That’s How I Blog!

Hosted by Nicole of Linus’s Blanket

Nicole Bonía is  from New York City-  born and raised- she still lives there on the Upper West Side.  In addition to being an avid reader, she also enjoys traveling, hosting dinner parties, book clubs, and playing bocce in a league at Union Hall in Park Slope, BK on Sunday afternoons. Linus’s Blanket is her first book blog and That’s How I Blog! is her first talk show, so be nice!

THIB! All Stars

2009

Trish, Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin’? / Tuesday, October 27, 2009/ Book Discussion: The Story of A Marriage, by Andrew Sean Greer

Trish Collins has been blogging like a maniac for over two years, mostly about books, at heylady.net. She is obsessed with book clubs and is currently in two and hopes to start yet a third book club. She is the co-founder of TLC Book Tours (tlcbooktours.com). She doesn’t like her food to touch, is an introvert, and likes long walks on the beach (not really). Trish is prone to telling people what she thinks and gets obsessed over weird things, like hair on her ankles. Also, she likes to laugh.

Kathy, BermudaOnion / Tuesday, November 3 at 7PM EST/  Book Discussion: Labor Day, by Joyce Maynard

Kathy is married and has a 22 year old son. She was born in Bermuda and has been living a vagabond lifestyle ever since. She currently calls South Carolina home. Kathy’s been an avid reader for as long as she can remember, and has been blogging at bermudaonion.wordpress.com for a little over a year.

Beth, Beth Fish Reads / Tuesday, November 10 at 8:30pm EST/  Book Discussion: The Forest of Hands and Teeth, by Carrie Ryan

Candace is a full-time freelance book editor whose clients have included both major publishing firms and prominent independent companies. She just can’t seem to get away from books, and Beth Fish Reads reflects her eclectic reading tastes. She’s reviewed books in a range of genres from history to middle readers from ARCs to classics. Candace enjoys interacting with authors on both sides of the manuscript and includes author interviews and guest posts on Beth Fish Reads. When she’s not reading, she’s probably listening to a book while cooking, gardening, walking, making lace, or taking photographs. Follow Candace on Twitter at twitter.com/BethFishReads.

Michelle, Galley Smith/ Tuesday, November 17 at 9PM EST/ Book Discussion: Hate List, by Jennifer Brown

Hi, I’m Michelle from Galleysmith. I live on the Virginia side of the Metro-DC area where I work for a private University that has campuses across the country. By trade I’m an instructional designer, which means I design and construct distance learning courses and programs. But I’d really prefer to be working in publishing (wouldn’t we all!). Writing for my blog allows me that creative outlet and community participation that I long for and I adore being able to “hang out” with readers there and on the various social networks I frequent. As you browse around you’ll see I am primarily interested in sharing my love of books with the world so if you are as infatuated as I am chime in and share your viewpoint(s). I’ve created this blog with the idea in mind that it will become a community, one where we can all feel free to express our opinions freely and engage in conversation. I am a big fun and humor kind of girl so you may see, when warranted, that tone in non-review posts.

Amy, My Friend Amy/ Tuesday, November 24 at 9PM EST/  Book Discussion: Shiver, Maggie Stiefvater

Jenn, Jenn’s Bookshelves ~ Tuesday, December 1 at 8:30PM EST/ Book Discussion: Shutter Island, Dennis Lehane

I’m a full-time working mom with an amazingly supportive husband, John, and two boys John-John (10) and Justin (4). We live in the DC metro area. I work at a non-profit and provide chapter support (leadership training, conference planning, etc.). I’ve been reviewing books for around 10 years now, but decided to take the plunge and create a blog in March of 2008. Reading has always been a big part of my life. Since I can remember, I’ve always had a book nearby or a book in hand. I created my blog in March of 2008. I began blogging about books because I love to discuss and recommend books. My oldest son was/is an reluctant reader, so blogging has actually improved our relationship because I’ve been able to discover books that interest him. He begs to read each night, so that brings such joy to my life! My husband, boys & I also have two cats ,Sylvester (tuxedo cat), Jadzea (tortoise shell) and a dog, Jack (Doxie/Chihuahu Mix).

Dawn, She is Too Fond of Books/ Tuesday, December 8 at 9pM EST/ Book Discussion: The Wednesday Witch & What The Witch Left, by Ruth Chew

Dawn is an avid reader who is especially fond of social history, personal memoir and literary fiction, but dabbles in other genres as well. Aside from reading and writing, Dawn enjoys red wine, dark chocolate, indie films and people watching (not necessarily in that order!), and spending time with her husband and four children (ages 4-13).  They live near Boston in an area rich in literary and cultural history.

Meg, Write Meg!/ Tuesday, December 15 at 9PM EST/ Book Discussion: Sweethearts, by Sara Zarr

I’m Meg, a 24-year-old editor from Southern Maryland (born and raised!). I graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park in 2007 with a B.A. in English and have worked in newspapers ever since! I’m an avid reader, obviously, and divide my time between devouring novels and working on my own. I’m also a serious crafter who makes “Harry Potter”-themed scarves almost nightly! Thankfully, they usually sell on Etsy . . . otherwise, I’d be mistaken for a Hogwarts student everywhere I went.

Deborah, Books,Movies and Chinese Food / Tuesday, December 22 at 8PM EST/ Book Discussion: The Boneman’s Daughter, by Ted Dekker

• Hello world! I’m Deborah from Books, Movies and Chinese Food. I’m a twenty-something recently married history grad student from Northern Virginia. I love reading (I started when I was 3) and I love telling other people about books, so hence why I started blogging. I have been blogging for over 3 years and have enjoyed every minute about it. I am a huge Star Wars nerd and I like to throw random Star Wars facts in everyday conversation, causing people to give me strange looks.  I hope to one day work in a museum (or become a Star Wars historian) and impress my knowledge about US history to unsuspecting folk. May the force be with you.

Julie, Booking Mama / Tuesday, December 29  at 7:00PM EST/Book Discussion: 31 Hours, Masha Hamilton

I am a stay-at-home mother of two whose passion (besides my family) is books. I am an avid reader who enjoys all types of books, although I mainly read fiction. In addition to books, I also love to crochet, knit, scrapbook and cook!

2010

Lenore, Presenting Lenore/ Tuesday, January 5 at 10:00PM EST/ Book Discussion: Liar, by Justine Larbalestier

Lenore Appelhans is an American living in Frankfurt, Germany with her Illustrator husband Daniel Jennewein and two bratty Birman cats Emmy and Finn (who make Tuesday appearances on her blog). Her blog, Presenting Lenore, revolves around her love of reading. She posts book reviews (and has very eclectic tastes), conducts author interviews, holds contests, and profiles upcoming books. She also posts about her travels, her work as an advertising copywriter, and about life in Germany for the benefit of all her friends and family around the world who like to keep up with what she, Daniel and the kitties are up to.

Rebecca, The Booklady’s Blog / Tuesday, January 12 at 8:00PM EST / Book Discussion: The Little Stranger, by Sarah Waters

I’m a twenty-something bibliophile living in Richmond, VA. I spent 2 1/2 years as a bookseller and bookstore event planner, and I now work in marketing for a medical company. I read and review literary fiction, narrative nonfiction, and some memoirs. I live with my husband Bob and our crazy hound dog Millie, and I am hopelessly devoted to spending Sundays in my pajamas. I’ve been blogging since July 2008.

Natasha, Maw Books Blog/ Tuesday, January 19 at 9PM EST/ Book Discussion: War Child, by Emmanuel Jal

I’m a stay-at-home mom of two busy little boys age 4 and 2.  As any mom will tell you, they are the light of my life.  We, along with my awesome (seriously!) husband live in the Salt Lake City area which is home to not only a million awesome authors but also a million awesome book bloggers.  Seriously, I have it made here!  I’ve been blogging about two years about books because I’m a bit addicted to them.  Always have.  There’s nothing better than sitting back and just looking at my bookshelves.  Well, okay.  Maybe reading them is better.  And talking about them and sharing them with others is what keeps me blogging. When I’m not blogging or reading I’m hanging out with the kids, eating Thai food, gardening or simply being lazy while the the kids slowly destroy the house around me.

Swapna, S.Krishna’s Books/ Tuesday, January 26 at 9PM EST/ Book Discussion: Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson

I’m 26 and live in the Washington, DC metro area.  In addition to book reviewing and blogging, I am currently pursuing my Master’s degree and am also the Associate Editor & Review Coordinator for The Book Studio, a project of WETA-PBS.

Melanie, Lit Chick / Tuesday, February 2 at 9PM EST/ Book Discussion: The Unit, Ninni Holmqvist

Melanie has been blogging for over 2 years – mainly about what she reads but also about book related things,cool etsy finds, and her family. A native Marylander, she lives in Columbia with her husband of 13 years and their 4 children (3 dudes and a baby girl). Melanie mainly reads contemporary fiction, memoirs, cookbooks,mysteries, ya and children’s lit.When she’s not reading she can be found scrapbooking, baking,watching baseball (in season, go Red Sox) or hgtv – all with coffee cup nearby.  And she likes to give things away.

Heather, Age 30+… A Lifetime of Books / Tuesday, February 9 at 10PM EST/ Book Discussion: The Eye of The World, Robert Jordan

Heather J. blogs at Age 30+ … A Lifetime of Books where she reviews every book she reads, sometimes with the help of Kiddo.  She runs a book club that’s been around since 2005, and has been blogging since Jan. 2008.  Most of her blog focuses on books, but she occasionally writes about Kiddo’s severe food allergy issues or her favorite family history stories.  Heather has been married since 1998 and Kiddo (who will be 8 in January) is her only child.  She works part time in an office and the rest of the time carting Kiddo to his various activities and appointments, grasping all the small chunks of time in between to read.

Jen, Devourer of Books / Tuesday, February 16/ Book Discussion: City of Refuge, Tom Piazza

I read constantly, even with my new son.  I’m all about finding any and every opportunity to pick up my book.  My husband has (mostly) accepted the steady influx of books into the house and is (mostly) supportive of the time I spend reading and blogging.  If I’m not reading or blogging, I’m probably at work or playing with my baby.

Amanda, Life and Times of A “New” New Yorker/ Tuesday, February 23/ Book Discussion:  Black Hills, by Dan Simmons

Amanda is a twenty-something year-old living in Manhattan.She’s recently graduated with a Master’s in Library and Information Science with a background in history.  Her blog is a log of her reading adventures as well as her adventures through New York City. You’ll also be bombarded with photos of her two pups, Charlie Dog and Anna Bear.

Kim, Sophisticated Dorkiness / Tuesday, March 2 at 9PM EST/ Book Discussion: Undress Me In The Temple of Heaven, by Susan Jane Gilman

Kim of Sophisticated Dorkiness is currently a master’s student in the University of Wisconsin Madison school of Journalism and Mass Communication. Basically, she’s going to school to get a degree so she can go out and be a journalist at a local or community newspaper. She has one semester left of school, then it’s out into the real world! Kim has been blogging since she graduated from college in May 2008 with an English degree. She started her blog as a way to talk about books with other people, since after college she was afraid she wouldn’t have anyone to talk about books with. While Kim mostly reads literary journalism/narrative nonfiction, she also dabbles in literary fiction, memoirs, poetry, and comic books when she has the time. She also loves to read and blog about blogging (a little bit dorky) but oh well. Kim is on Twitter at twitter.com/kimthedork or visit her blog  at http://sophisticateddorkiness.com.

Gayle, Every I Write The Book / Tuesday, March 9 at 9PM EST/Book Discussion: An Unaccustomed Earth, by Jhumpa Lahiri

Gayle has been blogging at Everyday I Write The Book since 1996. Her blog is slavishly devoted to fiction, with the occasional memoir thrown in. She is not into vampires or sci-fi or YA. When she isn’t blogging, she’s usually engaged in some other social media, for work or for fun. She recently took a position as Director of Digital Communications for Discovery Communications, where she is helping Discovery with its overall social media strategy. She used to be a lawyer, but doesn’t like to talk about that anymore. She has 5 year-old twin girls, who are extremely cute, and lives with her husband in her hometown of Washington DC.

Mari, Bookworm With A View ~ Tuesday, March 16 at 9PM EST/ Book Discussion: Double Fault, by Lionel Shriver

Mari Partyka is an avid bibliophile and accidental blogger. While managing an Omaha book club, she wrote a master lists of her favorite reads. Her annotations proved popular, and a blogger was born. Each month she will write about books, authors, and the literary community in Omaha. Her focus is to help fellow readers find thought (and discussion) provoking works of literature, both for private and public enjoyment. Want to know what book she has her nose buried in now?

J.T., Bibliofreakblog ~ Tuesday, March 23 at 9PM EST/ Book Discussion: Her Fearful Symmetry, by Audrey Niffenegger

Jen, The Literate Housewife Review~ Tuesday, March 30 at 9PM EST/ Book Discussion: Revolutionary Road, by Richard Yates

My name is Jennifer and I blog on The Literate Housewife Review.  I am a woman who has loved to read since the first grade, 30 some years ago.  Both my Bachelor’s and my Master’s degrees are in English literature.  When I’m not reading, I am the mother of two daughters, Emma, age 7 and Allison, age 5.  My husband Danny and I have been married for 12 years.  I grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan and I love my home state.  My family and I live in Southwest Virginia, which is a great place to raise a family.  Michigan will always have a special place in my heart, though.  I love being able to show people where I’m from by pointing at my hand.  During the day I am a Sr. Business Systems Analyst for a dental insurance company.  I’ve worked there for nearly 10 years and, more often than not, I love my job.  I am now working with my company’s web team, so I’m hoping on developing stronger web skills to improve my blog.

Kate, Babbling About Books, and More ~ Tuesday April 6 at 8:30 PM EST/ Book Discussion: Flowers from the Storm

Kate Garrabrant is a self-proclaimed eccentric reader who reads on average twenty books a month. Kate is proud to admit that she is a present day bluestocking with her head always in a book. She loves all types of genres but her absolute favorites are romance, paranormals and young adult. Kate, also known better as Katiebabs on-line, has been an active part of the blogging community since early 2007 and reviews for multiple review sites. She runs her own blog called Babbling about Books and More! (http://kbgbabbles.blogspot.com/) which has been live since September 2008. One day in the future she hopes to have her own stories published to be read by the masses.

Serena, Savvy Verse and Wit ~ Tuesday, April 13 at 6:30PM EST/Book Discussion: Your Ten Favorite Words, by Reb Livingston

Serena is a Bachelor of Arts graduate of Suffolk University in Boston.  She moved from the sticks of a small town Massachusetts to the outskirts of Washington, D.C., where she writes poetry, short stories, novels, and book reviews.  Poems can be read in issues of Beginnings Magazine, LYNX, Muse Apprentice Guild, The Harrow, Poems Niederngasse, Avocet, and Pedestal Magazine.  And she is the proud owner of Savvy Verse & Wit and co-owner of War Through the Generations, both of which post book reviews and host interviews and guest posts with authors.

Brooke, The Bluestocking Guide ~ Tuesday, April 20 at 9PM EST/Book Discussion: Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen

I’m a lawyer during the day and a bibliophile morning, noon, and night.   My aspirations are to become the supreme overlord of the world, to have more books than Barnes and Noble, and to make the perfect pot of oatmeal.  I love chocolate, coffee, and books in a train, in a plane, and in the rain.  Shoes and clothes are nice too!

Philip, Rat’s Reading ~ Tuesday, April 27 at 9PM EST/Book Discussion: Sag Harbor, by Colson Whitehead

The blogger known as King Rat goes by Philip Weiss in real life.  I started using the name online in 1989 on Quartz BBS, the first internet based BBS. The name is based on James Clavell’s book King Rat. I started blogging my books in 2002 on my personal LiveJournal, but moved the books to a standalone blog in 2005.  In real life, I work as a freelance software developer. I live in Seattle with my cat Guinevere.  I like pie, boots, and books.

Florinda, The 3R’s Blog ~ Tuesday, May 4 at 9PM EST/Book Discussion: American Rust, by Philip Meyer

Florinda has been blogging at The 3 R’s Blog: Reading, ‘Riting, and Randomness since March 2007. She started blogging to help her remember more about what she was reading, but knew she didn’t want to confine herself to talking only about books – hence, the second and third R’s, and the tagline “It’s not just a title, it’s a mission statement.” Her reading preferences are contemporary fiction, memoirs…and other people’s blogs.

Florinda is an accountant by profession – reading and writing are her refuge from numbers. She has lived in New York, Connecticut, Florida, and Tennessee, and now resides in Southern California (since 2002) with her husband (since 2006), his children (part-time), and her dog (full-time). She’s also the mother of a twenty-something engineer/sports blogger who lives on the East Coast. You can also find her on Twitter and contributing non-bookish posts to the Los Angeles Moms Blog.

Marie, Boston Bibliophile ~ Tuesday, May 11 at 9PM EST/Book Discussion: The Rooftops of Tehran, by Mahbod Seraji

Marie is a thirty-something librarian and lifelong book nerd who likes to read and review literary fiction and graphic novels. She is married with one cat and a house full of Hello Kitty.

Alyce, At Home With Books ~ Tuesday, May 18 at 10PM EST/Bok Discussion: The Post Birthday World, by Lionel Shriver

My name is Alyce and my blog is At Home With Books.   My husband, my two boys and I live near Salem, Oregon.  I stay at home with my sons, but before I had kids I worked in sales; first at a magazine publishing company and later at a Christian book publishing company.  I have loved reading for as long as I can remember, though my tastes have changed quite a bit over the years.  I try to read from a wide variety of genres, but my current favorites are: literary fiction, dystopian fiction, historical fiction, science fiction, and memoirs. I have a degree in linguistics, which really reflects my love of words and all things having to do with languages. In my spare time, in addition to reading and blogging, I play the flute in a community concert band.

Kathrin, Secret Dreamworld of a Bookaholic ~ Tuesday, June 1 at 9PM EST/Book Discussion:  The Gargoyle, by Andrew Davidson

Kathrin has been blogging since June 2004 and started blogging at Secret Dreamworld of a Bookaholic in April 2006. She’s from Germany, now living in Frankfurt/Main, where she attends university, majoring in American Studies (basically literature, history, politics, culture and linguistics together) with minors in comparative religious studies and French. When she’s not at university or spending time with her books or her friends, she works at the library of a law firm. She has to earn the money for the essentials like food and books, after all!

Meghan, Medieval Bookworm, Tuesday, June 8 at 4PM EST

Meghan has been blogging at Medieval Bookworm for over two years. She’s been a reader ever since she taught herself at age five, when she suddenly began reading books to her mother in an apparently startling reversal of roles.  She hasn’t looked back since and enjoys reading almost everything, including historical fiction, history, fantasy, literary fiction, and classics.  She also holds an MA in Medieval Studies and is hoping to go back for her PhD in Medieval History very soon.

In the meantime, Meghan enjoys her life as a new wife to a wonderful husband in the UK and is busy searching out a temporary profession while adjusting to a culture that isn’t her native USA.  She enjoys cooking, knitting, crocheting, and playing video games when she’s not buried in a book.

Michelle, My Books. My Life. ~ Tuesday, June 15 at 9PM EST/Book Discussion: Beatrice and Virgil, by Yann Martel

I am a 20-something lawyer living in the beautiful Sunshine State (originally from the no-less-beautiful-but-certainly-colder state of Michigan).  I have been blogging about books since 2007 in a relatively small community and have recently found the greater book blogging world.  I’ve been a ballet dancer since the age of two and I live and breathe for the Detroit Tigers and Michigan Football. I live with my husband (he loves to read as much as I do), our two cats, and hundreds of unread books.

Joshilyn, Joshilyn Jackson ~ Tuesday, June 22 at 9PM EST/Book Discussion: Backseat Saints, by Joshilyn Jackson

Joshilyn Jackson, a native of the Deep South, has worked as an actor and an award-winning teacher, and is now a writer and a mother of two. She is the author of GODS IN ALABAMA; BETWEEN, GEORGIA; THE GIRL WHO STOPPED SWIMMING; and BACKSEAT SAINTS. Jackson lives with her husband and children outside of Atlanta. Visit her at www.joshilynjackson.com.

Teresa & Jenny, Shelf Love ~ Tuesday, June 29 at 9PM EST/Book Discussion: The Night Watch, by Sarah Waters

Teresa has been blogging with Jenny at Shelf Love since July 2008. Her reading interests run across genres and styles, and her favorite authors include Thomas Hardy, Jane Austen, Marilynne Robinson, C.S. Lewis, and Dorothy L. Sayers. She lives right outside Washington DC and works as a magazine editor for a nonprofit education association. She is also slowly working toward a masters degree in theological studies. Her other obsessions include theatre, photography, her three-legged cat, and determining whether the key to understanding life is in old episodes of The X Files or of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Jenny has been trading book recommendations with Teresa since they met in college in 1990, and has been doing it in public for two years now. She reads almost everything — westerns, seafaring adventures, arctic exploration documents, poetry, nature writing, medieval epics. Some of her (many) favorite authors are Connie Willis, Laurie King, Mary Oliver, Dorothy Dunnett, and Elizabeth Goudge. She lives in Spokane, WA and teaches French at Whitworth University. Although her main occupation is reading, she also knits, extremely slowly.

Elena, With Extra Pulp ~ Tuesday, July 6 at 9PM EST/Book Discussion: The Things We Didn’t See Coming, by Steven Amsterdam

Elena Gomez lives in Sydney, and is an aspiring writer, blogger and journalism graduate turned publishing monkey. She discovered she could write when she won the state-wide Queensland Courier Mail Young Reviewer of the Year Award 2000, age 12, with a review of the picture book Luke’s Way of Looking by Nadia Wheatley. She now writes for www.withextrapulp.com.au but instead of picture books, she now reviews zines, short fiction, literary magazines and, occasionally, actual books too.

Beth, Beth Hoffman ~ Tuesday, July 13 at 9PM EST/Book Discussion: Saving CeeCee Honeycut by Beth Hoffman

Before beginning her writing career, Beth Hoffman was the president and co-owner of a successful interior design studio in Cincinnati, Ohio. Though she began writing fiction at the age of twelve, it took the proverbial near-death experience to shake her up enough to focus her energies toward her secret, life-long dream: to write a novel. After several years of contemplating what she knew would be a life-altering career change that held no guarantees, Beth sold her portion of the design business, went home, and plunked down at her computer. She didn’t come up for air until she typed “The End” nearly four years later. Beth laughs and says, “It was the gutsiest thing I’ve ever done.”

An artist as well as an award-winning interior designer, Beth’s paintings and drawings (in the mediums of oil, watercolor, colored pencil, and ink) are displayed in private and corporate collections in the United States, Canada, and the UK.

Pam, Bookalicio.us ~ Tuesday, July 20 at 9PM EST/Book Discussion: Beautiful Creatures, Kami  Garcia & Margaret Stohl

Pam is a Yahoo employed web geek who lives in Sunny California with her Dutch husband, two bilingual children, and two Jack Russel Terrorists.  She is intersted in all things literature related and has recently had some mild success with her YA manuscript. Pam likes to start all kinds of crafty projects and never finish them. The most recent being cupcake art.  You can read her reviews at http://bookalicio.us or more about the book she is writing at http://pamalicio.us

Leah,  Amused by Books ~ Wednesday, August 4th at 9PM EST/Book Discussion: The Blind Assasin, by Margaret Atwood

Leah aka Amused at Amused by Books loves to read fiction of any kind (and some non-fiction). When not reading, she is working hard for her money, exploring the great city of San Francisco,
and harassing her boyfriend’s cat.