Featuring: Wesley of Library Educated

Today please welcome Wesley, who blogs at Library Educated.


What's the meaning behind the name of your book blog?
The blog title comes from a quote by Ray Bradbury. His family was too poor to send him to college, so he went to the library several times a week, often for hours and read everything he could get his hands on. He said that this was a better education than he could have ever received at a school.


How long have you been blogging?
It hasn't been very long! I'd wanted to blog for awhile but had a couple of naysayers convince me that it would be a waste of everyone's time. This year I said "Whatever, I do what I want!" and started it. I'm so glad I did. Should have started sooner!


Tell us a bit about your book blog. What makes it unique?
I think 2 things make the blog unique.

First that a post is basically my review. I've seen book blogs where they copy and paste the amazon.com description and then review it in 2 sentences at the very end. How is that helpful?!

Secondly, that I review a wide range of books not just the most recent trendy books.


Writing in books: Yes or hell to the no?
If it's a library book absolutely not. That book isn't yours! Use post-its!

If it's in my own book I usually am using highlighters for quotes. My copy of "Mere Christianity" is a yellow striped mess!


Do you have any reading accessories you can't do without?
A comfy chair and the set of bookmarks my friend gave me for my birthday a few years ago. No dog eared pages in my apartment!


Finish the sentence: My bookshelves are...
surprisingly slim. I use the library so much that the amount of books that I do own are not overwhelming. If I own a book that means it gets my super stamp of approval, I'm exclusive like that!


My TBR pile is...
considerable. It's quixotic, I know I will never not have a big stack of intriguing books to read.


One book you like that no one else seems to, or vice versa?
I can't get in to Jane Austen. I've tried a few times and just can't get into it. I kind of want to shake the people in the stories and be like "just be honest with each other and you'll avoid most of this mess!".


If you could go to any literary destination, where would you go?
Uh, where wouldn't I go?

Paris, Ireland, Berlin, Japan, Greece, Italy...so many places that provide great settings for stories and wonderful writers.


How about non-book related hobbies? What do you do when you don't feel like reading?
One of my favorite things to do is travel! Unfortunately it's an expensive hobby so it doesn't happen as much as I'd like. Right now I'm planning for celebrating my sister's 30th birthday in Mexico with her in Summer of 2014.

I also am pretty crafty (especially sewing) and I love watching movies and binge watching tv shows.


What are 3 of your must-read blogs?
Neroli Blossoms
101 Books
Travel Fashion Girl


What is your reading personality? (via quiz at http://www.bookbrowse.com/quiz/)
I'm an all-arounder.I guess that's a good thing, right?

Your responses showed you fitting into three different personalities:

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 and eagerly await the next in the series.

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, Wesley! We enjoyed getting to know you and your blog!

Remember to check out Wesley's blog, Library Educated, and leave a comment or question below.

Suey on Swooning

I am so very excited to introduce Suey from It's All About Books today. When I first thought of scheduling fun romance-type discussions this month, Suey was the first person to come to mind. In particularly, Suey on Swooning! She really needs no more introduction than that, so I leave you with her. Enjoy!

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I don’t know why Tif thought of me when she wanted an article on swooning. I mean, I’m like.. old! I don’t swoon any more! Not at characters, not at actors, not at oh, particular authors. Wait what? You mean to say that you HAVE seen me swooning all over the place? Even drooling a little perhaps?

Okay, fine. I suppose that for the most part, I act like I’m 17 still, especially when it comes to swoon-worthy scenes in our favorite books, movies and TV shows. And okay fine, maybe I talk about swooning a little too much! But hey. I figure that these sorts of things are what makes life interesting. Am I right? Or am I right? 

So, let's get this out of the way first thing What does it mean, this thing we are calling The Swoon? 

My definition: 

To Swoon: the act which follows the reading or viewing of a particular moving scene or moment which causes you to clutch a book (or not, in case of the movie or TV show) to your chest and fall back onto the couch (or bed or floor… literally or figuratively) with a happy and blissful sigh. This particular feeling is accompanied by warm butterfly sensations in the stomach and a maybe even a rise in your heartbeat. And then, almost always, is followed immediately by a strong and powerful need to TELL someone. “Hey did you see….? Hey, I just read… and oh my gosh! Hey, can you believe what just happened on….” 

According to the dictionary, to swoon literally means, to faint. Or to be overwhelmed by ecstatic joy… a state of ecstasy or rapture. 

Yes. I agree. It’s all that too. 

Also, I’m wondering, is this tendency to swoon solely a girl thing? I think that yes, it probably is for the most part. But at the same time, I’m almost positive that there’s some other word we can call it when guys are emotionally moved, or feel the need to flail around about a certain scene. What should we call that? 

But anyway, so what, exactly causes us (or or most of us) to swoon? I’ve come up with a list (with help from a few friends, but most especially my sister who I swoon with often) and some examples: 

** SMILES! This is the main and most important aspect I feel is needed for something to be swoon-worthy. Smiles, especially when the giver of said smile is a bit stingy with them and suddenly, they let loose with one and bam… swoon. And especially, as my sister says, the smile is paired with some “fine eyes” and then the swooniness is even more powerful. 

Like, for example, Mr. Thornton’s smile at the end of North and South. Or Loki and his smile that happens all the time during the most inappropriate times. Or Valek who is so guarded and unapproachable during most of the book (Poison Study), but then out pops the crooked smile. 

** KISSES, of course. Especially the ones that either come out of nowhere, or the ones that you anticipate happening forever and then they finally, finally, they do. 

Like, for example, Mr. Thornton at the end of North and South. (Yes, you might see this character and book/movie come up a few times!) Or Perry and Aria in the middle of knife training, or Jack and Rose on the bow of the Titanic, or Indiana Jones all beat up asking for kisses from Marion to make it better, or Jim Craig and Jessica on the back of the horse in the middle of a thunderstorm, or Jim and Pam at the office, or that kiss that came out of nowhere on Sherlock the other day! 

** SWAGGER… for me there's something swoony about swagger, if it’s done right. Not in a pompous I’m-the-coolest way, but in a just sort of inherent attitude of confidence. 

Robin Hood does this well, in pretty much any version you’ll watch or read of him. Other characters full of swagger, Will Thatcher in A Knight’s Tale, Day from the Legend series, Roar in Under the Never Sky, Arthur in the Merlin TV show also has an abundance of swagger.

** BROODING… the mysterious raw emotions worn on your sleeve thing. The character that is full of all sorts of turmoil about how to express his emotions, which usually leaves them wearing a perpetual scowl. But once his broodiness is thawed, you are left with pure and simple love. 

Richard Armitage does brooding well in both his Mr. Thornton and Guy of Gisborne characters. The emotional tension is tangible with them both! 

Another brooding character is Heathcliff. Now, you may argue with me on his swoon-worthiness, but I maintain that he is swoon worthy at first. But regardless, he is brooding and volatility emotional! 

Michael Scofield in Prison Break is another broody character, one you just ache to console and make things all better. 

** DECLARATIONS OF LOVE… which often happens in the stories where the characters have been in denial through the whole book/movie and finally at the end, or at some point, one of them breaks down in a declaration. SA-WOON! 

My favorite example of this is when at the end of Anne of... I think ...Avonlea, Gilbert and Anne are walking across the bridge and he stops and just comes out with it. I love that scene so much. 

Also, Darcy’s proposals. The first one is awkward and full of all sorts of problems, but no less swoon-worthy for me, but the second one with “my feelings have not changed” pretty much kills it. 

Or Dr. Who and Rose, that final episode. You know the one. 

Or The Empire Strikes Back… “I love you.” “I know.” And then the look. The LOOK! 

** BANTERING…. the witty, snappy dialogue between two characters, be they of opposite genders or not. 

For instance, the bantering between Sherlock and Watson, between Merlin and Arthur, between Dean and Sam, etc. 

Or between Rory and Jess (and Luke and Lorelai for that matter) and Philip and Marianne (in Edenbrooke), Bones and Booth, Castle and Beckett, Jo and Laurie, Elizabeth and Darcy, I could go on and on. 

** TENSION… I think in the end, all the above things I’ve already listed create this tension. The bantering, the withholding of smiles, the waiting for a kiss and the brooding. All of that mixed together creates this tension that can cause a person to swoon when these characters enteract. It’s a crazy thing, this tension. I don’t know how people get it right! Some are experts and it’s amazing! 

** And finally, there’s the all round SWEETNESS, ADORABLENESS, and GENTLEMANLINESS found in certain characters. That part of their personality just makes you want to think they are real and you’d like to keep them around forever. 

Characters that for me embody this sweetness are, Peeta, Captain Wentworth, Xander in Matched, Gilbert even if he was sort of mean-like at first, Matthew in Downton Abbey, etc. 

Actually, I could go on and on listing the nice guys, the brooding guys, the swaggering guys. I really could. The characters that are out there are awesome, and it’s truly one of my most favorite things about reading (or watching) stories, falling in love with characters and yes, swooning over them...over and over and over again. 

Now tell me, do you agree with my list of what makes something swoon-worthy? What would you add (or take away) from the list? What scenes or characters do you think I’ve especially neglected? Let’s talk swoon!

Featuring: CJ of ebookclassics

Today please welcome CJ, who blogs at ebookclassics.


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

When I decided to read all of the 100 classic books preloaded on my Kobo, it made sense to choose a name related to reading ebooks.


How long have you been blogging?
Almost one year, so I'm fairly new at blogging.


Tell us a bit about your book blog. What makes it unique?
The most unique feature on my blog are my Celebrities in Classics posts where I profile celebrities and the classic book adaptations they have appeared in.


What genres do you write about most, and why?
Right now I'm mostly focused on classic books, but a friend and I are planning to start a Canadian literature reading challenge next year. I am woefully not very well read in this genre as well.


What's your earliest memory of reading?
I remember being a big bookworm as a kid. Bookstores and libraries were always my favourite places to visit. I even loved to pretend play library and create my own numbering system.


Writing in books: Yes or hell to the no?

I don't have the ability to mark-up pages in my ereader, but if I was reading a printed book it would be without hesitation NO!

What's your favorite place to read?
Anywhere I can squeeze in a few chapters. I don't have a lot of time to read, so I take what I can get.


Do you have any reading accessories you can't do without?
Just need my ereader and I'm good to go.


Finish the sentence: My bookshelves are...
... non-existent! I read exclusively on my ereader and borrow books from the library. Probably after I finish this reading challenge I'll return to physical books and will need some shelves. Or maybe not ...


My TBR pile is...
Under control so far, but that's only because I'm sticking with my list and not adding any new books.


One book you like that no one else seems to, or vice versa?
Moby Dick. It was so complex and could be interpreted in so many different ways, and yet was also just an adventure tale about an obsessed sea captain and a white whale.


To DNF or not to DNF?
I struggled with this one for a little bit, but had to agree with everyone who told me there are so many good books out there to be enjoyed. Why put yourself through the pain?


What's one book that intimidates you?
Middlemarch by George Eliot seems to be a mammoth book that I think would be super long and challenging.


If you could go to any literary destination, where would you go?
I would love to visit some of the great literary locations in London.


How about non-book related hobbies? What do you do when you don't feel like reading?
I follow quite a few TV shows and love listening to music, but hanging out with my family is my favourite non-reading activity.


What's your favorite book to movie adaptation?
All of the recent Sherlock Holmes adaptations have been very entertaining. I love them all!


What are 3 of your must-read blogs?
Reading in Bed
Doing Dewey
Bookish Realm


What is your reading personality? (via quiz at http://www.bookbrowse.com/quiz/)
Apparently I have multiple personalities.


Thank you for joining us today, CJ! Remember to check out CJ's blog, ebookclassics and leave a comment or question below!

Book Bloggers International Is Back!!

Book Bloggers International is back 

and we have some fun changes coming your way!!

Over the last couple of months, the three of us have been reviewing your comments from our surveys.  We have been discussing the ideas, and we have firmed down our new 2014 schedule.  We have kept some things the same, but we also are bringing in a few new changes, some behind-the-scenes and others where you all can see.  We are very excited to now kick-off this new schedule and share it all with you!

You can expect the same great interviews with fellow book bloggers around the blogosphere.  You can still expect to see tips for your blog.  You can also expect some great guest posts from other bloggers on a variety of topics as well as theme months to focus on some of our favorite topics in the book and blogging worlds.  To be exact, here is our current schedule . . .

February:  Regularly Scheduled Programming

March:  Match-ups & Duels

April:  Regularly Scheduled Programming

May:  Blogging Events IRL & Online

June:  Regularly Scheduled Programming

July:  Classics & Historical Fiction

August:  Regularly Scheduled Programming

September:  Mystery & Horror & Thrillers

October:  Regularly Scheduled Programming

November:  Diversity Awareness

December:  Regularly Scheduled Programming

Doesn't that look like fun?!?  Despite the fact that February is a "regularly scheduled programming" month, we do have a few surprises for the month of love and romance.  You may find little surprises like these throughout the year, so make sure you are following along and you don't miss out!  The fun begins tomorrow!!

In the meantime, we encourage you to check out our new Blogger Index and Guest Post Index to see who and what has already been featured here at BBI.  You can now access both of these easily in our top menu, and it will be updated on a regular basis.

As always, we are always looking for more interviews and guest posts to add to our site from all the wonderful book bloggers out there.  If you are interested in being featured in one or both of those ways, just fill out our How To Be Featured form or email us at bookbloggersintl (at) gmail (dot) com.

Here's to hoping you enjoy the changes!

Becca, Tasha, & Tif

Remodeling Under Way!

We've been absent lately because we are busy behind the scenes! Stay tuned for February when we will be back and have lots to share!  Thank you for the patience!!!

Becca, Tasha, & Tif

Designing Blogs

Today on the blog please welcome Belle and Bryan as they discuss their viewpoints on blog design.  Stick around and add your viewpoint, too!  

Now, introductions! 

You can find Belle at  http://msbookish.com and http://msbookish.tumblr.com.

You can find Bryan at http://stillunfinished.com and as a moderator for the Book Bloggers Discussion Group.


  Belle's Take:

For me, a blog design is all about the header. I use Wordpress, and the selection of themes is really quite amazing; most of them can look quite distinctive just by adding a custom header. You can end up with quite a nice look just based on the theme alone, but a customized header makes it distinctly yours, and lets you pull everything together, by picking social media icons and colors (for links, sidebar headers, post titles, etc) that match the colors in your header.  So when I decided I wanted a redesign for my blog, MsBookish.com, I was already using the Thesis theme, which I'd bought a while back, so all I was looking mainly for a well-designed header and a set of social media icons that matched the colors in the header.

I can't remember exactly how I found my designer, Don Naylor. I think it was on Twitter - someone had tweeted about the quality of his design work, and intrigued, I'd clicked over and checked out his site. At the time, he offered Wordpress designs and worked specifically with Thesis, so I took the plunge and contacted him about a design for MsBookish.com. (Unfortunately, shortly after he completed my design, he took on a large design project and I'm not sure whether he's doing much, if any, web designing these days.)

I am probably the world's worst website design client. I had no real idea what I wanted, other than the colors I liked (greens and blues). I was really amazed at the header he produced for me. He had me write him something about myself, so I told him all about what I liked to write and read. Then he actually drew/painted the picture and background for my header. I remember looking at the jpg he sent me in amazement - it turned out I did know exactly what I wanted, and the header Don designed was it! 

I got my new design early last year, and since then I've switched over to a different theme. The beauty of my header is that I can use it with any Wordpress theme that lets you use a customizable header. I'm proficient enough with HTML to change things like link and text colors in a new theme, so I managed to get my post titles and link colors the way I wanted them. In order to create consistency between my blog and my Tumblr, I also used the header in the Tumblr theme I chose. I probably should figure out how to use a part of it as my Twitter background, but that's a long way down at the bottom of my to-do list!

   Bryan's Take:

What do I think is good blog design? Less.

In my life recently, I've been attempting to do away with the clutter: physically, mentally and spiritually, well, more physically and mentally so far, but the spiritually will come. With my blog, I think I've tried to do away with the clutter too. The theme I use in my attempt to accomplish that...well...thematically...is the Shelf Theme via The Theme Foundry.

The most distinctive difference is that when you visit my blog, you scroll horizontally to see more posts (and to comment) instead of vertically like you would on most other blogs. However, that's not the only difference. As a result of the theme, there are no sidebars. A menu bar and social media icons are at the top, but along with the posts themselves, which I tend to keep short in keeping with the minimalism of the theme, a photo of me, the title and subtitle of the blog, that is all you see when you visit my blog. For me, it helps me not to get distracted and the idea is that hopefully you won't be either.

Speaking of which...

Oooh! Shiny!

We've heard from Belle and Bryan.  Now, I would love to know what YOU think. What kind of blog design captures your attention?  What kind of design makes you drop everything and read that blog?  What is YOUR take?  Share in the comments!  Inquiring minds what to know!

Book Blogging and Giving Back

Please welcome Ashley LaMar, founder and manager of Closed the Cover. Today Ashley has a great post about how she uses book blogging to give back to charities that support literacy. Welcome, Ashley!

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When I first started book blogging (in 2010 under a different blog name) I didn’t have any eReader device so I could only accept paperback ARC’s and novels for review. It didn’t take long before my home was overrun with books! I knew a lot of bloggers would run giveaways for the books they had read but I wanted to do something else. I ultimately connected with a few local organizations (Friends of the Library, the prison library in the neighboring county, and youth programs) and developed a donation list. I donated specific genres to each place as my piles became too large to manage (prison libraries won’t accept books with violence, crime, sex or language and obviously youth programs have equally strict requirements). The system worked out great and I felt good about what I was doing. I was reading ARC’s and other novels, reviewing them and promoting them online then sharing the literary love with organizations that needed books. It was a win-win…until my husband bought me an iPad and I converted from my old site to Closed the Cover.

Once I was able to read eBooks the requests for eBook ARC’s started to outnumber the physical books. I didn’t mind but I felt guilty that I was no longer able to be charitable and donate books to places that I had built relationships with over the last year. I struggled with a way to fix the situation when one day an idea hit me “Wham!” right in the face. For years I have been a strong supporter of a literacy charity called, “Room to Read”; I could ramble incessantly about them and how incredible they are but instead I’ll just encourage you to check them out at http://www.roomtoread.org/. I ultimately decided on a new set of book review submission rules: physical copies of books are accepted for review at no charge however authors, publishers, publicists, must understand that the book will most likely be donated to charity after review and eBook copies are accepted for review but require a minimum of a $5 donation to the literacy charity, Room to Read. My thought process was that either way books were being shared, authors were gaining reviews and publicity, and charities and organizations were being supported. I was a wee bit apprehensive when I first implemented the new policies; concerned that authors may be offended or irritated by the request for a donation. It has been my policy for over two years now and I have not heard a single complaint from anyone. I have received a lot of eBook submissions, raised over $700 ($400 so far in 2013), and heard a lot of positive feedback from people who support the idea.

As Closed the Cover gained more followers, increased in traffic, and expanded services I started to see a (small) profit earned from the blog site. The advertising started to raise a little bit of money (only coins per month really), Amazon affiliate purchases began to rise, my Amazon bookstore began to reflect purchases and authors were hiring me to promote their virtual tours. Once again, my guilt began to rise. I started to question how ethical it was for me to ask authors, publishers and publicists to donate to Room to Read in exchange for submitting an eBook when I was earning money (albeit very little) through other avenues and not contributing myself. It simply wasn’t the right way to operate so I changed my policies again. I have now started to donate 15% of all money raised by Closed the Cover and CTC Virtual Book Tours to Room to Read. Every year I choose a new Room to Read program (build a library, build a school, fund the Girls’ Education program, publish books in a small village’s native language, etc) to support. This year, in 2013, I chose to support the Girls’ Education program. According to Room to Read $250 will fully fund the education expenses of one girl for one year. Our goal was to raise $500 to fully fund a year of education for two girls. We have already raised $400 and are definitely on pace to hit our annual goal. It’s an incredible feeling!

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Thanks, Ashley! I just came across another charity run by Dolly Parton called Imagination Library, which mails books to children every month. If you know of any other charities that support literacy, share them in the comments!