Sunday's Shining Star

I would like to explain how this came to fruition. Hubby and I were having a discussion about the old days, (for the young'ens reading this..a little history lesson) but before the dark age. When Sundays were special and had traditions and rituals. Sunday mornings Church, come home to a big gravy (sauce) cooking on the stove, a big Sunday dinner, then either off to visit relatives/friends or wait for relatives/friends to drop by. We would spend the afternoon sitting around the table, talking, catching up, having coffee, pizza, calzones, etc etc, dessert. And now, how sad, all those traditions are gone. And then I got to thinking, why not have something similar here on my blog. This past year, I have met so many amazing and wonderful people (some I now call friends) through blogging, and how I am in awe of what they do and accomplish. How much respect I have for them, for their honesty, integrity, credibility and so enjoy when a bit of their personality shines through. So every Sunday, here at my place, the coffee will be on, the dessert is on the table and friends will be stopping by. And I will be rolling out the red carpet for my Sunday Shining Star Blogger guest.

I was told when I first found this community of book blogging that "book bloggers were the nicest bloggers there are" and I have never forgotten those words. And over the past year, I have truly met the nicest people. I also believe, even though we live behind a screen, a bit of our personality shines through. That is one of the reasons I am having so much fun with this weekly event, and hoping you are too, because we are getting to know those "nicest bloggers" around and about bloggyland a little bit better.

I don't know if it is hot and humid where you live but it sure is here in New England.  So I thought we would move our "gab sessions" out by the pool and have a cook out, so I hope you brought your bathing suits.  However, I do apologize, for the 2 grumpy men, Jeff and Steve, in the corner over there who are trying to decide who is going to be charge in of the grill and the drinks.  Shhhhh....I also heard them plotting that they were going to try and speed up our "gab session" so that they can get in at least 9 holes in at the golf course.  Men!!!!

I keep repeating myself and I'm sorry that I do but I am being very honest.  It still amazes me how many genuine and kind people I have met in this neighborhood and I know I'm not the only one who feels that way.  It is so hard to make people understand, who aren't involved with book blogging or even to explain it to people in real life, the connections that we make herein this book blogging neighborhood that do become true friends.   That's why I love this event, to get to know our friends a little bit better.  And today's guest falls in that category.  Today's SHINING STAR is JACKIE from HOUSEWIFE BLUES and CHIHUAHUA STORIES

*When and why did you start blogging?
Started back in 2009 as a way to get extra entries in book giveaway contests on “Bitten By Books” and book blogger sites... My blog then became something to help relieve stress when my father contracted pneumonia and then went into Rehab back in April of 2009 where he was sent to convalesce until better....

From there it evolved into the fun way it is today to reach out and share the love of books I read, will read and want to read with others who feel the same...

*How and what made you decide on the name of your blog?
I am a Housewife, had the “blues” from my living situation at the time and my Chihuahua is my buddy so it was going to be a blog to keep a journal on my favorite things he did to make me laugh... Then I discovered the book giveaways and the bloggers who were having them made me feel like I had finally discovered a “niche” of people where I could hang out and enjoy my book obsession with people who felt the same bookish love!

*What would you say is the main content of your blog?
The main content of my blog covers the books that I read, or would like to read someday, secondary content is to help promote book giveaways and share anything “fun” that I think others might get a smile out of...

*If books, what genres do you mostly read?
Urban fantasy, Paranormal Romance with some Historical or Contemporary Romance thrown in... I also like Mystery Thrillers and some Sci-Fi Fantasy....

*How often do you post?
I post every day, sometimes only one post mostly have two... I will be downsizing posts due to having eye surgery on my right eye at the end of February and my left eye in March, am looking for guest posters at the moment to fill in some of the gaps while my eyes recuperate....
  (update: surgery went well)

*What are some of the things that you love about blogging?
The people who I have met online, the ones who both love to read exactly what I do and the ones who have opened my eyes to books that are somewhat outside my comfort zone...

I love to be able to finally share with a huge audience of people something that has been my passion for my entire life, books and reading them... I grew up in a family of one other reader and my father only enjoyed Westerns, my taste is more eclectic and never had anyone for most of my life to share the interest with...

*What are some of the negatives?
One of the negatives is when people plagiarize others work and take credit for it themselves... One of the biggest negatives is when someone posts something hurtful to either an author or another blogger, it might cause controversy and lots of comment traffic but is not a nice thing to do....

*Name 1-3 favorite items/postings that you have/do on your blog?
I enjoy doing the “Waiting On Wednesday” MEME hosted by Jill from “Breaking The Spine”, the “On My Wishlist” MEME hosted by Caroline from “Book Chick City” on Saturdays and love to share my thoughts on the books I read on 2 or 3 weekly posts...

The MEME’s are a great way to find books to read and also to find bloggers who enjoy reading the same genres as myself, and find books in other genres I normally do not know about as do not read them as often... Like YA books for instance...

*Any advice you would give to new bloggers?
Enjoy what you do and do not try to “Copy” the success of others, it is only going to be interesting/fun to you if you really believe in what you choose to share with others on your blog....

If you have questions about how something works, ask and I bet someone somewhere will be glad to help you...

*What draws you to follow someone's blog?
I follow other blogs whose owner shares my same love of certain authors, shares my love of pets or has something interesting at least once a week that makes me laugh! If a blogger is a good story teller and never writes a book review that is good enough for me!

*Do you have any "pet peeves" that other bloggers do?
My number one pet peeve is word verification/captcha when you are trying to write and publish a comment.... That and some of the “Darker” blogs that use red letter texting kills my old eyes, I no longer visit those blogs because they are too hard for me to “see” without getting a headache...

*Would you please share 5-7 things about the person behind the screen so that we get to know the "real" you!!
1. I am in my late 40’s and have finally discovered how much fun teenagers can have by reading YA books! It makes me appreciate surviving my teen years even more than while I was doing it!

2. My Mother is my 2nd best friend and my Husband is my number one friend, provider and all around good guy to know... (I say that after having known him for 33 years of my 48 years of life...)

3. Besides reading my 2nd passionate hobby is Cross-Stitching, to create something from a plain piece of fabric fascinates me... Especially when the something actually looks like an animal in full color and it is made out of thread...

4. My favorite color is almost any shade of blue...

5. My favorite “comfort food” is homemade chili and cornbread, especially in winter...

6. To be able to wake up every day and know that the area I live in will be the last place I move to in my married life is the greatest gift that was ever given to me by my husband... We moved every year to couple of years until 2001, now we finally have a “Home” that we plan on staying in as long as our health allows us to...

7. I am the proud pet parent of an almost 12 year old Chihuahua, an almost 8 year old Calico Tabby and an almost 6 year old Tomcat... My furry babies make life interesting every day...

Jackie, thank you for sharing with us today and being my guest.  First, from what Jackie said in her interview....well...I guess we know where we will be visiting this winter lol.  You might have to make a lot more of your chili and cornbread lol.  You can see, also in her answers, her kind heart, that she considers the feeling of others.  I, and I apologize Jackie but senior moment, can't remember how I found her blog, but I know that I have been following it from the time I started blogging.  Her reviews are honest and well written.  And on a personal note.  I mentioned her kind heart, it really is a heart of gold, along with compassion, caring, thoughtfulness and always has and knows the right words to share.  As some of you know, this past year has been a rough one for me,  but Jackie has sent me words of encouragement, a gift for my anniversary, and even a snail mail Christmas card.  BTW...I hope you liked the blue text....lol.  How can you explain to someone in the "real world" about a real friend that you have, but have never met.  Jackie...you truly are a SHINING STAR!!!!