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Celebrating Utah Authors – May is Utah Author Month!

Natasha Maw — Mon, 02 May 2011 00:34:37 +0000

I am so excited to be sharing book reviews, guest posts and interviews all month long from my awesome local Utah authors! But I’m not alone, Utah has a huge community of book bloggers and you’ll find many of them joining me as well. In addition to tweeting out links, at the end of each week, I will be rounding up all the posts shared from each blogger. This will give us a lot of flexibility as far as posting goes and allows for any Utah book blogger to jump in with posts of their own. (If you filled out the form, just know, that I’m still making my way through the list in emailing everybody but don’t let me stop you from your own postings). I’m excited to get back into regular blog posting and I’m hoping this exciting event gets me back into the blogging groove.

Tomorrow I’ll be sharing with you a photo post and also try to not make you too jealous about how awesome our Utah authors are! Want to know who those authors are and their books? We’ve been hard at work compiling a Goodreads book list. I hope this will be a great resource for you in discovering new reads.

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Maw Books has an affiliate relationship with several bookstores, including Indiebound, Powell’s, and Amazon . When you buy a product (not just books – any product), via one of my links, Maw Books earns income from the sale and as always, it’s much appreciated as all affiliate income is used to support the blog. There is no cost to you.

May is Utah Author Month!

Natasha Maw — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 02:41:10 +0000

The announcement is a long time coming, but this post is to officially let what many of you who are local to Utah already know, May is going to be Utah Author Month!

A entire month dedicated to local Utah book bloggers spotlighting our amazing local Utah authors through reviews, interviews, guest posts, reflections, and whatever else fun and wacky posts we can come up with! Utah is home to an amazing literary community and we want to share it with you!

If you are involved in the literary scene here in Utah (as a blogger, published author, writer, bookseller, publishing professional) please fill out the following form. I will respond to you and coordinate dates and posts. I’m pretty open to any ideas you have to make it a great spotlight! I’m sure there will be a few questions and such, so send them my way. And while, I may not be able to coordinate interviews, etc. with your I-must-interview-this-author-or-die author, I will say that we do have the support of our local authors behind the event, so get your thinking caps on on how you’d like to be involved. All genres, all reading levels and such accepted!

You may discover the nearly 80 Utah Book Bloggers by subscribing to the shared RSS feed, following the Utah Book Community Twitter list, or if you are a book blogger, join our ning group. I also have a great blogroll as well. But who are the authors? In preparation for this month, I started a list on Goodreads to which anybody can add a book by a Utah author. That list has already grown to over 500 books! If you would like to participate in Utah Author Month but need some direction, that list is where I’ll point you.

For the rest of you . . . here’s looking forward to May where we get to share with you how awesome our Utah authors are!

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If you have trouble seeing the form, you may also view it here.

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Photos from the Utah Book Blogger Social

Natasha Maw — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:26:08 +0000

If we keep growing like this then we are going to have to find a new place to host our Utah book blogger socials. We were literally busting through the seams this past Saturday as more than 60 book bloggers, writers and published authors gathered for a fun time.

I was thinking about how much we have grown in the past two years. Here is a photo from the first social that I hosted in my home:

Five of the people were supportive spouses! We have now grown so large that even the thought of posing for a photo with everybody in it . . . well, it simply can’t be done. I believe this social was our fifth one. Wow – time flies when you are having fun!

I am completely overwhelmed with the thought of captioning and naming everybody in all of the following photos, so please forgive me. As you can see, a great time was had by all. And surprisingly, the part where everybody stood up one by one and introduced themselves was the best part! Some people are just too funny!

Although not everybody on the following list was able to make it (we hope you at the next one – which will be in August!), here is a blogroll for you of all the fantastic book bloggers here in Utah! You may discover all of your favorite Utah Book Bloggers by subscribing to the shared RSS feed, following the Utah Book Community Twitter list, or if you are a book blogger, join our ning group.

We had several published authors in our midst, and want to send a shout out to Rick Walton, Bree Despain, Lisa Mangum, Matthew Kirby, Emily Wing Smith, Jaleta Cleggo and Cory Poulson, And oh my goodness, I’m sure I’m forgetting somebody!! We had a myriad of aspiring authors as well, which was just fantastic! I can’t wait to see them published! You will have to forgive me for not naming everybody (but do check out the other posts below – they do a much better job than I).

I think it’s funny because every time Suey fro m It’s All About Books (@sueysays), Becky at One Literature Nut (@mjmbecky) and I host this event it’s almost as if we have a whole different crowd each time. Can you imagine if we actually got everybody together at the same time. Craziness would ensue! Wait. Craziness already ensues!

And the best part about typing up this post a few days after the event, is that I can link over to others posts, who are much more entertaining than me. Particularly Brodi Ashton and Douglas Cootey. That is why they are writers and not me. Although Suey is highly entertaining as well. Other reports: Holly at Book Harbinger, Shanda at LDS Women’s Book Review, Becky from One Literature Nut, Penelope from The Reading Fever. If you’ve written a post, let me know and I’ll add it in.

I think you’ll agree when I say that our literacy community here ROCKS!!! And watch this space for a fun announcement which will highlight our local authors!

P.S. Do let me know if there is a correction or addition to the above blogroll.

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You’re Invited to the Utah Book Bloggers Winter Social!

Natasha Maw — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 12:14:59 +0000

If you are a book blogger, author, aspiring author, bookseller, or publishing industry professional, you’re invited to attend our Utah Book Blogger winter social on Saturday, March 5th at 6pm held in the banquet room at the Golden Corral at 655 East 7200 South in Midvale (map)

The cost is $9.88 per person plus drinks and tip. Be so kind as to RSVP with the number of adults attending so we can have an idea of who and how many to expect. You may RSVP by emailing utahbookbloggers (at) gmail (dot) com.

We will also be holding a book swap as well, so bring a used or loved book to exchange.

And please do spread the word! Blog and tweet about it so others don’t miss out on the news. The best place to keep updated though is by checking in with the Utah Book Bloggers group.

Let myself, Suey, or Becky (also on Twitter as @mawbooks, @sueysays and (@mjmbecky) know if you have any questions. We are really looking forward to hosting this event for Utah Book Bloggers and our local authors. Our socials in the past have been awesome and this dinner will be no exception!

Want to know who all of your Utah book bloggers are? Check out our shared RSS feed, Utah Book Community Twitter list, and the Utah Book Bloggers group.

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Bloggiesta – The Finish Line & Survey

Natasha Maw — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 06:20:25 +0000

You made it! Bloggiesta is coming to a close and you made it to the end! We officially had over 250 bloggers join the fiesta. Improvements, new skills and incredible changes were taking place.

A shout out to the incredible ladies who hosted mini-challenges: Amy from My Friend Amy (@myfriendamy), Tasha from Truth, Beauty, Freedom and Books (@heidenkind), Jen from Devourer of Books (@DevourerofBooks), Jenn from Jenn’s Bookshelf (@jennsbookshelf), Callista at SMS Book Reviews (@callista83), Trish at Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin’? (@trishheylady), Hannah at WordLily (@Wordlily), and Jennifer at Teach Mentor Texts (@mentortexts). And thanks to Danielle from There’s a Book (@the1stdaughter) who helped me input names into the shared RSS feed and to those who hosted the flashback mini-challenges from years past.

Watch my blog in the next couple of days for prize winners. If you posted a finish line wrap up post, feel free to link it up here on the Mr.Linky. A post isn’t required this year but I know some of you would still like the Mr. Linky to go blog hopping. Which I highly encourage – the blog hopping that is.

New this year is an end-of-event survey which I would like to ask you to take the time to fill out. In Bloggiesta’s of the past, I have not conducted a survey before. This year? This year I am craving your input, your thoughts, and general demographics. So have at it!

And when is the next Bloggiesta? I’m thinking June, so stay tuned for details!

Note: There is a survey embedded in this blog post. You may also complete it with this direct link.

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Ole! Now that we have all had a fantastic fiesta, Pedro is off for a siesta!

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Bloggiesta Prize List

Natasha Maw — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 23:45:09 +0000

I would like to give a heartfelt thank you to the following publishers who sponsored Bloggiesta with the following books up for grabs. Publishers have embraced bloggers and for that we are grateful. I was out of town for three weeks and really put Bloggiesta together in the two days before it began. So I’m particularly grateful for these publishers looking past my short-notice emails and donating to our great fiesta!

Harper Perennial

SEPARATE KINGDOMS by Valerie Laken Short stories, 5 Advance Reading Copies, US & Canada shipping

Lee & Low Books

YUMMY by G. Neri, illustrated by Randy DuBurke- 1 copy, signed by author, US shipping

YASMIN’S HAMMER by Ann Malaspina, Illustrated by Doug Chayka – 3 copies, US shipping

AMAZING FACES by by Lee Bennett Hopkins, Illustrated by Chris Soentpiet- 3 copies, US shipping

Walden Media

GUYS READ: FUNNY BUSINESS ed. by Jon Scieszka – 3 hardcover copies, US Shipping

THE BILLIONAIRE’S CURSE by Richard Newsome – 5 hardcover copies, US Shipping

THE FOURTH STALL by Chris Rylander – 3 hardcover copies, US Shipping

COSMIC by Frank Cottrell Boyce – 1 hardcover copy, US Shipping

JUNIPER BERRY by MP Kozlowsky – 1 ARC, US Shipping

Maw Books

In addition to the above books, I will also be throwing in three $15 gift certificates to the store of your choice (or to a book of your choice from Book Depository) to our international participants or those who may have their interests elsewhere.

Jenn at Jenn’s Bookshelf

Jenn has also generously offered any book up to a $20 value from Book Depository shipped to any of our international participants as well. Thanks Jenn!

After Bloggiesta is complete, I’ll randomly pick winners from the Mr. Linky at the start line as well as from those who participated in the mini-challenges (one from each current mini-challenge and then one combined from the flashback mini-challenges. I don’t know if that makes sense to you but it does to me).

Many of you are already wrapping up your festivities. I’m flying by the seat of my pants this weekend, so as soon as I actually complete making the end-of-event survey, I’ll get it posted.

Carry on! Ole!

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Bloggiesta Day 3 – No Way It’s Almost Over?

Natasha Maw — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 08:01:08 +0000

Did you know that Pedro has a sister? Well, he does. But she doesn’t have a name like Pedro (Plan. Edit. Develop. Review. Organize.) does. Maybe we can brainstorm in the comments?

I am so, so, so thrilled with energy of Bloggiesta. It is amazing! The starting line post has almost 250 people signed in and Twitter is going nuts. I really enjoy watching everybody accomplish and learn so much. Seriously. It’s a little thrill when I see somebody learn something new that they didn’t know before or conquer some aspect of HTML. Plus, you are listening to great music, and sharing fantastic food! What’s not to love about that?

Just a bit of housekeeping. I am really trying to visit and comment on everybody’s blogs. Do check to see if your name is in the blogroll in my sidebar for the shared RSS feed. If it’s not, let me know, otherwise I’ll miss reading your posts.

Just a heads up though that if you are on Blogger and do not have the option to comment under a Name/URL then I am having a lot of trouble commenting. I’m logged into a different Google account during Bloggiesta than what I want to comment under. So I have been reading the posts but unable to comment. (As an aside, you may want to reevaluate how easy or not it is for people to comment on your blogs.Perhaps a future mini-challenge?)

Also, watch the blog today for two different posts going up. One will be the prize list! Yay! The second will be the finish line post which will include an end-of-eventsurvey that I really, really, really would love for you to fill out.

Now back to the Bloggiesta! Is it really closing in on the end? About 24 hours left! Make the most of it.

Ole!

And as for Pedro’s sister’s name . . .

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Bloggiesta Day 2 – What a Fiesta! How About Mexican Food?

Natasha Maw — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 18:21:48 +0000

Hola amigos! What a fiesta we are having! The starting line has gone crazy with all kinds of bloggers joining the fray! From the blog posts and Twitter chatter I’ve been reading, this fiesta is hopping! Thank you for making it fantastic!

But right now Pedro is hungry!! All this work has his tummy rumbling for some yummy Mexican recipes. So in full fiesta spirit, I invite you to share your favorite Mexican recipe with us in the comments. I’ll pick one lucky winner from the comments to receive one of our publisher sponsored prizes!

Don’t let me down now!

Mmmm . . . yummy.

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Bloggiesta! Ready, Set . . . Let’s Fiesta!

Natasha Maw — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 01:48:04 +0000

Welcome to the 4th Edition (Wow! Can’t believe this is #4) of the Bloggiesta! Led by none other than our awesome mascot . . .

Pedro!!

Plan. Edit. Develop. Review. Organize.

How to Party!

Bloggiesta begins now and runs through Sunday the 23rd (technically the wee hours of Monday morning). You can really start whenever you want within that time but official hours are 8am to 8am (wherever you are). The hours spent on the challenge do NOT need to be in a row. Use the entire 72 hour time frame and see what you can do with it. It’s your call as to how much you want to put into it. But you have to put something into it or it’s not a challenge.

When you begin the Bloggiesta challenge, sign in with Mr. Linky (at the bottom of this post) and link directly to your Bloggiesta post. That will let me and everybody else that you have officially begun and we can go share our mariachi tunes and cheer you on.

If you have just discovered this challenge, it’s not to late to sign up. Join us anytime! (No need to sign up on the sign up post – just sign up with the Mr. Linky on this page. Just do me a favor and tell me in the comments you just signed up so I can add you to the shared feed & Twitter list.)

How many times (if any) you choose to update is up to you, but you should keep track of the hours spent on the challenge as well as the tasks you have completed. I’m all for making it work for how you best work. You do not need to write a new post for each mini-challenge completed, but do give your awesome hosts some link love.

On Sunday, I will post a finish line post. In a change from last year, you do not need to link up a Bloggiesta summary post. Instead I will have a survey that I’d love to have you fill out so I can implement your feedback better into future Bloggiesta’s.

How To Connect With Other Bloggers

To connect with other Bloggiesta participants subscribe to the shared Bloggiesta RSS feed (this is different from the one we used in July). The nice thing about this feed is that you’ll have everybody’s blog updates at your fingerprints. Feel free to subscribe to your new favorite blogs and then unsubscribe from the shared RSS feed after the weekend. Please do visit some of your fellow bloggers!

Follow @Bloggiesta on Twitter, and use the hashtag #bloggiesta to join the chatter.

Follow the Twitter list of this edition’s Bloggiesta participants.

Feel free to utilize the Blogging Tips forum as well.

New this year are quick links in my sidebar to the links I just listed above as well as the mini-challenges. You’ll also see in my sidebar a blogroll of all those who signed up for Bloggiesta. If you see yourself not listed or have a correction, just let me know.

Mini-challenges!

In addition to your individual tasks, there are also mini-challenges which will help us learn more about blogging and hopefully stretch us a bit. All the challenges will be up for the duration of the Bloggiesta, so you have the entire weekend to peruse and complete them. You don’t have to do them all, nor may they all appeal to you, but for each one that you do complete with a comment on their post, your name will be entered for a giveaway.

We have eight new mini-challenges this year!

The new year is a perfect time to reevaluate your blog. On blogging goals- Amy from My Friend Amy (@myfriendamy)

Bloggiesta is about helping each other out. Take some time to meet new bloggers while giving a lending hand. – Tasha from Truth, Beauty, Freedom and Books (@heidenkind)

Do you find Google Forms confusing? They won’t be now. – Jen from Devourer of Books (@DevourerofBooks)

How do you organize your books? A book lovers dream! – Jenn from Jenn’s Bookshelf (@jennsbookshelf)

How do people make their own buttons and banners anyways? – Callista at SMS Book Reviews (@callista83)

Email out of control? Not staying on top of it? Email best practices and solutions. – Trish at Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin’? (@trishheylady)

10 things bloggers should not do – Hannah at WordLily (@Wordlily)

Not sure how to use Mr Linky? Not anymore you don’t.- Jennifer at Teach Mentor Texts (@mentortexts)

Flashback Mini-Challenges

Because the skills that we learn build on each other, it would be remiss of me to not also link to the mini-challenges which we covered in the first three Bloggiesta editions. Feel free to check out the wealth of information found in these posts. And yes, upon completion of these challenges, leave the host a comment, and I’ll pick prize winners from the comment sections.

Do you have a review policy? Do you even need or want one? - Jennifer at Girls Gone Reading (@girlsgonereadin)
What is RSS and how to make it so your feed is easily discoverable. – Sarah at Puss Reboots (@pussreboots)
Be brave in your writing and push the limits of what your comfortable with – Pam from MotherReader (@MotherReader)
Do you know what programs you can use to discover your stats and what the heck do they mean anyways? – Danielle at There’s a Book (@the1stdaughter)
Getting out from underneath the feed reader. – Rebecca at The Book Lady’s Blog (@bookladysblog)
Using categories & labels to find what you’re looking for. – Beth from Beth Fish Reads (@BethFishReads)
Do not lose it all! How to back up your blog. – Jackie from Farm Lane Books (@farmlanebooks)
What the heck are favicons and gravatars and why you should have them. – Trish from Hey Lady! Watcha Readin’? (@trishheylady)
Anchor text. How to make the most out of your link love. – Michelle from GalleySmith (@galleysmith)
Blogging takes time & I’m sure we’d all love to blog faster. Using a cheat sheet is just one idea of how to save time. – Danielle from There’s a Book (@the1stdaughter)
There is nothing worse than seeing your post on somebody else’s blog. Talking about blog copyright and what you need to be doing to protect yourself. – Pam from Bookalicio.us (@bookaliciouspam)
Got some old material? Taking time to update key pages and posts.- Jen from Devourer of Books (@DevourerofBooks)
Blogging buddies! You should get one! – Amy from My Friend Amy (@myfriendamy)
Got nothing to say (not likely – that’s why you’re blogging in the first place!) but here is an opportunity to brainstorm blogging topics. – Jenn from Jenn’s Bookshelves (@jennsbookshelf)
Creating list and opinion posts. – Beth from Beth Fish Reads (@BethFishReads)
The dreaded 404 error pages. It’s time to go on a dead link hunt! - Karin from Karin’s Book Nook (@kperry)
On vanity alerts. – Emily from Emily’s Reading Room (@emsreadingroom)
Deborah from Books, Movies, and Chinese Food (@beatccr)– Do you have an elevator pitch? You should be able to talk about your blog easily.
Learn from the authorities. Take time out to learn some new blogging tips. – Drea from Book Blather (@awaitinserenity)
You have some great content. But can people find it? Show off your best content – Chelle from Tempting Persephone (@persephonereads)
Have you ever had your blog anaylzed? Now’s the chance! – Ruth from Bookish Ruth (@bookishruth)
Getting your blog listed in several blog directories. – Lynn from Chronicle of an Infant Bibliophile (@I_Bibliophil)

Prizes!

There are prizes! But wait for a separate post for the reveal. You are eligible for Bloggiesta prizes simply by participating! That’s it! There will also be winners chosen from those who complete the mini-challenges and leave a comment on the hosts post.

Start the Fiesta!

Link to your starting line post so everybody else knows you’ve got a fiesta going on at your place!

Have a fantastic fiesta!

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Cybils Awards Shortlist Announced Today

Natasha Maw — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 16:31:19 +0000

Who cares about the New Year right? More important things are here – like the Cybils shortlist announcements! I’ve been waiting months to find out what books have been chosen by Children’s and Young Adult Bloggers as the cream of the crop this past year. And today is the day!

Visit the Cybils website to find shortlists in the categories of Easy Readers/Short Chapter Books, Fantasy & Science Fiction, Graphic Novels, Middle Grade Fiction, Non-Fiction Picture Books, Non-Fiction in Middle Grade and Young Adult, Poetry and Young Adult Fiction.

And last but not least the Fiction Picture Book category. It was this category that I was fortunate to serve as a panelist. To narrow down our list of 262 books to a mere 7 books was incredibly difficult. There were MANY deserving books which we desperately wish could all make the shortlist.

Oh, how I loved so many of the nominated books. Seriously, I love picture books and you will, no doubt, love this Fiction Picture Book shortlist. In no particular order:

Flora’s Very Windy Day by Jeanne Birdsall, illustrated by Matt Phelan
Chalk by Bill Thomson
The Cow Loves Cookies by Karma Wilson, illustrated by Marcellus Hall
Shark vs. Train by Chris Barton, illustrated by Tom Lichenheld
A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Phillip Christian Stead, illustrated by Erin Stead
Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein
A Beach Tail by Karen Lynn Williams, illustrated by Flody Cooper

I think you will agree that each of these books are incredibly special!

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