It is mind-blowing to think that two years ago today I started this very book blog on a whim. I had an unpopular opinion about a popular novel and I wanted a place to share my thoughts- thus Kristin Kraves Books was born.
So much has changed since then. I have enrolled in a publishing program, my reading tastes have evolved, I have become more technically savvy, and I have met so many amazing bookish people. I truly think that the book community is the best and kindest community out there.
A couple weeks ago I mentioned that I was planning to do a Q&A, and I was thrilled to receive so many amazing questions! I will also be posting a giveaway in the next few days. I was going to include it in this post but I just kept rambling on and on…
Did you ever expect to make it this long? What is an achievement you never in your wildest dreams has happened that you never thought would (and lasting two years doesn’t get to be an answer lol)
When I first started blogging I honestly did not have any expectations. I just jumped in to it pretty naively and it has been a learning experience ever since. I will say that pretty early on I figured out that this would be something I would do for awhile because I fell in love with it. It is something I will continue to do for as long as I love it!
Having anyone follow me and care about what I have to say was a great confidence boost for me. I think one of the greatest achievements that has come out of this blog is how it has helped me grow as a person. It has helped to give me a voice both off and online.
What’s your fave thing you have discovered in relation to blogging? (could be a book or a fandom or a tag… anything you like!)
There are so many books that I never would have picked up if it were not for blogging. I think one of the greatest things I have discovered is that there are many genres that I love and never would have tried otherwise- the biggest one being Science Fiction! Blogging introduced me to A Long Way to a Small Angry Planet and Sleeping Giants, which have become two of my all-time favourite books!
1. Your stranded on a desert island. What three things do you have on your (make it fun and not like, a phone to contact help or something like that)?
2. Have you ever written a novel? If yes, can you describe what it was about? If not, what kind of novel would you want to write?
3. What’s your blogging kryptonite?
- My cat, a hammock, and a solar-powered kindle (that exists right?!?!)
- I have not written a novel, and I doubt I ever will because I am not a great writer. I definitely make a better editor than writer. I think if I did write a novel it would probably be a middle grade story about a young girl and her relationship with her cat. I remember how much my childhood cat meant to me at that age and I think it might make for a sweet story.
- TBRs are for sure my blogging kryptonite!! I have written many TBRs over the last few years, either seasonally or for readathons, and I have never once stuck to them. It is not rare for me to end up reading not a single book on my TBR. #moodreaderproblems
What’s your favourite thing about the book blogging community?
What advice would you give to new bloggers that you wished you had known?
Where do you ideally see yourself in 10 years time?
- My favourite thing about the community, as cliche as it may sound, is how supportive everyone is of one another. When someone is going through a tough time, I always see people in the comments jumping in to support them and offer them words of advice, encourage, or kindness. It is amazing to see and I am proud to be a part of this community.
- The best advice I can give is to not compare your beginning to someone else’s middle. You have to start somewhere and no one begins blogging having it all figured out! Also, do not be afraid to ask your fellow bloggers for help. In fact, my email is kristinkravesbooks@gmail.com- reach out to me any time and if I can help, I will!
- Ideally, I see myself working in publishing in some capacity. I would also like to be doing some freelance editing. I would love to be sitting here in ten years writing a blog post about my twelve year blogiversary! It will be interesting to see how technology, and as a result, blogging will change in ten years.
My questions: if you could only use book characters to name your children (or pets) after, which book characters would you use? What was your favourite childhood book? If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?
- When I was younger I used to want to name my future kids Elizabeth and Darcy but I now realize how creepy that is… They would make for great pet names, though!
- When I was really young, it was the Little Critter books, particularly Just Me and My Friend and Just Me and My Little Brother.
- There are so many literary places that I would love to see! Have you heard of the Jane Austen Tours? I would love to do that!
-How do you balance reading and blogging with other life commitments (school, work, family, friends, etc)?
-What are your favorite genres to read?
-Top 5 books you’ve read this year?
-Do you see yourself continuing to blog in the future?
- I have started to wake up an hour earlier than I used to in order to read. It is a great way to start the day and it is amazing how much more reading I get done! I pull up my computer and write a blog post whenever the mood strikes me and I have some free time. Sometimes I can write five blog posts in one sitting, or only half of one- it just depends.
- Historical fiction has always been my favourite genre, but lately I have been really in to Science Fiction, literary fiction, and YA contemporary.
- I definitely see myself blogging in the future! As I mentioned, I will keep doing it for as long as I love it!
My Q: What’s one reading goal and one personal goal you have this year?
My main reading goal for 2019 was to not give in to the hype. I have stopped feeling pressured to read a book that doesn’t interest me just because everyone else is reading it and it has been so freeing!
My personal goal is to start freelance editing. I am currently enrolled in a publishing program and it is fantastic. It has really ignited my passion for editing!
What’s the worst book you’ve read in the past two years? What’s an experience you never would have had if you hadn’t started blogging?
Easy- the worst book I have read in the last two years is The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo! UGH!!
You know what is amazing- I do not think I ever would have taken the plunge and enrolled in a publishing program if I never started blogging. I always loved books, but it was until I started this blog that I realized that I wanted to turn that passion in to a career.
My question is what is your favorite (book) release so far this year? and are you currently doing any reading challenge?
There are so many good ones! How do I choose just one!? It is a tie between Normal People by Sally Rooney and With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevado.
I am doing a few reading challenges! I do the Goodreads challenge every year, and this year I am tackling both the Book Riot Read Harder challenge and the Backlist challenge. Both are going well so far but, admittedly, I do not think too much about them and a lot of the books I read just end up fitting the challenge by accident…
What, if anything, has blogging taught you? Have you ever thought of just quitting?
What are your other interests outside of blogging? 🙂
- Blogging has taught me a lot. The biggest thing is that it has taught me to use my voice and how to express myself. These are skills that I have taken offline and it has been so refreshing for me.
- I have felt a blogging slump and there are times where blogging can feel like a lot of work, but, to be honest, quitting has never crossed my mind.
- Editing, reading (of course!), cooking and baking, playing video games, watching movies, etc.
What’s been the biggest pleasant surprise about blogging?
Hmmm… I think that the biggest surprise has been just how many people actually give a damn about my thoughts and feelings about books. Not many people in my life are readers so it wasn’t until I started blogging that I realized there are so many other people out there who loves books as much as I do and they want to talk about them! It is amazing!
What is the biggest blogging goal you have achieved in the last two years and what blogging goal would you like to achieve by the time you hit 3 years??
I think just being two years in to it and still loving what I am doing is incredible. Being able to come up with new content and never feeling like things are getting tired or stale was one my major goals and, so far, I feel like I have managed to achieve that.
In three years, I would love to have moved to a bigger city where there are more opportunities for not only work, but also for bloggers. It would be awesome to actually meet some fellow book bloggers IRL.
1. How has blogging impacted your reading today?
2. How long did it take for you to settle into your blog identity? (Design, content, style)
- Blogging has impacted my reading in such a huge way that I do not even know where to begin! I am read more than I ever have, I am reading books in all different formats (physical, ebook, audiobook), and I am reading from a wider range of genres. It has been incredible!
- I am still not sure that I am settled in to my blog identity! As far as design, I have a seller on Etsy to thank for that! My content sort of came together naturally over time. I did not figure out a blog schedule that worked for me until late last year. Having that sorted out has been a game changer!
How did you know you wanted to create a book blog? Did you ever consider blogging about other topics?
I sort of created this blog on a whim. It is something I thought about but never thought I would actually do until I read Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon. I had some problems with that book and I wanted to be able to talk about them. The rest is history!
I love baking so it has crossed my mind to create a baking blog, but it just seems like so much work! I am not skilled at taking pictures, which is thankfully not a skill needed to run a book blog.
If aliens appeared to you and told you they could take you back in time just once, and you had to choose between either killing Baby Hitler or taking a vaccine for the Bubonic Plague back to Europe, which would you choose and why?
This questions really made me think!
My initial thought was to kill baby Hitler, but the more I thought about it the more I realized I would probably take a vaccine for the Bubonic Plague back to Europe. First of all, I wouldn’t have to kill a baby, and secondly, because the Bubonic Plague happened before WWII, you never know how saving those millions of lives would have changed the course of history. Maybe without those deaths there is no Hitler. I hope I am making some sense- it is a tough choice!
I think I’ve got to ask, if you had to live in any book world, which one would you choose? And what’s the best book you’ve discovered through blogging? 😀 ❤
Such a tough choice! My inner kid is telling me I have to go with Oz. I just loved The Wizard of Oz when I was young and as far as fantasy worlds go, it is one of the best and least sinister!
The best book has got to be A Long Way to a Small Angry Planet. Oh wait… The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo…Zezee
My question: Are you in school, if so what are you studying; if not, what field do you work in? And how do you balance blogging and work/school?
As I have mentioned a few times, I am currently in school! I am taking a the publishing program at Ryerson University and I am loving it. As far as balance goes, I just squeeze blogging in any free chance that I get. It is relaxing for me so it is rare that I feel pressured to do it.
1.) What are some of your other hobbies? (Reading/blogging don’t count)
2.) What would you say is the most important thing you have learned from blogging the past 2 years?
3.) What book would you recommend from your favorite genre?
- My biggest hobby besides reading would probably be baking. I love to bake, but with everything going on these days I do not find a lot of time for it. I also love playing video games- particularly The Sims. It is relaxing and brings me so much nostalgia.
- I think I have touched on this in previous questions, but blogging has taught me to speak up and that I have important things to say and people who will listen.
- My favourite genre is historical fiction and if I had to choose my favourite historical fiction novel it would probably be The Lonely Hearts Hotel by Heather O’Neill.
I would like to ask for your tips on blog post ideas and how to get readers to your blog?
Blog posts ideas come to my mind all of the time and I have come to realize that as soon as they do I need to write them down or I will forget. I currently have 33 unwritten blog post ideas sitting in my drafts. I think the best thing to do is to first make a schedule. For example, on my blog, I post reviews Sundays, discussions Mondays, Top Five Tuesday on Tuesdays, and tags on Thursdays. It helps me to stay organized and to know what type of post ideas I need to come up with. Do not be afraid to use other people’s posts for inspiration, as long as you give them credit!
I think the best way to get readers to your blog in to interact with the community. Comment on other people’s posts- that is one of the most fun things about blogging for me. As much as I love to write blog posts, I love reading other’s opinions on books and reading just as much. If people see that you are generally passionate about what you are doing they will come to your blog!
Phew! You are all so amazing! I am so grateful for all of the support you have given me over the last two years. I can not wait to continue to talk about books and life with you.
WOW! How interesting! Some great questions here, and I love your answers as well. Especially not to give in to the hype! I hear you, oh BOY do I hear you! Congratulations on your 2 year blogaversary. (Oh… I just looked… I just had my 6th!)
Thank you! Trying not to give in to hype has been a journey!
Six years!! That’s so awesome.
I have to agree that the support on here is incredible! Everyone is so caring and it creates such a special, creative space☺️
And I love the idea of don’t compare you’re beginning to someone’s else’s middle, that’s a beautiful philosophy and very important to follow!
Working in publishing would be so cool! People often overlook the behind the scenes works of writing a book, but it’s very, if not, more crucial than the actual writing of the book😂
Congrats again on your two years dear, here’s to many, many more💛💛 (and your 12th blogoversary😉😂)
I heard someone say not to compare your beginning to someone else’s middle and it has really stuck with me. I think it is something we often forget!
Thank you so much! I truly hope we will be having a similar conversation ten years from now!
WOW! You got so many great questions, and I love your answers!! Also, reading, baking and the Sims? Pretty sure we are twins 😉
Haha we are! A day that includes all three is the perfect day in my mind.
I am with you on that!! 💕🧁📚
Congrats again! Loved reading this post, and I’m totally with you on your answer to my question: none of my ‘real life’ friends are readers, and it’s been amazing finding so many like-minded bookworms to geek out with! 📚😊
Thank you, Callum! Exactly! No one quite gets my geekiness quite like this community.
Congratulations on 2 year anniversary 🎉
Thank you! 😊
Congrats on 2 years! 👍🙌😍 I’m right behind you!
Thank you! That is awesome. Happy earrly blogiversary!
😘
Congratulations on two year blogiversary! 🙂
Thank you so much!
This was awesome and so interesting!!! I agree the book community is amazing and it is so nice to be a part of the blogging community! What GREAT questions were asked too!!! Great job everyone!
Thank you! So glad you enjoyed it. I loved all the questions that I got. Just another example of how great this community is!
Congratulations again! Thank you for answering my question! It has been a pleasure to follow you for the time I’ve been around and look forward to continuing! Good luck in the publishing program!
Thank you so much, Susan!
Congrats again on the 2 years, love! You got a lot of questions! Also … a book about a girl and her cat would be adorable!!
Thank you! I really did. Someone needs to write that book for me!
Congrats again and thank you for answering my questions. Historical fiction tends to be hit or miss for me but I will definitely look into that book.
Thank you! It is a really great book!
Great post!! Happy 2nd bloggiversary! I’m so happy for you and agreed on pretty much everything you said here,
Thank you, Noriko! ❤️
Congratulations!!
Thank you(
I loved read it this post and congratulations on two years 😁
Thank you so much! 😊
Reading sorry *
Phenomenal post, Kristin💜 Thank you for opening up your space and letting us in to learn more about you. It’s obvious you’ve stretched your limits in the past two years.
Thank you! I am so glad that you enjoyed it. I really have!
Congratulations on reaching two years! Glad to see that you’re still enjoying blogging as much as when you started. I agree, the community is definitely what makes this worthwhile.
Thank you so much! The best community!
Happy Blogiversary!! 😀 Two years is a huge milestone! I loved reading all your answers to the wonderful questions… I completely forgot I even asked you a question, duh! But thanks for answering it. If you do ever have a baking blog… or a baking segment on your blog, I’d love to read it! 😀
Again, congrats on the 2 years! 😀
Thank you! Thanks for your great question! It made me seriously consider introducing baking in to my blog. I have a lot of cookbooks so that could be fun!
Oh you’re welcome! You should totally do it!
I’m really excited just talking about it because it could be lots of fun! 🙂
That is such an interesting question from bookstooge. Ooh Oz is such a great answer! And I loved Evelyn Hugo 😀 Awesome answers!
Isn’t it? I really had to think on that one! Thanks!
There were some wonderful questions and answers in this post. Also, congratulations on two years of blogging! That is impressive. 🙂
Thank you! They really were great questions!
I’m lucky if I can get two or three questions when I try to do Q&As. I guess I’m not as cool as you are, lol. Oh well. Anyway, I can’t wait to see how your blog continues to grow in the future.
Congratulations on your two year Blogiversary, Kristin! 🙂
Thank you so much!
Congratulations on two years of blogging! My jaw dropped when you said you’re able to write 5 blog posts in one sitting. Like, what, how?!?! Wishing you the best for your publishing goals and happy blogging 🌟
Thank you!