My book-blogging mentors?

Simple: Kelly. Kelly is all the book-blogging mentors I could possibly need, all rolled up into one book-devouring fellow hermit. She has taught me everything I know about book-blogging that I couldn’t figure out for myself.

I mean, Kel didn’t teach me how to read, nor does she grade my reviews in red ink (“YOU MADE ANOTHER @$!#$ SEMICOLON ERROR, YOU HAPLESS TWIT!!”). Our reading tastes are not identical either, but I know that if she recommends something to me, I’m bound to love it.

So, I knew how to read books, and I’ve always been pretty good at writing reviews. The “business” of book-blogging is where I was lost. I didn’t understand how the whole ARC thing worked, and she explained that to me. She patiently coached me on how to embargo a review, and where she does and does NOT post reviews. When I’d have inane questions at 730 on a Saturday morning, she’d groggily e-mail me back.

Most of all, she’s never expected me to do things exactly the way she does them. Just as authors don’t write books the same way, neither do book-bloggers operate by the same rules. We’re friends, ffs–she’s not my boss. For one thing, I could get a PhD in “Being Organized” from Harvard, and she’d still be more organized than I am. (She could teach post-doc seminars on “Organized Book-Blogging”) She has her reading list laid out, sometimes weeks in advance. I just look in my e-reader, and decide “Gosh, I think I’ll read that Paul Robeson biography today.”

Her enthusiasm for reading never wanes, and her reviews show that. And by God, there’s a fresh review from her every day. With me, you might get two in one day, then nothing for three. (Hey, I’m still working out the kinks, so back off! 😉 )

Anyway. My mentor is Kelly, and she’s all the book-blogging mentor I need.

Thanks, Kel.

Besos, t

(PS: WOOOO! I finished the 15 Day Book Blogger Challenge!! Thanks for reading, y’all.)