The big book event every year is Book Expo America (BEA). Publishers, bookstore owners, writers, and now, bloggers gather together in New York to find out about upcoming books, industry trends, and most of all, meet each other.
I was able to go 2 years ago, but regular trips to New York are not part of my lifestyle. Other people in the same boat organized Armchair BEA to allow those of us at home to experience some of the fun of BEA.
Today, all participants are encouraged to introduce themselves, so we can all meet one another, and maybe my regular readers will learn more about me as well. The format was a list of suggested questions, and a suggestion of answering 5 of them.
Introducing Laura
Please tell us a little bit about yourself: Who are you? How long have you been blogging? Why did you get into blogging?
My name is Laura, and I’m currently a Mom at Home. I have been for 14 years now. I used to be in the high tech world, but that has been left behind. About 5 years ago, I decided I should try to figure out what I want to do when I grow up. I still haven’t figured it out.
A little over 3 years ago, I set out with a friend to explore social media. We started up on Twitter and Facebook, and I decided to start a blog. All I had to do was figure out what I could talk about, and even pretend to myself that anyone might be interested in reading. It didn’t take long, given that I ran two book clubs, read more than anyone I knew, and had started successfully tracking my reading on Goodreads. I tried out Blogger and WordPress.com, picked WordPress, and off I went.
What are you currently reading, or what is your favorite book you have read so far in 2012?
I currently am reading Spy Mom by Beth McMullen, the followup to my favorite read of last year, Original Sin. I’m listening to Very Valentine by Adriana Trigiani. I’m taking a short break from Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson, which I’m reading for book club, but our meeting was postponed. My favorite book so far this year is probably The Rook by Daniel O’Malley, but it has competition for that spot.
Tell us one non-book-related thing that everyone reading your blog may not know about you.
Well, I was born in Phoenix, Arizona. My family moved around a lot when I was small, and I lived by the Grand Canyon, in small town Northern Californa, in Texas, and in Germany before we settled in Las Cruces, New Mexico for most of my elementary school years, and then back to Phoenix for my middle school/high school years. I headed to Southern California to attend Harvey Mudd College, where I majored in Mathematics. I’ve been in Silicon Valley ever since graduation.
Have your reading tastes changed since you started blogging? How?
My tastes haven’t really changed, but my selection of books has. Some of it is simply a much greater exposure to more titles. Also, oddly enough, I’m much more selective about books for review than I am books from the library, or impulse buys, so I’m reading a more carefully considered collection, overall.
Where do you see your blog in five years?
I have no idea. I hope I’ll still be enjoying blogging. I hope I’ll have figured out what I want to do when I grow up, and that I will continue to have the time/energy for blogging. I’m sure I’ll still be reading, and I’ll always want to talk about books.
To meet other bloggers participating in Armchair BEA, visit the Linky.
