Arm Chair BEA Introductions

I a have bitter sweet feelings right now. This comes every year. I am happy for the one's that are able to go to BEA each year.
I was so hoping to go to NYC's BEA this year.  But a chronic illness that was diagnosed for my son about a months ago prevents me from going this year.  I was so excited.  But, I guess it was not meant to be. Hopefully some day I hope to join all the other book bloggers that are attending.

The reason I would some day like to go to BEA is the connection of other book lovers, book bloggers, bibliophiles, publicists, and authors. .   It would be so wonderful to finally meet some of the publicists that I have connected with by email over the years. The hot buzz books this year, and meet the authors. The other to connect book blogs with the many faces of book bloggers. I am a shy person, so I don't usually reach out to other book bloggers. But, going to BEA I think would change that.

The only thing I have not been able to talk to the book bloggers that are mainly in my genre, which is historical fiction, and literary. What I see mainly are book bloggers in the YA, and dystopian genre.

I love BEA even when it is from cyberspace. The only thing I wish I knew how to do is twitter. Then I think it would make the experience even better from my chair.  I do have a smart phone, I have tried everything from youtube to help on twitter but it does not explain things to me.

Each year while BEA is going on from afar I find out what books are hot at BEA from the other book bloggers.  Then I do some research about the book.  If it sounds interested then I contact the publicist while BEA is going on. In some ways this makes me feel connected.

Here are the  questions that are hosted by Armchair BEA:

I just have to pick 5, but I think I may have already answered the  questions from above.

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 Susan, I have been blogging since 6/2008. 

  I got into book blogging because of my book club. I wanted to announce what we were doing without constant emails.  But that did not happen like I thought.  My book club instead evolved into something else entirely.  Then I decided to maintain two book blogs. One that  has not changed is Jewish literary blog, called http://bagelsbooksandschmooze.blogspot.com.   The other one is http://susansliterarycafe.blogspot.com.  But, it is not called by the domain name. It is Seaside Book Blogger. Which 

On a side note, I have been wanting to re-design my book blog to my domain name. But, the person I was working with, who was a computer website designer moved away. So, I am stuck with this one.  If someone knows anyone that can help let me know. 

Now back to the question.  I started voicing my own opinions about books, and surfing other book blogs. Then I was in trouble. I got the itch, and became addicted to surfing, and connecting with other book blogs, and book bloggers.  I realized there were people that were interested in what I had to say, so I am still here. 

Where in the world are you blogging from? Tell a random fact or something special about your current location. Feel free to share pictures. 

I am currently living in Little River, SC. It is a 30 minutes away from Myrtle Beach.  It is like living in the country. I am not originally from the south. I am from New Jersey. It was  quite a adjustment, and still is. I miss the culture up north. But, I don't think I could ever go back.  But, there is the ocean in Cherry Grove, about 10 minutes from my house. Then of course, Myrtle Beach about a half hour drive. 

If you love the ocean, which I do, you would like it here. The only thing, life gets in the way most of the time. The beach is here. But, your life moves on. When you think about it, of course the summer. Then we   have the large amount of tourists that transcend on to us. Then our beaches are given to our tourist friends for the summer. Oh well, what are you going to do. We do have to make sacrifices. I still love it here.

Here are a few pix of the beautiful beaches here. If any book bloggers would like to come and connect with me. Give me a call sometime. 

Have you previously participated in Armchair BEA? What brought you back for another year? If you have not previously participated, what drew you to the event? 

I have participated I believe for three years. It is almost as good as being there. Especially it gives a birds eye view with other bloggers that are actually there.  I participate each year because I love hearing what is going on in the publishing world, and books and connecting with the other book bloggers. It is almost as good as being there and not having to leave home. 

What are you currently reading, or what is your favorite book you have read so far in 2013? 

Unfortunately, I have not found my favorite book yet for this year. I am still waiting for the best read. But, I have to say Unbroken which is non-fiction was so uplifting. That has to be my favorite so far. 

I just finished reading, Reliable Wife with our book club.  A great read by the way. But, there has been many mixed reviews.  I am now reading, a beach read, sent to me to review by John of St. Martin, Don't Go. It is a great easy read. What I needed after reading Reliable Wife. 

Tell us one non-book-related thing that everyone reading your blog may not know about you. 

I was a registered nurse about thirty years ago. I let m license lapse after my son was born. I now am going back to school and hopefully finishing medical coding. 

Name your favorite blog(s) and explain why they are your favorite(s). 

My favorite book blog is Boston Bibliophile. Because she reads the most interesting posts. Because also she is helpful. She is the first person I have reached out to when I started book blogging. Bermuda Onion is another one because she lives in SC. Then Lorri from Jewilicious, because she rants about everything Jewish.

But unfortunately, I don't have the time to visit much any more. Or even diverse my book blog. This is making me think I need to do that.  But there is so much I could do, I think I get overwhelmed by it all.  

If you could eat dinner with any author or character, who would it be and why? 

There are two authors, Chris Bohjalian and Joshua Henkin. Both are dedicated book lovers, and book club promoters. Just the person I can see sitting down and talking my favorite subject.   I have been reading Chris's work even before Oprah.  I still remember reading before the internet took over our lives. How much he loved and promotes book clubs.  He even then realized how important book clubs were. 

But recently I would love to meet and have dinner with David R. Gilham too.  the author of City of Women. He has been such a personable person, and acessible to most people, thanks to FB. I would love to have dinner with him in Berlin, during WW2 of course, and some of the characters. His book came alive for me. 

What literary location would you most like to visit? Why? Paris, where Hemingway, and Fitzgerald and their literary circle would meet.  Shakespeare and Co. 

Looking forward to next week reading all the posts. I am sure it will be bigger and better than the previous year.  It is so great for us that can't be there to read the posts of the book bloggers that are actually there. 

What I found wonderful beside Armchair BEA, also the publicists, and authors  were posting during the event as well. Even the live streaming that was new made it wonderful. 

Thank you again Armchair BEA for another year!!!!