn’t spend all that time kneeling, sitting, standing and carrying loads of books. Also let’s just say I didn’t miss waking up at 5:30am and not falling into bed until 11pm.
How was my first Armchair BEA that I participated in? Swell! I made some new friends, saw new blogs, won some books and got to talk about the books/series I really enjoy. Hey and I introduced a bunch of you to new books (and games! and graphic novels!) that’s a boon in my book for sure!
I did miss the adrenaline rush of 9am when the floor opens and you try to simultaneously walk at a fast clip, dodge those who don’t listen to the rules and spot all the pretty new books and swag put out. Or scoring an ARC that I really wanted to hold in my hands. Seeing the authors and trading stories (though thanks to the #BEA16 hashtag I was able to follow some of the very fun shenanigans that happened).
As a brief recap this was my week!
What was your favorite day? Remember my Giveaway is open until Monday May 16th so there’s time to enter!
Welcome back to day 4 of ArmchairBEA! Hopefully you’ve been following along (if not check out the official ArmchairBEA website or my tag #ABEA2K16 to learn more). While over in Chicago BEA is over and BookCon is upon us those of us enjoying things virtually still have a load to talk about!
Today’s topic is “surviving fictional worlds” and there’s a bonus giveaway at the end if you think you’re up for it!
Issue:
We all know that sometimes, the worlds we love in fiction can be dangerous. Which fictional worlds would you want to live in? Which worlds do you never want to dive into? Which worlds are you content to stay behind the glass, so to speak, rather than wishing to dive through the page? And once you get there, what would you do?
Continue reading “#ArmchairBEA: Surviving Fictional Worlds + Giveaway!”
Today’s topic(s) cover looking beyond novels and the blog – both for books and for the blog.
Issue:
Beyond the traditional form of the novel, what are your favorite alternative forms (graphic novels, audiobooks, webcomics, etc)? Do you have any favorite works within these alternate forms? How do you think the changing format affects the reading experience?
Today’s topic(s) cover aesthetics – both for books and for the blog. Much like my Diversity in Publishing post yesterday I’m going to apply the IRAC method to this so I don’t go too far off point.
Issue:
As a book blogger, in whatever form that takes, branding is important. Your colors, your fonts, your style of review, all of these things come together to make the “brand” of your blog – something that makes your reviews and posts and websites, all your various content, immediately recognizable to the people looking for you. What do you do to create a brand on your site? Do you think about these things?
Today’s topic(s) cover aesthetics – both for books and for the blog. Much like my Diversity in Publishing post yesterday I’m going to apply the IRAC method to this so I don’t go too far off point.
Issue:
How often do you judge a book by its cover? How often are you surprised by what you find? Do you strategize and make sure every book in your series has the same cover design (as far as you are able to) and type? How important is it for the visual art on the outside of the book to match or coordinate with the literature art on the inside?
When I started writing this piece it became this three page long…something which I realized wasn’t helpful. It was rambly and verbose and had no real direction. So we’re gonna do what I did in school and that’s the IRAC method:
I – Issue, what am I trying to answer?
R* – Response, my answer to the question.
A – Application, this would be where I back up my response.
C – Conclusion, summing things up
(I adjusted the R. It normally should be “Rule”, but this isn’t a legal case. Yet.)
For the Sake of Reading 