September's ILYB Award Winner: IB Book Blogging

A few months ago, I came upon a blog with an intriguing name. After knowing about the IB program, I had to see what this blogger was doing. After looking around seeing the beautiful designs and reviews, I contacted Bailey to ask her a few questions about the IB program. In a few conversations, I knew that Bailey deserved some recognition for pulling together an amazing blog while still being a high school student. That's why, I picked Bailey and IB Book Blogging to be this month's ILYB Award winner!

Here is my interview with Bailey:

How did you get started blogging?

Well, in the summer of 2010 I got really into reading book blogs. All of the blogs that I read inspired me to contribute to the community of book lovers but it took me awhile to actually do something. I was pretty self-conscious at first about whether my reviews would suck, or no one would read them. But I met some pretty awesome bloggers who gave me advice and helped me to gain confidence.

How did you come up with the blog design?

Rachel from Parajunkee made my blog design and I love it so much! I love faeries and my favorite colors are pink and purple so I asked her to incorporate that into my design, and she took off with it. I couldn't have asked for a better layout for my blog!

What do you think your blog brings to the blogging community?

I think my blog brings thoughtful reviews to the blogging community.

Have there been any highlight moments since you've started blogging?

Goodness, there have been so many! I guess one of them would be when I celebrated my blogoversary. I cannot believe that it has been that long already!

What do you think is the best and worst part of blogging?

The best part of blogging is the friends that I make in the community and the readers that tell me they love my blog. =) I honestly can't think of anything bad about blogging.

As a teen, what are some advantages and disadvantages with blogging?

The advantage is that I probably have more time to blog than an adult who probably works full time would. The disadvantage is that I feel like sometimes teen bloggers aren't taken as seriously as the adult bloggers.

What reads are you looking forward to reading?

I am really excited to read Incarnate by Jodi Meadows, Everneath by Brodi Ashton, and Article 5 by Kristen Simmons. I have been drooling over them for awhile!!

Is there any genres you could never read?

Probably horror. I do not handle scary stuff very well and easily get nightmares. I know, I am a wimp. ;)

What would you like to do with your blog in the future?

Well, I am almost 18 now so I would like to start posting reviews of the adult books that I read along with YA, kind of to reflect my transition from teen to adult.

Will there be any events in the next few months?

Well, as soon as I reach 1000 followers (So close!) I will have a huge celebration and giveaway. =)

What have you learned from blogging?

I have learned how to become a better writer and how to manage my time better, what with my full IB schedule. It isn't easy managing a blog with IB but I still manage. =)

Do you have any tips or advice for new bloggers?

Don't worry about what others will think of your blog or your reviews! Do what you want to do, read what you want to read, and write what you want to write!

Bonus: With the fall season coming up, what do you do to keep cozy while reading?

I like to curl up with a warm blanket and my doggies while I read. They definitely keep me warm and cozy. =)

You can find Bailey on:

Blog l Twitter l Goodreads l Facebook

Thank you to Bailey for having an amazing blog and taking some time out to answer our questions.

Peace and Fangs,
Alisha

July's ILYB Award Winner: Smash Attack Reads!

A few months ago, I found this amazing book blog with a hilarious female blogger behind it all. Recently, I got the chance to have little chats with her on Twitter. For this month, I decided that this girl needed to get some credit for her hard work on her blog and having an amazing attitude along with the ride. I'm pleased to say that Ash from Smash Attack Reads! is this month's award winner! Here's my Q and A with her below:

How did you get started blogging?

Well, my great friend Brooke at Brooke Reviews had been reviewing for a while and started a blog. I enjoyed interacting on her blog, and began to notice that my personal blog was becoming populated with bookish posts, so I decided to take the plunge. I am beyond happy that I made that decision. Book blogging is a major part of my life now. ♥

How did you come up with the name of your blog, Smash Attack Reads!?

I’ve been Smashley for most of my life. Mom named me that as a toddler because I would smash into things, people, walls. LOL. My closest friends call me Smash. Brooke randomly called me Smash Attack one day (she has no idea why) and it stuck. I LOVE the nickname. It has become my alter-identity. ;)

Over the past few years, what have you learned from blogging?

I’ve been blogging for a good 15 years now. I mainly used Livejournal in my 20s – that was the place to be. It was definitely a journal of sorts and a way to connect with friends and share similar interests. I started a personal blog on Blogger in 2008, and now use Blogger for my book blog.  It’s the last year that I’ve learned the most about blogging because my book blog is a professional medium, and therefore, I’ve done a lot of research and put a lot of work into it. Events like Blogiesta and Parajunkee’s Book Blogging 101 feature has been hella helpful. Windows Live Writer has definitely been the best think to cross my path. I’m not sure I’d still be blogging if I had to use Blogger’s interface!

What is your favorite thing about blogging? The worst?

THE BLOGGERS! I absolutely love meeting and maintaining friendships with other bloggers. I’ve met some amazing people and I am constantly in awe at the genuine, generous souls in this community. The worst part about blogging is that I wish I could do it full-time. Life gets in the way of reading and blogging. Boo. Thankfully, I’m good at time management. :)

What does your blog bring to the book and blogging community?

It’s nothing out of this world, but I try to bring my unique POV to the community. I wish I had more time to invest in making Smash Attack Reads! more unique, but for now, I’m content with the content and features. I finally have a set weekly schedule that I am happy with for now.

What are your favorite book genres to read?

I really enjoy Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, and Young Adult Fantasy / Paranormal. I also love books that dabble in Angel or Greek mythology or have a Dystopian setting, and I read Horror, Historical Romance and various other genres from time to time.

As of right now, what have been your favorite reads for 2011?

As far as 2011 releases go: Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer was pretty great, though not as good as Nightshade. Good, solid sequel though. Divergent by Veronica Roth was amazeballs, as was Enclave by Ann Aguirre. LOVE this genre. Clarity by Kim Harrington was a dark horse, and Intern with a Vampire by Kit Iwasaki was so much fun. I also really enjoyed Anathema by Megg Jensen, and Zombies Don’t Cry by Rusty Fischer was funny! Pale Demon by Kim Harrison was ridiculously awesome (LOVE THIS SERIES!) and Shadowfever by Karen Marie Moning was a great ending to the Fever series. Shift, the sequel to Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready, was a fantastic read. Both book are fab! I know I will add Trial by Fire by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, Lover Unleashed by J.R. Ward and City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare to this list once I read them!

What do you like about interviewing? Do you have a favorite interview?

I like the personal questions best, and I always ask “What five adjectives best describe you.” I also do this at live author events, and put authors on the spot. Heh. I like knowing the person behind the book. Carolyn Crane was one of my first interviews, and it’s great because she is great. :)

What are some happenings going on over at SAR?

Nothing out of the blue really. I’ve got a weekly non-book feature every Saturday for So You Think You Can Dance fans. Jen from Not Now, I’m Reading and I do recap posts with videos, commentary and the like. We both adore that show. I don’t have anything cool in the works (I need to work on this), though I am getting a custom blog design (FINALLY). It will have owls, of course. :)

What is the Book Whore of the Month?

Ha! It’s so bad that I created a Feature with the word Whore in it, but it works so whatever. One day in January, I forwarded a Tweet that Amazon Kindle eBooks outsold hard copy books on the site, and Marcie over at To Read or Not To Read commented about it. We both agreed that it was sad to see our beloved physical books get put on the back burner but that it was beneficial to us spatially challenged peeps. Marcie started to use the hash tag #PassTheClutter, and it turned into a funny conversation. Marcie said she doesn’t want Hoarders showing up at her door, and I said we should create a new Hoarders show: Book Whores: Why We Love Them, and my new idea was born. To me, Book Whores are rock stars. And by book whore, I mean the awesome bloggers that we all love so much. I decided to take the idea and showcase some of my favorite bloggers. However, it’s not only what I love about them, but I send out secret emails to others to see what they love about them too. And, the book whore gets to pick the next person to receive whore status. I love it to pieces, and I’ve met awesome new bloggers in the process!

Do you have any special events going on this summer at SAR?

I wish. I finished grad school in May, moved in July, and I’m starting a new job Aug 1. Life has been hella busy. However, I would like to do something cool soon. It’s been a while since I’ve had a neat event. I need ideas though. I really suck at coming up with these things. :/ I do plan on doing my first joint review with Ashley at The Bookish Brunette soon though. It will be on a zombie book, of course!

Do you have any tips or advice for upcoming bloggers?

Check out this post I did for Armchair BEA. Windows Live Writer is my ULTIMATE tip. It will change your entire blogging experience!

Bonus: How do you feel about the Harry Potter movies coming to an end?

Wow. It’s crazy that the time has finally come. I am wicked sad that it is all over, but I am also beyond proud of what these 7 books have done for the book community. Just like Twilight, Harry Potter catapulted the world back into reading, and introduced so many others to the awesomeness of the written word. I’m huge on Literacy, and it’s books like HP that really prove to the world that reading is most definitely fun.

You can also check Ash out on her:
Twitter l Facebook l Goodreads l Tumblr

Peace and Fangs,
Alisha

February's ILYB Award Winner: Twilight, Travel, and Treats

I found this blog when I met Jenny from TwiMobile. She makes mobile blogs for all of her blogging friends and I found out that she had a blog of her own. I had to give her this month's award just by the title. She was writing about some of my favorite things: Twilight, traveling, and cupcakes! She has a very beautiful blog that is very eye-appealing. I love her recaps of her travels and seeing the pictures of her decorative treats. I recently had a Q&A with her:

How did you come up with the concept of Twilight, Travel, and Treats?I'd been lurking on Twitarded for a long time. They were incredibly funny and on occasion were the only thing to make me laugh during the course of a day. I found myself having some Twi related thoughts I just had to share and didn't think there would be anyone in my regular life that would want to hear it. Plus my husband started a travel blog. Hence I decided to start blogging as well. I felt guilty devoting my entire blog to Twilight because, at the time, I still focused a lot on baking and I just had to add some travel photos in. It just seemed to extreme to be "just" a twilight blogger - only a crazy fan would do that!

How did you become a part of the TwiCommunity?I used to lurk and occasionally comment on the Twitarded blog. Eventually I became friends with Dangrdafne after asking about her Italy pictures. The exact details of how I found myself in the community elude me. I must have commented on the Twitarded forums. I remember that 17foreverlisa, Dangrdafne, and Jelena were some of my first readers - thanks to those gals! Mrs. P was kind enough to let me enter her Twi-Bite challenge (go read it if you haven't before) even though I was a relative blogging newbie and I found many Twi friends like Twired Jen that way.

Where was your favorite place to travel to so far?Difficult one...I really love Hawaii. It's tropical but without the risk of disease. Is that too medical of me? I love that it's still North America but with a twist. Plus my good friend and Forks roomie Honolulu Girl from TrueBloodTwilight resides there :)
Tuscany comes a very close second. There's a moment where my husband and I are driving in our little convertible in the countryside watching the sunset. I have some "Pride and Prejudice" piano music going on in the background and it feels surreal - like "this is the ultimate moment we've been waiting for". I still get chills ;)

What is/was your dream place to travel to?I would love to travel to a remote island one day with my husband. White beaches, quiet surf, but with all the modern amenities. Doesn't matter to me quite where it is as long as it's air conditioned, has a modern kitchen, huge bathroom with multiple shower heads, and a white canopy bed out on the beach!

You say you love cupcakes. What is your favorite kind of cupcake?My cousin took me to Kara's cupcakes in San Francisco. I love their Chocolate Velvet - classic but not overly sweet for me (although I'm sure it is to some).

What do you think makes your blog unique from others?The travel and treats part ;) And I'm Canadian. Being in Vancouver I wish I had as many set stalking photos as Malicious Mandy but I don't have the time or the guts to go to those lengths.
I don't post often but I try and make sure that when I do that the content is rich and if someone is interested that it will be informative.

Do you have anything new coming to Twilight, Travels, and Treats for 2011?I've been debating whether or not to convert back into wordpress.com. Reason being that my old Twilight, Travel, and Treats blog at http://twilightcupcake.wordpress.com/ still gets as many hits as the one on blogger that I'm currently using. And I haven't posted on Wordpress since August! Wordpress.com is definitely better for search engine traffic.
I have a new layout planned if I convert back to Wordpress. Hence the debate because the new layout is hard to implement on blogger but it's a pretty silver theme.

Are there any traveling tips for the readers?Plan ahead! I am notoriously OCD about making lists and I think it has served me well. I don't plan all our excursions because that takes out too much of the fun and makes vacations feel like work. But I play hotels and flight months ahead if I can. I use a lot of tripadvisor (keeping in mind to read negative reviews because sometimes people deduct marks for inconsequential things) and priceline/hotwire. I also have been surfing the Mr. and Mrs. Smith travel site to see where I should dream of staying and then book directly with the hotel.

Do you make your own desserts? If so, what was the best thing you think you made?I don't make as many desserts as I'd like. My husband loves chocolate mousse so I make that for him. The most addictive thing that I make is a super gooey chocolate chunk chocolate cookie. My husband found the recipe and said "make me these please" and he made a good choice.

Can you tell the readers what your other blog, Twi-Mobile is about?I originally made some tutorials about how to read fanfiction on my iPhone and then about how to make a mobile version of a blog. Eventually I decided to move these to a separate blog so as not to annoy all the non-mobile people. Twi-Mobile has now grown into a much bigger entity than Twilight, Travel, and Treats. Last year I had 10,000 hits I think on Twi-Mobile. It's really supposed to be a headquarters for any Twilight surfer who loves to use their iPhones or other mobiles to surf. I've got over 70 of the Twilight blogs and sites that have mobile versions listed as affiliates plus wallpapers for mobiles and also a whole section on reading fanfic on mobiles and making a blog mobile friendly. It's quite a lot of info actually. Takes up more of my time now than anything else!

How are you able to make the wallpapers for iPads, iPhones, etc?I use a Photoshop template that has the iPad or iPhone dimensions and blocked out areas already built into the layers. It makes it easier to design when I know where the clock or unlock bar will be. It is much better for making iPad wallpapers that will work in landscape or portrait mode. It's a real pain sometimes to get those right though. Most wallpapers out there don't care and assume you're using landscape so I may have to eventually cave and just go with the status quo.

How can blogs have their blogs mobile by you?I've got a whole section devoted to that at Twi-Mobile. If anyone has trouble figuring it out of course they can email me at twimobile (at) gmail (dot) com.

What is your favorite thing about blogging? Worse?The best? I love that I have an outlet for my Twilight craziness which is relatively hidden from my real life. It's also given me a place to be creative. Until I started this blog the only time I ever wrote was in scientific reports. Not a single creative word since first year English. It's nice to discover another side of yourself that you either thought was dead or never knew existed.
The worst? Feeling pressure to post. I have resigned myself to my follower number and now that Twi-Mobile gets good traffic I don't stress about readership for my regular blog. I'm just glad to have a place to discuss my Twilight obsession.

What have you learned from in the blogging world?That although online life can be dangerous the world of penpals is still alive. Just in a different format. There's a reason that our mothers used to have penpals back in the day. There is a whole community of wonderful, strong, intelligent, and caring women that I never knew existed until I started blogging. For anyone who is introverted and self-critical it is a surprisingly easy and refreshing way to express yourself.

Do you have any blogging tips for upcoming/new bloggers?
Don't try to be anyone else. It's too hard. Write what you know and don't worry about readership numbers. The whole point of this thing is to express yourself and have an outlet - if you stress about followers it becomes too much like work!

Please visit Jenny's two blogs! They are stunning and amazing!

Peace and Fangs,
Alisha

'I Love Your Blog' Awards: December 2010 Winner--All Things Urban Fantasy

Don't you miss that icon?! I do! I'm glad to close this year with an amazing blog as December's Winner. All Things Urban Fantasy is this month's winner and I am so honored to give this award to the girls over at ATUF. A few months ago, I found this review blog when searching for new blogs to follow. I fell in love with the design immediately and soon was addicted to Abigail's reviews. To wrap up 2010, I wanted to give this award to a blog that deserves some recognition for being absolutely amazing and a great contribution to the blog world. So, here's to you, Abigail and Julia! ATUF definitely deserves this!

Here's my Q&A with Abigail:

How did you get started blogging?

I never set out to start a blog. I’d written reviews for years, but it wasn’t until I got caught up in the paranormal world through the Buffy TV show that I discovered the blogging community. When I started trying to find books similar to Buffy, I stumbled across Doug’s amazing blog, SciFiGuy.ca. I started paying attention to the things I liked about various blogs and what I didn’t. Finally I took the plunge in September 2009.

How did you get the idea for ATUF?
At the time, there were only a handful of paranormal fiction blogs available, and I thought I could fill a void. In hindsight, I wish I’d spent more time comparing Blogger to Wordpress before choosing Blogger.

How did you come up with the name for your blog, All Things Urban Fantasy?
Honestly, I had two really pragmatic reasons for choosing my title: I wanted it to show up first alphabetically and I wanted it to include the words “Urban Fantasy” so that I would get more search engine hits. Voila: All Things Urban Fantasy. I did have more fun coming up with the tagline: Where Para is Normal

What makes your blog stand out from others?
Visually, I‘m still crazy in love with my header that I had designed. I wanted something that looked like an urban fantasy cover and I think we nailed it.

Content wise, ATUF has a lot of regular features like Hot Off The Press (a list of monthly new releases), Cover Art Coverage (a collection of all the new covers released that week), How I Blog (my tips and tricks to blogging), Top Ten Lists (that one’s self explanatory) and phenomenal guests and giveaways.

ATUF also hosts special events throughout the year like Paranormal Summer Fest, Spooky Legends, Turkey Tales, and my personal favorite, The Urban Fantasy Cover Art Awards.

What is your favorite thing about blogging? The worse?
Honestly, the best thing is free books. I know a lot of bloggers say it’s not about ARCs, but that’s a huge perk. That and getting to interview authors.

The worst is the colossal time suck that a blog becomes. I had no idea going in how much work is involved. Having a partner has saved my sanity.

What have you learned from blogging?
Lots, that’s why I started my How I Blog feature :)

I know that you have started your 2010 Cover Awards, I certainly voted! How did you come up with the Cover Awards and when did you start them?
I started the awards just two months after I started my blog. I was looking for something to bring attention to my blog and I’ve always been obsessed with cover art. It took awhile to figure out the logistics, but it’s now my favorite event that I host.

How is this year's Cover Awards different from previous?
Time! I only had about a month of planning last year. This year, I started in August and had plenty of time organize the nomination/voting ballot and streamline the voting process, which in turn freed me up to contact all the authors and artists right away this year. I also had lots of bloggers who were anticipating the awards and started to promote from day one.

You have done lots of interviews, what is your favorite parts of interviewing? Do you have a favorite interview?
It can be challenging trying to come up with new questions for each interview, but it is unbelievably wonderful to have that kind of access to the authors you love. I do have one question I always ask and the answers are always great: “If X were ever made into a movie, who would your dream or, to keep things interesting, nightmare cast be?”

My favorite interview has to be the one I did with Maggie Stiefvater for LINGER. She’s one of my all time favorite authors and she was unbelievably generous with her answers.

Giving that you are a book reviewer, what have been you favorite books of 2010?
I actually just did a giveaway for my favorite books from 2010. These are the ones I rated 5/5:
Bayou Moon by Ilona Andrews
Magic Bleeds by Ilona Andrews
Soulless by Gail Carriger
Double Cross by Carolyn Crane
The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting
Nightshade by Andrea Cremer
Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater
Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel
The Greyfriar by Clay & Susan Griffith
City of Ghosts by Stacia Kane
Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning
Hunted By The Others by Jess Haines

What are you thinking of doing differently or bringing to ATUF in 2011?
I have a few surprises planned, but nothing drastic. I hope to review lots more books this year with Julia on board:)

What is one thing you wished you would have done differently since starting ATUF?
Only one? I probably would have gone with Wordpress over Blogger. The permalink feature alone would be worth it. And I probably would have gone with my own domain instead of the default .blogspot.com.

You have one feature called, How I Blog, can you give bloggers any tips?
My number one tip is the one I did my first How I Blog post about: Windows Live Writer. It’s a free program that you build your posts with. Check out my post to see what is so amazing about it.

What are you looking forward to for the upcoming holidays?
Books for Christmas!

Do you have any blog New Years resolutions?
Not to over extend myself.

Is there anything special you want for the holidays?
I jumped the gun and bought myself a Kindle over the summer, so I just want books and of course the time to read them. Oh, and a Snuggie!

I saw you have a new reviewer on the ATUF crew, Julia. How did she become your blog partner?
Julia. I was going quietly nuts before she joined ATUF. I was getting so many review requests, I couldn’t keep up. I decided to advertise for a new reviewer and of the 35 applicants, Julia was my first choice. She’s amazing and has such a wonderful conversational review style.

You have new community launched called Pocket After Dark, what is that about?
Pocket After Dark is a new site that Pocket books launched this year. Here’s the official copy:

Welcome to Pocket After Dark, an online community of urban fantasy and romance readers, where top authors share exciting new content and interact with fans. Check here regularly for free books, live chats, exclusive blogs, photos, video and more! So belly up to the bar at Pocket After Dark.

What is one thing you always live by when blogging?
Organization. Keep track of your contacts, upcoming guests, and review schedule. Time is the enemy of blogging and the more organized I am, the better use I’m able to make of my time.

Peace and Fangs,
Alisha

First Annual 'I Love Your Blog' Awards (Winners!)

I'm glad to say that the first annual 'I Love Your Blog' Awards has been done! I want to say thank you to everyone who voted and thank you to all of the nominated blogs for bringing us amazing blogs! Keep up the amazing work!

Here are the winners for each category:

Peace and Fangs,

Alisha

Vote For the First Annual 'ILYB' Awards

It's here...it's here! After, being way too busy to even think straight, I have made the form for the ILYB Awards voting. Voting is now open to everyone who wants to take part in the first annual ILYB Awards! Click here to vote! (Voting closes November 29!)

Peace and Fangs,
Alisha

ILYB Updates: Award Categories

Here are the categories for the ILYB Awards (go check out the nominees so far participating in the first annual ILYB Awards!):

1. Funniest Blog


2. Best Design

3. Best Content

4. Best New Blog

5. Best Twilight Blog

6. Best Review Blog

7. Best Event/Challenge

8. Most Creative Name

9. Best Gossip/Entertainment Blog

10. Best Topic Blog

11. Best Interviews

12. Best Blog of the Year

Official 'I Love Your Blog' Awards Site!

Here is my first post on the site! Visit the site to nominate your favorite blogs!

Hi, all! This is the officialy site to the 'I Love Your Blog' Awards! It took my forever to think up whether or not to do a site on Weebly or Blogger but I decided to stick with what I know and made this lovely blog on the lovely Blogger!


I will give all new updates on the Awards and on the first annual 'I Love Your Blog' Awards! Right now I'm getting the Awards situated, as soon as I get it situated, the categories will be up!

But, the nominations form above will be open for all of you who want to nominate a blog to be in the Awards, not for certain categories yet. Once we get a list of all the blogs who are nominated, we will post the list up and then everyone can look at the blogs and choose which blog can be in certain categories. The blogs can be nominated into more than one category (maybe even all of them.). But, that is up to you, the readers!

So, get to nominating! You have until November 1st, 2010 to nominate your favorite blogs!

Peace and Fangs,
Alisha

September 2010 Winner of the 'I Love Your Blog' Award...Life After Twilight

This month I chose a site that caught my attention just with the title. If you haven't guessed, I indulge in the world of Twilight quite frequently. So, when I typed into Google the words Twilight and book reviews, I had three words pop out at me. Life. After. Twilight. Of course I jumped on it since it said Twilight and Life After had to me what life was like after you read the Twilight saga. Luckily, I got to know these girls when I asked to become affiliates and after a couple hundred more views, I knew that these girls had to be the next winners of ILYB Award!

LAT has one of the best designs I've ever seen and is the first site I've given the award to that has their own society! These girls have worked their butt off on this site and so much more, so I have to give it up to them. Their had work pays off with amazing news on books, reviews, and so forth.

I sat down and typed on my questions for the lovely Brandi and she answered all my "hard hitting" questions:

How did you come up with the site?
Well, if I am to be honest it was the viewers from Youtube who suggested I start a website. LAT was originally started on my Youtube channel BrandiMarie88. I have always loved reading and after I got done with the Twilight series I though "now what?"
I was looking for something interesting or fun to do with my channel and decided to share some books with people through video. My friend and I were talking when she said something that gave me the idea for the name of "Life After Twilight." (continued in question 2)

Why did you name your site, Life After Twilight?I can't remember the exact discussion I had with her but I do remember she said something that inspired the name. It was just cute and funny at the time. Twilighters were popping out of the ground like daisies and everyone was looking for that next "thing."

What do you think makes your site unique from other sites?We are a "fan site" for books. Yes, there are reviewers and other book sites... but Jenni, Livia, and myself just LOVE books. Even the ones we have not read yet. We post video reviews, as well as written, we post the latest news on popular books (and the up and coming), we post author interviews, have special giveaways, but most of all we try our best to listen to what the readers want. They are the ones who made LAT blossom... I just listened and did what I was told when I could. There are some amazing people/readers out there.

What are some special features on your site?We are currently trying to update some features but I think our most popular now is the Night Owl Society. The NOS is a community group I created back in February that is an online book club readers can join. We have a monthly book everyone votes on, reads, and then at the end of the month we have a live discussion. Besides the NOS we have an archive of all the books we have read and reviewed as well as authors. Did I mention they are in alphabetical order which makes it easy to find what you are looking for? Bless Livia and Jenni's hearts... they worked their butts off.

What is in the LAT shop?Oh man... I am really excited you asked about that. It is fairly new (since I updated it) and has some awesome stuff in it. We have Night Owl Society bling, cute T-shirts, bags, blankets, umbrellas, buttons, and more! Right now we have a really cute Tee that has a quote from the latest Hunger Games trilogy, Mockingjay. It says, "You love me... Real or Not Real?" "Real." I am such a nerd but that just makes me happy.

What was each of your favorite book you have read since starting the site?Wow. You had to ask a really hard one. The viewers introduced me to Cassandra Clare and her Mortal Instruments series, Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, I Am Number Four, Wake Series, SHIVER, The Hunger Games, The Awakening, any book by John Green.... I seriously could go on forever.

How do you rate your books?I rate books by my overall experience and how I interacted with the book. I know that sounds strange but when everyone finishes a book you have a moment. Some toss the book aside, others sit for a moment to think, some close the book lovingly... you get the idea. I am usually the one that sits and thinks for a moment. How did I like the characters? Was the an enjoyable experience? Did I have trouble understanding the author? I basically ask myself questions and write down my thoughts. Then I convert that into a rating and share it via Youtube.

What kind of books do you usually rate?
I like books with a little soul, dash of love, hint of suspense, and relate able characters. Through this experience I have become very open to picking up a book I would normally be "hesitant" about. The fellow readers/viewers have trained me well.  

How did you come up with the design of your site?I just know what I want and usually relay that to a designer. Our current design was special for our August layout since it was the big 2 year anniversary! Kayla from Shattered Memories designs did an awesome job! She actually has done another design before previous to this one. She is so sweet!

What is the ARC Campaign? Why did you guys sign-up?The ARC Campaign was brought about by our staff member Jenni. She also helps out at http://behindyelloweyes.com/ and sent me the link. It is basically bringing up the issue of the buy and selling of ARC's. I wanted to join in because I, like many, think that is not cool at all. I wanted to show my support and so did Jenni and Livia. ARC's have a purpose and that purpose is NOT to be sold and make a profit from.

What has been the biggest challenge of havinging a book blog site? What is the greatest satisfaction?The biggest challenge is that I have a life aside from the site. I am a college student, a part-time worker, and am involved in other things outside the world wide web. So trying to get on a schedule is hard but I am trying. The greatest satisfaction is being able to meet some pretty awesome people and talk about books. The authors are so cool and they adore their fans. The readers are passionate and so much fun! It is just a very friendly environment full of people who have a love for books.

Are there any contests/giveaways on your site at the moment? How can people join in?Not at the moment but we ARE planning some, so people need to keep an eye out. People can join in by checking out the Night Owl Society, joining our new forums (Jenni is so awesome), and visiting the Youtube channel to check out the review videos!

What releases are you looking forward to?
Livia recently reviewed a book called "Matched"... I have heard nothing but good things about this book so I am excited to get that. I think Livia is shipping me a copy! Woot Woot! I am also eagerly waiting on Torment, Beautiful Darkness, The Scorch Trials, City of Fallen Angels... and I think that is about enough.

Do you have any advice for general bloggers? Book bloggers?
Get creative and have fun! Spice things up with a new feature or something special every now and again... your readers deserve love and you should give it to them ;) I always really enjoy giving stuff away so it is fun for everyone... (ha that rhymed).

Last thing: Give anything you want to say to readers all around!
Just because you are hesitant about a book doesn't mean you should push it aside. Go crazy and try something new, you never know what might surprise you. Also...Live. Love. Read.

In more ILYB news, November is coming up and guess what that means, that it will be the first annual 'I Love Your Blog' Award Ceremony! The whole month of November will be dedicated to celebrating blogs who have the best design to the best title! Check back for further updates! And, for the month of October, I will be giving you guys the steering will, starting now, comment on this post and nominate any blog you think deserves the October 'I Love Your Blog' Award (and yes you can nominate your own blog)! You have until October 15th and whoever has the most nominations will be crowned October's 'I Love Your Blog' Award! So, get nominating!

Peace and Fangs,
Alisha

August's Winner of 'I Love Your Blog' Award: Bewitched Bookworms

I, sadly, have neglected my blog work but...I'm here now! I announced these lovely ladies as the August winner of the 'I Love Your Blog' Award but I never got around to posting their Q&A, which I want to fully apologize for! But, I'm getting back in the swing of things and I told myself I will not leave this chair until I get everything updated!

So, without further ado, here was the winner of August's 'I Love Your Blog' Award.....Bewitched Bookworms! These girls are so wonderful with their reviews and lovely design, I got to have the privilege of interviewing Uhyesplease and she happily answered! Here's to you, girls! Keep up what you do best!

*interview updated*
How did you get your blog started?
Basically I posted a real life book review on a fanfiction site that OnePushyFox and I co-write. Danny thought it was so cool that I decided to blur the fanfic with an actual book she thought it would be fun to start a book blog with a bunch of our fanfiction friends. It took off like wildfire!

Why did you decide to name your blog, Bewitched Bookworms?
We threw a bunch of names around, and the majority liked this one the best.

What is your blog about?
Quite simply, we write reviews for books we have read! The coolest part now is that we've gotten to meet and speak with authors, hold Q&As, host giveaways and now are getting ARCs! Who knew our hobby would be even cooler than it was before!

What kind of books do you review about?
We review mostly fiction, heavily slanted towards YA. But we are all adult readers and enjoy the mature books too.

What do you think makes your blog stand out from the rest?
I think we're one of the few co-authored blogs. There are five of us who read and review, so our calendars are full for months. We are also friends in RL and I think our supportive vibe shines through. Oh - and our blog is super PURDY! Danny is one heck of a websigner!

How did you all decide to do a book review blog together?
Several of us have solo blogs, so it made sense to join together and co-blog. Both because we are all so busy - but mainly because we enjoy the support and bouncing ideas off each other.

What kind of giveaways/contests do you usually have? Are there any current ones at the moment?
We are so close to our 500 (just a few more to go!) followers and plan on a big give away for that. Our contests are generally focused around book giveaways, but we enjoy a few surprises or two!

I saw that you guys are participating in the Book Blogger Appreciation Week, what are you guys nominated for and how can people vote for you?
I think this is more of a showcase for book blogs. You may need to ask Danny to answer this one for me. :)

What new things will be coming to Bewitched Bookworms?
Good question! I think we're going to try to add even more fun to our blog with a few special features each month from the bloggers, as well, as participating in some of the fun Meme's floating around.

What is Cutie's Corner and Mystery Book Exchange about?
Cutie is a super avid reader and has her own column to chat about the books she loves. Since she is currently getting an English degree (that's right Cutie, toot toot!) she is totally down with what is hot and The Classics as well. The MBE is something that came up after talking to Pushy and trying to get her to read one of my favs! We got to talking and BAM! it was born! Basically we challenge each other to read something we love, that is out of the other reader's comfort zone. I got to read a historical romance book, which isn't normally my cup of tea, but surprise, surprise, I loved it!!! We'd love for our readers to also challenge us to read something they love too! I'm doing an MBE with a friend of mine and I can't wait to post my review of the book she gave me. It was Superb!

What was the best book you read since the blog was started?
Uhyesplease: The Darkfever series by Karen Moring have been the most fun for me, but BEST book I would have to say Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen
Danny: The Fever series from Karen Marie Morning, most definitely! I would have never read them if some of my new Book Blogger friends not have told me that they are awesome!
Cutie: Oh dear me!! There is just no way I could answer this question....

How about a top five (one that I reserve the right to change!).
1. the truth about forever by Sara Dessen
2. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
3. Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson
4. Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld
5. The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan
Oh annnnnnd..... *slaps hands*
Pushy: Going Bovine by Libba Bray
Heather: all 8 of JR Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood series
How do you balance blogging, reading, and daily life?
Uhyesplease: I don't! At least, not well! Let me know how to do it and I'll be thankful!
Danny: Ieeek, it feels like a second job besides my real job. It definitely takes tons of times and I have to admit that I sometimes do Bloggy stuff at work. "bad danny, realllllyyyy bad". But I'm happy that I can at least share the Bookworms Blog work with my beloved friends here. Alone, I wouldn't manage!
Cutie: um... I don't, truth be told. With four kids, a house to keep up with,college, and on and on and on it's a little hard to breathe at times let alone blog and read. So there is always a trade off. Either I am reading too much (can a person ever read too much?) and not blogging enough or vise vica. It's the sad truth. 
Pushy: I don't! It's a madhouse around here! I read a lot after the kids are in bed in the evenings, I also blog then and in the early morning before they wake up. And I like to listen to books when I work out.
Heather: I try to limit my blogging and reading to my train commute and after my son goes to bed.
What are advantages/disadvantages of being a book blogger?
Uhyesplease: I hate getting spoiled on accident, that has happened a few too many times reading other's blogs. The best part is my friends, and our crazy book convos. Oh and ARCs! I feel like it's Christmas morning when one arrives in my box!
Danny: It makes you read so much more! Plus, I have discovered books I would have never picked up before. And, I met so many wonderful people and authors - this is rewarding! It brought me also closer to my the other Bookworms and for that, I'm really grateful!
Cutie: I can't really think of any disadvantages, other than it can take over a persons life and one must learn to pace themselves (and that goes for any blogger honestly). The advantages are a plenty from meeting fabulous people to getting to share you thoughts and ideas with others.
Pushy: I can't think of any disadvantages, it's so much fun. Advantages are getting to know authors and publicists and helping out authors I like or meeting them. I also love the book blogging community, which is full of so many fun, intelligent people.
Heather: Advantage: discover new books and authors that I would have never been exposed to otherwise. Disadvantage: have way too many books lined up. My TBR pile is about 30 books long now.
What are some tips for new and upcoming bloggers? Book bloggers?
Uhyesplease: I'm a big fan of reading outside of your comfort zone and being HONEST. We all know some books speak to us and not others, and it doesn't mean the book is bad, but be honest with how you felt about it. Also it's a lot more fun to blog with a friend - so see if your bestie from High School wants to start a book blog with you - I guarentee hijinks will be had!
Danny: Have fun! Blogging is fun. Besides reading and posting the reviews I think it's also important to network. Because it's all about sharing the excitement and opinions about books.
Cutie: I think as long as a blogger remembers the golden rule "this is all just for fun" then all will be well.
Pushy: Just start a blog! If you want to build a larger group of followers, you could host a contest or join in on the memes to meet other bloggers.
Heather: No when to say no so you don't get overwhelmed and enjoy the ride.

P.S. BB is having a 500 Follower Giveaway over at their site! Click here and be entered to win a signed copy of Radiant Shadows to a blog design package!

Peace and Fangs,
Alisha

'I Love Your Blog' Awards Icon Design Contest

Most of you, Black Nailed Readers, know this icon:

When I started the Awards, I started it on my old Twilight blog. (Hence the "bella", "edward", and "jacob".) I have noticed that with my review blog and giving it to blog who are probably not fans of Twilight. So, I've decided to open the icon design up to you all!

The only requirement to the deisgn is that it has to say, 'I Love Your Blog' Award. It can be in any style, photo, design, font, etc, you want. Once you are finished with your computer-made masterpiece, email it to me at: blacknailedreviews@gmail.com with your name. The contest will end on August 31st and I will display all the icons on the blog for my readers to vote on. I will make the final decision after everyone has voted. The winner will recieve a new copy of:

So, get started designing! I will keep you all up to date on the contest details! If you have any questions, please email me or ask in the comments and I will reply ASAP.

If you have a blog, please post this banner in your sidebar with the post link:

Peace and Fangs,

Alisha

'I Love Your Blog' Award---June 2010 Winner: Twilight Lounge!

As a TwiHard and a beginner in Deutsch, I came across a great website! Twilight Lounge showed up on my screen as I was searching through new Twilight websites to fawn over. Luckily, this one showed up on my screen and it was absolutely wunderbar! The graphics are absolutely incredible and the news stream is totally up to date! These girls have done a wonderful of giving a Twilight face to Germany and to the Internet. This is not only my first international site I'm giving this award to but this is the first website I'm giving this award to. These girls deserve an award for doing such a fantastic job with not only their blog but with their website and their social sites! Here's to you girls! Thank you girls for such a wonderful blog!

How did you come up with your blog?

i had a blog going on myspace so i was used to blogging twilight news but i wanted to go 'serious' and signed up on blogger.com
Why did you start your blog?
i'm a big twilight fan so i came up with my myspace twilight site (http://www.myspace.com/officialtwilightlounge). i was just browsing every day to read stuff about twilight and thought 'why not share your news'. and i started a blog because i wanted to keep all twilighters up to date with the latest twilight gossip. new pix and videos of course and i wanted to get to know some twilight fans even better.
What other blogs inspire you to keep on blogging?
there isn't really a site or a blog that inspire me to keep on blogging. it's mostely twilight itself.
How did you become a TwiHard?
i became a twi hard before the whole twilight mania started. i was browsing through amazon because i wanted to order a new book. and amazon recommended twilight. so i read it and fell head over heels for it. then new moon came. and one day i visited the official stephenie meyer site and she wrote that there's gonna be twilight the movie and after this news i went throught the internet to get to know something about the actors. and the rest is history ;)
Your blog design is incredible, what kind of work went into to make it the way it is now?
the layout for the blog was desinged by a very talented friend of mine. so it's self made.
What makes your blog unique?
my blog makes unique that it's a blog hosted by a german fan with international news. and there are many kinds of goodies that shouldn't be missed like ringtones and a very well stocked gallery. but most of all the internationality makes my blog special.
What will you guys be doing for the upcoming Eclipse premiere?
unfortunately there'll be no german eclipse premiere so we'll just post everything we can find from the other countries to keep u up to date.
Can people join your blog? If so, how can they apply?
oh i'd be happy if people wanna join my blog!! i'm always searching for people who want to desing something or help with the news posting. if they want to apply, all they have to do is send me a mail: mareike@twi-lounge.de
What is it like as a TwiHard in Deutschland?
being a twi-hard in germany is on one hand better cuz you don't have the rivalry between the other fansites but on the other hand we don't really get in contact with the stars. i mean we have a convention once a year 'ring con' and a dvd release party but that's about it. we don't have any premieres. and there's no real merchandise to purchase either. and i don't think many germans know about twilight in the first place. but i don't give up hope that we actually getting a breaking dawn premiere.
How do you keep up your dose of Twilight in your life?
my dose of twilight?? news, news, news ;) and watching/reading twilight, new moon, eclipse and breaking dawn over and over again. and of course a whole bunch of merchandise i get from my friends from the usa or i bought over the internet ;)
Why did you come up with the "Twilight Lounge"?
the name 'twilight lounge' just some day crossed my mind out of nowhere. i was sitting there and thinking about a name for my myspace site and i thought 'lounge' has something grown up and implicates a place where you can just hang around and relax.
Where do you see your blog in three months?
in three months i see my blog in a different design and probably more visitors each day.
Do you have any contests or giveaways going on in your blog?
the last contest for our 1st b-day is over but there'll be a new contest coming up where u can win a dvd from michael welch's new movie 'lost dream'. exclusive on my site!
What advice can you give to upcoming or inexperience bloggrs out there?
first of all get yourself everything about html codes! you have to know how to put images in your blog and how to give the right sources credit. the second thing is you HAVE to give credit when you post something from other sites, that is very important when you don't want to get into trouble. and the third thing: don't give up!!! in the beginning there are no visitors but you have to post anyway. you have to get your name out there that people know you exist. so create a myspace site so you can tell your friends about your blog. keep your post's credibility up. be always up to date. sometimes write something personal in your blog post. like when you post a pictures something like this 'oh isn't it beautiful. what do u think bout it??'. and you have to have fun blogging because it talkes a lot of time! but if you are a real twi-hard that's not gonna be a problem ;)

'I Love Your Blog' Award Winner for May 2010

For this month of May, I'm proud to say that my small, dinky blog (and Twitter) was being followed by two lovely ladies! One by the name of Tess and the other by the name of Trixie. After a short little forward backward with them on commenting on each other's blogs and E-mailing, I made two new TwiFriends that I can share my secret (okay, not really secret) obsession. Along with meeting two new people that are completely funny, I ran across their blog that was absolutely amazing! A week or so after I went on their blog and was stunned by the new design of their blog! After that, I knew that with the witty blog posts and the new design, this would be the next winner for my Award!
This blog is absolutely hilarious, the Twilight color scheme and the witty blog posts lets me laugh every morning on my way to school with my phone in one hand and my orange juice in the other! Along with the morning laughs and commenting whenever I can, I love their giveaways and contests. Sadly, I can't always get the chance to enter, I still love the prizes and someday, I will def enter in one of their contests. These two girls are my faves right now and I love them and their blog!
I'm glad to present you two girls and your lovely blog with this month's award.

Now, here's my Q&A with them:

What is your guys' blog all about?
Our blog is about all things related to Twilight and Rob Pattinson. We also will be discussing how we watch our voluptuous figures. You won't want to miss our diet plan!



Why did you decide to start your blog?
We needed a creative outlet for our twi-obsession and a place where we could come and drool over Rob without people trying to commit us or stage an intervention. We don't want help, people! We love our addiction.


Your guys' blog design is incredible, what steps did you have to take to get something that gorgeous?
A lot of thought and time went into our blog design. We decided we wanted to keep the color scheme Twilightish and since we're staying anonymous, our biggest decision was finding the characters that we wanted to represent ourselves. Somehow, without using pictures that belonged to someone else, we wanted to incorporate Edward into our design. We knew what we wanted and Pamela (from The Posh Box) helped us bring those ideas to life. She was really amazing through the whole process. We can't say enough good things about her. We were really needy and she always made things happen...even adding sparkles to a guy standing by a car.


You two have A LOT of contests and giveaways, how do you guys come up with them and the prizes?
We usually just try to think of stuff that we would want...all Twilight related, of course. We actually spend a good amount of time texting back and forth until we get the giveaway just right.
-Do you have one now?
We do have one going on right now. There are also more giveaways in the near future. Our followers will always be given one entry, just for following us, and additional entries will be given for comments and reposting about the giveaway.
--If so, what is it?
$25 Amazon giftcard, a Twilight Graphic Novel, and a Twilight inspired handcrafted necklace.


How did you guys decide to do it with the two of you and how does that work?
We both have personal blogs and we wanted to do a blog together. It was a no-brainer really. It works great. It is really nice to have someone to share blogging duties with and to bounce ideas off of. We always try to get the green light from each other before making posts. Other than that, we just collaborate a lot, text back and forth, and we trust each other's judgement.


How has Twilight (or should I say Rob) changed your life?
Oh, wow. This may have to be answered seperately.
Tess - For me, Twilight rekindled my love for reading. I've always been an avid reader, but through years of college, I lost my desire to read. Then motherhood happened, and all I had time to read was magazines (if that), let alone an entire novel. It came at just the right time in my life. I really needed an escape from reality from time to time and Twilight gave it to me. Rob reminded me (and continues to remind me) about all the reasons why it's great to be a woman. Having a crush on him has actually benefited my relationship with my husband. I know that might sound crazy, but it's true. I think before Rob came along, I was stuck in mom mode. He totally brought me out of it. I would really like to personally thank him someday.
Trixie- Yes, I agree with Tess. Twilight brought me out of mom mode and awakened the teenage girl still stuck deep down inside me. In certain ways it brought me back to life.

What kind of things do you plan on doing with your blog?
We have endless ideas when it comes to this blog. Some of those ideas/dreams are pretty lofty (like our "shop" button, among other things), but we're both pretty determined and goal-oriented people...so, hopefully you guys will get to see all of the wonderful things that we've imagined for this blog come to fruition!


How is your blog unique to other blogs?
I guess just that it gets the TNT treatment. We're pretty unique individuals, so I think it is the personal touch that we give the blog that sets it apart from all the other fabulous Twilight blogs out there (and there are soooo many).


What do you plan on doing for the upcoming Eclipse premiere?
You'll just have to wait and see! We have so many fun things planned between now and June 30th! You can definitely expect to see giveaways and contests!


As TwiHards, what do you guys do to keep up your TwiHype?
We're pretty much immersed in it. We kind of eat, drink, and sleep Twilight. That's pretty much it. We also love to stay into the books...it helps to keep us in the moment. We both have read and listened (on audio books) to the entire Saga many times.
How is your city compared to little old Forks, WA?
We actually both live in smaller towns, but I don't think either of our towns are as small as Forks. We don't have a Dr. Cullen parking spot at our local hospital.

What do you want to say to other TwiHards out there?
Don't let anyone make you feel weird or different about loving Twilight, no matter what your age. There is a reason so many people identify with it and the fans are so devoted. Plus, you never know where your Twi journey will take you. It brought the two of us together.


Do you have any tips for up-and-coming bloggers?
Let's see, our tips for up-and-coming bloggers...hmmmm. Well, actually we feel like we are those bloggers. However, we've had several years of experience in our personal blogs and we have a few tidbits of information to pass on...
1. Comment. Leave comment love on blogs you like/love...don't lurk...let people know that you've been there and you've read what they wrote. None of us write just for the sake of writing, we want someone else to come along and say something. You don't have to agree, but just say something! Also, return comments...it's nice to let people know that you read what they took the time to write!
2. Keep posts short(er). It's hard to keep bloggers' attention for very long. You'll lose people after a few paragraphs.
3. Add pictures when you can. It adds something for the imagination...makes things more interesting. (That's not hard for us...we can always find a Rob pic to oogle over!)
4. Be yourself. The blogs we love to read the most are when the people are real and don't try to create some perfect world for the readers.

Thanks for listening to what we have to say, and thanks to Black Nailed Reviews! Be safe! Peace, Love, and Twilight.

Your welcome girlz!!! Hope you enjoy!

'I Love Your Blog' Award March 2010 Winner: Peace. Love. TWLIGHT!

I came upon this blog when I was trying to do my own Twilight blog. Anna had great material, contests, giveaways. and so on. Along with Anna, other contributors give the blog spunk and elegance the Twilight world needs. I love Anna's blog because of the content and the design itself. It's full of butterflies and hearts to give the romantic and free side of our Twilight world. Everything is neat and tidy and each aspect seems to have a meaning of its own. I recently got a Q&A from Anna who is the adminstrator of the blog, here are her answers!:

How did you start your blog?

PLT started very small and it was just a big learning process for me. One day I was surfing through all those fansites that everyone visits and thinking how much more fun and interesting it would be if I did the blogging myself. I'd never blogged before but I thought I would give it a shot! I clearly had no idea how much work and time I was going to have to commit to it.
What is it about your blog that is unique?
Well that's very tough to say, considering there are so very many blogs out there and I'm sure there have been some made that happen to be very similar to mine. However, I do try to put my own personality and spirit into it. And I have some fun features that I try to incorporate in order to make it multi-dimensional. These include giveaways, interviews, fan fiction reviews, fan art reviews, etc.
How did you come up with Peace. Love. TWILIGHT!?
The idea kind of just dawned on me one day. I don't even know if I'm satisfied with the title but I've gotten used to it by now. I just wanted a place where I could express my love of Twilight with the world freely, seeing as most of my friends and family absolutely hate it. Creating PLT just seemed like the right way to do it.
Where do you want to be with your blog in about three months?
You know, I'm not quite too sure. I'm not planning on making any big changes anytime soon, so I suppose I would be quite happy to see it as bustling with activity and visitors as usual!
Where do you get your update information and so on?
Some news sources email things they'd like me to post. Fans also send in news tips. Other than that, I get my news from big media sources such as online magazines and newspapers and, if necessary, other fan sites (giving all due credit of course).
Can people contribute to your blog?
-If so, how?
We are always open to hiring volunteers to post news, editorials, reviews, etc. That would be the biggest help an individual could give! But of course we understand that not everyone has the time necessary to contribute to a blog on a frequent basis. So we are also very excited when fans take the time to send in news that we haven't posted or something Twilight-related that they found interesting and wanted to share with us. Anyone can email their Twilight news, art, video, or whatever really, to peacelovetwilight@gmail.com. We might not post everything but we do read every email and consider what you have sent us for posting on the site.
What blog/topic/idea/person/etc inspired you to make this blog?
Am I allowed to say Twilight itself? Because really that's all it was. I just wanted a place where I could be open with my clear obsession with Twilight.
How has your life changed from Twilight?
Well I would say that the blog has added one more fun thing for me to do at home! Having the blog has given me a lot of valuable experience writing reviews, working with businesses and affiliates, conducting interviews, running contests, and keeping the fans happy! I feel like running PLT has given me a close relationship with my bloggy friends and all of the fans. They respect the blog and its staff and we respect them.
Why did you chose Twilight to blog about?
Twilight is just such a dynamic love story that so many women (and of course some men) can relate to. I'm in love with the series and I can't get enough of Stephenie Meyer, her characters, and the actors who play them in the movies. I knew Twilight has a very large fan base that would only continue to expand so I thought that a Twilight blog would be appealing to many people of all ages.
Will you be doing anything special for when Eclipse comes out?
I will hopefully be attending the midnight release. Probably holding a couple of giveaways/contests on the site. If you do go to the release, we encourage you to send in pictures that we will post for you on PLT!
What kind of videos do you post on your YouTube account?
I am still in the process of deciding, actually. I haven't really gotten it started yet. I'd like some fan input on whether we should do scripted videos, vlogs, music videos, or...I don't know! We'd really just like your ideas.
What do you want to say to other TwiHards out there?
Go ahead - feed your obsession! Just don't let it take over your entire life, that's where it becomes unhealthy. If you feel like you're getting too caught up in it, take a breather! Read something other than one of the Twilight Saga books and just relax. You can be passionate about it without it dominating everything you do.
Do you have any tips for up-and-coming bloggers?
Communication is the most essential part of successful blogging! Make sure you communicate well with your fans- don't ignore their needs- with your staff, and with the affiliates, journalists, companies, interviewees, etc. you work with. And don't let yourself commit yourself to more than you actually have time for. This has happened to me too many times and it hurts to let your blogging associates and fans down!

You can visit Anna's blog over at Peace. Love. TWILIGHT!