May 26, 2014

Armchair BEA Day 1: Introducing Offbeat YA

This is Day 1 of Armchair BEA 2014, so



I'm an Armchair BEA newbie. Are you too? Or maybe you've been around before...Well, no, it's the same difference, really. Pleased to meet you :). *shakes hand* Let's grab a drink, will you?

Design by Amber of Shelf Notes

First off, a huge thanks to all the wonderful people who created this virtual event and are working hard in order to keep it alive. This year, they gave us a couple of topics per day between which to choose...of course, we can decide to do both. Being a first timer, I thought it best not to overdo things. So, here's my 5-point

Introduction!


Greetimgs from Italy!

Q: Please tell us a little bit about yourself: Who are you? How long have you been blogging? Why did you get into blogging? Where in the world are you blogging from? 
I'm Roberta...free thinker, stubborn individual, strong colour lover, music addict, picky reader - and last but not least, an adult with a huge penchant for YA.
I've been blogging for 19 months now. One day I realised there were all those great books on my shelves that weren't getting the attention they deserved from other would-be readers - because they hadn't been marketed strongly enough I suppose. Well, whatever the reason, they had this huge potential but not many people seemed to know about them - at least judging from the number of reviews they got on blogs and/or on Goodreads. So I embarked on my first blogging adventure. In a relaxed way though. I don't believe in posting every single day...or even every other day...so don't expect me to drive into a posting frenzy. Once a week is enough for me, unless I do have something to say...
I'm blogging from Italy, which seems to be quite unusual, as far the international blogging crew goes. Having been studying English since I was a teen, and being a fan of YA lit. (most of which is U.S. based, or originally written in English), it was only natural for me to become an international blogger...of course, this doesn't mean I can't incur the odd mistake here and there LOL.

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No thanks...rather be reading :)

Q: Describe your blog in just one sentence. Then, list your social details - Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc. - so we can connect more online.
Offbeat YA is the home for all those stray books that you haven't had the chance to love...yet ;).
As for Twitter and the like...er...I may be the only (blogging) individual out there who doesn't have a social profile *ducks*. I don't feel comfortable with social networks, and besides, they're too time-consuming for me. But I do have a Goodreads account here.

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Afterlife books...I can't resist (most of) them!

Q: What genre do you read the most? I love to read because...
As far as Italian books go, I like to read modern poetry. In general, I like quirky books, which the YA market seems to have an endless supply of. I revel in afterlife, mystery, time travel, and always have an eye out for stories of people who don't fit in. Romance? No, thanks...
I love to read because it's limit-conquering and rule-bending.

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Hello, blogging friends!

Q: Spread the love by naming your favorite blogs/bloggers (doesn’t necessarily have to be book blogs/bloggers). 
In strictly alphabetical order...
Amy @ Amy Bookworm - Spreading UK YA is a passionate reviewer (complete with appropriated GIFs) and a sparse, but eloquent commenter...
Anila @ A Writer's Dark Corner is a witty person, and a horror lover with a soft heart...though I'm sure she will slay me for saying this, eek. *goes undercover*
Guinevere and Libertad @ Twinja Book Reviews are two girls with a mission...spreading the love for diverse books. Which I endorse...
Karen @ For What It's Worth may review a lot of romance books (that are not in my chords), but I do like her voice...also, she's a fun and friendly lady.
Kate @ Midnight Book Girl always makes me laugh, or smile at least. Also, she's a fellow Christopher Pike fan!

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Coincidentally, I have 3 quotes pages on my blog... [Quotes Room 1] [Quotes Room 2] [Quotes Room 3]

Q: Share your favorite book or reading related quote.
I recently came across this one (I haven't read the book though)...
"What is normal? Normal is only ordinary; mediocre. Life belongs to the rare, exceptional individual who dares to be different." (V.C. Andrews, "My Sweet Audrina")

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Well, that's it...now I'm looking forward to meeting you all :). Please keep in mind that this post was scheduled in advance, and I won't be able to approve your comments and reply to them/visit your blogs until tomorrow (or even the day after), due to a particularly busy day this Monday. Also, I won't be able to post again till Thursday (and then Friday). Sigh. I was planning on being more active during my first Armchair BEA, but such is life...

18 comments:

  1. Hi! Welcome to Armchair BEA! I've been blogging for about the same about of time as you AND mostly YA as well. so, it's definitely nice to meet you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've noticed we have a lot in common ;). Thanks for visiting!

      Delete
  2. Hello. I'm a newbie at the ArmchairBEA as well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Welcome! I hope you're enjoying it so far. I have been caught at a bad time - would have liked to devote more time to it - but I intend to visit the other participants' blogs as soon as I can...

      Delete
  3. I also am an Armchai BEA newbie, but so far I am really glad I decided to participate this year :). I am from the Netherlands, although I usually read english books. For some reason readign a ducth book really rubs me wrong, books should be written in english. I am quite active on social media and found it works well for meeting new blogers and interacting with them or just to promote my posts. I actually love romance books, although it doesn't nessecary has to be the main focus of the book.

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    Replies
    1. Welcome! I was looking forward to Armchair BEA, but these days I've had next-to-zero time to devote to it :(. I hope to catch up somehow!
      Meeting new bloggers and interacting is nice (...promoting posts too LOL), and I'm aware that social media are a good way to do just that...but they're so time-consuming. I barely find the time to blog sometimes.
      Thanks for writing a thoughtful comment :). Enjoy ABEA!

      Delete
  4. Ciao, Roberta! Love Italy, love YA! Very pleased to meet you. :)

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    Replies
    1. Haha, who doesn't love Italy? ;) Have you ever been here?
      Have fun at ABEA! And thanks for finding the time to stop by.

      Delete
  5. Hi and happy Armchair BEA to you. :) I love quirky books too and find myself reading a lot of YA too.

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    1. Hi Becky! Nice to meet you again (remember the Book Blogger Challenge at the beginning of the year?).
      Thanks for following my reviews on Goodreads as well. And happy ABEA to you!

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  6. I love the quote from Andrews. It's cool that you're blogging from Italy :)
    Nice to meet you!
    Kim @ YA Asylum

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    Replies
    1. Same here!

      I suppose it's rare to find an Italian blogger in the international blogosphere. I still have to meet another one myself...though I do know of someone who blogs both in Italian and in English.

      Have fun at Armchair BEA :).

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  7. I've only been to Italy once and have always dreamed of returning. Maybe I'll come visit you! Just kidding, of course.☺

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    1. LOL, I hope you'll have the chance to come back someday.
      And if you visit me again...sorry I couldn't comment back on your page, since it only allows Google+ profile comments and I don't have one :(.

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  8. Really great to meet you! I love all things Italian, especially my hubby who comes from Bari! :-)

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    1. Hehe. I live in Tuscany though, very far from Bari.
      Thanks for visiting!

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  9. Lol, you NEED to read VC Andrews! My book club gals and I love her books (although only her early books are written by her, the ones after the first Dawn book are written, rather less spectacularly, by a ghost writer after Andrews' death). My Sweet Audrina is one of her few standalone books and it is creepy as hell.

    Also thanks for the shout out! Us Pike fans have to stick together!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Creepy? *takes note of the book*

      It's not just a Pike thing, because you really make me smile or grin everytime...but yes! Pike fans need to stick together. You know, to have a better chance of kidnapping him ;).

      Delete

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