*How and what made you decide on the name of your blog?
I thought of it right away. I wanted something catchy that flowed well. I think I did pretty good!

*What would you say is the main content of your blog?
Book reviews, bookish memes, etc……

*If books, what genres do you mostly read?
My favorites (at the moment) are thriller/suspense, chick lit and women’s fiction.

*How often do you post?
I try to post every day, but sometimes real life does get in the way. I am sure everyone knows how that goes?

*What are some of the things that you love about blogging?
The community! I have “met” some wonderful people that I consider true friends. I also love all of the book recommendations I have gotten. Before I started book blogging I never would have thought of reading paranormal or young adult, but now I do and I enjoy them.

*What are some of the negatives?
It is soooooo time consuming!

*Name 1-3 favorite items/postings that you have/do on your blog?
I love the memes In My Mailbox and It’s Monday What Are You Reading. I find the best books to add to my TBR list that way!

*Any advice you would give to new bloggers?
Be patient–your blog will grow on its own. Be honest in your reviews. Integrity in the book blogging community is very important!

*What draws you to follow someone’s blog?
The design catches my eye first. Second to that is if the blogger enjoys the same genres that I do.

*Do you have any “pet peeves” that other bloggers do?
Not really. None that I can think of anyway.

*Would you please share 5-7 things about the person behind the screen so that we get to know the “real” you!!
1. I am newly single
2. I am a horrible bookaholic! I can’t seem to stop buying them.
3. I have one sister and one baby niece in Phoenix
4. I have two dogs & one cat
5. I work for the federal gov’t

 

*How and what made you decide on the name of your blog?
My husband has always called me Dolly (like Dolly Parton and I don’t mean her hair) and Caswell being our last name, several years ago when I set up my first email accounts it fell together to be Dollycas. When I first started the blog I didn’t have an exact direction but thought no matter where the blog took me it would include my thoughts on something or everything. Since starting the book review path, I have tried to leave my political opinions/thoughts on my Facebook page.

*What would you say is the main content of your blog?
Book Reviews, Recommendations, Random Thoughts and Giveaways.

*If books, what genres do you mostly read?
Mystery both cozy and thriller. I will read everything with the exception of books with vampires or werewolves, don’t need the nightmares, but I really love the cozies!

*How often do you post?
At least once per day, I try to skip Sundays for family time.

*What are some of the things that you love about blogging?
The people I “MEET”!!! That is the best thing of all!!

*What are some of the negatives?
Not enough time to read all the books I want to read, I have set my goal a little lower this year than what I actually read last year because I hope to be able to start making quilts again. If everything comes together right. God Willing.

*Name 1-3 favorite items/postings that you have/do on your blog?
I love It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? and my Enquiring Minds and I love hosting giveaways!

*Any advice you would give to new bloggers?
Start slow and build, I started with books from my own collection and PaperBackSwap and some self published authors. Use Facebook as a tool to reach out to authors you love if they have pages. Always no matter what if you like a book, post about it on Amazon.com, but also send an email to the author telling them you enjoyed their work. The authors work very hard to get a book published that we read in a few hours and they love you telling them you enjoy their work. It can get awfully lonely behind a computer screen trying to hit their daily writing goals and it’s good for them to know people enjoy what they are writing.

*What draws you to follow some one’s blog?
   The content, are their tastes similar to mine, are they really putting in the work, actually reading the book or just copying from Amazon or the book jacket. If they are not showing some creativity I don’t really value their opinion.
   Is their blog pleasing to look at, I have told you Cheryl the comfort your blog brings to me just from the background.

*Do you have any “pet peeves” that other bloggers do?
Just one and I guess I already addresses it above. Bloggers not reading the books but offering reviews.

*Would you please share 5-7 things about the person behind the screen so that we get to know the “real” you!!
1. I AM OLD! I will be 50 in July or I AM YOUNG in an old body. I believe my life started over when I survived the auto crash in 2001.
2. I am addicted to High School Basketball and my youngest graduates in June.
3. I have a wonderful 3 year old grandson, Kaden.
4. I recently had to admit “I am a BOOK CHALLENGE ADDICT!” Fun
5. I watch Days of Our Lives EVERYDAY!!!
6. I have a wonderful and amazing family.
7. I spend way too much time at this computer and you will always know when I have been here too long and worked my left hand too hard because that’s when the typos start to appear.
8. THIS BLOGGING WORLD HAS SAVED MY LIFE LITERALLY and I truly appreciate each and every person who reads what I write, follows my recommendations, leave me comments and enters my giveaways!!!!

*Any other info you would like to share.
Cheryl, it is people like you that keep me going everyday, I am so glad we met in this internet world!!!

I hope everyone enjoyed getting to know Lori.  I think you understand why she is a Shining Star!  She has faced, dealt with and has overcome major obstacles in her life with a sense of humor and determination.  And always has a thoughtful word to say and a big heart as you can see with her advice to new bloggers about contacting authors.  Thank you Lori for the kind words you have said about me, they truly warm my heart.  And if it makes you feel better Lori…….I am older than you lol !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Thank you so much for being my Shining Star, you truly are one!!!
P.S.  Not sure if she has the coffee on, but if you want to drop by and visit her place, click on her blog’s name at the top of this post, I’m sure she will offer you a cup of coffee or tea!!!

 

*How and what made you decide on the name of your blog?
My husband has always called me Dolly (like Dolly Parton and I don’t mean her hair) and Caswell being our last name, several years ago when I set up my first email accounts it fell together to be Dollycas. When I first started the blog I didn’t have an exact direction but thought no matter where the blog took me it would include my thoughts on something or everything. Since starting the book review path, I have tried to leave my political opinions/thoughts on my Facebook page.

*What would you say is the main content of your blog?
Book Reviews, Recommendations, Random Thoughts and Giveaways.

*If books, what genres do you mostly read?
Mystery both cozy and thriller. I will read everything with the exception of books with vampires or werewolves, don’t need the nightmares, but I really love the cozies!

*How often do you post?
At least once per day, I try to skip Sundays for family time.

*What are some of the things that you love about blogging?
The people I “MEET”!!! That is the best thing of all!!

*What are some of the negatives?
Not enough time to read all the books I want to read, I have set my goal a little lower this year than what I actually read last year because I hope to be able to start making quilts again. If everything comes together right. God Willing.

*Name 1-3 favorite items/postings that you have/do on your blog?
I love It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? and my Enquiring Minds and I love hosting giveaways!

*Any advice you would give to new bloggers?
Start slow and build, I started with books from my own collection and PaperBackSwap and some self published authors. Use Facebook as a tool to reach out to authors you love if they have pages. Always no matter what if you like a book, post about it on Amazon.com, but also send an email to the author telling them you enjoyed their work. The authors work very hard to get a book published that we read in a few hours and they love you telling them you enjoy their work. It can get awfully lonely behind a computer screen trying to hit their daily writing goals and it’s good for them to know people enjoy what they are writing.

*What draws you to follow some one’s blog?
   The content, are their tastes similar to mine, are they really putting in the work, actually reading the book or just copying from Amazon or the book jacket. If they are not showing some creativity I don’t really value their opinion.
   Is their blog pleasing to look at, I have told you Cheryl the comfort your blog brings to me just from the background.

*Do you have any “pet peeves” that other bloggers do?
Just one and I guess I already addresses it above. Bloggers not reading the books but offering reviews.

*Would you please share 5-7 things about the person behind the screen so that we get to know the “real” you!!
1. I AM OLD! I will be 50 in July or I AM YOUNG in an old body. I believe my life started over when I survived the auto crash in 2001.
2. I am addicted to High School Basketball and my youngest graduates in June.
3. I have a wonderful 3 year old grandson, Kaden.
4. I recently had to admit “I am a BOOK CHALLENGE ADDICT!” Fun
5. I watch Days of Our Lives EVERYDAY!!!
6. I have a wonderful and amazing family.
7. I spend way too much time at this computer and you will always know when I have been here too long and worked my left hand too hard because that’s when the typos start to appear.
8. THIS BLOGGING WORLD HAS SAVED MY LIFE LITERALLY and I truly appreciate each and every person who reads what I write, follows my recommendations, leave me comments and enters my giveaways!!!!

*Any other info you would like to share.
Cheryl, it is people like you that keep me going everyday, I am so glad we met in this internet world!!!

I hope everyone enjoyed getting to know Lori.  I think you understand why she is a Shining Star!  She has faced, dealt with and has overcome major obstacles in her life with a sense of humor and determination.  And always has a thoughtful word to say and a big heart as you can see with her advice to new bloggers about contacting authors.  Thank you Lori for the kind words you have said about me, they truly warm my heart.  And if it makes you feel better Lori…….I am older than you lol !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Thank you so much for being my Shining Star, you truly are one!!!
P.S.  Not sure if she has the coffee on, but if you want to drop by and visit her place, click on her blog’s name at the top of this post, I’m sure she will offer you a cup of coffee or tea!!!

Slapdash Sunday is a day for your proverbial week ‘leftovers.’ Is there something you wanted to say, but just forgot? Is there something you want to write about, but isn’t worth a whole page? Do you have a random thought, funny or otherwise that needs to be written down?
That is what Slapdash Sunday is for!
  As some of you know, I have mentioned that I am a cable news junkie.  My morning routine is to grab my coffee, boot up the computer and turn the TV on to a cable news station.  The TV is on all day, the volume low, in case there is breaking news or something that may interest me, then I will stop and watch it.  Ever since 9/11, I have been doing this.
  The other night at supper, hubby and I were having a discussion, and I got to thinking that this might make for an interesting topic for Slapdash Sunday!!

 



Slapdash Sunday is a day for your proverbial week ‘leftovers.’ Is there something you wanted to say, but just forgot? Is there something you want to write about, but isn’t worth a whole page? Do you have a random thought, funny or otherwise that needs to be written down?
That is what Slapdash Sunday is for!
  As some of you know, I have mentioned that I am a cable news junkie.  My morning routine is to grab my coffee, boot up the computer and turn the TV on to a cable news station.  The TV is on all day, the volume low, in case there is breaking news or something that may interest me, then I will stop and watch it.  Ever since 9/11, I have been doing this.
  The other night at supper, hubby and I were having a discussion, and I got to thinking that this might make for an interesting topic for Slapdash Sunday!!

 



Slapdash Sunday is a day for your proverbial week ‘leftovers.’ Is there something you wanted to say, but just forgot? Is there something you want to write about, but isn’t worth a whole page? Do you have a random thought, funny or otherwise that needs to be written down?
That is what Slapdash Sunday is for!
The New Year is here and the Challenges have begun!!!  And yes, I said I wasn’t going to sign up for many in 2011, but did I listen…..NO!!!   Not only did I sign up for 15, one of those I am cohosting.  So my question today is:  how do you organize everything to do with your blog.  Examples:  Challenges, ARC’s, Giveaways, Memes, Visiting blogs, Cataloging books that are delivered from publishers, etc, etc,.  I feel that I have so many spread sheets, calendars, post-its, notes, notes to find notes lol.  I have tried different ways of trying to organize myself this past year but can’t seem to fine tune it.
So my question today is:  How do you stay organized with all of the above?  Are you like me, with so many duplicate lists?    How do you keep track of future ARCs that are due, giveaways, Guest Authors, etc etc.  Do you have a one stop organizational tool that you would like to share?  Any suggestions of being organized when it comes to blogging? 
Would love to hear your thoughts!!!  Let’s have a Slapdash discussion!!!