IBBA: And so it begins...

So.

Here it is.

April 10th, 2012

*sigh*

*cue the holiday music*

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What's with the long face?

Oh, it's not long really...more wistful.

I’m dreaming of a…TRIP TO BEA 2012!

*music halts abruptly*

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That’s right…and YOU have the power to make it happen.

See that little button over there?

The one on the top right hand side of the page that says VOTE.

Yeah….YOU CLICKING that button takes me one step closer to earning my ticket to the big event because otherwise this dream remains a wish on a star with no Blue Fairy to grant it.

-sad face-

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Now, I know what you might me thinking.

Why of the hundreds (thousands?) of other choices should I vote for you?

Valid question….valid question.

I always knew I had a curious audience…never afraid to ask a question….just as you should be.  ^_^

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We all have our favorites out there in the blogosphere and I’m not about to dissuade you from supporting any of them, I’m merely going to throw my humble hat in the ring in the hopes of gaining your support.  Now, for those of you that are still puzzling just what this “IBBA” thingy is all about, here’s a brief run down….

IBBA stands for “Independent Book Blogger Awards”.  The awards are organized by the Association of American Publishers Trade Division members and Goodreads.  VOTING runs from Tuesday, April 10 (12:01am ET) through Monday, April 23 (11:59 pm ET).  The week of May 1^st, the shortlist of finalists will be announced.  Week of May 7^th, the winners are announced.  There will be ONE WINNER PER CATEGORY.  Winners will be selected from among the finalists by a panel of industry judges. Each of the four category winners will receive a pass to BookExpo America (June 5-7, 2012) with airfare and hotel accommodation in New York City.

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Which category am I in?  The decision was TOUGH because there is no grouping for “blog-with-varied-tastes-in-reading” so I had to make a decision.  It was between Adult Fiction and Young Adult/Children’s.  In the end, I went with the later and the sample posts I submitted for my entry were my reviews of the following….

  

 

(The links to all of these are shown after you click VOTE but if you’d like to scope any of them out prior to, just click here…1…2…3…4…5.)

Were they the BEST choices?  Hard to say….I mean, I never intentionally put up a post that I’m NOT happy with but I digress.  So, in lieu of toting my own fabulosity because let’s face it, I don’t really toot my own horn that often, I’m going to share with you what the world of books and book blogging means to me.  Sort of a nostalgic post and a glimpse at why attending this year’s event would be a dream in the making….

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BOOK BLOGGING:

THE MAGIC, THE WONDER, THE MEMORIES

The Community:  New to the world of blogging?  Looking for an answer to some long held question?  Need assistance with set up, making connections, and the best practices?  Two words for you….JUST ASK.  I feel safe in saying that for the most part, the world of bookish folks you’ll meet out there are very friendly and more than willing to help…all you have to do is put the question out there and seek the knowledge of those that came before you.

The Friendships:  It’s a family affair so to speak.  How so?  I bet for those of you out there that maintain a blog on a fairly regular basis, you’d need far more than one hand to count the number of friends you’ve made across the miles.  Am I right?  I thought as much.  It’s a BIG world out there, but the World Wide Web makes it that much easier to traverse at times and make connections with people you’d never have imagined…and are better for knowing.

The Discussions:  In the mood for a good debate?  How about a brain storming session over your latest creative endeavor?  Just want to bounce ideas around about the last book you finished?  All of these and more will spark a conversation in a heart beat and you won’t just get the random….that sounds good…or….do what you think….type answers back either.  Oh no.  Your fellow bloggers are vocal, for better or worse and it is in that tendency to say too much as opposed to too little that you can take comfort in knowing your voice will not go unheard.  Uncommented maybe as they get busy with life and books just like you, but not unheard.

The Information:  Go online any day of the week, any hour, any SECOND and there will be a new or new-to-you title to discover, an article to read through, or idea you’ve yet to have.  The endless barrage of new discoveries and debates can be overwhelming at times, but it’s also that flow that keeps us connected in such a vital way.  It ensures that each day is as exciting as the one prior to and the one yet to come…and there are not many aspects of life that that can be said about in today’s world.

The Passion:  The discovery of a new author or title.   The excitement of just having finished a book and the need to make sure it is read by one and all because it was JUST THAT GOOD.  The anticipation of an upcoming release and the stalker-ish nature we all adapt when we know a bookish treasure is on the way.  In short, the PASSION…for reading, for books in general, for the chance to share what we love with one another in an open forum that’s good for Johnny Q Public.  It’s that passion that keeps us coming back for more and that makes even the busiest amongst us, carve out a niche no matter how small in order to participate in this great love affair. 

In summary, my zeal for blogging is a result of my love of the written word but also of all those with whom I have the chance to interact.  So my thanks to all the authors, publishers, publicists, bookish sites, tweeps, followers, pinners, and BLOGGERS out there; you’ve made this one incredible world to be a part of.

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If it moved you, FANTASTIC!  (…and would you perhaps consider voting for me?  Just click the little button, two seconds…tops…)  If not, I hope it at least brought a smile…or chuckle…to your day.  It’s the truth or at least my truth and I’m sticking to it.

Now remember…. the polls allow one vote per person in each of the four categories, and voters must be Goodreads members so that they can accurately tally the results. When polls close, the top 15 blogs in each category will become finalists.  *fingers crossed*

Until next time…happy voting….and happy reading!