Armchair BEA Week!

Do you wish you were in NYC this week for the book industry's biggest trade show? Did you even know there was a ComicCon-like event for books? It's called Book Expo America, and chances are if you're reading this, you're not actually at the Expo.

Sad. Neither am I.

But!

You can vicariously live through the attenders with Armchair BEA, which connects book bloggers all week with interviews, giveaways and info from the expo.

Keep an eye on the #ArmchairBEA hashtag on twitter for discussions where you can connect with other bloggers:

Tuesday, June 5, 2012:  11:00 pm-1:00 am EST (8:00-10:00 pm PST)

Wednesday, June 6, 2012:  12:00 Noon-2:00 pm EST (9:00-11:00 am PST)

Thursday, June 7, 2012:  8:00 - 10:00 pm EST (5:00-7:00 pm PST)

To kick-off, each participating blog answers a few questions about their own blog, then it's time to network.  Please check out the other participating blogs here! And stop by the host blog linked above for more information including upcoming giveaways.

Q: How did you get into blogging?

A: I've technically blogged for 10 years, going back to LiveJournal.com. But I've been networking with book bloggers and writers since early 2011. The network of writers, authors and fans of books is so welcoming and encouraging. I've learned a ton about publishing and have a To Read list a mile long. I love it!

Q: What are you currently reading?

A: I usually have a print book or ebook going along with an audio book in the car. I mostly read Young Adult since that's what I write, but I just finished Elmore Leonards' Raylan, which the FX cable show Justified is tied to (it began based on one of Leonard's stories featuring the same character). He is brilliant in his use of dialogue, which is what makes the TV show so worthwhile. He writes dialogue like it's spoken, with so much flavor. You feel like you know the characters, who by the way, are mostly criminals. In the car I've got Maggie Stiefvaters's The Scorpio Races. I've heard such great things, I'm looking forward to getting into it.

Q: What's one non-book related thing about you?

A: I love playing video games.

Q: What is your favorite part of the book blogging community?

A: I like the diversity. Some sites are straight book reviews, others do author and blogger interviews, while some feature tons of giveaways and host blog tours. Some blogs by librarians are the best I've found since they work directly with readers every day. I also follow blogs that discuss issues within the publishing industry, like examining why the YA market features so few characters of color, and why those characters frequently don't make it on the cover.

Q: Have your reading tastes changed since starting the blog?

A: I started a story I thought might be a Young Adult title, but I needed to do research on the genre. I'd read a handful over the years, but to write for that audience you have to know what's out there. I've become a bit obsessed! I've always had eclectic reading tastes, I'm willing to try out all sorts of books. My focus has actually narrowed, so it's more of an effort to read something outside of YA.

Tomorrow: I'll link to hosted giveaways you won't want to miss, and will blog about the best books I've read so far in 2012.