Arm Chair BEA: Blog Development

This post we are discussing blogging development.
I started book blogging about 5 years ago.  I moved from up north, specifically New Jersey, close to NYC.

New Jersey has a large area of colleges, and Universities that host cultural events of everything that you can imagine. Authors,  Margaret Atwood, from Sidney Sheldon, and James Patterson, and Mary Higgins Clark, which are broad list of genre.

I was very involved in different book clubs, and independent book stores, and learned what was hot and not.

When I moved here, specifically the South Carolina, I learned about what was important here.  Which in Myrtle Beach, there is not many culturally events. There is one local university that sometimes hosts occasionally cultural events.  In New Jersey, there was a vast supply of library books. You could always borrow any book from the library.  In South Carolina, there is limited funding of libraries, and culture.  It was eye opening to say the least. 

South Carolina is a poor state. When I was volunteering at my son's library I learned they were limited to funding of books. Some children did not have enough money for writting paper.  It is sad to learn what is important in the South, is different mind set of the north.

When I moved here I started surfing the web. I visited one specific book blog, Book Club Girl. Which I loved, and visited often. I then realized, hey!, I can do that too.  That is when I decided I wanted to develop my own book blog.

When I started I was of course a newbie. I was surfing all the time looking for ideas for my blog. I reached out to other book bloggers, and asked them questions.  I blog as a hobby, and tried doing other things with my book blog. But, it seems I don't have the time.  I was interacting with others.  But, the last couple years with school, and work I just don't have the time to pay attention to my book blog.  I don't surf visit other book blogs like I used to.  My book blog has become stale, and I think it lost its newness.  I hope to get it back on track soon. But, for now I am just happy posting my reviews, and interacting with the publicists and authors. 

Occasionally, I will visit other book blogs. If there is something posted and I can connect I will comment.  But, I don't go out of my way.  The only time I interact sorry to say, is Armchair BEA, which I look forward to every year. 

I have such a busy life, now that I just can't seem to find the time to develop my book blog better.  I do see other book bloggers schedule time for different events. I think that is awesome if you can fit it in your schedule. But, I don't have a set schedule to finish a book. My blog posts are scheduled when I finish a book. I don't schedule time restraints for books, and challenges. I don't have a calendar for specific memes or challenges.

My other dedication is my two book clubs that I organized. That is probably why I don't have the dedication to my book blog that I should. But, I am always looking for the next"Big Read", which gives me a natural high.  I am always reading and researching and learning about new books for my book club.   Then organizing new book events and ideas for my book clubs. These keep me quite busy.

I think I am going to re-connect with other book bloggers and try connecting with others again. I do miss a few memes I used to be involved with.There are a few  constants that have not changed, I  visit, Marie, at Boston Bibliophile, and Kathy at Bermuda Onion, and Lori at Jewilicious, and the Jewish Book Carnival.