Tuesday, September 16, 2008

In Honor of Book Blogger Appreciation Week: A Most Awesome Contest

The Blogging world is a buzz over the Book Blogger Appreciation Week that My Friend Amy has so graciously came up with and decided to hold at her blog. Along with the 200 other blogs that participated, Kristie and I did also, and were even nominated for Most Chatty Blog. *we lost*
There are some wonderful daily contests this week over at My Friend Amy and some other blogs, that you should definitely check out.
Amy asked for me to post why I love romance and why I blog about it. She posted my thoughts today, if you would like to go see what I said. :D
Speaking of contests, Kristie and I decided to take part in some giveaways also. As you all know, Kristie has been throwing her weekly Guess That Clue, Win a Book contest! And since I have such great love for blogs in general, I decided to throw an extra special contest here.
I am giving away 6 books, 4 that have not been published yet and won't be out till October. The 6 books are:


September books:
Killer Charms- Marianne Stillings
Heart Fate- Robin D. Owens


October books:
Red Fire- Deirdre Knight
Night Falls Darkly- Kim Lennox
Power Play- Deidre Martin
Where's There's Fire- Maureen McKade

Interested in winning this lovely haul of books? Comment here by Friday. Tell us why you love book blogs. What is it that makes you want to comment or spread the love? If you have a blog, and there is one thing you would love to post or do on it that you haven't what would it be?

Katiebabs (KB)

40 comments:

Carolyn Crane said...

I love book blogs because of all the great people I've met. When I got into book blogging, in my mind, it was just about the books. What an amazing surprise to make so many new friends.

Me said...

I love book blogs b/c of how much you can share on them. Every book blog is different, and the reviews reflect the different perspectives of the contributors. But, no matter how much you disagree personally with a review, by commenting on the reviews and creating a discussion about them, the authors who worked so hard see how passionate people are over the characters.

Unknown said...

I read your post on My Friend Amy's blog about why you blog and read romance.....honestly you took the words out of my mouth.

Like you, this romance community made up of authors,readers and bloggers are exceptional, warm and just plain wonderful people. Like you they have welcomed me with open arms and many now have become personal friends who in a heartbeat would be there for me.

You blog is great and I'm so glad that Amy has done this appreciation week and I feel like I'm making new friends as well.

AnimeJune said...

I love book blogs because of the reviews and news. And also there are tons of opportunities for discussion.

When a person reviews a book on their blog, people can come in a comment (and even - gasp! - disagree), and even have a dialogue with the blogger. You can't exactly do that with the reviewers in the New Yorker, for instance.

Nicola O. said...

I love book blogs for the connection. Reading is solitary, which is one of the things I love about it, but I also love talking... Voila, talking about books -- two great tastes that taste great together!

I also love the internet in general and how it brings people together. Although I've been blogging for less than a year, I've participated on various discussion forums for more than 10 years now and it's just so cool how much access you have to interesting people. Maybe they're famous, like a favorite author. Maybe they're shy-- someone who might not speak up in person. Maybe they're someone you wouldn't pay attention to F2F, through whatever pre-conceived notions you might have. On the net, if you can type, you can be heard.

I love that.

Majgie said...

I love book blogs because I find so many new authors and books. And let me throw in here that I love Google Reader. Every time someone updates their blog, it's right there on my homepage!

Hearing what other people think about the books and reading what the author has to say has made me go buy books I would have easily passed over in a store. The only problem with this is my Wish list is much much bigger than my paycheck and the library near me is about the size of a highschool classroom. :sigh:

rhapsodyinbooks said...

I love book blogs because of the amazing array of interests you get to share, that you might never have discovered on your own. Book reviews on blogs give me whole new perspectives that never occurred to me.

meljean brook said...

I heart book blogs and bloggers, and one reason is staring at me in the face:

I had no idea Maureen McKade was coming out with a contemporary novel! Has she given up on Westerns? OMG!

Love that cover.

But, back on topic: back in the day, it used to be just AAR, TRR, and Mrs. Giggles. Which were all fantastic -- but the community has grown up so fast and so large around them, and it's amazing to see that we aren't so niche that we can be contained or serviced, for lack of better words, by three sites. Romance readers come in huge numbers and many different voices -- and it's just wonderful to see all of them expressed.

Anonymous said...

I love book blogs and I love blogging about books myself! I feel like it has opened up a world of readers to me that I didn't know existed; none of my real life friends read as voraciously as I do and it's wonderful to meet people who share and even exceed my enthusiasm for the written word.

I think I'd like to post on just why I love to read; your guest post on My Friend Amy's blog was really inspiring. Props to you guys for reading and blogging about romance, which is unnecessarily downgraded elsewhere, and thanks for summing up the reasons that it's a great genre! I've now added you to my google reader and I'm looking forward to reading your blog further. =)

And please, enter me in your contest!

April said...

I would love to be entered in this great contest! Thank you! I have met so many great people through book blogs. It is so wonderful to meet others that have a passion for books as much as I do. Plus what a great way to find new authors and books to add to my ever increasing TBR mountain! lol!!
I do have a book blog that is just the greatest way for me to relax, have fun and gives me a bit of a creative outlet!

Cathy said...

I have discovered so many great books and new authors from reading book blogs. Really enjoy author interviews and excerpts that make me curious enough to check out their websites. Like blogs that give me book reviews too, though the best don't give too many spoilers.

Jennifer Y. said...

I love book blogs because I can learn about new-to-me books or find out more about books that I am already familiar with. I also love interacting with my fellow readers. There aren't many readers around me in real life so it is nice to be able to chat with some online through blogs.

I started my own blog to give thanks to authors and to meet more of my fellow readers. I love books so it is great to be able to talk with people about them.

There isn't much that I haven't done or had on my blog, but I guess if I could pick one thing it would be to have an editor as a guest. That's one person in the writing industry that I haven't had and I think it could be interesting.

Rebekah said...

I love visiting book blogs on a daily basis because first and foremost they are about books. I LOVE books. LOL So, there's that, and then there's the more specific reasons. I love to be able to see what other people out there, with the same reading tastes as myself, are reading, and what they think of the books. It's a great way to get suggestions on future reads, it's a great way to discuss books I've already read, and it's a wonderful way to make friends. And, let's be honest, the giveaways you can occassionally stumble upon aren't too bad either. ;)

Thanks!
RebekahC
littleminx at cox dot net

P.S. I forgot to say why I comment on the blogs. Sometimes I comment because it gains me an entry in a contest. However, 9 times out of 10, the reason I comment is because I want the blogger to feel recognized, thank him/her for sharing her thoughts and recommendations, and to again make friends. =)

Anonymous said...

i totally love book blogs because it gives me a chance to meet so many people with the same passion as me - reading! i love discussing books and this is a perfect way to discuss about books that others have read as well.. the best part about it is ofcourse the fact that i get to know about so many awesome books so i will never be without a book i want to read list!

the one thing that i would like to do with my book blog is interview authors. it would be really great to talk to them!!

raych said...

I love book blogs because when people irl ask me what books I've read lately, they're just being polite. When book bloggers ask, I feel free to be all, This book and this book and this book, but don't read that one because it sucked, but DO read this one and this one!

Maryannwrites said...

Like everyone else, I enjoy book blogs because I love books. Since I have started visiting more blogs in the past few months, I have found lots of new authors and new books to read. It is also a good way for me to be social and get into interesting discussions with people about aspects of writing and story.

Anonymous said...

What a great collection of books! I'd love to get one!

I love book blogs b/c they provide interviews with authors, book reviews, genre reviews, and are basically an online book club for me.

As for my own book blog ReviewRomanceNovel.com I'm not sure about what I'll be doing that I haven't done. When the idea comes for something I usually pounce on it straight away. :)

photoquest said...

I love book blogs because we share the same interest, the love of books. It's where i go to hear about the newest books and authors. I love hearing different peoples views on books and can pick my books better for myself by listening to what others say. You feel like you're apart of a community that all has something they can share and i love leaving comments it makes me feel apart of something. I would love to be entered in your contest.
photoquest(at)bellsouth(dot)net

Anonymous said...

I love book blogs for their honest, down-to-earth reviews and the heads up they often give about upcoming titles. I have discovered so many great books through book blogs that I likely wouldn't have heard of otherwise. I have also met some pretty terrific bloggers that way.
doot65{at}comcast[dot]net
Elizabeth

cheryl c said...

I visit several book blogs every day. It is part of my daily routine now that I am retired. I read the blogs to learn about new books and authors. I have become quite an avid reader. I also enjoy the interaction with other readers who have become online friends. This is my first time to visit here!

Cheryl said...

I love book blogs because I always find a new book or author I want to read.

I found you and your blog is new to me.
I also have my own blog and something I would like to do is hold my own book challenge. I have joined many others but not hosted one yet myself

Nicole said...

I love book blogs because they allow me to find new authors and other people who like the same books that I do. And I don't know anyone local who reads what I do, so it's nice to see that I'm not alone.

I'm kinda a off-and-on blogger, but I do enjoy writing about some of the books that I read.

Anonymous said...

Why comment on book blogs?
It's saying 'hello' across the (virtual) miles. It is acknowledging the work and thoughts that a book blogger took the time share.
What do I love about book bloggers? They keep opening doors, sometimes kicking them down and pointing us in the direction of something we might not of noticed. On the other side of the coin (and as a writer), they do the real work of spreading the "ya gotta read this!" word. Unbelievable. Far better than a review in a magazine with all its perfection and distilled emotion.
Book bloggers got it going on; they're honest and unafraid. And they assure us that there is no lack of books, that books (novels and etceteras) are alive and well!
What would I put on my blog (http://westcobich.wordpress.com) if I dared, or if I could express it? A piece of prose that made people return to my blog over and over to see what was next.

Anonymous said...

I love book blogs b/c of all the great people you meet. Authors and readers. I always have a blast. Wether it be a contest or a author interview or just chatting. I always have a great time. I also like the feeling that you have so much in common with other readers that you feel comfortable saying whatever comes to mind. I love reading about books firsthand. The book blogs really get them out there for us readers to find out about.

Dina said...

I also lobe book blogs. I've learned about so many new authors, so exciting.

That Power Play books is perfect for me, I LOVE hockey. :)

Dina

dlsmilad(at)yahoo(dot)com

Bridget Locke said...

I love book blogs for multiple reasons, but the biggies are because I'm able to find great book recommendations & because these people love to read just like I do. :)

There's nothing better than finding like-minded people out there. Makes me feel all special & stuff. :)

Heather said...

I love book blogs because I am always able to find an new book and/or a new author.

It is better than going to the bookstore and asking if anyone reads your genre and not having one person read them so you have no clue who to try next and who to stay away from.

The best thing I ever did when it came to my reading was start blogging and reading of others blogs.

Thanks to Amy i now have two lists of blogs that I read. It will probably grow as this week goes on also.

Katie - I commented on your blog at My Friend Amy about why you read romance books, it is almost the same for me.

Anonymous said...

i like author guest and the blogers say. giveaways are nice also

kh

Anonymous said...

I love book blogs because the reviews and opinions give me a great base for deciding which books I want to buy and read :) *Thanks* for the giveaway!

ols[dot]moonmaiden[at]gmail[dot]com

Mandy said...

I love to read book blogs because they give me ideas of books to read. I love reading the reviews. I don't want to get a book that gets a negative review. I like to comment because I can share my opinions and hear other opinions. I do have a blog but it's very outdated.

Anonymous said...

Book blogs give honest book reviews, (a relief after the distasteful amazon review scam) and it's where I find great new authors that I normally would never read.

Keep up the good work!!

Anonymous said...

I love book blogs foremost because I love books! But I am also a librarian and book blogs are a great way to keep on top of what's hot, interesting, and overall, just keeps me informed.

Anonymous said...

I love book blogs because I get (honest) reviews of books not solicited and paid for by publishers or other parties! This helps me to discover wonderful gems that I would have otherwise not gotten to read, and then I get the pleasure of passing them on to my friends and family! Commenting helps to start a 'conversation' about the different books, and elicits even more opinions as well as sharing your own to help others choose a read. Thank you for this giveaway!
natasha_sacopaso[at]hotmail[dot]com

darbyscloset said...

I love book blogs becaus I get to read reviews about books that are "coming" out soon and not already on the shelves. I feel like I'm receiving "secret insider scoop"! So I can ask the library to order them and then I can read them as soon as they are released (or buy them of course!).
Thank you for this contest!!
Darby
darbyscloset (at) yahoo (dot) com

Kristie (J) said...

OK - I'm not entering the contest - even though Kate's running it, but can I just say how delighted I am too see all of you who have come and visit? Sure - free books are always great *g* but I'm just giddy at discovering so many new blogs!!

A big hearty Hey! Welcome!

mommyjen99 said...

I love book blogs as you can get other peoples thoughts on the books that you love or are dying to read.
Plus it's just plain fun and addicting to check out all the different blogs.
thanks
jen
jen62728@aol.com

Tarasview said...

I love book blogs because I am constantly on the look out for my next good read! I love to read the reviews- I have a whole notebook full of books I want to read because of someone else's recommendation! I am a total book-a-holic.

Anonymous said...

I love book blogs because I can learn about new books. I like to read reviews on books I have already read. That way, when I find a reviewer who agrees with my take on several book, I will look to him/her for othr books I will like!
digicat @ sbcglobal.net

Christine said...

I LURVE book blogs! If reading is your passion.... when not reading, of course you want to talk about reading! Book blogs help me find others who have similar genre preferences, which provides me with more outlets for discussing books!

Great contest!!!

Laura K said...

I love book blogs because they often open up new worlds to me. Sometimes I use them as a clearing house to decide what to read next.