Today’s Book Blogger Hop question is: Do you read hardcovers with the dust jacket on or off? Why or why not?

I feel like this question comes up for me on a strangely rare basis…but maybe it isn’t strange!  Most of my books come from the library, and if they’re hardback, they’re all taped and laminated and…well, those dust jackets are not coming off easily.  Of my own books, I mostly buy paperback so–no dust jacket.  Or I buy very old hardcovers that either never had a dust jacket or don’t anymore (and I tend to like how those look without jackets anyway).

If I buy a hardcover with a dust jacket I usually leave it on–because otherwise, what would I do with it?  I have no need for added clutter!  I will make an exception, however, if I really hate a cover image.  I recover paperbacks if I don’t like the cover, and I have at least one hardback that came with a since-discarded dust jacket.  I didn’t like the cover image, and it looks much better without it!

Do you prefer not to have dust jackets on your hardbacks when you read, or do you just leave them where they are?

Today’s Book Blogger Hop question is: Have you ever found yourself acting like a favorite character in a novel? If so, which one?

There are certainly some favorite characters in novels (and movies) that I think I have a resemblance too, or share some traits with.  Practically every woman I know feels an affinity with Belle from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, which really just tells you that I know a lot of readers!  I think most of us, including me, relate to Hermione a lot too.

One book character I am particularly fond of and feel more like as I get older is Morwen from The Enchanted Forest Chronicles.  She likes order and neatness, loves cats, and spends an entire scene of one book packing practical things along for a quest, like sandwiches and blankets.  That would definitely be me.  I don’t care if the wizards stole an enchanted sword and we have to find them to save the magic kingdom, I’m not going without plans for regular meals!

Of the heroines in my novels, I’m certainly the most like Lyra (or should I say she’s the one most like me?) as she loves stories and storytelling.  I’m least like Karina, a fierce fighter who trusts no one…which is probably just as well for me!  Book and travel-loving Julie, and decisive, managing Catherine share a few traits with me as well.

Do you find yourself having things in common with book characters, or behaving the way they might?

Today’s Book Blogger Hop question is: What authors have you met in-person?

Very few, I’m afraid!  In college Tomie de Paola was doing a presentation and signing, and I got his signature on a copy of The Art Lesson, my favorite of his books.  A few years ago Gretchen Rubin came to town on tour for her book Better Than Before.  I went with my mom and we both got signatures in our books, and a photo with her.  I told her I frequently quote her to myself. J

I also have many author friends, happily: A. G. Stewart, K.D. Blakely, R.A. Gates, and Kelly Haworth, among others.  And that’s even better, because you can discuss stories and swap advice!

I’ve written before about the authors I’d love to meet—though some, alas, would require a TARDIS!

Today’s Book Blogger Hop question is: Do you prefer to blog about (a) specific book genre(s), or do you have an eclectic blog?

 

The funny thing is, I began this blog, seven (!) years ago with some intention of being genre-focused.  My genre was young adult fantasy, although I never intended to be solely that.  I was also writing young adult fantasy at the time, with my Beyond the Tales series.

Well, life, reading and writing have all evolved.  I still read a fair amount of young adult, or fantasy, or both–but I’ve shifted to read more in other genres, and I seem to do more reviewing lately of nonfiction or Newbery Medal winners (kids lit, by definition).  I’m also writing historical fiction now, working on revisions of my Phantom of the Opera reimagining.

At this point, I don’t think the blog is focused on any particular genre, and really my reading isn’t either.  Fortunately, readers seem to have stayed through the evolution, and I appreciate that!

Bloggers, do you have a genre-focus for your blog?  And readers, do you typically prefer blogs that focus on a specific genre?

Today’s Book Blogger Hop question is: Do you ever go back to older posts and change things?

Basically, no.  I only rarely look back at older posts, and when I do it’s to read, not revise.  If I notice a clear typo, I might correct that (if it’s a moment when I have time and easy means to do so!) but that’s really just changing it to what my original intent was.  I don’t change actual content.

I sometimes read a post and think I’d write it differently now…but while this is a chronicle of reading, within that category it is a bit journal-like, and I’m nearly compulsive about not changing journals at a later time (because then it’s not an accurate record of its original time!)

Once in a while I’ll do a Classic Post, putting an old review up again, but I don’t generally change things even then.  I think I’ve occasionally taken something out, if  a paragraph was really only relevant at the time (maybe it was more about blog business than the actual book, for example).  I add things, but only as an introduction before the post proper.  So what I have written, I have written!

Do you make revisions on old posts?  Or are they a kind of historical record that you leave intact?