what’s a great new book blog you’ve discovered since last year’s BBAW?
I had a crazy week and didn’t even know about this question until this morning when I seen it popping up on blogs. I had an answer in mind all day but with the Monday meme I was going to skip it…. plus my answer breaks a rule right away.
Ooh…. but I kind of like that….
The blog I would like to mention actually no longer exists, but it is still one that is dear to my heart, as is the blogger.
J Kaye from J Kaye’s blog is one of the first book blogs I remember in my early bloggy days. She always had interesting posts, reviews, and giveaways. She would post how to do things and was more than happy to help a new blogger (errr…. me).
When J Kaye’s blog was up and going I stopped in daily. She was a chatty blogger and you could always pop in later in the day and she would have a response to your comment. I liked that. It was like having a conversation. In fact I learned much from her skills as a book blogger and implement some of her style in my own blog.
In February of 2010, as J Kaye was closing down her blog to spend more time on her writing, she passed on to me The It’s Monday! What Are You Reading meme. When she asked me if I would continue on with this weekly meme I was so honored. I still am and try hard to hold it to the wonderful standards she had set.
I can still peak in at J Kaye at her new spot on the web, 365 Days Of Novel Writing, at least for a little while. And once in a while she will still pop in with a comment or two which always makes me smile. It is like a visit from an old friend.
Thank you J Kaye for everything you taught me about blogging. 🙂
Book Journey 
J. Kaye’s blog is a wonderful one to highlight – she did so much for so many new bloggers!
She did Kathy – I learned so much from her. 🙂
Wow, I didn’t know she stopped blogging. I loved her blog myself. Good luck to her with her writing though, how exciting!
Joy she is still chatting on her 365 days blog but I think she is planning to stop that as well at the end of the year and focus solely on the writing.
I miss J. Kaye’s blog too! What a wonderful tribute to her.
Amanda, her passing of the meme was like a torch for this blog. I was so scared if the readers would follow the meme once it switched hands and I wanted it to be a success as she had built it to be. 🙂
The meme brought me a lot of new readers and bloggy friends as well.
J Kaye’s is one of the first blogs I discovered as well when I began participating in reading challenges.
Nise – yes I forgot about how many challenges she would have. In fact the 100 books in a year one I am doing is from her.
Thanks for spotlighting J.Kaye! I think she did a lot to make people feel welcome in the book blogoshere!
Amy I think so too. She was so helpful to us newbies. 🙂
I think J. Kaye’s It’s Monday What Are You Reading meme was the first one I ever participated in. I don’t think there is/was a blog with more going on! I miss her presence but I know she’s doing what she wants to be doing and that’s a good thing 🙂
I agree Mary. It had to be hard to let go of the blog but she went the way her heart desired and that is a good thing. I hope someday we are reading her books! 😀
J. Kaye is a great blogger and is very helpful and supportive. Since I have a lot of blogs, I am always surprised to see her popping in on any of them where I’ve written a post. Like you said, a visit from an old friend.
It makes me smile every time Laurel 🙂
I love how interactive J. Kaye is! I had quite a few great conversations on her blog when I first started blogging – fantastic choice, Sheila!
Lydia I really enjoyed that too… and people would keep the conversation going. I could go away – come back in a few hours check in and see how the conversation was going…. loved it.
Agreeeed Sheila..
JK was one of the first person who welcome me to the blog community – I do miss her chatty style and her post that filled up my google reader.
I really wasn’t sure how she found the time, but she is one of the better example of true blogger community minded person..
Thanks for highlighting her….
E.H>
E H, yes – community is the perfect word. I think that is what really drew me in. 🙂
I too enjoyed J. Kaye’s blog. I may have linked to hers from yours or from yours to hers. It is good she is taking the time to do what she wanted and didn’t wait any longer.
Pat, I think she had three or four years of blogging in when she stopped. She took what was the community part of her blog, the meme and challenges and she passed them on to others so they continued. That was kind of cool.
I love J. Kaye! I think she’s so fun! I agree with others in thanking you for spotlighting her!
Thanks Jill. 😀
J. Kaye’s was one of the first blogs that I read too. She was so kind and helpful to us new bloggers!
Alyce I remember her posts where she would explain how to make sure you were following a blog or how to insert pictures – she would take it step by step. In the early days I was so needing all the help I could get. 😀
This is such a touching story. Even though I didn’t know J. Kaye’s blog, it sounds like it must’ve been wonderful!
Thanks Iris, she was. 🙂
I check out her site 365 Days of Novel Writing – cool site. I’m glad she pass along “It’s Monday” to you. 🙂
I am too Jill. It has been a lot of fun and I like doing it. 🙂
I think it’s wonderful you’re highlighting an old blogger and it’s nice for me, as a new blogger, to read about a person who helped those bloggers I read regularly.
Thank you Charlie! She taught me much.
What a sweet tribute!
Thanks Hannah, I was happy to do it. 🙂
I’m so glad you shared.
I miss J. Kaye. Whomever took over her blog has run it down. I don’t even follow it now, it got that bad for me. She always had great content and kept in check with us readers. She is a gem!
She was a great community builder teenagersmom! 🙂
You know, I never made the jump to her other blog. Thanks for the heads up 🙂
Oh good Staci I am glad I could help you connect with j Kaye again.
J. Kaye has inspired so many book bloggers she had a post about being passionate with everything you do but the way she said it really hit home for me and changed the way I did things. She is amazing and I can’t wait to see her first novel…I thank you also for highlighting her I believe she has touched a lot of people.
I am excited for her book too Heidi. I like the things she taught me too.
She has to be amazing…when I just started to blog…she was making her decision to stop…now she and I communicate about books we have mutually read on goodreads…she must have been an awesome blogger and friend…
She was… and is Patty 🙂
Oh Sheila, your post, the comments have really choked me up. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for everything. (Also, your rule-breaking comment made me smile. I love breaking rules too. Adds a little zing to life.)
Thank you J Kaye. For everything. You built a little bit of the blogging community with your heartfelt posts and many of us, and you can see, miss you and thank you. 🙂