Armchair BEA: Community Interaction
Share a positive “real life” experience with books! Either by way of your own partnerships in your community, a book signing you went to or possibly even a get together with fellow book bloggers.
When I thought about this question, I realized that there was a simple question. Outside blogging, off line and in the world of the real, I don’t really tell many people that I am a blogger. I know, it’s sad. I don’t go to book signings because I am poor, I have never met another blogger in real life unless video chatting counts.
I am a shy person. The most I ever did to interact with a stranger about books was to warn someone that a book they were considering wasn’t that good. And I gave a 12 year old a lecture on feminism. That was probably weird for her.
I don’t like my library because librarians are evil. Actually, that’s a joke. My library system in my county is pitiful. I might go to the main library tomorrow just to see if it’s gotten any better since the last time I went and was told that they didn’t carry Harry Potter. I was 12. They disillusioned me at an early age.
Over AIM, I asked River this question. I’ll assume the crickets from her mean that she shares a similar experience to me. We both have agoraphobia and are both painfully poor and laden with student loan debt. Going to events like BEA is impossible for us, and going to signings isn’t really possible thanks to our dedication to education and the following realization that our degrees were kind of meaningless. I have two unpaid internships and she works in a coffee shop while we pursue the dream.
I am just going to stop now while I am ahead and ask you what experiences YOU have had. Chances are they’re 100% better than mine! I will be visiting by the different blogs doing this after work because I want to get tips on interactions! And if you live in the Raleigh area, maybe we could meet and shop the Goodwill book section!
You know, your experience is not unlike mine. I’ve had one good get together with other bloggers, and it was because I happened to be able to be in the right place at the right time. The point is, you do what you do because you enjoy it, right? Then that’s all that matters.
Goodwill is awesome! Sometimes I feel guilty that I’m not able to buy books all that often from stores in order to support the author, especially debut authors, but logically, I know I can’t, currently.
BEA is a bit of a pipe dream for me too. Maybe one day!
You’re like me! I’m very shy, hate crowds, and have very little money. Reading is not a big deal where I live, and literary events just don’t happen. I’ve never met a book blogger, even though there are several near me. BUT. We read on! To me, reading is not about networking and getting ahead. It’s about talking with people who love what I love. That’s the most important part.
There are lots of great giveaways from other bloggers. Maybe that will help you win some awesome signed books. Also, lots of authors will host their own giveaways, too!
I TOTALLY feel you on the being broke and student loans part. It’s so hard to travel and go to all the author events when you are already penny pinching to make rent and eat something other than Ramen.
I love the idea of video chatting with other book bloggers. I might have to start doing that too!
It really is hard to get around to meeting other people outside of the blogging world. I didn’t even know outside book world existed until I started blogging! But hey, video chatting works too!
Day 3: http://wordsareinnermusic.blogspot.com/2012/06/armchair-bea-alyson-noels-book-signing.html
What a pity your library isn’t any good! That means they don’t do author things or book groups either, I guess.
Maybe in the future you will be able to go out and meet other bloggers – for now, internet is great too!
Well I half not answered because I was playing Diablo :p, but you are right… The other half was because to have real life experiences with people about books, I’d have to go out and meet new people. That is just unlikely with my student loans looming over me. Going out and meeting people is expensive!
What the heck kind of library didn’t have Harry Potter?
Okay, except for the student loans and the crappy library experience, I could have written this post. There are a couple of book bloggers fairly close to me, but I have only met up with them once. The other times, I freak out about possibly not having the money, what do I wear, what do I say, etc.
That’s okay, we can get our social “on” with book blogging:)
I avoided libraries like the plague until I went to university. And even then, I only used the section where we were allowed to talk and drink coffee as a means to get some work done in between classes. All that quiet just creeps me out. But my experience with any library has been one full of encyclopedias and subjects that will help me write reports – I never imagined going to the library for a book that I actually wanted to read!
Aw, it’s a bummer that you don’t have more local opportunities but you’re not the only one. I’m very fortunate to live in a big city and since I’m not the least bit shy (seriously, I’ll talk to a wall if I have to) I’ve been able to interact with many local bloggers. Let me know if you ever find yourself in Miami…I’ll introduce you to some pretty cool peeps
♥Isalys / Book Soulmates
Armchair BEA: Booksoulmates on Networking
I also have slight agoraphobia as well as extreme shyness. It also doesn’t help that I live in the middle of nowhere and unless authors are from around here – they don’t generally come here. But luckily I work at an indie and I at least get out and get to talk about books with people all the time.
You sound just like me! I’m sorry your library isn’t a great one.
“And I gave a 12 year old a lecture on feminism. That was probably weird for her.”
I love this! I’m still struggling what to write about today since I go to these things just as little as you do … but from your post, I can see it is possible to write an interesting post about not doing anything
A library not carrying Harry Potter is just WRONG. so wrong. You know, I’ve been to many book signings and if you want to meet the author and don’t have the money to buy the book, you could have them sign your ereader. I put a big vinyl sticker on the back from those sheets of vinyl that are made for cricket machines and they are always happy to sign it for me. I have a whole collection of stickers
It’s not like they ask for proof to see if you bought their ebook. It’s just a thought 
I certainly don’t think you are alone in your lack of enthusiasm for going out and about. It’s a shame that your library doesn’t have much in the way of reading material. Sometimes we think there aren’t opportunities because we just haven’t really thought about it all that much. You know, like you never see a white car until you buy one and then EVERYBODY has one.
Hopefully you’ll get some ideas and will be able to expand your blogging experience into the real world as well as the virtual one. Good luck!
The events are so expensive. I can 100% agree with that. I’ve been lucky to attend a few events within my state and volunteer to work some parts of the events (for free registration). Otherwise, there is no way I could afford to go either. Trying to do anything on a Florida teacher’s salary is scary. It doesn’t even cover the mortgage.
The Flashlight Reader
Boo to libraries that don’t stock popular books!
I’m also somewhat of a shy person, but I force myself to just get out there. More out of self-preservation than anything. I’m not a big fan of crowds, because people in large groups tend to piss me off, but I can usually deal. Usually LOL.
Broke, student loans, not out goiong…that sums me up. I understand how that is too well. I’ve looked around your blog and it looks really nice. I love the name, the tag and design. Clean and simple. I also love that one of you is River (River Song = coolest Doctor WHo character in current series). Keep up the good work!