Monika from A Lovely Bookshelf on the Wall

Today please welcome Monika, who blogs at A Lovely Bookshelf on the Wall.



What's the meaning behind the name of your book blog?

It's from "Television" by Roald Dahl:

So please, oh please, we beg, we pray,Go throw your TV set away,And in its place you can installA lovely bookshelf on the wall.

(http://allpoetry.com/poem/8503169-Television-by-Roald_Dahl)

How long have you been blogging?

I just started book blogging in January of this year. I've been blogging off and on in some form or fashion for quite a while (since the early days of Xanga so, almost 13 years!).

Tell us a bit about your book blog. What makes it unique?

I think my blog is unique because I don't shy away from including titles specific to my career (music). I figure a musician/music teacher somewhere out there may come across the review and find it helpful.

What's your earliest memory of reading?

My earliest memory of reading is snuggling up on the couch with my mom, as she read to me (often from "Little Visits with God"). I can hear how funny her voice sounded as I listened to it with my ear against her collarbone. I remember how cozy and loved I felt, and I can still see the soft, yellow glow from the lamp beside us.

Writing in books: Yes or hell to the no?

Hell to the no! That's something I love about my Nook - I can "write" in books guilt-free!

Finish the sentence: My bookshelves are...

now filled with children's books, but otherwise fairly sparse now that I've moved almost exclusively to e-books. My music room, however... the bookshelves in there are scary!

To DNF or not to DNF?

I will definitely DNF a book after giving it a fair shot. I always give it my best try first, though, sometimes even putting it aside and coming back in hopes that it was simply bad timing.

What's one book that intimidates you?

Les Misérables by Victor Hugo. It's definitely on my bucket list!

If you could go to any literary destination, where would you go?

Here in the US: Walnut Grove, Minnesota (Laura Ingalls Wilder)
Overseas: Amsterdam (Anne Frank)

What is your reading personality? (via quiz at http://www.bookbrowse.com/quiz/)

Eclectic Reader: You read for entertainment but also to expand your mind. You're open to new ideas and new writers, and are not wedded to a particular genre or limited range of authors.




Thank you for joining us today, Monika! Remember to check out 's blog, A Lovely Bookshelf on the Wall, and leave a comment or question.

Making Your Own Graphics with PicMonkey

I have enjoyed using PicMonkey.com for a while now.  It is how I make all of the graphics on my blog, Lost in Books.  I cannot remember which bloggers recommended it to me, but I know it was three or four, and most likely Tasha and Tif were among them.  Once I began to play around with making my own graphics, I had to agree – it was free, simple, and looked good!

If you are not familiar with PicMonkey, allow me to show you the different ways you can create graphics for your blog and adjust photographs.

Just click in the upper left corner to Edit a Photo.  Choose any photo or background that you have saved to your computer.

I uploaded a plain blue background.

Then I added text by clicking on the P in the column on the left side of the page.  I chose a font, in this case, Quicksand, and clicked the ADD TEXT button at the top of the list.  

You can choose from a wide variety of fonts, text size, placement, color, etc. to create as simplistic or as complex a text graphic that you desire.

Sorry it's so hard to see. 

You can play around with fonts and colors and can do this on more than plain backgrounds to create all kinds of fancy buttons like this one I made for the Cover Discover feature on my blog:

Or this one I made for my What Do You Think? Discussions:

Now the tools PicMonkey has are even more numerous when a picture is involved.  To demonstrate the various tools you can utilize for pictures, I uploaded a photo of a sexy, sexy woman: Me ;) 

You can crop and resize, of course.  Standard photo stuff.

Then there is being rotated

or textured

What I call the "you fell asleep against a door screen" effect.

or perhaps softened, though I did go a teeny bit overboard on that.

.

I even "Zombied" myself.  Pardon the blood left over on my mouth...

Yum...flesh...

This is me getting a free, instant tooth whitening thanks to a tiny PicMonkey brush.  If only it were that free and instant in real life!

This is me with writing and an overlay (the heart).

How everyone (obviously) feels about me. ;)

Don’t get the wrong idea.  You don’t have to stick to just one trick.  This time I have given myself a sepia effect and tooth whitening while adding text onto a Polaroid-type frame! 

There are all kinds of possibilities on PicMonkey – including collages!

So get out there and be your blog's own designer!  Design your headers and your blog buttons, design buttons for reading challenges you created, fix up pictures of people or books or people reading books---the opportunities are endless!  And while there are upgrade options on PicMonkey, the best part is everything I showed up (plus more!) is absolutely 100% free.  (Now that's my kind of site!)

Continue the discussion:

-Have you ever used PicMonkey?  What are your experiences with it?

-If you’ve never used PicMonkey or a similar site, did this article help?

Liana of Bookaholic-ness

Today please welcome Liana, who blogs at Bookaholic-ness.

What's the meaning behind the name of your book blog?

It portrays my bookaholicness- my passion for reading.

How long have you been blogging?

I have been blogging since June 2012-- now, over a year!

Writing in books: Yes or hell to the no?

Sometimes! Only sometimes. But most of the time, hail-to-the-NO.

What's your favorite place to read?

In the library, where there are comfy, cushy chairs. 

Do you have any reading accessories you can't do without?

Tabs. My rainbow-colored tabs are how I keep track of the quotes I use in my book reviews.

Finish the sentence: My bookshelves are...

My bookshelves are filled with 100+ books..

My TBR pile is...

At the moment, I have a huge TBR list. But the priorities right now are:

• Why I Love My Gay Boyfriend by Sabrina Zollo
• Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

What's a book that's changed your life?

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by JK Rowling.

If you could go to any literary destination, where would you go?

Blackfriar's Bridge in London.

How about non-book related hobbies? What do you do when you don't feel like reading?

I eat, write, and watch Vampire Diaries.

Thank you for joining us today, Liana! Remember to check out Liana's blog, Bookaholic-ness, and leave a comment or question.

Katie from Words for Worms

Today please welcome Katie, who blogs at Words for Worms.

What's the meaning behind the name of your book blog?

I'm a big fan of alliteration. It's a little ridiculous. Words for Worms means that I'm writing blogs or "words" aimed toward readers or book"worms." I'm not going to claim it's brilliant, but it's silly and so am I. It works. 

How long have you been blogging?

My one year blogoversary was August 12th. Time flies when you're blogging about books, I guess!

Tell us a bit about your book blog. What makes it unique?

I try to embrace my inner weirdo on Words for Worms. I try to present the books I read in a fun, irreverent way. I don't think that people who try to be funny are supposed to admit they're trying to be funny, but that's about the size of it. Laugh with me (or at me, I won't know the difference)!

What genres do you write about most, and why?

I did a little tally the other day and realized that I read and review books written by women over books written by men by a pretty large margin. It's not something I do intentionally, I just pick up what interests me. I try for an eclectic mix of classics, contemporary fiction, historical fiction, young adult, and time travel. (Is time travel its own genre? It should be!) 

What's your favorite place to read?

I do most of my reading in bed. There was a meme floating around a while back that said people who read in bed are called "librocubicularists." I'm going to pretend that term was made up just for me. I'm self centered that way. 

Do you have any reading accessories you can't do without?

I know that embracing the e-reader can be controversial, but I ADORE my Kindle Paperwhite. The built in glow light makes my nighttime reading a joy and I never get paperback hand cramps. It's a beautiful thing. 

Finish the sentence: My bookshelves are...

So full that I switched to an e-reader to save storage space.

My TBR pile is...

Growing faster than I can keep up with. 

What's one book that intimidates you?

I've got a pretty big list of books that intimidate me, but I'm going to go ahead and say that War and Peace is the epitome of literary intimidation. That sucker is HUGE and FULL of Russian politics!

If you could go to any literary destination, where would you go?

Is Hogwarts an option?

How about non-book related hobbies? What do you do when you don't feel like reading?

I love flowers! I plant a big display of annuals every year. I may or may not be known in my neighborhood as "that crazy flower lady." I also dig trivia. I took the online Jeopardy test. Still waiting for my closeup, Alex!

What are 3 of your must-read blogs?

Sarah Says Read 
The Well Read Redhead
The Relentless Reader

What is your reading personality? (via quiz at http://www.bookbrowse.com/quiz/)

Eclectic Reader! Just as I suspected. I have difficulty committing to a single genre. Variety is the spice of life and all that, right?

Thank you for joining us today, Katie! Remember to check out Katie's blog, Words for Worms, and leave a comment or question.

Creating Perfect Posts in the Social Media World

As a book blogger, it is not uncommon for us to branch out and make connections using different forms of social media.  I can personally say that I utilize Facebook, Goodreads, Google+, Instagram, Tumblr, and Twitter.  That's six things OUTSIDE of my blog!!  How do we decide which ones to focus on and which platform will be the most effective in getting the word out and create those conversations that we are always trying to achieve.  Whether you are a hobby blogger or want more, social media is a must in the world of book blogging to help in building our sites to become bigger and better ... and, let's admit it, it can be a lot of fun!

When I began doing a bit of research on this very topic a couple of months ago, I was shared this amazing graphic from two fellow book bloggers (Ex Libris Bitsy and I Heart Monster).  Today, I share it with you.  Study it, then let's chat!!

For the original article featuring this infographic, click here.

After checking out this infographic filled with lots of information, what do you think?  What social media platforms have you found to be the most successful for your purposes?  Do you have any other tips that you feel are not included?  

Katie from Doing Dewey

Today please welcome Katie, who blogs at Doing Dewey.

What's the meaning behind the name of your book blog?

I read the Happiness Project about 18 months ago and was really inspired by the author's idea to learn about a bunch of new topics. I wanted to do the same myself, so I decided to try to read a book for every number in the Dewey Decimal system and started a blog to keep track of the process. And voila - Doing Dewey was born!

Tell us a bit about your book blog. What makes it unique?

Well, I'll read nearly anything (the only genres I avoid are the polar opposites, erotica and christian lit) so you'll get great variety at Doing Dewey. I like to pair fiction with relevant non-fiction, so it's easy to find some non-fiction that might be interesting to you if it's not really your thing. And I do a pretty good job letting you know anything that influences my opinion of a book, so you'll know if you share my tastes in books when reading my reviews. And that's Doing Dewey :)

Writing in books: Yes or hell to the no?

Sacrilege! Especially since I started blogging, I've really appreciated books as beautiful objects as well as fun things to read so I try to keep my books looking nice. The one exception is text books which I'll write in if I can learn better that way.

What's your favorite place to read?

Just like I'll read most genres, I'll read pretty much anywhere. I'm an equal opportunity reader :)

Finish the sentence: My bookshelves are...

one of my favorite things! There are few things better than a well-stocked bookshelf.

How about non-book related hobbies? What do you do when you don't feel like reading?

I love online gaming with friends. I've found it a great way to keep in touch with friends from college now that we're scattered all over the country. I also enjoy photography and try to get out to take pictures at least once a week.

What's your favorite book to movie adaptation?

Actually.... (shameless plug alert!) I'm currently hosting a book to movie reading challenge because the one I participated in last year was canceled. The best book to movie adaptation I've seen is the new Anna Karenina. I've seen movies that stuck more closely to the book, but I adored the theatrical style of this movie. It was just so well done!

What is your reading personality? (via quiz at http://www.bookbrowse.com/quiz/)

I'm an Eclectic Reader. "You read for entertainment but also to expand your mind. You're open to new ideas and new writers, and are not wedded to a particular genre or limited range of authors.". Spot on!

Thank you for joining us today, Katie! Remember to check out Katie's blog, Doing Dewey, and leave a comment or question.

Jennine from My Life in Books

Today please welcome Jennine, who blogs at My Life in Books.

What's the meaning behind the name of your book blog?

My blog started out titled Keep Inspired and was about writing as well as reading. I soon realized that I wanted to talk about books more than anything because they have always been such a big part of my life. And I always make connections between books and real life - hence the name change to My Life in Books.

How long have you been blogging?

My blog turned one year old on July 12, 2013! It's been a great year. I've finally met a whole community of people as crazy about books as I am!

Tell us a bit about your book blog. What makes it unique?

I think I have a very wide range of genres in which I am interested. I also try to see how any given book connects to life.

What genres do you write about most, and why?

Lately, I've been reviewing new Christian nonfiction - which are like self-help books. The reason is I've been on a mission to better understand relationships in order to be a better wife, mother, friend, and person.

I also like to write about fiction, specifically contemporary and historical, because I can both learn new things and relate it to life.

What's your earliest memory of reading?

I played hookey in third grade to stay home and read. It was the first time I ever read an entire book in one day. The book was "Ribsy" by Beverly Cleary and I was quite proud of myself. I still have that book too.

What was the first book you read over and over, or the book you've reread the most?

This is a loaded question, so I'll answer both parts. As a kid I reread Laura Ingalls Wilder's "Little House on the Prairie" books all the time. But, I'm a high school English teacher, so I've also reread many books every year as I've taught them. "To Kill a Mockingbird" has the highest number of rereads so far. And though I don't generally reread books, I love rereading this one because I've learned, noticed, discussed something different every time. It is the epitome of seeing life in books...I call it the Literary Bible.

Writing in books: Yes or hell to the no?

NO!!!!!! As a matter of fact, I don't like e-readers, but have discovered I do like to read nonfiction on an e-reader because I can highlight and note, something I'd never do in a book.

What's your favorite place to read?

In bed or on my bench outside in the shade on a warm day.

Finish the sentence: My bookshelves are...

In every room of my house. Some people have a TV in every room...I have a bookshelf in every room. I bought my kids shelves to match their furniture and then over the years have filled their shelves with my books. I haven't used a library in years...everything is in my own private library. From room to room my books are sorted by genre and by ABC order (author last name) within the genres.

My TBR pile is...

Out of control. Well over a hundred at this point.

One book you like that no one else seems to, or vice versa?

I can't seem to get into David Sedaris's books, but it seems everyone loves him.

What's one book that intimidates you?

"War and Peace." My most sophisticated of reading friends have warned me about their attempts to read it, so that worries me. But, I do have the best translation possible for Russian lit, so I plan on attempting it.

How about non-book related hobbies? What do you do when you don't feel like reading?

Not feel like reading? Okay, I don't think that's ever happened. 

What's your favorite book to movie adaptation?

I don't care for the movie version of "To Kill a Mockingbird." I know, I know, it's a classic and Gregory Peck is the epitome of Atticus. Yes, but I think it changes the focus of Scout and Jem too much. Hey, at least this is a researched position. In grad school I wrote a 20-page paper on the publication history of TKM and it included the making of the movie, so I feel justified ;)

What are 3 of your own must-read blog posts?

To the Dark Side and Back
All that Glitters is not Gold Anna Karenina
Book Banning Belittles

What is your reading personality? (via quiz at http://www.bookbrowse.com/quiz/)

Hmmm...looks like I'm the ultimate reader? Lol

Your responses showed you fitting equally into all four reading personalities:

Involved Reader: You don't just love to read books, you love to read about books. For you, half the fun of reading is the thrill of the chase - discovering new books and authors, and discussing your finds with others.

Exacting Reader: You love books but you rarely have as much time to read as you'd like - so you're very particular about the books you choose.

Serial Reader: Once you discover a favorite writer you tend to stick with him/her through thick and thin.

Eclectic Reader: You read for entertainment but also to expand your mind. You're open to new ideas and new writers, and are not wedded to a particular genre or limited range of authors.

Thank you for joining us today, Jennine! Remember to check out Jennine's blog, My Life in Books, and leave a comment or question.