One of the drawbacks of being a blogger who is not living in the USA/UK is that we do not get to do many of the book related things like meeting an author, attending a reading or even getting a signed copy. And that is why I have been on the cloud nine since week.
Ready for it?
I will be attending a literature festival next month right where I live (Dubai). And not only that, I will be an “insider”!! Okay I am exaggerating, but I will be an official volunteer for Emirates Literature Festival that will be happening from 1 to 10th March 2018 at Dubai.
About 175 authors will be participating in the event and I am so excited that I will get to see the likes of Shashi Tharoor, William Dalrymple, Anthony Horoatiz and Joe Hill (yes the Locke and Key fame and the son of STEPHEN KING).
I will keep updating you guys as and when I know more about the events. If you are from this side of the globe and planning to attend any of the sessions, do let me know.
Around the blogosphere
1) It is a common complaint in the book blogging community that reviews do not invoke as much engagement as the discussion post. Kristen puts in her perspective on the subject in her post.
2) Evelina published another awesome post in her newblogger series on blogging calendar and schedules. I am sure I will be taking some of her pointers and I think you should check it out too.
3) Have you ever tried having bookish conversation with a chat bot? Bookstormgirl tried it for us and the result is freakishly hilarious. She even shared the result with us.
4) I found about the demise of John Mahoney, who played Martin Crane of FRASIER through Shailaja’s post on how an actor’s death can affect a person.
5) Laura from Boats against the current post an interesting article on how to follow other blogs. Do you love discovering and following new blogs as much as I do then you should sign up for Bloggers’ Comment Junction here.
6) Can you tell me what is your favorite book? I am sure you need a minute or 60 to choose one. Chloe from Book Dragons attempts to reason out our behavior in her post.
7) Do extra blank pages in a book drive you crazy? I used to wonder why would they even want to waste papers like that. Until I found this page from Mental Floss.
8) Austine from Novel Knight came out with this fantabulous resource with The Book Community Media Dashboard. Go ahead add yours and find other lovely bloggers from the list.
9) I stumbled upon this gem from Halsey about sexual abuse that moved me to tears.
10) There is a stereotype about book worms that are introverts. Is that true? I am not sure. I am stuck somewhere between being an introvert and not. I read this article from Thought Catalog that I was about to relate to so much. You might enjoy it as well.
On my blog
In case you missed any of me post this week, here is a quick recap just for you.
Review shots is gonna be monthly feature where I will be writing bite sized reviews of 3-4 books. Here is the second edition where I reviewed Herding Cats, Everyday Watercolor and Find Your Awesome: A 30-Day Challenge to Fall in Love with Your Playful, Imaginative & Colorful Self.
With the Valentines Day not so far away, isn’t time for you to place your orders for your romance reads at your library or the bookstore?
If you all didn’t know where are travelling this month on your Flyaway Friday, hear me say again. It is Finland!
Before we take a trip to the land of Thousand lakes, here is a quick primer about the country to read while you pack your bags.
I will be linking today’s post with Caffeinated reviewer’s Sunday post Meme.
Pin me!
Let us talk
Have you attended any literature fests? Let me know what to expect. Do you have any interesting links for me to share? Then drop it in a comment or DM me through any of my social accounts. Let’s talk.
Oh wow! That book festival sounds amazing – all those authors! I’ve never been to one, but am tempted to treat myself for a trip sometime 🙂 Looks like so much fun and cool way to meet new people (plus I’m terrible about scheduling vacations).
Loved all the link-ups – thanks for sharing!
I am so excited to meet bloggers who attend (if any)and of course book lovers. I have been hearing book clubs already. Fingers crossed.
Ahhh, that’s such exciting news about the book festival!! Congratulations! Can’t wait to see your recap of all the insider perks you get to take advantage of 😉
Yay I know! I am excited too. I can’t wait for it to be March already.
I’ve met Joe Hill once before at a book convention! Real nice guy and had a great conversation with him. But you’re convention should be so much fun! I can’t wait to see all the photographs and hear all about it 🙂
OMG you have spoken with him! So cool! I hope I get to hear him talking at least.
I’m super excited for you! I hope that you have a ton of fun at the event. 🙂
Oh wow, you found a lot of interesting looking posts! I’m going to go check some of those out. 🙂
Have a good week! 🙂
I hope so too. Thanks for checking out my blog!
Joe Hill? will be in Dubai? That’s pretty exciting, I’ve read many of his books. The Fireman was the latest one. It was excellent. I don’t have any links to share just a free audiobook if you are into true crime investigations. I’ve never been to a book event or signing before and I live in Canada.
YES! Finally someone who gets how excited I am for his session. I am planning to read one of his books (at least) before the event.
This festival sounds amazing. I live in the southern parts of the US and not many things come to my state for me to attend. I actually had to drive to Mississippi to do an author interview once but it was fun and worth the 3 hour drive. I hope you enjoy your week.
I will be driving 1 hour to reach the even location every day and I know it will be worth it. I am glad you get it too!
That’s so cool! I’ve never been to a book festival, but I’d love to go to one. And it’s so great that you’re an insider!! 😄 Have fun! (and maybe tell us everything that happened?? 😝)
And wow, I relate so much to the extroverted introvert article too! I think pretty much everything’s right for me except the 10th one 😅
Thanks so much for sharing my post! 🖤
Yes I will be posting lots of pictures and all fun news from the event. I can hardly contain my excitement.
That’s awesome. Congrats! I hope you enjoy the festival.
I hope so too, Kristin.
Congrats on the Lit festival, sounds awesome! And Joe Hill. wow that’s a big guest. Hope you have a fabulous time!
I love mini- reviews so it’s nice to see you are doing those. Herding Cats looks awesome. 🙂
Thanks for the Finland article too.
Yes JOE HILL. Shashi Tharoor is kinda big name in my country but I am more excited for Joe hill. <3 I am happy you like my articles
Hey, the Emirates Literature Festival sounds really exciting. Not long for you to wait, either! 😃
Just another fortnight and I am already too excited to wait.
OH MY GOSH congratulations!! I know it’s frustrating that so much of the book world goes on in the US/UK. I’m so excited for you that you get to be a part of that!
I love all your linking to other book blogs, that’s so cool of you 🙂
I love your blog!
This would be first time attending any bookish events. And yes I am super excited! Glad you like my space.
An insider!! That is awesome 🙂 I hope you take pics or at least have tales for next Sunday? 🙂
Thanks for sharing my post! And oh yes, MAN, that chatbot post 😀 I shared that too, and it’s just so funny xD such a brilliant idea 🙂
Those extra empty pages absolutely drive me insane xD but I think they’re there because pages can’t be bound without them… Cause they need to be paired, or something? I’ll have to go read that article xD
Oh the lit fest is not for another fortnight. It is happening between 1 and 10th March 2018. Anyway I will be sharing the picutres as and when I get them. I saw your post with the chatbot link as well. Great minds think alike, don’t they?
Enjoy that book festival! Thanks for sharing your reading and your posting. Thanks for visiting my blog.
The book fest is only next month. Thanks I hope I will enjoy it too.
That’s super awesome – I hope you have an amazing time! Joe Hill came to a literary thing I was at and he was really funny and interesting, so I can definitely recommend trying to check out a talk or a signing of his, if he’s doing one.
He is doing a signing and a talk. I will try and be there then. I am hoping to read one of his books before I do that also.
Great post, Where i live in the US its hard for me to go to any author events because none of the popular authors that i love come to my town they go to the bigger towns and cites
I can understand Libby. Hope the tide turns!