Busting the Newbie Blues Event for New Book Bloggers

Small Review is hosting an event specially designed for newer YA book bloggers from December 3 through December 31.  My blog is a combination of YA and children's books but I am happy to participate and get to know other new bloggers!  From Small Review, here's the nuts and bolts of what this event is about:

"This event is designed to:

•  Put new YA book bloggers on the map
• Increase blogger interaction
• Start a discussion by sharing our experiences as a new bloggers
• Learn about what it was like for all those impressive established bloggers when they were newbies"

Small Review has asked all new bloggers to fill out a questionnaire and post it on our blog.  

1.  When did you start your blog?  May 17, 2010 (about 7 months ago)


2.  Why did you start your blog?  I decided to start a blog after taking a library school YA class where we were asked to recommend five YA blogs to follow for professional librarians.  I had never really been a regular blog reader, but when I started to look at them, I said to myself, that's something I could do!  I had been reviewing books for several years for Amazon Vine and also for an on-line toy journal, as well as for library school classes, so I was already in the habit of writing reviews of books I read.  I decided to specialize in historical fiction for young people but after a while added in non-fiction books for young people that have to do with history as well.  I did this to make my blog a bit different from everything else out there.  


3.  What has been the biggest challenge you've faced so far?  For me the greatest challenge is definitely trying to get noticed in a very crowded blogosphere with lots of great bloggers already publishing regularly.  Oh, and trying to come up with a good name for my blog!


4.  What do you dislike about blogs you've read?  Do you try to avoid this?  One thing I don't really like is when bloggers don't provide much "value added", i.e. they put the synopsis of the book provided by Goodreads or the publisher's copy and just add a sentence or two about whether they like the book.  I try to also add additional information about the author, other similar books, videos, or ways in which the book could be used in class or for home schooling.


5.  Any advice for other new bloggers?  Make it easy to sign up to follow your blog!  Sometimes I can't figure out where to sign up.  Also, make it easy to read--personally I don't like dark backgrounds, they are hard for my older eyes to read text on.  Participating in blogging events is a fun way to pick up new readers and also learn about new blogs yourself.


6.  Anything else you'd like to share about your experience?  Blogger groups like Kidlitosphere and Book Blogs  can be really helpful for getting advice on various blogging topics.