THIS LAST WEEK
The Reading Slump
WEDNESDAY:
Why I Unfollow Blogs
THURSDAY: THE WONDERLAND TAG
Book Nerd Characters
IN MY THOUGHTS
Last week when I posted about going over 30,000 views, meeting my two year blogversary goal early, I got the feeling that some people thought I was bragging. Stats would mean nothing to me either, except my mission with this blog is to get the word out about the lesser known books, the books that don't get hyped. The great books that need to be noticed. That is why I only review books I have rated four and five stars on the blog, and as you will notice I don't review any uber-high profile books (unless they happen to be my Book of the Year). I don't waste time and energy on books and authors who don't need my, well... time and energy. If I don't have good blog view numbers, and readers seeing and hearing about these books, I am failing these dedicated authors, authors who care about telling a story and not how much money it makes. I once asked another blogger why she did so many blasts and blitzes for books, and/or authors she had never read; she told me because it was all about the followers, and getting the "good ARCS" that everyone wants. She said that my blog was never going to go anywhere if I kept blogging about, '... books no one wants to know about." So maybe I am a little proud of getting over 30 thousand views in less than two years (which to many other bloggers is a trivial number), blogging about "books no one wants to know about", but please know I am not feeling boastful. If it makes people feel better my followers stats for this blog are dreadful. My combined followers by email, Bloglovin, and GFC number only 145 after two years. Thank goodness I have my Facebook and Twitter followers who visit this humble blog.
RANDOMNESS
Friday was Harry Potter and JKR"s birthday. I co-admin a Facebook Harry Potter fandom page, and of all the posts I searched for the page, this was my favorite.
Found at GEEK AND SUNDRY
If you would like to checkout my HARRY POTTER PAGE on Facebook, you can do that, HERE.
My son and I participated in a card game Kickstarter and our Game of Kittens, with special expansion pack, arrived Saturday. I will get pictures of the stellar interior boxes, and some of the hilarious cards for next week. In the meantime here is the original Kickstarter VIDEO.
This is picture of where I live.
BINGHAMTON
The white line along the riverbank is a walking/jogging trail known as The Riverwalk.
This is our local indie bookstore.
We are also sometimes known as the...
Because it was the home town of Rod Serling.
Our official title is THE CAROUSEL CITY because the Greater Binghamton area has six full size antique merry-go-rounds. They are all free to ride with the donation of one piece of litter.
You can see the one that inspired Rod Serling's Twilight Zone episode, Walking Distance, HERE.
And no, I don't know who the family is, but the little boy is awfully cute.
NEXT WEEK
MONDAY REVIEW
I may, or may not, put up the review of The Infinite because it still needs finishing touches and after publishing five posts last week, frankly, I am burned out. Ha!
TELL ME TUESDAY
It's Wednesday...
WHATCHA THINKIN' BOUT
Is 18+ YA really YA?
IN THE WORKS
A WIZARD OF OZ COLLECTION spotlight and review. I am almost finished listening to all the audiobooks.
My TWO YEAR BLOGVERSARY post and giveaway.
Finishing up editing the first three chapters of the Middle Grade I am going to serialize on WATTPAD.
My HARRY POTTER MEMORIES post. hopefully to be posted on the first day back to Hogwarts.
Have a stupendous week!
I don't think sharing stats is bragging!! IT IS OUR RIGHT TO BE PROUD OF WHAT WE'VE ACHIEVED. *nods* Well, so I think. hehe. And I do think it's awesome that you spotlight so many under appraciated books, although I get why a lot of people would rather talk about books everyone has read. I'm kind of middle ground?? I want to read ALL THE BOOKS. hehe. But I blog mostly just ARCs and such, so my posts are basically just about what I get given. Omg, RANDOM. WHAT EVEN AM I TALKING ABOUT. *ahem*
ReplyDeleteOhh, and just so you know, my blog had like 100 followers for 3 years. XD So you're doing awesome.
Thanks, Cait! You always give good pep talks. You don't blitz and blast books, so that is a different story! I just don't like the blogs who hawk books like "seen on tv". Lol.
DeleteI read whatever I want too. I din't care about getting arcs. In fact I don't read a lot of blogs that focus on that kind of thing. I like learning about the more obscure books.
ReplyDeleteYes! There are already a lot of blogs who focus mainly on the "bestseller" types of books exclusively, and the lesser known books need their stage too. :)
DeleteNice to see your part of the world.
ReplyDeleteDon't worry about anything thinking you're bragging - everyone has the right to be excited. I sometimes get too caught up in my stats (comparing them to others who have gazillions of daily hits etc) but it's hard to find other ways to measure how you're doing in the blogging world.
I love when bloggers post things about where they live and special little quirky things and photos of their indie bookstores. one of the blogs i follow did a post about her local used book stores, and charity stores she shops for books. One of the charity bookstores (they donate all monies to literacy programs within the city) is housed in an old bank. One section of the store is in the antique vaukt. I will link the post here next week. And of course Greg's wonderful pics and videos inspired me the most.
DeleteI didn't feel like it was bragging at all, but things come across differently for different people and you are doing what you want, how you want, so good job lady!
ReplyDeleteI don't know why because I am supposed to know this things, but apparently Harry Potter and me were born on the same year and now I feel extra old or something! =/
Thanks, Pili. *squishy hugs* I love knowing that you are the same age as Harry! I won't have to calculate in my head anymore because I always forget from year to year.
DeleteGame of Kittens... love that.
ReplyDeleteI have a cousin who lives in Binghamton, she moved there years ago and likes it there. I want to go to that bookstore just by seeing the sign. :)
Looking forward to your Tuesday post! And love the coffee mug with the submarine... :)
Thanks, Greg. I enjoy your location pics and videos so much, i decided to add a couple of my own. I cannot wait to play the Kittens game because the cards are drop dead funny.
DeleteSuch a fun post! They always are. You live in a beautiful area. Thanks for sharing the pictures. I too started my blog to share books and authors, many of them being indie published. I used to worry about my stats but now I forget to check them. LOL Just love chatting about books and reading as many as I can.
ReplyDeleteI always enjoy your gifs and that coffee cup with a submarine is too cute.
Here's my Sunday Post - http://fuonlyknew.com/2015/08/02/whats-new-on-my-bookshelf-119-and-the-sunday-post/
Thanks for stopping by so faithfully! As I said above I love seeing other blogger's environments. Maybe I should do a tag for people. I also forgot to mention that some of the small indie publishing house seem to have almost as strict ARC approval requisites as the bigger houses. I have been denied many an under the radar ARC because of my low followers stats. thank goodness some publishers prefer blog views and twitter followers over blog followers. It is a good thing many of the ARCs I request are usually pretty cheap as ebooks when they come out.
DeleteSadly I missed your stats update, but never think that is bragging...you should be proud and I love your vision for your blog. I read a bit of everything and love discovering gems so keep it up. Hope your week is lovely!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I love finding hidden gems in the Netgalley and Edelweiss "read nows"! Frankly I don't go to blogs who feature only high profile books because I already know about them. :)
DeleteCongrats on your stats. I have done 2 book blasts and felt like I was whoring myself out. They got very few hits also, not even from the author or tour organizer. I'm about sharing books I enjoy and talking to people who love reading, since I have no one like that IRL except my local librarians. Not even a bad indie bookstore around here. Keep your own goals in mind, you're doing great.
ReplyDeleteI guess it is the Romance book blitzes that have giveaways with them that haul in the oage hits and Rafflecopter follow entries. If a blogger reads those books, fine, but if not, I don't think it is right to feature them on their blog.
DeleteAs someone who does post an occasional blitz, I only post what I want and what I would want to read. Like you I want people to come to me because they like what I type not what someone else tells me.
ReplyDeleteI think I was guilty in the early days before I got my blogging feet of posting more promo stuff but now I have found me feet I can't shut up and my promo work is getting less - you do what you want not what someone else says!
Have a fantastic week and congrats on 2 years!!
Heather | Random Redheaded Ramblings
I know they can be tempting to new bloggers and if they were books she wanted to read herself, it would have been a different story. I don't want to read faked reviews or feedback.
DeletePersonally, I read a lot of popular books and tend to focus a lot on certain authors. However, I'm always trying to branch out. I use ARCs to do that, or else I'd never read anything but for books by a handful of authors. Despite all the YA I blog about, I also love historical fiction & classics and notice my numbers take a hit when I blog about those books. *shrugs* I like what I like, and so do you. You're unique, and that's why people love to read your blog. Don't let stats make you feel like you're not successful. It's your blog, and as long as you're writing about your passion that's all that matters.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on reaching your goal!
I fully support anything anyone wants to do on their blog, but in the case of that blogger, she wasn't reading the books she was blitzing and spotlighting, and my personal feeling is that isn't right. The only thing numbers mean to me is people seeing the books.
DeleteI definitely didn't think you were bragging and you should be proud! This stuff is hard work most of the time. But numbers hurt my head so I avoid looking at stats, lol. You live in a beautiful area! So jealous!
ReplyDeleteWe got our Exploding Kittens set in this weekend too and played a few rounds, it's a lot of fun. I think it'll be even better once we get a few more people involved. Did you get the NSFW deck too?
Yes, ha ha, we got the NSFW deck! I was trying to lasso my son into a game yesterday, but I have a feeling it will get broken in at game night over at his buddies house this week. The surprise was super cute.. :)
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