Book Blogger Hop #6
It seems I misunderstood the schedule again. I accidentally answered last week’s question. Oops.
Today’s Question(s) is …
What inspired you to start book blogging?
My Answer(s) is …
Even though this particular blog only goes back to December 2021, I’ve been blogging since 2007. My blog started as an everything blog. In 2009, I stumbled onto the book blogging community thanks to an author friend. I didn’t think I could be a book blogger, though, because I may read more than the average person but I don’t read as much as other book bloggers.
During my lurking phase, I learned that a lot of book bloggers at the time were from my home state–Utah. I befriended Natasha Maw, a popular book blogger back then, during that time. I found out she spearheaded a group bringing local book bloggers and authors together. She organized in person meet-and-greet events as well as Utah Book Month where bloggers focused on promoting Utah authors and their books.
I went to my first in person meet-and-greet in February 2010. There I met Suey (It’s All About Books), one of my BFFs, along with countless other bloggers and authors. Sadly, there are very few remaining Utah book bloggers from those days and Utah Book Month has gone the way of the dodo. Fortunately, I’m still friends with most of the people I met and my IRL book club always reads a book celebrating a Utah author in the month of August.
Thanks to the friendships I made, I started book blogging.
What about you? What inspired you to start book blogging?
Sadly, I joined the blogging community towards the end of the golden years. I’ve still had fun though.
I’m glad you’ve still had fun. Even though I miss the other Utah bloggers, I like the overall community better now. It’s more relaxed and everyone’s so friendly!
I started blogging 3 years ago, which is baby steps compared to most of the bloggers I follow. I started because I read quite a bit and thought it would be fun to share and talk about books. I find it’s more work than I expected, but also more rewarding. I feel like there’s actually less “book talk” shared in terms of back and forth conversations. There’s book info shared and some of that is super helpful, but not so much conversations.
Terrie @ Bookshelf Journeys
https://www.bookshelfjourneys.com/post/friday-memes-14
I’m glad you started blogging and that you find it more rewarding than you anticipated. I’ve noticed that a lot of the bloggers now started about 3 years ago. I wonder why so many people decided to blog at that time?
I love your story, Jenni! I got into book blogging as a means of something to do after retirement. And I’m loving it.
Thanks, Wendy! 😀 I think it’s awesome that you’re doing something you enjoy with retirement. It sounds like the perfect way to live life. 😀
I’m not a book blogger although I do review my BC books on my sidebar. I started blogging in 2004 (I think?) as a way to let off steam and chronicle my life and times. I enjoy reading and writing as well as the interaction among other bloggers.
Blogging’s definitely very cathartic. I’m glad you found something that’s so helpful for you. 😀 The interaction with other bloggers is my favorite part when I’m actively blogging. Right now, it’s a little more difficult as I’m just trying to keep my blog afloat while I figure out my health crap.
I started blogging after seeing most book bloggers and booktubers review and talking about the same books. Now it not like that anymore.
Recently my blog has evolve to reflect more of my interests that I don’t consider myself a book blogger anymore.
I think it’s awesome that your blog has evolved with you. I still mostly blog about books, but I do love blogging about other interests as well. 😀
That is great that you made friends in real life from blogging. I started blogging years ago but now have a different blog. my current book blog. Have a great weekend!
Thanks! I’m really lucky to have such an awesome bookish community. 😀 I had another blog blog as well about 10 years ago. It was a health blog about my weight loss journey. I bagged it, though, when my mental health started to decline. I’m glad you’re still blogging, even if it’s a different one. 😀
While stationed overseas, me and another bored military housewife who also followed a ton of book bloggers on Facebook decided “Hey, we could do that.” Sadly, she’s not still with us. Have a great weekend.
I’m glad you found something to help you pass the time and do something you love. 😀 It’s too bad that the other wife isn’t around anymore.
You answered last year’s book blogger question. I have almost made the same mistake a few times since all of the questions from 2022 are still listed. I like this question, though, so I’m glad you answered it. That’s great you have met fellow bloggers in person. I also started an “everything” blog in 2012, but I only shared it with some close friends. Last year, I decided I wanted to branch out and connect with other bloggers. Mine is not just focused on books, though. It’s a “cozy” theme, which includes cozy mysteries in books and movies, other cozy books and movies that are not mysteries, and my cats, which themselves are cozy mysteries. Lol. I also post cozy-ish puzzles on Saturdays. Mine was inspired by my best friend who passed away in 2010. The whole explanation of my current blog is under “Why cozies” on the right sidebar of my blog if you want to read it. 🙂
OH…. That’s why I had issues. LOL. I like the meme, but I think the setup’s a little confusing. I wish the setup was more like Jana’s TTT topics page. Oh well.
I’m glad you decided to branch out and connect with other bloggers. 😀 I don’t think blogs need to be just book blogs. I know mostly book bloggers are the ones who participate in these memes, but I like reading bloggers’ more personal posts and learning about their other interests. 😀
Ah i love seeing these pictures. The Natasha days were great. It was sad when she decided to stop being a part of it all! I love seeing Catie in these pictures too! I was trying to remember when I first met her, and I bet it was this party too! That was a good one!
It brings back such awesome memories, doesn’t it? I also love seeing Catie in the pictures. I wish I was in contact with her more than I am. I’ve known her since my Twilight days when I was an active member on the Twilight Lexicon. I think, however, I didn’t meet her IRL until around the time you and I met … maybe, lol. 😀
I started blogging because I had to take a class in the summer for advanced training credit, and I chose to learn about new technologies to use in the classroom. I never thought I’d continue writing on my blog for fifteen years!
That’s cool that you used it for advanced training credit. I’m glad you continued to blog after your class was over. 😀
Such a lovely story, I’m so glad to hear you got to meet a few bloggers and made some great friendships that also got you blogging. I hope I’ll someday be able to meet some fellow book bloggers too.
Thanks, Lindsey! 😀 I hope you can meet some bloggers in person someday too.
Utah is quite the hub for readers and authors. Too bad the blogger side has fallen off some.
I didn’t start out as a book blogger either. I only read about 12 books a year and that’s because I MADE myself lol
Karen @For What It’s Worth
Agreed. Although, I like the blogger community more now because everyone’s more friendly and less competitive. While I made some awesome friends back then, like you, it was way more cutthroat and less reciprocal if you know what I mean. 😀