Armchair BEA- Blogger Development and Genre Fiction

Today topics are Blogger Development and Genre Fiction.  I have been blogging for a little over 2 years now.  I still feel like I don't know what I am doing!  I have tried to make my blog better by the example of others.  I have learned that using twitter to reach out to people is a good thing.  That not participating in too many memes is important too.  I have tried to incorporate my book clubs from goodreads into the blog to make it more interactive (the Young Adult Book Club, and  Stephen King Fans) .  I haven't had any giveaways or anything like that because I hate to feel like I am buying my readers.  Though I am going to have one for my OZ month here in September and I am not even sure what to expect!  It will be my first time! I have partnered with other bloggers for a few blogging events.  I don't think I am pro whatever that means.  I enjoy meeting other bloggers.  There is a small group of bloggers in my local area but I haven't really connected a lot locally.  I have found lots of friends who are far away from where I live.  I use Blogger.. which everyone says sucks but I am not some HTML genius and so I guess I will just hang here.  I have tried to find books on wordpress and html but they are all WAY over my head.  I just need someone to tell me in layman's terms.

Genre Fiction:

Now onto the Fiction post.  I love all books.  I do review a lot of Young Adult but that is because I run a young adult book club... if it weren't for that I would probably read a lot more adult books.  I love Stephen King~ one of my all time favorite authors.  I love Charlaine Harris' books.  I really enjoy R.A. Salvatore's books too and need to finish up the Drizzt series. I think the only type of genre I don't like is romance.  I just have never been able to get into it.  I don't mind it mixed in with other genres but stand alone romance is just eh to me. 

Well... I wish I was walking around BEA right now.. but here I am typing up this post and needing to make time for some reading!

Armchair BEA: Classics

Armchair BEA is going to be covering a variety of topics this week. Today's topic is Classics.  I love Classics.  When I was a teenager and in my early 20s I didn't care for them at all.  I then took a literature class in college and read a few books that changed my mine.  I read the Bluest Eye, and the Great Gatsby.  Love both of them.  Then I read some Jane Austin and loved her books.  In 2007 I discovered goodreads and then joined the Rory Gilmore Book Club because I loved the books Rory was reading on the show.  I began reading the Classics along with the group.  Then I started moderating two other groups and haven't actually read anymore with that group for a while.  I have seen a lot of people who blog join the Classic's Club.  For those of you who are looking to read more classics be sure to check out that club!!

My favorite Classics that I have read so far:

1. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alex Dumas
2. The Hunchback of Notre Damn by Victor Hugo
3. Little Women by Louisa Mary Alcott
4. Frankenstein by Mary Shelly
5.  The Canterville Ghost by Oscar Wilde

I can't wait to read more Classics!!

Armchair BEA introduction!

I am so excited to participate in Armchair BEA this year.   If you don't know what it is here is some info:

Armchair BEA is the experience for book bloggers to participate in Book Expo America (BEA) from the comfort of their homes. This experience is created lovingly by book bloggers specifically for our peers who for whatever reason are not able to participate in the main conference in New York each year. We bring publishers, authors, and bloggers together in celebrating our love for all things literary by hosting celebrations such as sneak peeks, daily discussion topics, and sponsored giveaways.

This post is all about introducing myself!  So here we go:

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

I am Angie and I run this little blog here.  I have been blogging for a little over 2 years now.  I started blogging because I love to read and talk about book subjects and the people I know in my life don't read.   So I found people through goodreads first and discovered that some of them blog.  I then began looking into blogs and they just looked soooo much fun.  I then researched and learned how to blog all on my own (with the help of other bloggers of course).

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?

I have participated before when I very first began blogging.  I really had no idea what I was doing back then... so I don't think I participated in many events.  I didn't participate last year but this year I thought, why not?  What draws me to this event is learning about all the upcoming books and meeting other bloggers like myself who wish we were at BEA.  That would be a dream come true!!

Name your favorite blog(s) and explain why they are your favorite(s).

I always love when this question is used in events.  It allows me to feature blogs that deserve credit and you may not see otherwise.  This time around I would like to tell you about Picture Me Reading. 
This is a really fun blog from a husband/wife team.  They draw out their reviews which is fabulous.  Just a really fun and unique way to do it.  I also participate in one of their features called Project Disney where everyone reads the book that a Disney film is based off of and then compares the differences.  So much fun!

I'll also mention Uncorked Thoughts this blog is a lot of fun.   Leah loves Harry Potter and has a few features with the Potter books.  I participate in one called Harry Potter Moment of the Week where she posts a question and then you link back and answer.  Most of the people who participate are really nice and we get to chit chat about Potter!!! 

Which is your favorite post that you have written that you want everyone to read? 

Wow... my favorite post.. let's see.  To be honest I think it's my post Fairy Tale Retellings .. What Makes Them so Popular.  I worked really hard on that post.  I love fairy tales and I really love retellings. Not just in books, but movies, TV, games, and much more.  So check it out if you feel like reading the most AMAZING post ever!

Where in the world are you blogging from? Tell a random fact or something special about your current location. Feel free to share pictures. 

I am in Colorado.  I love to meet fellow bloggers in Colorado so if you are from here let me know and I will add you to my list that you can see on my homepage navigation car.  I have met a few of the bloggers here but the group isn't that large. I am so jealous of the bloggers in Utah who have a huge group!!!  There are quite a few authors who come here though for book signings so I try to get to as many of those as I can.

I would love to meet you fellow bloggers so leave a link to your introduction post or to your blog if you aren't participating!!!