WELCOME TO ARMCHAIR BEA!
For all of us bookish folk who could not make it to Book Expo America, the coordinators of Armchair BEA bring us the next best thing. I participated last year and thoroughly enjoyed myself. For the first day of the event, we’ve been asked to answer some interview questions, and in turn, visit participating blogger’s and comment on their unique and entertaining answers. 
So, first off…HI EVERYONE! I’m Smash of Smash Attack Reads! *waves*
- Who are you? How long have you been blogging? Why did you get into blogging? My name is Ash and I started book blogging in June 2010. I’ve been blogging for about 15 years on platforms like LiveJournal and Blogger, and love interacting with others via social media. When a friend of mine started book blogging, I started noticing that my personal blog was becoming overrun with bookish stuff. I made the plunge in the last year of my graduate career. I thought it was a crazy move, but in all reality, it helped get me through school. It continues to help me get through life. I’m a social worker, and reading and the blogging community are my SAVIORS in terms of stress and burnout. Amen to all of you!
- What is your favorite feature on your blog (i.e. author interviews, memes, something specific to your blog)? That would have to be WORLD-BUILDING WEDNESDAYS! I’m a sucker for fantastic world-building and I invite authors to discuss their strategies and tips. Unfortunately, it does not get a ton of love, but that’s ok. At least I’m promoting some incredible authors!
- If you could eat dinner with any author or character, who would it be and why? Hands down, Jenks the pixie from The Hollows series by Kim Harrison. I adore this pixie hard. core. He is hilarious, dependable and has a heart bigger than his body.
- What is your favorite part about the book blogging community? The camaraderie, the love, the generosity. I am amazed, over and over again at how incredibly talented and kind everyone is.
- Is there anything that you would like to see change in the coming years? When someone screws up, this community comes out with claws and pitchforks. Of course I feel that people need to deal with the consequences of their actions. What I wish would change, however, is the bullying and maliciousness. The only bullying I approve of is #BookBully-ing.
- Have your reading tastes changed since you started blogging? How? Holy shit, YES. So very much. I’ve come a long damn way since Twilight. I’ve been reading since childhood, but it was Twilight and The Hollows that catapulted me into more serious reading. Having been at this for two years now, I’ve come across so much greatness in terms of reading. My tastes have morphed and my standards have risen. I’m pretty easy to please, I think. If a book keeps me entertained or evokes emotion, it’s A-Ok in my book.
I look forward to meeting you all!
© 2012, Smash Attack Reads. All rights reserved.
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Loved your answers.
My tastes have changed so much from blogging that I can’t believe it.!
I love the growth we see in ourselves.
Wow…you have been blogging longer than anyone that I have come across yet! I am impressed, especially since you do not look old – you must have started pretty young!
World building IS cool! I just read one of the posts.
Very nice blog
I started blogging in my early 20s, but it was so different back then, to me. My book blog is more important than any of those other attempts.
I do need to read Kim Harrison (probably next year) but at least I tackled Patricia Briggs this year
I agree that the only good bullying is book bullying or Pink Frostz bullying from starbucks. I have become addicted to them
I really wish you would. It may not have enough romance for you though… :/ I still haven’t read all of Mercy! Geez..
Good Morning! Welcome to Armchair BEA. It is a pleasure to meet you! I love your owls! They are so cute! I love Jenks too! I am luck enough to live close to where Kim Harrison launches her tours so I have been tot he last few. She is so wonderful, and so is her husband Guy!
Lisa
I saw KH for the first time a few months ago! I was over the top happy she decided to visit Miami. I honestly thought I’d never get to her IRL. Guy is AWESOME.
Twilight really got me reading again too. Really can’t diss it when it got me this far!
)
Mickey @ imabookshark
Come visit my introduction? Thanks!
I don’t meant to diss it, but it really doesn’t hold a candle to 98% of the stuff I’ve read since!
Hey Smash! I can’t tell you how relieved I am to hear that blogging actually helped you through through Grad School! I start Grad School in a couple months (gulp) and I’ve been worried that I would end up neglecting my blog completely.
(I fixed your comment.)
GOOD LUCK with your graduate experience. Make the most of it. I think the blog will help but you can’t let it add to your stress. It needs to be where you turn to destress. It’s a fine line with our beloved hobby so be careful!
BAHAHAHA!!!! Omg!!! Right?!?! I think I’m going to make a decal, “I’ve come a long way since Twilight.”
Best. Thing. Ever!!!
I didn’t know you blogged for 15 years dude!!!!
Yep. I’ve been snarking up the internet for a long time. LOL!
Jenks is soo cool. Love that fairy! I really need to get back to reading The Hollows series, I never have time to read books for me, think I may change that for the rest of the summer!
My Intro
Don’t let your blog turn into a chore or an obligation!!
Jenks is waiting.
You are so right about the claws. Just “unfollow” & move on. I guarantee it’ll get noticed without the drama tornado.
15 years. WOW!!! Totally agree. I’ve come a long way since Twilight.
“Drama Tornado.” I like that. Beware of the Drama Tornado! It will suck you up and spit out your ruby red slippers!
I agree that we’re a little too fast to bring out the torches and pitchforks over drama. I try my level best to avoid it if I can. I’m a firm believer in “Why can’t we all just get along?” But of course, we can’t and that’s too bad. Still, if we get enough of us giving good examples, maybe someday, right?
I think all people have the right to their feelings, and wrong doers certainly need to own up to their actions. I just sometimes wish we could be less malicious about it all.
I only read the first book in The Hallows series and honestly, I hated it, but Jenks was pretty awesome. If HE had been the main character, I would’ve been all over it.
Anyways, Happy ABEA!
The first book in the series is not the best. I always urge people to give the 2nd book a shot and then make the decision. Enjoy!
Nice to meet you, Ash!
I agree. Book blogging and reading during school keep me sane, and I’m sure once I get my BA, I’ll still read to keep sane…and hopefully blog too.
I hadn’t heard of your World-Building Wednesday feature until now, but I’ll definitely have to check it out. It sounds really interesting.
Gotta love how blogging can change your reading habits. It definitely makes them pretty much explode. I don’t think I read or had even heard of like a tenth of the books that I have now that I blog. Kind of crazy when you think about it.
Thanks for sharing a bit about yourself with us, Ash!
It’s great to meet you!
Ambur
My BEA Introduction Post
As busy I was, I always made time for blogging during school. I HAD to keep up with it because it kept my mind off all the other crap. I was able to balance both things easily. I hope you continue to blog! WBW is a great feature and I wish it got more attention. It doesn’t matter though. The people that do come by have mentioned learning about new authors and books and that is what it’s all about.
Cyber-bullying is such an issue. I think that we all could remember our manners and Thumper’s advice.
“If you can’t say something nice, don’t say nothing at all”.
Sadly, we do not live in a Utopia…
Wow, LiveJournal. Now that brings back some memories. Social networking has come a long way…
And I think everyone should be a book bully. =)
The Flashlight Reader
Yes on both accounts.
**Hugs!** Girl, I adore your blog and I’m so glad to find out a little more about you!
Woot! *hugs you back*
Hi Ash, or Smash
Wow, 15 years blogging in total? That’s quite the achievement!! It was nice to “meet” you and I hope to see you around this week! Have a great day 
My introduction post
Thanks for stopping by. Enjoy the event!
Oh, LiveJournal. Talk about old blogging days!
Also, I agree about the bullying. Reeeaaally needs to stop. If only there were peace-making pitchforks to go around.
Right? I miss the LiveJournal days! My journal might still be there, in the archives somewhere… scary thought!
I think sometimes because book blogging is mainly made up of women, and women tend to be more dramatic regarding certain things, that it gets out of hand quickly.
I love your World Building Wednesdays too. They’ve introduced me to a couple of great reads that I may not have considered.
Funny, I didn’t mention it in my interview questions, but Twilight got me started reading rampantly (again) too. My daughter convinced me to read it and that was it. Until then, I never even considered reading any YA books. I still don’t know if I can say that my tastes really changed as much as they’ve broadened. I still go back to my old favorites every once in a while, but now I have a lot more favorites.
I am so glad a few people are enjoying WBW. I truly love them!
I love your eclectic tastes. Don’t ever change!
Fabulous answers! I dig that you make it a weekly endeavor to make the world a better place!
Thanks for noticing.
It’s not often we are thanked in our line of work.
I love the play on your name–Smash. My daughter’s name is Ashley and I call her Smash or Smashley, too. Haha!
Have a great week!
SCORE! I think it’s a common nickname for Ashley. My mom started calling me Smashley when I was a toddler. I would run into people or objects and just get back up and do it again. It could explain a lot about myself today, but I like to think I was just having fun. LOL
Wow…15 years – that’s pretty impressive. I’ve only been blogging for a little over 2 years and I hope I can keep going strong for at least a few more years.
Here’s my Armchair BEA Intro Post.
I blogged on personal life and stupid shit when I was younger. My blogging is much more focused and meaningful now.
Hi There!
Can I join you at dinner with Jenks? I’ll bring the honey!
Well you sure know how to liven up a party!
Loved your answers. Hi hun *waves* back x I never knew about this world-building wedneday but i am interested and i am going to keep checking it out on your blog. I think it’s a really important thing to have and different too. xx
I hope you enjoye World-Building Wednesdays! It’staking a break for a while but you can certainly read the archives.
Hiya! It’s great to get to know you a bit better!
Must read The Hollows series. Got it!
I think you’re totally right. The snark and stuff that comes out when something bad happens is just sad. I guess that happens in every circle once in a while. I love how friendly everyone is most of the time though!
Yes, once a book can evoke my emotions, I am in love with it! I know there are lots of Twilight haters out there, but I love it.
If you like Urban Fantasy, The Hollows should be up your alley. The first book isn’t the best, but damn, I love the imagination and characterization that Kim Harrison has put into the series!
I can say the same about my reading tastes. A lot has changed since Twilight haha
Nice to meet you Ash!
A lot of us became infatuated with reading again because of Twilight, so I can’t bust it too much…heh
Yeah, my taste has changed, too, since Twilight
I got to know about so many other awesome books and my TBR pile is always so BIG. Awesome introduction post! 
Enjoy! 
It makes me chuckle when I think of how far my reading has come in terms of where I started. I owe a LOT of that to this awesome community!
I think we must have started book blogs about the same time. Around 2 years ago. WOW!! veteran in blogging world 15 years!! Most commendable:D I love Jenks too!! He is just so darn cute and proud! I am slowly getting through this series.:)
Michelle
The series gets better and better for me. I hope you are enjoying it.
Yay for Jenks!!!!!!!!!! I love Jenks so much!!!! How sad is it that I STILL have not read A Perfect Blood!?!?!?! I have it though, I need to read it soon!
I haven’t read it yet either. We are such bad fans. :/
I totally agreed with your claws and pitchforks comment. I love how everyone gets along until one person does something a little off kilter and then all hell breaks loose. We (book bloggers) look far worse from the bullying than the actually thing that caused it all. *sigh* BUT all in all I love how book bloggers stick together, support each other and just are great company in general.
I’ll be checking out your world-building wednesday posts. Nice to see you at ABEA!
Worldbuilding Wednesday sounds awesome!
It is! I hope you enjoy some of the archives!
I have to “SQUEE” a little bit about Jenks! LOVE HIM!! Great choice!
Loving these BEA posts! It’s great to learn more about the bloggers themselves
He is a friggin rockstar!
Glad to hear book blogging is an escape! Books are definitely my very favorite escape and the only thing that can keep my focus as I tend to be all over the place unless I’m reading.
I had no idea you had a weekly feature about world-building. I love that! i will definitely be back to show it some love. I think that it’s amazing. I could never do it, but it’s so awesome to hear authors talk about how they create the worlds they do, the challenges in keeping within the world, especially when it’s part of a series.
And you have now officially piqued my interest in meeting this Jenks.
I’ve heard Kim Harrison is an amazing author, but I had no idea she wrote about pixiees.
BTW, I absolutely love your blog design. Those owls are adorable!
WBW doesn’t happen every Wed but I try and find interested authors to contribute as much as possible. Don’t have anything new lines up at the moment and won’t work on it until after I move. But the archives are great!
Jenks is the sidekick in her series. He is snarky and loyal and just plain awesome.
Thank you!! ♥
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