So I was lying around and thinking my thoughts when I suddenly realized that I am having a big bloggiversary this month — 15 years! It hardly seems possible that I’ve been sharing info on what I’m reading for all those years! I noticed today that, just on Net Galley, I’ve been approved overall for 900 books (I started using Net Galley a few years into my blog) so that’s a lot of ARCs! I also get books from the library, I buy books, and I use Edelweiss; and of course many many people (and their publicists) send me ePubs of their books!

I thought it would be fun to think of how things have changed on the blog over the past 15 years.

Here are some thoughts:

• When I started my blog I did so because I was sending a lot of emails of book suggestions to families and friends (who asked for them) and I wanted to just write it all once and have it in one place. I thought perhaps a few others may follow me, too. Little did I expect to grow a following!
• When I started blogging I was not working full time and I would take at least an hour to craft a thoughtful summary and discourse on a title. Now I have zero time to blog and if I do have free time, I spend it reading. I have my blog time down to early morning Saturdays and Sunday afternoons when I write and then schedule my posts for the upcoming week or two. I focus on the publisher or publicist-provided description, a picture of the cover, a blurb about the author, and a few words on if I liked it and why.
• I only do positive reviews. This is for two reasons: one, if I don’t like a book I don’t finish it (and if I don’t finish it, I don’t review. It’s that simple); two, years ago a blogger was stalked by an author that she gave a bad review to. No thanks! I just toss a book I don’t like and move on.
• Over the years I added “spotlights”. This is my way of featuring a book without having to read it. I especially like to do this for new/indie authors. I can’t read everything, but I like to give a shout out.
• When I started I had to say no to self-published works. Why? Because they were SO bad! But times have changed and the industry has changed. Many hybrid houses and self-publishing houses provide editorial services, etc. that result in good reads!
• I tried adding a podcast – I had to teach myself how to do it (not too hard) but honestly, no one listened to it and it was a time suck. I also did Litsy – another time suck. And I am tempted to do Bokstagram, but again, more time that I do not have! Maybe when I retire…
• I have met so many wonderful people. There are a lot of kindred spirits out there and I was so thrilled to find so many wacky and wonderful readers who were just like me. Actually many of these people read much more than me, making me not seem like the freak that most people think I am. Which leads me to book clubs. One very sad reason I started my blog is because I had been “uninvited” to two different book clubs, simply because I read a lot. And loved talking about books. And wanted to talk about books. With enthusiasm. And people felt I was some dorky freak. I actually got a phone call from one group that I had joined and really really liked to say that I “made people feel insecure” by how many books I knew about and was not welcome any more. So I figured my blog was just that – mine. If you don’t like it, move along!
• I never accept money. And folks have offered it. But that’s not how this truly works. How can I honestly say if I like a book or not if there is money involved? (Cue memories of Psychology 1 class).
• I’m not big and famous, and I’m okay with that. Some blogger friends have thousands, if not tens of thousands, of followers. I have hundreds. And that’s okay. I do not need the pressure of 10,000 people looking at what I do and say regularly. Or contacting me. I actually was surprised and pleased in the past to be at BEA in NYC and having numerous folks looking at my nametag and exclaiming, “Hey! It’s Beth! from Beth’s Book-Nook! We love you!” Weird but wonderful!!