My Monday Musings…

Last month I talked about joining Libro.fm’s ALC (Audiobook Listening Copy for reviewers) program. You get to download from that months selections and I thought I would share what I pick each month.

I only chose two for August because I wasn’t sure if I would like the app but I love it!

September downloads:

Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi ~ Goodreads “Yaa Gyasi's stunning follow-up to her acclaimed national best seller Homegoing is a powerful, raw, intimate, deeply layered novel about a Ghanaian family in Alabama.”

Channel Kindness: Stories of Kindness and Community by Born This Way Foundation Reporters, Lady Gaga ~ Goodreads “A collection of 51 stories of kindness, bravery, and resilience from young people all over the world collected by the Born This Way Foundation and introduced by Lady Gaga.”

Shit, Actually by Lindy West ~ Goodreads “New York Times opinion writer and bestselling author Lindy West was once the in-house movie critic for Seattle's alternative newsweekly The Stranger, where she covered film with brutal honesty and giddy irreverence. In Shit, Actually, Lindy West returns to those roots, re-examining beloved and iconic movies from the past 40 years with an eye toward the big questions of our time: Is Twilight the horniest movie in history? Why do the zebras in The Lion King trust Mufasa--who is a lion--to look out for their best interests? Why did anyone bother making any more movies after The Fugitive achieved perfection? And, my god, why don't any of the women in Love, Actually ever fucking talk?!”

Anxious People by Fredrik Backman ~ Goodreads “From the author of A Man Called Ove - This is a poignant comedy about a crime that never took place, a would-be bank robber who disappears into thin air, and eight extremely anxious strangers who find they have more in common than they ever imagined.”

When No One Is Watching by Alyssa Cole ~ Goodreads “Rear Window meets Get Out in this gripping thriller from a critically acclaimed and New York Times Notable author, in which the gentrification of a Brooklyn neighborhood takes on a sinister new meaning…”

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A pretty eclectic mix of humor, essays and books that make you think. It seems I do much better reading outside my usual genres on audio and these are all far outside my genres.

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I’ve also been trying to buy at least one book from an indie bookstore each month. My August purchase was You Had Me at Hola by Alexis Daria ~ Goodreads from Books & Crannies in Martinsville, VA.

And!!!! I won a book from Tanya at Girls Plus Books – THANK YOU TANYA! I never win anything lol

Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi, Yusef Salaam ~ Goodreads

What are you reading this month? Have you read or do you want to read any of my picks?

I'm not sure what indie store or book to pick this month. Any suggestions?

Whatever Wednesday - Wacky Headlines

I don't know about you - but I could use a laugh this week.

The headlines are usually depressing as hell but here are a few that should give you a giggle or two. Or in the case of that last one - the heebie jeebies lol

Tell Me Something Tuesday

Tell Me Something Tuesday is hosted by Rainy Day Ramblings and discusses a wide range of topics from books to blogging.

Question: What's the biggest mistake you made as a newbie blogger? (Courtesy of Roberta@Offbeat YA)

Answer: So. Many. Mistakes. lol

I started this blog almost 11 years ago and I never thought in a million years that anyone would read it. It was just for me – more like a journal – to keep track of what I read, watched, and listened to and to talk about pets and life.

Book reviews were just starting to become a thing and I had never heard of an arc.

So…I didn’t really think much at all about contact information, social media names and all that.

My absolute biggest mistake was having different names for everything. I created my blog with my personal email. Later, when I realized I needed a blog contact email it was too late to connect it to my blog so I have a different sign in email than a contact email and it’s very confusing.

At the time, I was more focused on my dogs (3 shelties) and doing agility/obedience so all my SM accounts are teamsheltie. I thought I would be talking to dog people – not book people lol

A few years later, I was at my first BEA conference and you could add your twitter handle on your badge. While I was in line talking to people, they would ask about my blog – stare blankly because they never heard of me – then see teamsheltie and go…OH I KNOW YOU – I LOVE YOUR DOGS!! So it sort of stuck at that point. And now most versions of For What It’s Worth are taken anyway.

It’s sort of worked in a weird way. People do remember it. But it’s inconsistent and less professional when it comes to contacting publishers, making business cards and all that.

Also, after I lost Fonzi and didn’t have a sheltie it was weird and depressing every time I saw that handle. Like what if I get a Rottweiler at some point. @teamrottweiler? lol

Mistakes…I’ve made a few

And of course there are the usual suspect mistakes that I think every just starting out blogger makes:

* Requesting too many books

* Accepting too many books for review because you think you will love everything/have time to read it all/ hate saying no.

* Trying to post 7 days a week

* Trying to read what all the cool kids were reading even if it wasn’t my jam

*Just added - listening to this is the THIS IS HOW YOU MUST BLOG posts. I lost my voice and probably followers. Blog how you want!

I'm sure there are dozens more but that's all I could think of for now. What mistakes have you made as a newbie blogger?