What I want to do with these posts and take time to share with you a blog I enjoy.  Maybe its just me but I love to hear peoples background stories.  I think my own journey from random reader to crazy blogger (and yes – I am speaking for myself) is interesting, so I believe that others have stories too.

And… I want to hear them.  And… I want to share them.

At this time I am not sure if this idea I am floating today will hold air or not.  The plan, if all goes well is to do this occasionally.  Interview a fellow blogger and encourage my readers to go and check them out because I think they are pretty cool.  I enjoy looking at blogs – style, layout, the whole works… and I am excited to have the debut of this feature come forward today with a new blogger buddy to me,

Bobbie from Til We Read Again

There are so many things I like about Bobbie’s blog.  One of the first things that caught my eye was the awesome layout.  It’s a clean, classy, blog layout.   And as I started to frequent her blog I noticed that she signs off every post with “Til we read again”… and I love how she ties this back to her blog name. Oh and have you seen the header? It’s fantastic:

So – enough of me…. let me introduce you to Bobbie.

OK Bobbie, you know the theme around here.  How do you take your coffee?

Bobbie:  Cream and one sugar please.

Bobbie, do you remember how we first met?

Bobbie:  I met you during Dewey’s 24 Hour Read A Thon. You contacted me about doing a mini challenge. I remember I was so excited because you were one of my favorite blogger’s. After that we just kept in contact.  🙂

When did you start reading, if you can recall, and what were those books in your earliest memories?

Bobbie:  I was about 8. I started reading The Little House Books. Before that I wasn’t interested in reading. Our school was having a Little House tea. If you read all the books and could answer questions about them you got an invite to the tea. I did get to go to the tea but reading the books was the better prize. After that you couldn’t get a book out of my hands.

How did you discover book blogging and what made you start doing it yourself?

Bobbie: I actually had a book blog last year but I let it go because I was always so busy. I am the type of person that I am always doing something for someone else so my mom challenged me to do one thing for myself. I was still keeping up with book blogs I had found through my old blog so I decided to give it one more shot. I completely re-did my blog and made goals for myself. It is kinda funny that a challenge from my Mom turned out to be such a rewarding experience.

When did you first start blogging?

Bobbie:  I started blogging about 3 years ago. All the blogs I have had was geared to my hobby of making digital scrap kits. I offered kits for free and also let my readers know what I had new in stores.

I have never done digital scrap booking, but have always wanted to try it.  What were your early struggles with blogging?

Bobbie:  I think that all my blogs have had one major struggle for me. Followers. Even with my scrapping blogs I never had more than 40 to 50 followers. It doesn’t help that I am very shy and have a hard time going around to other blogs and commenting. Posting was easy for me because I would just put up freebies or store ads. With my book blog the followers have come easier but now I have a hard time with posts but I am getting better. The book blogging community is one of the best:)

How did you learn to correct these things?

Bobbie:  Well I never did with the Scrap Blogs. However, that is mainly because when you do those types of blogs most people are there to download the freebies. However, I knew with the book blog that a following was crucial to me.  I put myself out there and found that even though I am shy I had something to say and I have made so many bloggy friends in the process.

I agree, the book blogging community is filled with wonderful and helpful people.  Can you share any bloggers that really helped you along the way?

Bobbie:  Yes!  Kay from Pudgy Penguin Perusals. The way I met Kaye was very funny. She was an award free blog and leave it to me to give her an award. I didn’t have my contact info on my blog at the time so she had to track me down to tell me. After I got over the initial embarrassment I found a great bloggy friend)

Trish from Hey Lady Watcha Reading?

And you.

What Is your favorite part about blogging?

Bobbie:  Meeting new people and being able to talk about books. I love going to the blogs and seeing what everyone else is reading. I love adding a new book to my TBR list. My other favorite part is it gives me a purpose. It gives me a reason to do something for myself. I make sure to post at least 3 times a week even if things are busy or if I haven’t read that week. There is always something to say or a meme to do.

What advice would you give a new blogger?

Great advice Bobbie!  Favorite books?

Bobbie:  I am an eclectic reader and like a lot of stuff, lol. I guess my favorites would be:

Bobbie:  I am a closet foodie. I have to try every new restaurant that comes to our new area and I review them under an assumed name. I love the Food Network almost as much as I love books.

Thank you Bobbie for coming and hanging out with us today!  Readers – I encourage you to stop by and welcome Bobbie at Til We Read Again and while you are there – snoop around her blog!