Catherine Ryan Hyde's Blog, page 31

Pay It Forward Resurges

[image error]Yesterday my dog Ella brought the roof down in that way she does when the UPS person is up on the porch. Only...I hadn't ordered anything. I brought the unexpected box inside and found 8 copies of a brand new edition of Pay It Forward in Simplified Chinese.

Now, I agree that this news, all on its own, does not a Pay It Forward resurgence make. But it comes on the heels of a letter I received from Simon & Schuster about three months back, telling me they had just sold translation rights to a Hungarian publisher.

The novel Pay It Forward is more than 12 years old. Just the fact that it's still in print is a publishing miracle. The new trade paperback edition put out by S&S in 2010 shows they understand the book is not going away anytime soon. In 2000 and 2001 the book was in print in about 30 different countries. But then, of course, it went out of print in those countries. This is normal in my business. Now it's coming back into print outside the US. This is not normal in my business, to put it in as understated a way as possible.

What's behind all this? Well, we're all left to decide what makes sense to us. Obviously the Pay It Forward concept is enjoying more popularity than ever. Our new PIF Foundation president Charley Johnson is creating a whirlwind of energy behind his Pay It Forward Experience site. He's done TedX talks, traveled abroad to multiple countries to meet with others who share a similar vision. A PIF Facebook group sprang up and swelled to about 5,000 members in a matter of just a few weeks. And they are worldwide, and mobilizing as Pay It Forward Denmark, Pay It Forward Belgium, Pay It Forward France, and many more.

Then the book starts to come back into print in different locations around the world. I know of at least two other countries, besides the ones mentioned above, where someone in that country is behind the scenes, trying to make something happen with a new translation of the book.

Call it what you will. I call it a resurgence of Pay It Forward. What's most amazing is that this time, unlike the experience I had last time under the huge shadow of the movie, it appears that the book is not being left behind.

My thanks to Charley and all the Pay It Forward people all over the world. Let's make it happen!

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Blogger Wednesday: Lauren of Shooting Stars Mag

Lauren and I go way back. Seriously. To give you some idea, when I met Lauren, the biggest thing in social networking was…wait for it…MySpace. Yeah. It was, like, 2008.

It started when I saw a call for submissions for Shooting Stars Mag. I think it turned up in my email inbox, but I don’t know exactly how. I just remember that it was for an upcoming LGBT issue. So I offered something having to do with Becoming Chloe, but I can’t remember if it was a review copy or some kind of related content. Yeah, it was a while ago. And I’m old.

Here’s what I remember very well. My agent was encouraging me to get out on MySpace, but I had no social networking experience, and I just wasn’t quite sure where or how to jump into that pool. So Lauren made a MySpace page for me. And hooked me up with initial friend requests to other writers and book people. Not for money. Just to be helpful and nice. Then I got the hang of it, and expanded it on my own, and moved on to Facebook. (And later Twitter, which didn’t even exist at the time, that I know of.) And now social networking feels like breathing. But none of that is the point. The point is that Lauren is a very caring and giving person, who has reached out to me—and many others—again and again.

Let me segue from there straight into a first question.

Me: You do so much giving on the Internet. You held those auctions to benefit First Book. And you did those fundraisers for two young people with medical needs. And the Living Beyond Tolerance Scholarship. And I expect this is part of a bigger pattern, but I don’t know every instance. Will you please tell me, and my readers, what all you have done that is not for profit? Also, what does it bring into your life that makes it worthwhile?

Lauren: Thank you so much! I love doing anything I can to help people out, even if what I get in return isn’t so obvious. Honestly, my greatest reward in giving or helping other people is their reaction. I love to see that I’m helping or that they appreciate it. They don’t need to pay me or do anything back. If I know it means something to them, then it means something to me. All the items you mentioned are the biggest things that I’ve done not for profit, at least online. In my “real life” I volunteer with the teen programs at my local library and have been doing so for the past two years. I’ve also helped out with my college in random ways when I’m able; the most recent was judging middle school essays for a BookFest my school puts on every year.

Me: Shooting Stars Mag is, I guess, not exactly a blog. More of an online Zine, based on the name. I see many similarities between it and a book blog, but are there also differences? What sets it apart?

[image error]Lauren "with" her friend Nick at a midnight showing of The Hunger Games. Nick was actually in Spain.Lauren: I came up with the name Shooting Stars Mag in 2007, when I first started the blog. At the time, the idea really was to create mini online zines for each issue, with a large focus being music. The blog changed as we realized what did and did not work for us, as well as founding members going off and doing their own things. I’m the only original member of Shooting Stars, as it was my creation, but I couldn’t have started it off without a lot of help from people like Keaton (who created the blog I have now) and Braxton (who worked with me on getting band interviews in the very beginning). Nowadays, I’m trying to get back into the music side of the blog and make it more an entertainment site instead of a pure book blog, which I suppose does set it apart.

Me: According to Blogger, the following is a list of your blogs: 

·       Bridge the Gap
·       All Grown Up Parties
·       Getting to Know Willow
·       Let's Get Beyond Tolerance
·       Shooting Stars Mag
·       Ya Blog newsletter
·       Leave a Mark

Holy cow, that’s a lot of blogs! Are some of them group efforts? Anything you want to tell us about any of them?

Lauren: The YA Blog Newsletter was a group effort that I was asked to join a long time ago, but I’m pretty sure it’s no longer active at the moment. Bridge the Gap was a blog I started to focus on foreign entertainment. I eventually decided all of that could be added to Shooting Stars and the blog is still there, with all the posts I made, but I recently used it for the Let’s Get Beyond Tolerance scholarship auctions. Finally, I’ll mention the All Grown Up Parties blog because it’s my newest creation. Hopefully by the time this interview is posted, I will have a lot more posts, but it’s really just an area for me to share the parties my friends and I throw (and we’re in our twenties) and the crafts/gifts that I make.

Lauren and her niece, BellaMe: I actually know something about Let’s Get Beyond Tolerance, because you involved Lee Bantle and me from the start. But will you tell my readers, who may not know, what you hope to achieve with this blog?

Lauren: The theme of the blog is LGBT entertainment (music, movies, books, news, etc.) that is mostly focused on the YA age group…or those that love it! I hope to build it up more this year, but the point of the whole blog is really what the title says (courtesy of Lee Bantle): Let’s Get Beyond Tolerance. People talk about tolerating those that are different from you, but who really wants to be tolerated? Wouldn’t you rather be accepted? So I hope to showcase things that will hopefully enlighten, start smart discussions, and just simply entertain!

Me: I have to ask it: Where do you find the time?

Lauren: Oh, gosh, I don’t know! I’m definitely focused more on the Shooting Stars Mag blog in terms of that, but like I said above, I want to build up Let’s Get Beyond Tolerance more and hopefully work on the All Grown Up Parties blog too. I guess it’s just something that I love, and when I get comments that show people are reading, then it pushes me to do more. I just try to prioritize as much as I can and in terms of book reviews, I’m always reading!

Me: I know you fairly recently branched out into offering publicity and marketing services for authors, which is brilliant, because you know the online book world so well. Are you still doing that? How is it going? How can authors contact you if they are interested? 

Lauren: Yes, I am still doing that, and it’s going well. I’m actually working with a picture book author right now, Allyn Stotz (The Pea in Peanut Butter). Summer is always the best time to start working with someone, so I’m definitely seeking out new clients right now if anyone is interested! If authors wish to contact me, they can go through the email on my blog or just go through the Contact Me button on my website: www.laurenashleybecker.com. The site gives a list of what I do, possible prices, testimonials from people I’ve worked with in the past, and a current/past client list.

Me: What are your plans for the future, and how do books fit in?

Lauren: Right now, I have about a year left in undergraduate school and I hope to get into graduate school for Library Science. I would love to be a Young Adult librarian at some point in the future, so books will definitely play a huge role in that. Not so much career-wise, but another goal I have is to publish a book and then hopefully be able to continue doing so. 

Me: Will you recommend a few other book blogs you think are worth visiting?

Lauren:

Mimi Valentine 

Dreaming in Books

[Me, note: John of Dreaming in Books is going to be featured in an upcoming Blogger Wednesday post.] 

Me: Please write your own question, and answer it.

Lauren: What is your latest music love?

Ed Sheeran, because he has an amazing voice (and he’s British), writes incredibly beautiful lyrics, and is just wonderful live!!

Thanks so much, Lauren! Your accomplishments are impressive, to say the least. Readers can catch up with Lauren at any of the blog links above, or on TWITTER or TUMBLR.

As I noted last week on Adam's interview, Adam and Lauren have teamed up to do a giveaway and blog hop devoted to my work. Which I did not know they were going to do when I asked them to be part of this series. I chose bloggers I know and like, and whose work I enjoy, not the ones who can do the most for me. But it is a great example of what's so wonderful about them!

Next week on Blogger Wednesday I'm interviewing Nikki-ann of Notes of Life, a UK-based blogger. You'll like her! See you then!

The Bet: Uncle Mo Holds a Grudge

Andrew's winning horse: I'll Have AnotherA second year of The Bet is under the belts of four crazy authors. It's time to unveil the stories.

For those of you unfamiliar with The Bet, Andrew Smith, Kimberly Pauley, Brian Farrey and Yours Truly seem to lose our minds each year around Kentucky Derby day. That's when we bet on the Derby with each other, but with the writing of original short stories rather than money.

You can read about the first year's bet here, and learn more about this year's bet here. 

This year Andrew won, and so did not write a story. He gave Kimberly, who came in second, the title The Flat-Tire Man. Kimberly gave me the title Uncle Mo Holds a Grudge, which will make a lot of sense if you follow the crazy bet history. I came in third and gave Brian the title All of Nature Abhors a Vacuum. 

So here, without further ado, is Uncle Mo Holds a Grudge. You'll note it brings back the characters I introduced in last year's bet story, The Art of Being Stuck Here (Title assigned to me by Andrew Smith). So if you haven't read that one, you might enjoy the two stories back to back. The Art of Being Stuck Here can be read at this link. 

You should be able to read the other two stories on Kimberly's and Brian's blog.

A thought: Three or four more years of The Bet, and then we put out an ebook of Bet stories. Are you game, fellow crazy authors?

Blogger Wednesday: Adam of Roof Beam Reader

I confess I had not discovered Adam’s blog, Roof Beam Reader, until I found a review he’d written for my book Jumpstart the World. Then I was so blown away by the thoughtfulness, balance, and detail that I had to learn more. I have a great deal of respect for a number of book bloggers, but I personally do not know anyone who takes his or her responsibility to reviewing more seriously.

I promise you, the more you read his blog, the more words like “respect” will fill your head.

So. Adam. Thanks for visiting my blog for this interview.

Adam: My pleasure!  Thank you for having me. 

Me: Until I began writing these interview questions, I had read only your reviews. But I just read your post Book Blogging: a Breakdown (The Empathetic Reader and the Effective Reviewer).  I think the world would be a better place if everyone read this post in its entirety before reviewing a book. And I don’t just mean bloggers. I feel a lot of old-fashioned print reviewers have dropped the ball. Do you get the sense that this piece has been widely read? I would think it would be a link worth passing around. What kind of feedback have you gotten? Can you describe the moment when you felt compelled to write and post it? I can only imagine the observations you hoped to address, and I’d like to hear your thoughts on that.

Adam: Thanks very much for your support.  I do get the sense that it has been relatively widely spread (relative to how widely spread any of my usual posts are passed around, that is).  It is the highest “hit” post on my blog and has received the most amount of “likes” of any post on my blog to date – the previous markers were my posts on the hoopla over so-called “dangerous” YA fiction (“Darkness & Light”) and on the recent publication of a censored edition of Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (“Censoring Mark Twain: A Literary Embarrassment”).  I also notice a new batch of referred guests, which have traveled through the vast interwebs from other blogs to mine, via links to this specific post.

It’s exciting and also intimidating that the posts most often viewed on my website are not book reviews, which is the primary theme, but the more “political” of writing that I sometimes find myself publishing.  For the most part, I have gotten positive feedback on this post and its intentions, although I have seen a few counter-posts pop-up on other book blogs (some who commented on my post, and others who did not but who felt the need to respond on their own turf, so to speak).  The book blogging world is such a big one, now, that there are bound to be innumerable opinions not only on “how” book bloggers should comport themselves, but also on what exactly it means to be a book blogger.  A couple of posts that were published in response to mine were more explorative in terms of how personal a public blog really is, and how one defines him/herself as a book blogger, as opposed to just a personal blogger or journal writer.  Of course, my thoughts on that can be found in the comment thread of my post or many of those who have responded. 

The post really came about after spending some leisure time on Goodreads.com.  I have since come to terms with the fact that Goodreads, Library Thing, Shelfari and other such sites are much more akin to typical social media networks than they are to book blogs, which aids me in taking them a bit less seriously.  But, at the time of my post, I had become frustrated by the vast quantity of truly irresponsible “rating” and “reviewing” that has taken place on those sites – rating a book 1-star when the person hasn’t read it; completely misinterpreting a text or not finishing it, so posting a poor review for it; rating a book perfectly before it has even been released in ARC form… it goes on and on.  Essentially, I really just wanted to define what Roof Beam Reader is all about and explain the kind of quality and thoughtfulness that I look for and respect in other book blogs, and that will hopefully always be found at RBR.net, too.

Me: Your template scorecard for reviewing is amazing. It’s so much more detailed and helpful than “five stars means I loved it, four means I liked it.” Not to tie this directly to star ratings, but some reviewers seem to think it’s all about what they enjoy, rather than helping a prospective book buyer choose. Your template seems like the perfect tool for the (latter) purpose. Can you tell me (and my readers) anything about the process of moving from the more common “Summary—Good—Bad—Final verdict” to your own detailed rating system? Had you identified specific reviewing limitations or frustrations that you hoped to overcome?

Adam: This is actually something I touched on in that post we discussed above (“The Empathetic Reader & The Effective Reviewer).  I find that a very important aspect of being a “good” reader and a “good” reviewer (I use the word good for ease and generality, though I do not necessarily believe it means any one specific thing) is trying to understand what is unfamiliar or even uncomfortable. 

My own process started with brief, one or two sentence responses to the book.  Did I like it or not?  Why or why not?  So, for example, a very early review from me might have said:  “I loved this book.  The writing was engaging and the story was believable and entertaining… I would pick-up this author again in the future!”  Well, that is a positive review, sure, but it definitely doesn’t tell me much about the book!  Ultimately, my book blog started as a place for me to keep my own thoughts, for future reference and such.  When I found that going back to old reviews didn’t remind me of anything or help me to remember why I went back to a certain author or subject, I knew I had a problem.  From there, I established a system that was a bit more comprehensive, in which I gave a summary of the book, discussed what I thought to be “Good” and “Bad” in it, and then an overall rating and some final thoughts.  This was a vast improvement, but it was still missing something!  How many layers and kinds of “Good” are there?  What are the elements of “Bad?”  Can something be a nuisance for me as a reader, but clearly have a place in the text? [Me: Ha! This reminds me of your reaction to Elle in Jumpstart.]  If so – does that mean I should really count it as a negative element?  Headaches abound!  It took, literally, about two years for me to get to the system I use today – and even this one has its limits.  Poetry and non-fiction, for instance,  do not work very well, because I have a section devoted to “Plot” and “Characterization,” both of which would be severely limited or non-existent in those particularly genres.  So, I still find myself making adjustments, when needed – but my primary goal is to make my reviews as comprehensive and unbiased as possible, and I definitely think I have headed (and continue to go) in the right direction.

Me: We’ve talked a good bit about the fact that you pointed out something in your review of Jumpstart, and I learned from it. I don’t say this boastfully, but that’s rare. Not because I’m so damned infallible, but because I have beta readers, an agent, an editor, a copyeditor, and two proofreaders who seem to aspire to copyediting. Usually if there’s an issue, it comes up during the process. After that, more often than not, minor complaints in reviews seem to be a matter of taste. But you actually dug deeper. I’m wondering if you’ve had this feedback from other authors. I wouldn’t be surprised to hear that you have.

Have you gotten any blowback from “authors behaving badly” after negative or mixed reviews? I’ll tell you why I ask. I notice that when an author goes on the warpath against a review, their rant tends to be excuse-based. Not really being able to say, “How dare you not like it?” I hear things like, “The review was not professionally done,” or, “The criticism was not constructive or fair.”  And, frankly, I just can’t imagine anyone saying that to you. And yet authors behaving badly will be authors behaving badly. So I have to ask.

Adam: Well, thank you again for being open to anyone else’s thoughts on your work; as you mention, not all writers/authors are particularly welcoming to feedback! 

I have been fortunate enough not to have received much negative push-back from authors whose works I’ve reviewed, at least not that I know of (who knows what they’re saying in private!).  I think there could be a few reasons for this, though:  1) A lot of my reviews are for literary fiction and/or the “Classics.”  In the first group, most literary fiction authors seem to be either relatively oblivious to the book blog world (that is to say, I do not see them promoting or responding as much in this venue as I do with “genre” authors); and, of course, in the second group, the authors are dead – so getting responses of them would be terrifying. 2) I tend to be adept at selecting books that I think I will enjoy.  Readers will not find too many overwhelmingly negative reviews on my blog because I usually know what I like to read.  3) I have a review policy in place.  This one is key and it is a piece of advice I share with every new blogger or veteran bloggers who might be new to the ARC game.  I post my review policy on its own page on my blog; I post my review policy in e-mail responses to queries; I make it very clear that, if I agree to read a book then the author/agent/publisher agrees to let me speak my mind about it.  It helps, I think, that I do have such a comprehensive review template – as there is usually at least something to applaud in most books. 

That being said – if an author or agent is dissatisfied with a review I write, I absolutely welcome them to e-mail me or comment with questions or to discuss my thoughts in more detail.  I know some authors who have gone onto blogs and ridiculed the reviewer (or spread negativity through Twitter, Facebook, their own websites, etc.) and I think that is unprofessional and unacceptable – I always feel for the blogger in question, when that happens, because it is usually a new, unexpected, and saddening experience for them.

[Me, note: I couldn't agree more, which is why I have written several posts in support of bloggers, and advising authors to think carefully before they react. I do honestly believe that the blogger comes off well in the long run and the complaining author looks like a fool. But you're right that it must be upsetting for the reviewer.] 

Me: Your blog has won quite the boatload of awards. I’m not the least bit surprised, but I hope you’ll take this opportunity to brag on it a bit. Please do tell us the highlights of 23 awards to date.

Adam: Oh, yes, folks have been very generous to me!  I think I am up to 25 at this point, of the ones I accepted and can remember, anyway.  Most of these are from the community, so they do not come with any special prizes or gifts, but they are still the most important because it means that those people who are most passionate about book blogging value my thoughts and my hard work.  What could be more satisfying than knowing you are appreciated in  your own community!?

I was also incredibly honored to have been nominated for Best Literary Fiction blog in the 2011 Book Blogger Appreciation Awards.  I was further shocked and humbled when I discovered that I had been short-listed.  Ultimately, I didn’t win – but having made it that far into the nomination and recognition process was an honor in and of itself, for sure!  My blog was also keeping incredibly good company in that particular category, so it was quite exciting.

Two others I would point out quickly, though, were the “Men Your Men Could Blog Like” recognition that I received from Amanda at Dead White Guys, which was really cool because there are, percentage-wise, far fewer male book bloggers than female, so it is always fun being pointed out as “one of the dudes,” especially in a great way like this!  The other is The Blog of the Week Award that I received from The Crazy Bookworm.  It was so great to be spotlighted on another blogger’s website as “The” blog to check out. 

Me: What are your plans for the future, and how do books fit in?

Adam: Well, I am sorta-kinda writing a book (but not really – but, yeah, kind of).  I have begun and abandoned three books already, though.  This could quite possibly be the fourth (but, wait a second – I thought they said “the third time’s a charm!”).  In addition to that, I do work full-time in University Academic Affairs, which sucks up most of my time, and I am headed back to school this Fall to begin a Ph.D. program in English (American Literature).  I already have two degrees in English, and, for some reason, I miss school quite a bit – so it seemed a natural “next step.”  Books will obviously play a role there, though I do not know, yet, if I will review the texts that I read for my coursework… I might, if only to keep my thoughts organized and easily reviewable when research paper time comes around! 

As far as Roof Beam Reader goes… I have plans for a re-design, soon and there may be a decline in the number of books I take on from review requests (both because I accept too many and because I will be insanely busy with schoolwork, so tying myself down to deadlines on reviews doesn’t seem like a great idea).

Ultimately, though, I plan to keep RBR.net around for a long time.  I plan to continue my engagement with the community and to participate in events like BEA, ALA Week, Book Tours, Author Events, etc.  I love it too much and I get far too much out of the experience to say “farewell” anytime soon!

Me: Will you recommend a few other book blogs you think are worth visiting?

Adam: Of course!  I can tell you the blogs that I visit most often, although most are not “conventional” book blogs.  These blogs tend to read more literature/literary fiction and some of them are written less like reviews and more like journals, which is great for those who are more interested in the personal process of reading (what a book means to the reader).  

Allie of A Literary Odyssey 

Amanda of Dead White Guys 

Jillian of A Room of One’s Own 

Judith of Leeswamme’s Blog 

Me: Please write your own question, and answer it.

Adam: You have a policy of only accepting physical copies of books to review – why is that?

Well, at first it was because I did not have an E-Reader and because I refuse to read books on the computer.  Reading is a very personal, spiritual experience for me.  I connect with books physically – I often base my purchase of book editions not solely based on which publisher I most respect, but also on the texture of the book and its pages, the design, the smell, etc.  To me, technological reading devices are (like most technology) cold things – they leech out the romantic element of the experience (for me).  That being said, if E-Readers make it easier and more convenient for people to read and enjoy books, then more power to ‘em!  I know a lot of “new” readers who have started reading (or returned to it) because it is cheaper/more convenient now, and I know a lot of traditional readers who have at least partially transitioned to the electronic platform, too.  So, it is working for a lot of people, which means a lot of people are reading, which means I’m happy!

Me: I feel the same, Adam. I love to see numbers of book sales and readers go up instead of down. And I'm very happy you joined me on my blog this week. Thank you so much for your in-depth and thoughtful answers.

Next week on Blogger Wednesday I'll be hosting Lauren of Shooting Stars Mag and Let's Get Beyond Tolerance (among other blogs). She is terrific, so please do stop back.  

I want to note that Adam and Lauren have teamed up to do a giveaway and blog hop devoted to my work. For which I thank them tremendously. But I didn't know they were going to do it when I asked them to be part of this series. I chose bloggers I know and like, and whose work I enjoy, not the ones who can do the most for me. But it is a great example of why I like them so much!

Cover Reveal! Don't Let Me Go

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Exciting news. At least, I know I'm excited.

June is the month that my third new adult title, DON'T LET ME GO, comes out in a US edition. All of these adult titles have first been released from Transworld UK, and have been well-received. Last year we brought out WHEN I FOUND YOU and SECOND HAND HEART in both ebook and paperback US editions. 

Now for DON'T LET ME GO. It's coming amazingly soon. And today I saw the final cover. And I'm so excited, I have to share it. I hope you love it even half as much as I do.

I hope you'll leave a comment and let me know what you think.

If you want to know more about the book, there's a synopsis, review quotes--even a video excerpt--on my Don't Let Me Go page.

Watch this space for more news. It won't be long!

Blogger Wednesday: Danielle of There's a Book

I first met Danielle (though not immediately in person) when I signed up for my initial blog tour. The book was Jumpstart the World, and Danielle was one of the bloggers who signed on to host a tour stop. I made it a point to follow all the tour bloggers on Twitter. That’s how I learned “the big coincidence,” though I don’t remember when, or how it first came out. In the international setting of the online book world, Danielle lives less than 45 minutes from me, a couple of towns down the road. So she joined me in one of my workshops, and we’ve met a couple of times to exchange information, books, etc.

When it comes to helping get the word out about my novels and other news, or even standing up for me online when I faced opposition, I couldn’t ask for a more supportive friend.

Her blog There’s a Book has won awards and garnered a great deal of respect. If you’re not familiar with it, this is your chance.

Now. Danielle. Your blog is devoted to juvenile literature, but that’s a wide field. You review books that are appropriate for your own pre-schoolers, and also books like Jumpstart, that are geared toward the mature high school age—or older—reader. Is it ever hard to bridge this gap? Do you ever have doubts or fears that a cutting edge YA review might seem discordant to someone who came to the site to read about picture books? Or do your readers seem able to appreciate the full range?

Danielle: Wow. Way to hit on a tough topic right off the bat! No really, it’s okay, but you’re completely right. When I started, and even now a bit, I struggled to find where exactly I “fit” in the book blogging community. A number of my close blogging friends review primarily YA and even adult literature, but not quite as many in the picture book area. That’s changed a bit over the last three years, but my readers are still varied.

I’ve never felt like my readers have been surprised by anything I’ve reviewed or shared, but in some ways I feel as though I’ve been opening up new reading paths for others where they may not have normally gone. Most of my long time readers have mentioned they generally prefer one or the other (picture books or YA), but as time has gone on I’ve seen quite a few of them shifting into areas of reading they didn’t previously seek after. A few started out reading only for the YA books and now have children of their own.

I still feel like I straddle a precarious fence, but at the same time I review and read what I love which I think shows in the writing on my blog.

Me: It’s clear that your own two children, who you call Turkeybird and Littlebug (I understand wanting to guard their anonymity), are a big part of your blog. How old were they when you started the blog? Or did you even have two children at the time? What does their participation mean to them, and to you? How do you see their roles changing as they get older?

Danielle: When I started There’s A Book Littlebug was just under a year old and Turkeybird was almost three. I had actually blogged previously, but it wasn’t a book blog and through that experience I learned it was best if I kept their identities somewhat guarded. I’d love for them to one day decide to be involved directly with the blog by either writing their own reviews, vlogging or even revealing their names, but I’d like that to be their choice and not something I force on them.

For now, their participation in the blog is limited to my interpretation of their interactions with the books we read as well as the interviews I work on with the Turkeybird. I’m really trivializing things with that one sentence because honestly they’re the entire reason I started the blog. My children have just as much, if not more passion for reading and books. When the Turkeybird was very little he devoured books the same way I do with chocolate when I’m stressed. It was this drive to find more books for him to enjoy that led me to start There’s A Book and it continues as they progress into more advanced reading. They both inspire me with their love of reading and it’s exciting to me that I have the opportunity to share that with so many people who read my blog.

Me: Now let’s say your kids are grown and out on their own, or even school-aged. You certainly have the background and the reputation to launch a full-time paid career in a book-related field. Would you? If so, what does that look like in your plans?

Danielle: This is actually something I’ve been thinking about quite a bit recently! The Turkeybird starts kindergarten this year and Littlebug will be in pre-school as early as January. There’s a very high likelihood that I’ll be looking to start a career again, if not full-time at least part-time until they’re a bit older.

I’d love to work in a book-related position! Where we are currently I’m not sure that working for a major publisher is really an option, but you never know. With technology being what it is the possibilities are endless. I’m so passionate about books and promoting the authors & publishers I love that I’d love the opportunity to work closely with one or both. I’m currently looking at the possibility of becoming an agent, but I’m also open to working in marketing within the book industry, including literacy promotion. All of that said, I may end up staying home and focusing on writing. So, we shall see!

 Me: It’s an obvious one, but I’ll ask it anyway. Where on earth do you find the time?

Danielle: I’m currently answering this interview at nearly midnight, if that gives you any hint as to how it all works. I’m a terrible insomniac. More often than not you can find me typing away or reading until one or two (sometimes three) in the morning, but I also have a secret weapon that I use to get extra sleep when I need it, my husband. He’s amazingly patient and supportive with my bookish obsessions and helps out with the kiddos so much. Most of the online events I do I’m only able to have time because he helps with the kiddos while I juggle at least eight different email accounts, five different twitter accounts and a myriad of other online media sources I use. He’s my key to success, time management and happiness.

Me : Five-year-old Turkeybird does his own interviews with your blog guests. How long has he been doing this? Can you give us an example of some of his better questions? Any stories about guests who particularly did or did not get along with this unique interview format?

Danielle: This is one of my absolute favorite aspects of my blog! We started working together on what we call the “20 Question Interviews” about a year and a half ago and it’s been a blast. It all started when he began that stage where kids ask really silly questions about books. I thought, why not ask the authors/illustrators who wrote the books he loves? It’s turned out to be a fantastic feature on the site and one of the things I most look forward to when being with him.

We’ve had a lot of really great authors we’ve interviewed, but like you said, not all of them “get” the concept of a four/five year old asking them questions. Which in all honesty seemed strange to me, considering most of them were writing books for kids in this very age group. We had one poet (I won’t say who, because he’s still a very talented author) who simply didn’t get it and in fact found some of the questions like, “Crayons or Markers?”, hardly worth answering. In fact, the response given was “neither.”

On the other hand we’ve interviewed amazing authors like Jon Scieszka, Annie Barrows, and Deborah Underwood. One of our favorite interviews was with author/illustrator Jon Klassen who wrote I Want My Hat Back. His answer to a popular set of questions, “Slides or swings? Why?”, was one of the best to date, “Swings. Slides don’t swing.” Also a recent interview with the author of The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom, Christopher Healy was most definitely our favorite interview to date. Christopher is a dad of a boy about the Turkeybird’s age and I believe that really helped him connect with the questions, making his answers absolutely hilarious! It’s those types of interviews that are really fun for both of us, because we do actually sit down together and read over all the answers together.

Me : So much has been said about negative reviews in the blogosphere. How to do them, whether to do them. Whether there will be a backlash from the author and/or the world of publishing. Where do you fall in this debate? Are you comfortable doing both negative and positive reviews?

Danielle: Funny you should ask this. I’m conducting a survey on my site right now and received a comment stating that this particular person “hadn’t ever seen a negative review on my site which makes them question how honest the reviews are.” At first I was a bit taken back by the comment because yes, I absolutely believe in doing negative and positive reviews.

My most recent negative review was only a couple of months ago and it was one of the most agonizing experiences I’ve had writing reviews. I was actually physically sick during and after writing it. It’s completely the opposite of writing a review for a book I fell in love with, because I consider writing reviews a very personal thing. It’s personal not only for me and how I involve my feelings within the review, but also for the author of the book. Who wouldn’t rather make another person happy over stomping all over something they worked hard on and likely dedicated a great deal of time & emotion to? Unfortunately, a book doesn’t always work out the way I’d hoped.

I’ve spent a number of years being trained as a classical flutist and it taught me a lot about reviewing. Be constructive, honest and always try to be positive about some aspect of the book. Like music, no one likes the same things, but honesty is important to help us grow in our chosen fields. A lot of those negative critiques I received on my performances were tough, but they always forced me to grow and examine things from a different angle no matter whether I agreed. But it’s also those experiences that shaped the approach I take to writing negative reviews; always professional and courteous of the author’s feelings. Fortunately though, as I’ve read more and more I’ve gotten better about selecting the books I read and I don’t have to write too many negative reviews.

Me : Have you had bad experiences with authors after reviewing their books? Or unusually good ones?

Danielle: So so so so many good experiences! I know I’ve had a couple of bad experiences, but I’ve had so many good ones that it’s hard to remember the ones I didn’t like. From little comments on my reviews thanking me to tweets to full length emails saying how much they appreciated what I wrote. It’s all been amazing and makes staying up late completely worth it!

Me: Can you tell us a little about your own writing, and your writing goals?

Danielle: Yes, believe it or not I write as well. Maybe I need to reevaluate that “finding the time” question. Ha!

For the past few years I’ve had quite a few stories come to mind and have felt compelled to write them down. I’m currently wrapping up a middle grade novel and have two young adult novels (one sci-fi and the other paranormal) each about half way completed. My primary goal at this point is to focus on the middle grade novel and have it published. In my dream world I’d love to have it published by Walden Pond Press, but I may be reaching with that particular goal. I’m also working on a book with my mom featuring picture books that we’re hoping will be coming out in the next year, but I can’t talk much about it at this point. Beyond that, who knows? The sky’s the limit!

Me: I’m interested in stories about the query process. What are some examples of the best and worst ways you’ve been approached as a reviewer? What would you caution new authors to avoid? Do you have a pet peeve?

Danielle: My current greatest pet peeve is being pitched to via Twitter. It’s not really the place to sell a book to someone. Almost always it turns me away from the person completely. So definitely, new authors, avoid Twitter pitches!

As far as best and worst approaches…the worst was a recent bad email. The author said this basically, “Hi, I’m a recent first time author with X book coming out in August. I’m hoping you’ll review it. It’s on NetGalley and I have a tour. Thanks.” Seriously, that was it. No link to the book or the author’s website, no book cover, nothing. Not very inspiring.

A really great approach was with the first book Susan Kaye Quinn self-published. I typically avoid self-published books, but Susan was someone who had taken a long time (around a year) to get to know me via comments on my blog and chatting on twitter here and there (not about her book). When she emailed me I immediately recognized her and took the time to read over her short intro and then the book synopsis. Immediately after I said yes and ended up loving the book, Open Minds.

Also, I recently did an interview with Anne R. Allen about my full list of tips on how to query a book blogger. It was a lot of fun and I’d highly recommend checking it out! [Me, note: I did an interview with Anne the author in my Author friday series, and will do an interview with Anne the blogger in June.)

Me: Tell me about the online name you use, “The 1st Daughter.” I sense there must be a story behind why that feels significant.

Danielle: My mom is actually very active in the food blogging world and when I decided to start a blog she strongly recommended using nicknames. After a lot of thought I finally came up with “The1stdaughter” because I’m really not that creative with things like this. It just so happens that I’m the first daughter in a family of three daughters and my husband is the first son in a family of four sons. Now, whether or not he picks up “The1stSon” when he starts blogging is still completely up in the air.

Me: Will you brag on yourself a little, and tell my readers the honors and recognition you and your blog have received?

Danielle: My blog has received awards from Book Blogger Appreciation Week including Best Kidlit Book Blog and as a finalist for Best Author Interviews. I’ve also served as a judge for the Cybils Awards for the last two years and for the INSPYs awards this last year. I’m also a co-founder of the online book blogging event Armchair BEA which has also received honors for being the best book blogging event out there.

Beyond the blog are primarily music related honors including playing my flute in both the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. and Carnegie Hall. I’ve also recorded a full length classical CD comprised of my own arrangements for flute and piano. [Me, note: See, this is why I love to interview bloggers. There's always more to them then you might see on their web pages.]

Me: Will you recommend a few other book blogs that you think are worth visiting?

Danielle: I’d love to!

Gina from Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers because she’s one of the most hard working, amazing and loyal people I’ve ever known.

Juju’s site Tales of Whimsy because not only do I love her reviews (and her), but she’s one of the most interactive non-twitter using book bloggers out there.

Amy from My Friend Amy because she was the first book blog I fell in love with and she’s one of the best friends I’ve ever had.

Tif from Tif Talks Books because of her generosity and love of books.

Carissa’s site Digital Storytime because I love her book app reviews and her enthusiasm.

Me: Please write your own question, and answer it.

Danielle: How did you feel about your experience the first time you met Catherine in person?

I was so unbelievably nervous! Meeting Catherine was like visiting a rock star at their home. Who does that? Then, on top of it she was going to read my writing out loud to a group of other writers! It was one of the most nerve wracking experiences I’ve had in a long time, but one that changed everything about how I write and how I feel about my writing.

Catherine’s critique and words of advice helped me not only with my writing but how I view my potential to do good in the world. It was an unforgettable experience and I truly think it’s one that propelled so much good in my life that I’ll never be able to say thank you enough.

Thank you Catherine! For everything. 

Thank you, Danielle. Especially for that last question and answer. People will start to think "ask your own question and answer it" is self-serving on my part, but I swear I never expected questions and answers about me. Honest.

Next week on Blogger Wednesday I'll be hosting Adam of Roof Beam Reader. Pretty sure you'll like Adam, so please do visit again. 

Blogger Wednesday: Brent of Naughty Book Kitties

My first experience with Brent was a simple one. He sent me an email, asking if he could review my forthcoming (at the time) Young Adult novel Jumpstart the World for his blog, The Naughty Book Kitties. I contacted my Knopf publicist, had a copy mailed to him, and that was that.

Except it wasn’t.

Just days later, a Facebook friend left a post on my wall. It was about a teen book blogger who’d gone viral with his criticism of school and public librarians and their handling of LGBT literature. For those who haven’t read the post, I’ll offer the short version. When Bent was in middle school, he asked his school librarian where all the LGBT titles were hiding. She told him: “This is a school library. If you are looking to read inappropriate titles, go to a book store.”

(Or better yet, read the whole post HERE.) 

Suffice it to say this riled me. Still does, every time I think about it. Imagine telling a gay teenager that it’s inappropriate to read about someone like himself. Don’t get me started on the message that sends.

It was the basis for an essay I wrote for Red Room called Liberty and Justice…for Who? It was also the basis for a valued friendship, despite a rather (ahem) dramatic difference in our ages.

So. Brent. Let’s start with the blog itself. Naughty Book Kitties. It’s plural. Kitties. I know you started the blog with a best friend. Is it all yours now? Is there only one “Kitty” at this point, and do you see it staying that way? Any regrets?

Brent: Yes, the blog is solely mine. As far as the name goes…I’m kind of a hardcore strategist, and I knew before I even created the blog that I had to be unique, and I had to make heads turn. I think I accomplished that with these three oh-so-iconic words: naughty book kitties.

Me: You describe yourself on your blog as: “Reader, Cheerleader, Gay Boy, Shopaholic, Book Addict, Aspiring Literary Agent.” That’s pretty out. Rather admirably out, in fact. And once your post went viral, that exposed you to a wide cross-section of people. And we all know the Internet can be a ruthless place. Can you talk a little about what it means to be so open about your gayness? Have you gotten negative feedback to your post and blog? Does the support far outweigh it (I hope)?

Brent: I began blogging on Naughty Book Kitties when I was 14 years old. I’m rather embarrassed by that little description of myself, as I’ve realized over the past couple years that the absolute worst thing a person can do is bury his or herself in a mound of labels. That’s why on things like my Twitter bio, etc., I don’t say “gay boy” anymore. One does not “white” or “blue-eyed” or “type-x blood” in a self-description.

But that’s not to say I cover up my sexuality. If I’m reviewing a book and I find a particular male character, hmm, APPEALING, I won’t hesitate to mention it. If I’m on the bus and a hot guy sits down next to me, you’re damn sure I’m going to immediately tweet about it. (Ask my fellow Twitterers. They know ALL THE THINGS.)

Me: Jon Stewart once announced a vote against gay marriage in Missouri (more or less, I’m doing this from memory) this way: “If you’re gay, and live in Missouri, two pieces of bad news: first, you’re gay, and you live in Missouri…” Now. Brent. You’re gay. And you live in Kentucky. I know that has to be hard. Can you talk a little about how books helped you find a sense of belonging? And then, once books led you into the world of book blogging, can you speak to how that new world of contacts helped you feel more connected?

Brent: Oh, books. I must say that I am one-hundred percent sure that I would not be doing this interview, I would not be blogging, I would not be friends with you, if not for the highly influential LGBT-themed books I found when I was young.

There’s this book that is one of my absolute favorites. It’s always hard for me to determine if I love a book enough for it to be considered a favorite, but of this one I am certain; there is not a day that goes by that I don’t think of a quote from it, or a character. The Vast Fields of Ordinary by Nick Burd completely changed my life. There are a billion things I took away from that book, but there’s one that really stuck, and I’m going to share it with you.

There is always more to do. When you fuck up, there is always someplace else to go. Even when you don’t fuck up, there is always someplace else to go and many more things to do.

Me: You mention you are an aspiring literary agent. Didn’t you find yourself with a literary internship? Is that still going on? Will you tell us a little about your experience assessing unpublished manuscripts?

Brent: I am, and I have, and it is! I was with one agency in 2010-2011, and since then I’ve moved on to a different one, and things are going great.

Actually, it depends on the day you ask me. On Mondays, I hate the world and I REFUSE to do absolutely any work for free. And then on Tuesdays I’ve gone to the grocery and restocked on coffee and candy and all is well AND WHY, YES. I WOULD BE DELIGHTED TO DO ALL THE WORK IN THE WORLD.

Me: There’s been a great deal of controversy in the blogosphere regarding negative reviews. I notice that you are a blogger who has chosen to write reviews only of the books you love. Will you speak to that decision?

Brent: Finding time to blog is very hard for me. I have to really love a book and feel a desire to get it out there in order to blog about it.

Me: Most people I know have experienced the wrath of Internet criticism. I know I have. And I know that, when it was going on, you were outspoken in my defense. Which confirms my suspicion that you are a brave soul. Then again, we’re all human. Without any need to go into specifics, will you talk about how you deal with online criticism? How does it affect you, and for how long? How do you get beyond it?

Brent: I can identify with the criticism well, Catherine, since I’ve been the victim of it too. There’s a lot of it in the YA blogging community, which is a big reason why I’ve gravitated away from it in the past few years. It’s tasteless, and I’m sorry, but who the hell has time? I have emails to answer and queries to read and manuscripts to critique and coffee to brew and turtles to feed and shoes to buy and homework to do and essays to write and books to read. I have things I have to do.  I don’t carve out time in my schedule for that unprofessionalism. If you have to cry, go outside. (That’s a quote from my beloved Kelly Cutrone.)

Me: You’ve been featured in School Library Journal. And Lambda Literary online. And had an article about you in the New York Times. All before age 16. And I expect I’m leaving out some big honors. Brag on yourself a bit. Tell us what you’ve achieved through your blog and your love for—and knowledge of—books.

Brent: My blog has been really great to me. First of all, it’s put me in touch with all of the fabulous kidlit people out there (yourself included). And, of course, the New York Times and HuffPo articles were a plus. Really, though, the best thing it’s done for me is forged friendships.

Me: What are your literary pet peeves? I know run-on sentences and missing commas factor in there somewhere…

Brent: Sentences that repeatedly start with conjoining conjunctions. 

Me: What are your plans for the future? Does blogging still factor in?

Brent: I’m very obsessive compulsive about my future. I do plan on attending college in New York, and my decision to work with books required no hard thought; there’s nothing else in the world I can imagine myself doing. Except, of course, getting paid to eat ice cream and watch Bad Girls Club reruns. Oh boy.

Me: Will you recommend a few other book blogs that you think are worth visiting?

Brent: Cialina of Muggle Born and Julie of Bloggers Heart Books. Two very fine ladies that blog with precision and nothing less.

Thank you, Catherine, for the wonderful questions.

Me: And thank you, Brent, for visiting my blog, and for the wonderful answers.

I promised last week that Brent had news. Well...drum roll please...here it is. On June 4th, in his dream city (New York, of course) Brent will be appearing as a presenter at the Lambda Literary Awards. He will be giving out the award for the Children's/YA category. How's that for celebrity?

Next week my Blogger Wednesday interview will be Danielle of There's a Book, so please do make it a habit to drop in on Wednesdays. (Especially the next one!) 

Pay It Forward Reader Slideshow

My fourth reader slideshow is done, and this time it's all Pay it Forward, all the time. Many thanks to those who sent in photos of themselves with the book.

If you watch this slideshow and think it looks like fun to be part of it, I'll probably do another at some point. So do feel free to send a photo of you, even at this late date.

Without further ado, here are (some of) my fabulous readers of Pay It Forward:

Pay It Forward Giveaway Hop

Two incredible bloggers (and by that I mean they have great blogs and are great people, both), Adam of Roof Beam Reader and Lauren of Shooting Stars Mag, are holding a giveaway and a blog hop for bloggers.

According to the announcements on Adam's and Lauren's blog, these events are inspired by, and intended to celebrate the work of...me.

This kind of blows me away, to put it mildly. They are giving away prize packs, at least two of which include my books, which I'm happily donating. Bloggers who register to be part of the hop are then going to host their own giveaways, honoring...whoever they like. Anyone (or anything) they feel deserves the added attention. That's where the Pay It Forward part comes in. Bloggers then turn around and shine a spotlight where they feel it deserves to go.

I want to mention that both Adam and Lauren are part of my Blogger Wednesday series, and their interviews are coming up at the end of May and the beginning of June. But at the time I asked them if they'd be open to an interview, I had no idea they were planning this.

It's just another amazing example of why I love book bloggers the way I do. The online blogging community really is a community in the true sense of the word. So of course there are struggles, as in any community. But there's also support. Bloggers support each other, and they support authors.

This author, for one, is grateful.

If you have a blog, please do go check out the giveaway hop.

It's official. The blogging community Pays It Forward. Not that I ever doubted them.

Thanks, Lauren and Adam. 

Blogger Wednesday: Pam of Bookalicious

Photo by Marco van Hylckama VliegAmazing how much I think of Pam—creator of the popular Bookalicious blog—as a friend, considering we’ve never met face to face. But we’re only three hours apart by car, so I expect this will happen eventually. Meanwhile, when I needed more exposure for my books, and Pam put together a scavenger hunt giveaway on four popular books blogs, that sure was being a good friend. (By the way, the link was just so you can see how cool it was. Sorry, the contest is over.) This to me is a great example of how helpful bloggers can be to authors, and why authors are wise to hold them in high regard and treat them with respect.

Hell, with a following like Pam’s, even a retweet on Twitter can be a great boon. Which is not to suggest that I only love bloggers for their retweets. More that I like the fact that those of us in the book business really can be a community and help each other out.

So. Pam. A few questions to help my readers get to know you better.

Me: Will you start by briefly explaining the difference between Bookalicio.us and Bookalicious.org?

Pam: Bookalicio.us was the blog I started four years ago as a book blogger. When I got my job as an agent I needed to do some separating of work and hobby. My favorite part of my blog has always been marketing books I love, so I started .ORG and invited some of today’s brightest bloggers, industry peeps, and agents to help me make what I have already been doing for years bigger and better.

Me: Tell us about your job as an agent. How much does it satisfy your goal to work with books? Is your plan to be an agent and author, both? Or is the agent work a step in the process? If you could write your own future in the business, what would it look like?

Pam: The agent job is an extension of marketing the books I love.  It satisfies my goal to work with books 100% as I am constantly reading new material, working with editors and authors, and building a career with people I am coming to see as family. 

My own writing has taken a back seat, but it is something I want to get back to and am trying hard to fit it in my new schedule. Right now I am half way through a middle grade adventure about a school for shape shifting kids.

Me: Anyone who knows you knows your huge influence in the blogosphere. This, of course, is good. But I suspect it’s also a pressure at times. What are the downsides?

Pam: I think it is awesome that people like what I do. I try to be pretty transparent about my life, my work, and my blogging.

The problem with that same transparency is people think I owe them every secret.  I get a lot of email, Formspring questions, and Tumblr asks that feature questions I probably wouldn’t ask my own mother.

I’m rarely bothered by these things, I think I am one of the most laid back people in the world. So, generally I answer those questions that other people may balk at.

There was recently a scandal with another YA blogger. I had no urge to speak out for or against her and very little time with my new job to keep up with what was happening. Three days after the news broke I was getting emails and @ replies on Twitter forcing me to take a stance. I still hadn’t sorted out my feelings but people were getting restless so I posted My Plagiarism Manifesto. It wasn’t something I would have normally written about, but I felt forced to do so.

Me: I remember a time, a couple of years back, when an evil rumor circulated, saying that book bloggers who wrote negative reviews would never get their own work published. I frankly never believed this, because (in my opinion) publishing is not cohesive and organized enough to shut someone out. That and the fact that print reviewers have been slashing other authors for years while enjoying publishing deals. But it scared a lot of bloggers, which I’m sure was the idea. I know it affected you. Now that the storm of this rumor has passed, what are your thoughts on why it was done and/or by whom, and what we should think of it?

Pam: That was right around the same time as the YA Mafia rumor. People were saying there was an in-crowd of YA authors and if you weren’t in the crowd you would never get published either. To be honest I got scared. I was finishing my first draft of the first thing I had ever written (and oh my god it was shite, I never even queried). I thought about closing my blog, or stopping negative reviewing, but I did neither of those things because I decided if someone didn’t want me because I didn’t like a book then I didn’t want to work with that person anyway. 

There were some ‘be nice’ posts from YA authors going around at the same time and I was honestly disappointed to see those. A negative review doesn’t mean someone is not being nice. It only means that the person reviewing didn’t react the way you wanted them too about your book, which can hurt. I get that, but not everyone likes everything.

[Me, note: I agree very strongly with Pam about this, as expressed a little over a year ago in my Open Letter to Authors. It's essential to the health of the book business that we not constrain reviewers in any way.]

The business is harsh on debut authors, I think having a blog and a good following can only help you be published now. (If your writing is good, it is still always about the writing.)

Me: I have a whole blog category for pets. My pets, my readers’ pets. Pets belonging to my “Author Friday” interviewees. Because I follow you on Twitter and Facebook, I happen to know you have a Jack Russell named Jackie, a new bulldog puppy named Banksy, and at one point I even saw photos of a guinea pig whose name escapes me. Care to tell us a little about them?

Pam: Absolutely! I grew up on farm, so I am used to having tons of animals around. For now I just have the three and I still want more.

We got Jackie when we lived in London. I found her on the Brit version of Craig’s List, a site called Gumtree. We had to take a bus, and the tube, and a train to get to her but it was worth it. The man that sold her to us had brought her in his car inside of a bucket and she was too small to climb out on her own. It was instalove and we made my husband’s company pay for her to be transferred to the US with us when we moved here. She will turn five this December.

Bella the Peruvian Guinea Pig was purchased at Petco by my daughter about four months ago. Adisyn worked for a year solid to prove she could be a responsible pet owner before we allowed her a pet. She is doing chores to pay for Bella’s needs. I have to say I didn’t think that I would fall in love with a rodent but Bella and I hang out all the time. Whenever I am having a stressful day I bring her out and sit her on my computer desk with me while I work.

Banksy is the newest addition to our household. I’ve always wanted a bulldog since I was small but I had to wait until I had the money to properly take care of one. They have a lot of problems like skin irritations. He is the love of my life and the bane of my existence at the same time. He is 14 weeks old now and he has an expensive shoe eating addiction. He shames me at puppy class every week with his stubbornness but I wouldn’t change his attitude for anything in the world.

Me: You have a daughter and a toddler son, as you surely know. Can you talk a little about their relationships with reading? Has your love of books rubbed off on them? Is reading a topic you can share with them, or are they rugged individualists in this regard?

Pam: My toddler loves books. Especially the Llama, Llama series. I can take twenty books and lay them on the bed and he can spend an hour (which is like a year in toddler time) and just look at the pictures and quote what he remembers from the stories.

My daughter however hates reading with a passion. She’s never had a love of books and I try not to be pushy about it. Now that she is moving into third grade I do foist a twenty minute a day reading time on her and I hate doing that with a passion but she has to develop the skill. I take her to the library whenever she asks, and I buy at least 50 books a year that she never reads. I’m hoping for that one book that will change that. She does love science and math!

Me: I noticed you have a post written for those who would ask you for your resume rather than read up on all you’ve done. I like to give my interviewees permission to brag on themselves and their blogs. So, brag. Tell my readers, please, about your extensive industry background and experience.

Pam: I started my book blog and because I can’t just stop at one thing I began doing other things.

The first thing I did was partner my blog with my local bookstore Hicklebee’s. I try to encourage people to order from any indie store (especially Hickebee’s) instead of Amazon to keep these important community beacons alive.

For the past two years I have worked with the NCIBA (Northern California Independent Bookseller Association) to bring bloggers to their yearly tradeshow and introduce them to the local booksellers and foster more relationships between blogs and local booksellers.

I joined the NCCBA (Northern California Children’s Bookseller Association), two years ago and have given classes to booksellers on social media and helped them get Facebook pages and Twitter started. I work on showing them new ways to reach their customers.

I’m a member of the NBBC for the past four years, the SCWBI for two years, and many other organizations that let me share my love of books far and wide.

Me: We all know the Internet can be a nasty and trying place. Like life, only amplified by lack of face-to-face interactions. What kinds of blow-ups and negativity are just all too much for you? What does the blogging community give back to make it worth your while?

Pam: Early on I used to try to get involved with everything and foist my need for professionalism on every blogger so that we could be seen as part of the industry. We are still and will always be the bastard children of publishing but I don’t really care about that anymore ;).  Now I tend to not read or get involved with any negativity. I started my blog to bring good books to readers. And that is what the community gives back. I get to talk about books that I love and there are people who listen. That is the best feeling in the world.

Me: Any stories about the best and/or worst you’ve encountered when dealing with authors and PR people?

Pam: I once had a PR company email me with a scheme to get bloggers interested in books. It was the worst pitch I’ve ever received and I wrote about it here. Basically depending on your following you had different options to review their stuff. The whole pitch is here, and after I spoke to him about it we actually worked together to define his pitch.

The best pitch ever wasn’t really a pitch at all. It was a debut author Jay Kristoff who wrote me a few months ago just to say hi. He didn’t mention his book, or that he wanted me to ever check it out, he just said hello and stated the things he liked about my blog. I am now his biggest fan ;).

Me: Will you recommend a few other book blogs you think are worth visiting?

Pam: The book blogs I visit every single day are as follows:

Chick Loves Lit for contemporary fiction recommendations.

Good Books and Good Wine for great middle grade reviews and her voice is amazing.

Hobbitsies for her middle grade recommendations.

Tripping Books for her enthusiasm.

The Book Smugglers for their astounding critical reviews.

There’s a Book for her passion.

[Me, with a note: Danielle from There's a Book is going to be featured on a Blogger Wednesday coming up soon.]

Me: Please write your own question, and answer it.

How do you feel about Catherine Ryan Hyde?

Honestly, she has become one of my favorite people without even knowing it and without us ever even having met. She is strong, vivacious, and lives her life at full steam. I look up to her more than she knows and appreciate advice she gives and her positive outlook on life. Hell, she even inspired me to stop picking at my cuticles.

Thank you Catherine for having me. This is honestly the most in depth interview I have ever filled out! You’ve inadvertently taught me a thing or two about how to ask questions.

Me: Okay, I had no idea she was going to say that, and I swear no money changed hands. But thank you, Pam. That's my favorite answer ever to that last question. The admiration is mutual.

Next week my Blogger Wednesday interview will be the fabulous Brent of Naughty Book Kitties, so please stop back. He has news, in addition to his usual awesomeness. Be there!