Blogger Spotlight #8: Briana @ Pages Unbound

PROFILE

 

Name: Briana

Blog Name: Pages Unbound

Blog URL: http://pagesunboundwordpress.com

Blogoversary: May 19                                              

Preferred Genres: fantasy and classics

Short Bio: Briana is an English major interested in publishing and education.   In her spare time, she enjoys Scottish Country Dancing and learning ballroom dances.   She has been blogging for two years with her co-blogger Krysta.

CONTACT INFORMATION

 Email | Twitter

 

So, Briana, tell us what it was like when you first started out your blog. How’d you pick a name, why you chose WordPress... everything!

My co-blogger, Krysta, and I wanted a name that was obviously bookish and that reflected the goals of  our blog—to look at a book and be able to take it apart and say what interesting about it, what works, and what does not work.

Neither of us were very familiar with blogging or the book blogger community before we started Pages Unbound.  I did a bit of research to help decide what blogging platform would be best, and we chose Wordpress.com.  The reviews said it was easy to use and looked professional, and so far I’ve found both to be true.

How do you manage your blog now? Do you follow a schedule?

We have a general schedule.  We try to post book reviews Monday, Thursday, and Saturday. We’ve started alternating author interviews and blogger interviews on Wednesday.  Friday might be a feature post, and we often participate in Top Ten Tuesday.

We stick to the schedule fairly well, but we’re good about being flexible if life gets too busy to post this often, or if we want to try something new on the blog.

What’s your favorite thing about blogging?

Two things!  First, I have learned so much about books and the publishing industry from blogging.  I feel so much more connected to new releases and understanding how publishers, marketers, and reviewers all work.  Second, I have met so many fantastic book bloggers.  The community, which is both friendly and intelligent, is an incredibly important part of my blogging experience.

How about your least favorite thing?

I actually feel very grateful that no immediate response to this question leaped to my mind. Of course blogging, like any activity, comes with challenges, but overall it has been a great experience.  There can be some “drama” in the blogosphere occasionally, focused on things like plagiarism or negative reviews, but so far I’ve been lucky enough to avoid being directly affected.

What was the last book that got you reading nonstop?

The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict by Trenton Lee Stewart

What is your opinion on insta love in books?

A good romance builds slowly, both because this is more realistic (or at least more common outside of fiction) than love at first sight and because it allows the readers to enjoy the development.  Insta love takes that away from readers and often feels flat.  A love with no foundation is difficult to believe in, and the bad start to the relationship can ruin the relationship throughout the entire book.  If a romance is not enjoyable and credible, it might be better if it were not in the book at all.

What do you wish to accomplish on your blog in the next 6 months?

I’m hoping to continue adding reviews and improve my reviewing style. Krysta and I have also been brainstorming event ideas and are thinking of planning an event based around Robin Hood stories—books, movies, and retellings.  I also hope to continue networking and meeting new bloggers!

THE LIGHTNING ROUND!!!

That book that you would like to re-read: The Chosen by Chaim Potok

That book that everyone likes except for you: A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin

That book with the cover you like so much: A Face Like Glass by Frances Hardinge

That last book you DNF-ed: Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu

That book you’d want all your friends to read: The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien