Let's Talk: Two Challenges For My Book Blogger Self

What's one thing you'd like to challenge yourself as a book blogger to do this year?

Since I'm apparently a huge cheater when it comes to narrowing things down, I actually have two things I'd like to challenge myself to do as a book blogger this year. 

Challenge One: Blog however / whenever I want to blog.

Sometimes, it's easy to get caught up in memes and trying to stay on top of everything. I honestly do not know how some bloggers manage to post 5+ times a week, or even daily! Despite having been a book blogger for almost four years, I consider YA Book Queen to be a small blog. I do not receive bundles of review books each week (thankfully, because I'd probably lose my mind from stress), so I tend to run my blog a bit more slowly. I take a lot of breaks whenever life gets too crazy, and sometimes I feel guilty for doing so. So, it's a goal of mine to keep my blog as relaxed as possible. If I want to post 5 posts a week, awesome. But if I only manage a couple, then it's still fantastic so long as I'm happy with my content. In essence, my goal is to simply be happy with what I'm blogging about and not rush my content just so I can keep up with the "big" bloggers! 

Challenge Two: Interact more with my readers and other bloggers. 

Readers who comment regularly might have noticed that I started answering comments in the comment section during the last month or so, instead of emailing my responses. I've been trying to be a bit more active on Twitter, too. I'm not sure how I'm going to manage adding in more time to interact with readers and bloggers, but I know that I really want to make the time to do so, even if it's only 10-15 minutes a day. I tend to be more of an anonymous blogger, so I want to engage my readers more, since I do read and appreciate every comment I receive. I especially want to interact more with my fellow bloggers, because I rarely get to talk about bookish things in real life - the closest I get to bookish discussions are always about  Shakespeare or BEOWULF whenever I talk to classmates, but it's more fun to talk about YA lit. ;)

Visit I Swim For Oceans to participate and see more responses! 

Image from I Swim For Oceans

Let's Talk: Favorite Book Quotes

Let's Talk is a discussion feature at I Swim For Oceans, where bloggers can share their thoughts and discuss various topics. 

Visit I Swim For Oceans for more info!

What are some of your all-time favorite book quotes?

I love quotes (I'm one of those weird people who constantly quotes movies and TV shows in daily conversation). But, when it comes to quotes, bookish quotes have always been the ones that linger in the back of my mind. These ones are some of my favorites: 

"Don't think or judge, just listen." 

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." 

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by JK Rowling

"Some things aren't meant to be known. Only believed." 

The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson

"So many things become beautiful when you really look." 

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

"Wishes are false. Hope is true. Hope makes its own magic." 

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

"Everyone is alseep. They've been asleep for years.
You seemeed...awake."

 Delirium by Lauren Oliver

"Thinking something does not make it true. Wanting
something does not make it real."

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

"It's weird when someone gets you, understands what you
would never say, not even to yourself." 

Split by Swati Avasthi

Image from I Swim for Oceans

Let's Talk: Underrated Books

Let's Talk is a discussion feature at I Swim For Oceans

What ONE underrated book do you want to share with the blogosphere - new or old? 

There are quite a few, but I think I'll pick:

Molly Fyde and the Parsona Rescue by Hugh Howey.

Growing up an orphan in the Milky Way hasn't been easy, especially as a teenage girl in the Naval Academy. Unfortunately for Molly Fyde, things are about to get worse. Just as she's finding her place amongst the boys, her unfair expulsion from the Academy takes away the only two things that truly matter: flying in space and her training partner, Cole. Sent off to a normal school, she feels destined for a dull, unspectacular future.

Then, a marvelous discovery changes everything: Her father's old starship, missing for a decade, turns up halfway across the galaxy. Its retrieval launches Molly and Cole on the adventure of a lifetime, one that will have lasting consequences for themselves and billions of others. What starts off as a simple quest to reconnect with her past, ends up forging a new future. And the forgotten family she hoped to uncover is replaced by a new one she never foresaw: a band of alien misfits and runaways... The crew of the starship Parsona.

I'll admit it - I initially judged this book by its cover. But, fortunately, the story inside truly surprised me in a good way. It's the first book in a quartet, and a truly great sci-fi adventure that has a wonderful protagonist and cast of equally memorable characters. Once you get a few chapters in, Howey's writing becomes addictive and difficult to set aside. The different worlds presented are easily visualized because of detailed descriptions. Action, adventure, twists (this series has great shocking twists), and even a little romance - this book deserves some more readers. I would definitely recommend this book for any sci-fi / adventure / mystery fan. 

Go to I Swim for Oceans to join in with your own choice!

"Let's Talk" image from I Swim For OceansCover + Summary from Goodreads

In My Mailbox (73)

IMM is hosted by The Story Siren

For Review - Kindle book

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

Purchased - Kindle bookThe Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan¹Born at Midnight by CC HunterPartials by Dan Wells²
1 Yes, I am a total newbie to this series. The first book was fun, so I can't wait to see where this one goes...2 After reading reviews like the ones on The Book Swarm and I Swim For Oceans, I figured Partials was worth buying. Sounds like such an amazing story!
What did you get this week?


Images from Goodreads

Contests

Melissa from I Swim For Oceans is having a great giveaway for two signed copies of Glorious by Bernice L. McFadden.The novel sounds like a wonderful and touching story. Melissa gave it 4 out of 5 stars, so it must be great!

But hurry, the giveaway ends on April 3rd!! Click here to go enter!!!

And don't forget to go check out Teens Read and Write, they have an awesome interview with Bree Despain as a part of The Dark Divine Blog Tour, and some The Dark Divine Nail Polish up for grabs!

And as a quick addition, the lovely Raila from Get the Books Out of the Bookshelves is having a 50 Follower's contest!!! She's got a copy of The Body Finder and some swag up for grabs, so check it out!

Affiliate News (2)

I now have a third affiliate, and they are none other than the amazing trio that runs Teens Read and Write. I'm so thrilled to call Alyssa, Jake and Gregory my affiliates, I adore their blog!

In case you didn't know, they're having a MegaBook Giveaway - The Sequel, so click the link to start participating!

Jenn's got a great discussion going about Why Are There Bad Covers over at Books At Midnight!

And Melissa from I Swim For Oceans has a Friday Fix interview with herself! It is very entertaining :)

That's it, so I hope everyone had a great week, and you all have a fantastic weekend!

Lea

Affiliates!

I just wanted to announce that I have two affiliates now! You can also see their buttons in my left sidebar under My Awesome Affiliates.

First one is Jenn from Books At Midnight. Today is her Saturday Network feature, so run on over to participate! Also enter her contests for A Match Made in High School Swag Pack and her other contest for a copy of Light Beneath Ferns!

My second affiliate is the lovely Melissa from I Swim For Oceans. She has a Birthday Bash Contest that's ending on the 23rd, so go enter now! Also check out her fun interview with Robby (Once Upon a Book Blog) here!

I'm so proud to call both of these fabulous bloggers my affiliates, especially because I love and enjoy both of their blogs! Every Friday from now on, I'll be posting affiliate-related news (contests, interesting posts, et cetera).

Anyone else interested in being affiliates? Send me an email!

Lea