BEA Introduction and Monday Memes

    

I have an embarrassing issue to confess to.  The BEA starts today.  How I so wish I could attend one year but due to the difficulty of walking, I know that it is something I probably will never be able to do.  Last year I saw Armchair BEA  around bloggyland but thought that it was just bloggers relaying their experiences while they were actually present at the event.  

Yesterday, via another blog that I visited, sorry can’t remember which one to give them the credit, but they had the link for the Armchair BEA.  I did not realize that I could actually participate virtually so I signed up yesterday and am so excited about being part of this event.  Today’s assignment is getting to know each other.

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 Cheryl Masciarelli (pronounced Mash-a-relli, hence the nickname Mash. Have been married for 31 years with 2 phenomenal sons, who both live out of state due to jobs :(.  I have been blogging for 2+ years and am now also a partner in a virtual tour company, Partners In Crime Tours, with Molly, from Reviews By Molly. I stumbled onto a book blog, never knowing they existed and for that matter, didn’t even have a clue at that time, what a blog was. I stalked a few for a month or so and it looked like so much fun that I decided to join the club.

What are you currently reading, or what is your favorite book you have read so far in 2012?
I am currently reading The Bright River by Patrick Somerville, from The Hachette Book Group. Favorite book?  Tough question, since I have to say that this year there have been quite a few that were 5+.

Tell us one non-book-related thing that everyone reading your blog may not know about you.
For those who follow me, there really isn’t one thing as I tend to share my real life experiences on my blog also.

What is your favorite feature on your blog (i.e. author interviews, memes, something specific to your blog)?
Favorite? I love everything, the daily memes, guest authors, giveaways, challenges, and most importantly, the people I have met because of my blog and working with authors, publishers and publicists.

Where do you see your blog in five years?
Still here but hopefully that I will learn more about the social media sites and understanding and navigating the platform of wordpress.

Which is your favorite post that you have written that you want everyone to read?
It would have to be 2. One when my Mom passed and the other would be about the special angels that took care of her.

If you could eat dinner with any author or character, who would it be and why?
Ironically, yesterday plans were made to meet and have dinner with an author. I was contacted a while back to read and review a book, Ragdoll Redeemed by Dawn Novotny and to host a showcase through WOW Tours. The book was phenomenal and really left an impression. Since she wasn’t scheduled for the spotlight until this Thursday, June 7th, I decided to send her a copy of my review so that she wouldn’t have to wait to see it as it was her first tour. We started emailing and clicked. She is a kind, nice, genuine, amazing, strong and down to earth person. We developed a friendship and found we had some similarities in our life through emails. She is attending a conference in the state I reside and we made plans to meet. I can’t wait because I feel that I have known her for years.

What is your favorite part about the book blogging community? Is there anything that you would like to see change in the coming years?
Meeting other bloggers and forming friendships is first and foremost. The other is sharing thoughts on books read since I am not surrounded by readers in RL.
Have your reading tastes changed since you started blogging? How?
Yes. I have read books with the premise and/or genre that I wouldn’t have chosen prior to blogging.

I can’t wait to see what is next in Armchair BEA!

 

Hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading

This week’s question:
Do you have a reading goal for the year, such as __ books? Why or why not?

My response:
Last year was awful in the number of books that I read.  Due to many personal issues/real life interference, I read a total of 50 books.  This year I signed up for both Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge, which I put 75 books as my goal.  I also signed up for the 100+ books Challenge, which I knew was wishful thinking on my part, but will sign up every year until I make it.  As of today I am at 34 books read.   I need to pick up the pace a bit to make my goal.  But once again, there are a couple of issues I am dealing with but at least I am reading several books a month, whereas last year, there were months where I only read 1 book.  I also need to be more disiplined and spend less time blogging and more time reading, which I hope to do for the second half of 2012.

Good luck with your goals!  Do you keep track of the number of books read?  If so, what is your goal and how many books have you read?

June is being hosted by Alternative Read

Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia of A girl and her books and is now on tour.

According to Marcia, “Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.”
                   Gina from Hott Books      The Hachette Book Group
                 
                Author                                               Author
               

13 thoughts on “BEA Introduction and Monday Memes

  1. I know what you mena about not being able to get to BEA, but the armchair bea is fantastic! This is my second year now (though last year was unofficial), and it has been fantastic!
    Hope you enjoy it!
    Chelle

  2. Hi! Nice to “meet” you! I love your blog. I am jelous that you get to meet a real authour. I wish I could but none seem to come where I live. I hope you enjoy your armchair BEA!

  3. I loved reading the Q&A section and learning more about you. As far as my making reading goals, I don’t, I find that to stressful. However, I do like the reading challenges, and I am a person that if I join a challenge, I have to complete it. However, every year I say I am not joining any challenges, but each year that thought goes by the wayside.

    A big THANK YOU for stopping by and visiting today.

  4. Glad you found your way to Armchair BEA! I remember being touched by your posts about your mom! It is wonderful that you will be meeting the author!

  5. YEAH! You found Armchair BEA—it is so much fun. This is my third year participating and love it 🙂

    That is awesome that you actually get to meet and have dinner with the author of your choice. That will be so much fun 🙂

  6. I love finding new authors and genres, as well, and I’m always interested when a ‘book’ blogger adds little anecdotes from her (his?) personal life. That helps me get to know the person a little better. Nice to meet you!

  7. It’s so cool that you get to meet an author!! Well, I’ve met authors, but I would die to get the chance to sit down with them and have dinner and just chat! That’s so wonderful, though. I hope you have fun!

    It was wonderful getting to know you! Have fun during Armchair BEA!

  8. This is my first time participating in Armchair BEA, too, and it’s been fun going around “meeting” everyone. Even with blogs I read regularly, I am learning all sorts of neat information about people and books.

    That is so cool about going to dinner with Dawn Novotny. I hope you have fun!

    Here’s my Armchair BEA Intro Post.

  9. I don’t really set goals for myself for reading. Other than to keep track of what I read on my blog. I like your perspective, though.

  10. You almost missed it again Cheryl 🙂 You have had a great year of reading, me on the other end, I am not impressed, sigh. High hopes for the 2nd part of the year .

    Excited to see where Mash comes from, cool.

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