Questions for My Blogging Friends

 

Because inquiring minds are always curious about things, I wondered if my blogging friends would give me some insight into their motivations for blogging. I will share my own thoughts as well.

• Why did you start blogging?

My answer: In 2005, I became a stay-at-home mom. This gave me time to pursue writing for publication. Though writing took me in an unplanned direction, I knew before my first children's book came out that I would need an online presence. A full-blown, professionally done website was out of the question, so I started my first blog. By 2007, I was hosting other authors to drive traffic to my blog. That's when I decided that my blog no longer served its original purpose. I created The Book Connection, which also led to starting The Children's and Teens' Book Connection a couple of years later. I've had other blogs since then, but these are the two that are active and dedicated to books. Laura's Little Houses--dedicated to Laura Ingalls Wilder, her famous children's books & the shows based on them--opened in 2008, and Christmas Year Round started in 2023.

• Did you or do you monetize your blog?

My answer: The Book Connection is part of the Amazon Influencers & Associates Program. If a reader clicks on a link that goes to Amazon and purchases that item, I may earn a commission on that sale. When The Busy Mom's Daily was online, I intended for that to be a monetized blog, but I've never had the time or the technological know-how to make real money off a blog. At this point, I blog for fun and because I enjoy jotting down my thoughts. 

• What is your favorite part of blogging?

My answer: Connecting with other authors and bloggers around the world. I've made so many online friends that I never would have met without this blog.

• Are you interested in or do you already vlog or podcast? 

My answer: I feel like podcasting is in my future, I'm just not quite sure how to effectively put it together with my limited time and knowledge. Then there is that crazy thing about defining what the podcast should be about and finding your target audience. It could be about real estate, books, or writing. 

I look forward to reading what you have to say. Thanks for participating. 

Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge: Favorite Websites/Podcasts/Blogs

 

The Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge is hosted by Long and Short Reviews. They offer this blog hop as a weekly prompt to help you gain new friends and visitors. You don't have to participate every week, but if you decide to post and join the blog hop for a week, Long and Short Reviews asks that you share your link on their weekly post on their website (it will be the top post on the home page each Wednesday morning). The link list remains open for new links for 48 hours. Then visit the other bloggers participating to see what they are talking about that week. Comments are appreciated. 

Happy Wednesday! We are talking about our favorite websites, podcasts, and blogs this week.

As far as blogs, this is something hard to do. I've been blessed with some many great blogging friends that it would be hard to pick only a handful of favorites. So, I will say thanks to all of you in the blogging community for your support throughout the last 18 years. You have helped grow this blog and been a source of friendly conversation for many years. I also enjoy seeing what you are talking about each week. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! 

So, my attention now goes to websites and podcasts. Unless I'm shopping, I don't visit many websites. I guess my only favorite there would be NaNoWriMo. What can I say, I'm a news and social media junkie otherwise. 

I really don't get into podcasts much, which is odd because I would really like to start one. Whether it be about real estate or books, I don't know, but I feel like it is in my future. Since I spend a lot of time in the car, podcasts seem like a great way to listen to information in snippets. Why don't I listen to more of them?

Some podcasts, I discover and then binge listen, like Christmas Morning and Wilder on the Prairie, but then I wander away and don't listen for months. Nothing to do with the podcasts, just not feeling it at the time. 

Some podcasts are business related, like Bigger Pockets, Real Estate Today, or Coaching Kidlit. I tend to find topics I'm looking for and listen to those certain episodes. 

Other podcasts are ones I should be interested in, but have never really indulged in, like Little House: Fifty for 50, From Plum Creek with Love, and Cabot Coverage. How have I not listened to every one of these episodes? 

What are your thoughts on podcasts? Do you listen to them? How do you listen to them? What are some of your favorites? 

Wilder & Wilder on the Prairie Podcasts

 

Finished the Wilder podcast today. It is a documentary that runs for 10 episodes, plus the introductory episode. Author Glynnis MacNicol looks at Wilder's life and the Little House series through a 21st century lens, exploring...

• if the books stand the test of time,
• if they should still be read to children,
• if the flaws in Laura's narrative, like the derogatory depictions of Blacks and American Indians and the way in which Rose crafted her political messages into the Little House series, means they should be removed from bookshelves, and 
• if those who grew up reading the Little House series feel the same after reading the books as adults.

Other topics that Wilder covers are how much Rose' contributed to her mother's books, the Little House on the Prairie television series starring Michael Landon, and how Laura's books created an entire business empire that flourishes even today. Along the way, the author visited numerous historical sites and held interviews with several people, including Little House on the Prairie's Melissa Gilbert and Caroline Fraser, author of Prairie Fires. 

I also caught up this week with the Wilder on the Prairie podcast. Author Annie Kontor brings listeners back to the Little House books, each show covering one chapter in the book series. The September 11th episode covered chapter 11 from On the Banks of Plum Creek. 

This show is all about Annie's thoughts and research that tie into Laura's books. Show notes will often include photos, links to articles, videos, or recipes. Other than mentioning from time to time when offensive content might appear in a chapter, Annie focuses more on the times in which the books are set, what daily life was like, and other interesting tidbits. 

If you enjoy reviewing history through a more enlightened point of view, Wilder would be a good choice. If you're looking to learn more about Laura's life and times in which she lived, Wilder on the Prairie would be a good choice. Those performing research for school papers might also find Wilder on the Prairie helpful. 

Cheryl Malandrions Guest on RRRadio-RFK: Stories for Children –January 3rd

Stories for Children Publishing, LLC


Website: http://storiesforchildrenpublishing.com/

M E D I A R E L E A S E
CONTACT: VS Grenier
Owner & Founder, Stories for Children Publishing, LLC
Email: VSGrenier@storiesforchildrenpublishing.com
Phone: 435-625-1743


For Immediate Release

Cheryl Malandrions Guest on RRRadio-RFK: Stories for Children –January 3rd

Come listen to Blog Talk Radio’s Robin Falls Kids Show: Stories for Children! The hosts (VS Grenier, D.M. Cunningham and Tiffany Strelitz Haber) will chat with author Cheryl Malandrions about her book “Little Shepherd.” They’ll also discuss writing, the publishing industry, and Cheryl’s experiences with virtual tours.

Cheryl Malandrions will also be sharing writing tips and trials and tribulations of the writer’s life.

The show will be live, January 3, 2011 at 1pm EST (12pm Central, 11am MST, and 10am PST). You can tune in at the RRRadio’s site at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/rrradio or you can listen/call in at (646) 595-4478. (Note: if you can’t make the show, you can listen on demand at the same link.)

In addition, Stories for Children Publishing will be touring Cheryl Malandrions’ book, “Little Shepherd” all month long. You can find her World of Ink Author/Book Tour schedule at http://storiesforchildrenpublishing.com/CherylMalandrinos.aspx. Make sure to stop by and interact with Cheryl and each host at the different stops by leaving a comment and/or question. Cheryl Malandrions will be checking in throughout the tour.

Cheryl Malandrinos is a freelance writer and editor. A regular contributor for Writer2Writer, her articles focus on increasing productivity through time management and organization. A founding member of Musing Our Children, she is also Editor in Chief of the group’s quarterly newsletter, Pages & Pens.

Cheryl is a Tour Coordinator for Pump Up Your Book, a book reviewer, and blogger. Little Shepherd is her first children’s book. She lives in Western Massachusetts with her husband and two young daughters. She also has a son who is married.

You can visit Cheryl online at http://ccmalandrinos.com/ or the Little Shepherd blog at http://littleshepherdchildrensbook.blogspot.com/.

Not only will you have the opportunity to meet Cheryl, but this will be the perfect time to meet and learn about the hosts VS Grenier, D.M. Cunningham and Tiffany Strelitz Haber, and their show on Blog Talk Radio-RFK: Stories for Children. You can learn about their exciting writing careers, along with Stories for Children Publishing and its many divisions.

To learn more about Cheryl Malandrions visit http://storiesforchildrenpublishing.com/CherylMalandrions.aspx


Learn more about Stories for Children Publishing, LLC at: http://storiesforchildrenpublishing.com/
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Full Media Kit, Photos and more are available upon request electronically.