This Friday’s Question:
A Book Blogger is Born: What made you decide to start your very own book blog?
Well, that’s a pretty simple story, actually. I’ve always been a reader.
I was raised by a single mother, so when she was unavailable because of work or errands or chores, I would bury myself in a book (or video game). I became so accustomed to reading while eating my breakfast, that I cannot eat alone and not read. Did that make sense? Throughout high school and my early 20s, I slacked on reading for pleasure due to the demands of high school and college, as well as my recreational activities, of which we will not speak of. See. I can be mysterious!
My great friend, Brooke from Brooke Reviews, is actually completely at fault for this book blogging business. She became very involved in reviewing in 2008 and her passion grew until her blog was born. Sadly, Brooke has entered into her first year of teaching, so she no longer has time for blogging. Wait. That isn’t a sad ending! She’s a teacher, and teaching reading, which is her passion! She teaches middle school and has a YA library in her classroom of which the entire school is envious. She’s a BAMF, pretty much.
Anywho, one day in 2008, Brooke asked if I had heard about an amazing Urban Fantasy author named Kim Harrison. I had not, so she lent me Dead Witch Walking, and I was in love! Then she told me about a book called Twilight that she pretty much knew I would love, and I did. It’s safe to say that those two series got me back into reading. A lot.
I had a personal blog at the time, and I noticed how much I was posting bookish shit in it. Most of my real life friends did not care about reading, and it was also a blog about my social work education and stuff, so again, not a good mix. So in June 2010, Smash Attack Reads was born…
and holy shit, look how far I’ve come! And yet so very far to go.
I hope most of you are posting your personal stories today. I’d love to read them!
© 2012 – 2013, Smash Attack Reads. All rights reserved.
| Leave a Reply | |
|
|
|
This is a great question and it was great to read your reasons for starting a blog. I don’t have a blog, but I wanted to say this: As far as reading goes, I used to read about 2-3 books a year (shame on me!) and they were usually mystery suspense (James Patterson, John Sanford, etc, which I still do read occasionally). I had never read paranormal books before. Then my friend told me I had to read Twilight and from then on, I haven’t stopped reading. I now read at least 2 books a week. Unfortunately it took me until my 30′s to get really into reading (now an addict!), but better late than never, right?!
On a side note: I’m also a fan of the Hollows series 
Also wanted to say that I really like your blog and I hope you keep it going for years to come!
Thank you so much Amber! I’m glad books led us to each other and all the other book lovers we are in contact with.
P.S. YAY HOLLOWS FAN! Why aren’t there more of us? I don’t get this…
I loved reading your story
I wish I started out as a reader, but unfortunately I did not find books until I was an adult. It’s never too late though, right?? Also your friend sounds pretty amazing — I’m studying to be a middle school reading teacher RIGHT NOW & I can not wait to have my very own classroom library!!!
Books are in your life now, so that’s all that matters.
You should really get in contact with Brooke. She is finishing her first year teaching middle school reading. Let me know if you want her contact info.
What an interesting background to the blog. I’m loving reading everyone’s answers. And who knows, your friend my do some guest reviews for you (if she hasn’t already), and you’ll be the one to get her back into blogging
She wrote one guest post a while back, and helped me with another. I like your idea though. I should pester her more often!
I swear Twilight is such a gateway book! After getting back into reading, I realize that it wasn’t quite as amazing as I thought it was while reading it. There are so many other awesome books that blow it out of the water for me. That being said, I will always be grateful and look back at it fondly for getting me to read again.
You and me, chic. We are way too much alike.
I completely agree. It’s laughable now, but I will never deny be a serious Twilight fan at one point. There is much better books to be read, however, as we’ve all discovered!
Love it! I’m so glad you started blogging! =)
I think it’s great that your friend got you into blogging!!! I’m at almost 3 years with my blog now, and feel like I’ve come a long way.
I’m so glad I found you (through the amazing Jess, of course). I love your ability to talk depth with an amazing fun lightness–your Smash Speak. Thank the BAMF Brooke for bringing you over to the Dark Side.
What a fun question!
I didn’t get into reading until I was in high school but once I started I just slowly grew out to mostly reading YA and Adult Romance books. Eventually I got on Barnes and Noble’s chat site and was chatting with several people on there and I noticed one of them ran a book blog so I decided to look around the book blogging world. At first I didn’t want to start my own blog. Between taking up to 21 credits at college and working up to 40 hours per week I didn’t think I had time. Well turns out my stubborn self wouldn’t listen and in August 2010 Pages of Forbidden Love was born. I was slow to start but I got into it around early 2011.
Thanks for sharing your story.
And I’m so glad you started blogging! I really enjoyed reading your background story. Thanks for sharing.
I am too, Pam! ♥
I love how people just kinda ‘evolve’ into book blogging as a natural progression of sharing their love of books – particularly those of us who don’t have book lovers in our ‘real lives’!
Before I started I would NEVER have read a YA book – I thought they were all full of giggly girls and insta-love and now about 40% of my reading is YA! And vampires and I are slowly building a relationship, although I’m still paranoid they’re all gonna burst out the glitter on me one day
OMG, that is exactly like me! Okay, not so much but the Kim Harrison, Twilight, friends that don’t read… exactly the same!!! How cool to share your story!!! I’m sorry I missed that “event”!!
Wicked cool.
[...] ~ Smash had a great post up about how she got into blogging for TGIF! [...]
Thanks for sharing your story! It’s always great to know a little bit more about the people we interact with so much.
Totally agreed.