Wow, BBAW '09 went by in a blur. It was an amazing week but incredibly busy as well. My Friend Amy and the BBAW planning team deserve a huge round of applause for the fabulous event they put together this year. THREE CHEERS FOR THE BBAW TEAM!!! I enjoyed doing a small part to schedule author guest posts and I look forward to helping out again next year.
I have some thoughts to share today as I look back over this week. I hope you’ll chime in with your comments at the end. And feel free to add a link to YOUR recap post in the comments as well – I’d love to see what you have to say.
*** My Goals for BBAW ’09 ***
I barely kept up with all the posting at the first BBAW last year and I knew I’d never be able to do it this year. So I set a goal for myself – visit every blog registered for BBAW at least once. BUT THEN! I found out there were 1,200+ blogs registered this year. AND … there was no list posted of all registered blogs. So my new goal became to read every single blogger-swap interview. As of the end of BBAW I’ve read (and commented!) on 160+ of the 257 interviews posted. I’m thrilled with my progress and plan to get to the rest of them in the coming days.
*** What I Loved This Year ***
As with last year, my favorite part of the week was the interviews. For me, they are the best way to meet new bloggers and decide if I want to add their blogs to my Google Reader. So far I’ve added about 20 new blogs … but since I’m not through with the interviews, I’m sure there will be more!
The guest posts on the BBAW blog were great this year. My favorites were Raych’s recap of the past year and the tribute to Dewey (I forgot she had won a BBAW award last year for Best Challenge Host). Completely different posts but both were fabulous.
*** The Awards ***
I also loved getting nominated for, shortlisted for, then winning (?!!!) the award for Best History/Historical Fiction Blog. This was a complete shock to me but an honor nonetheless. My blog is rather eclectic so I was surprised to be a contender in a genre-specific category. However after counting up my book reviews I can say that about 25% of the reviews I do are History or Historical Fiction books. I'm so glad that you all enjoyed those posts enough to think I deserved this award. Thank you all!
*** Next Year ***
I'm already looking forward to next year's BBAW ... although it can take it's time in coming, because I'm exhausted!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
8 comments:
I can't believe you've visited so many of the interview posts!
The interviews were my favorite part too!
I loved the interviews, the peeks at everyone's TBR stacks, the reading meme, and simply getting to discover new blogs.
Congrats again on your blue ribbon win.
Jen - I had to take a few days off b/c I was getting interview burnout. :) But I do really want to get to the rest of them.
bermuda - they're so much fun aren't they?!
Beth F - And congrats to you too - Best New Blog - YAY!
You are insane! Reading all those interviews. I'd want to add them all to my reader.
Which makes me wonder, how DO you decide when to add someone to your reader or not?
I too loved the Raych's Recap and Dewey's Tribute. Both were wonderful.
Suey - I try to be really picky about adding blogs - not b/c they're not good, but b/c I'd get overwhelmed if I added too many. If the interviewee mentions books that I really love, or has a very unique perspective, or something else that makes them stand out, then I add them to my google reader in a special folder. After a few weeks of reading their posts I decide if they should stay and be moved to a permanent folder, or if they should be deleted. That's the best I can do and it seems to work for me.
Great job visiting all of those posts! It really was overwhelming this year, and I didn't pace myself so I burnt out about halfway through the week. Next year I'll have to have a better plan.
Congrats on your win, Heather!
BBAW 09 was a lot of fun! I did the themed posts each day, but couldn't keep up with reading all the Mr. Linkys.
Blogger interviews are one of my favorite parts of the celebration, too; so much fun to be introduced to new-to-me blogs.
Post a Comment