November 24, 2020

Tell Me Something Tuesday: Gratitude. What Books/Authors/Narrators/Bloggers Are You Most Thankful for This Year?

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly meme created by Heidi at Rainy Day Ramblings in order to discuss a wide range of topics from books to blogging (and some slightly more personal matters thrown in for good measure). While Heidi is on an extended hiatus, there are five of us who are hosting it and providing the questions. The current team is composed of Berls at Because Reading Is Better Than Real LifeJen at That's What I'm Talking AboutKaren at For What It's WorthLinda at Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell and Roberta at Offbeat YA. This week's question is...

GRATITUDE. WHAT BOOKS/AUTHORS/NARRATORS/BLOGGERS ARE YOU MOST THANKFUL FOR THIS YEAR?

Of course, we don't do Thanksgiving in Italy, but I love this prompt, because we all don't say "thank you" nearly enough! I'll keep it short and sweet though...

  • I'm thankful for all the fellow bloggers who've been my friends in these 8+ years, and for the ones I only met/started interacting with in 2020! and for those who never failed to comment on my posts even when I was slack about reciprocating (you know who you are! and I swear I'll try to be better, because you deserve it 😘).
  • I'm thankful for all the authors who trusted me with their WIPs and valued my beta-reader abilities - this year my thanks go to Joshua Winning and Edward Aubry!
  • I'm thankful for Seanan McGuire, who never seems to rest, because she's writing multiple books a year and (as far as I can tell from the ones I've read) all amazing ones! Also, she's a champion of social justice, as you can see by looking at her Twitter (FYI - you'll also find cats and My Mini Ponies galore in it, in case you need something cute and uplifting. Don't we all?).
  • Speaking of authors, I'm also thankful for Ilsa J. Bick, who replies at once to our Goodreads questions and doesn't mind writing a whole essay when someone asks her about the real-life inspiration behind one of her books (that would be me). [And seriously, read her Dark Passages duology at least! 😉]


Well, that's it for now. Did you enjoy this post? Would you like to participate in the meme on a regular or semi-regular basis, and get emailed the prompt list? Just head over here and fill in Jen's form! (Of course, you can jump in anytime you like - you are under no obligation to actually do all the posts, or even most of them, just because you signed up, and you can remove yourself from the list at any time). And if you're interested in participating in a more casual manner, or only in commenting, here is the TMST prompt list for the month of December:

  • December 1st: Share a book-centric childhood memory
  • December 8th: How do you organize your Goodreads shelves?
  • December 15th: What are your favourite posts to write? (a question I submitted)
  • December 22nd: What’s your blogging routine? (a question I submitted)
  • December 29th: What are your favorite books/audiobooks that you read in 2020?

I'm going to skip the next question because I don't have any specific memory (except devouring Disney comics and going through all my mother's mystery books LOL) - but I'll be back on December 8th. Anyhow, I'll visit your blogs if you're participating in the next TMST round.

Now tell me something...during this fateful year, who/what in the bookish world kept your spirits up enough that you feel like thanking them?

26 comments:

  1. It's nice to hear there are still some authors interacting out on Goodreads. It's still my favorite book place. And sending love and appreciation right back at you.

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    1. B.C. Johnson is another author (a small pub/indie one) who interacts with his readers on there. Alas, some authors think GR is evil 😂.

      Thank you! I'm so glad our paths crossed 😘.

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  2. This post was so sweet! I'm thankful for the unique posts that you put out, Roberta! And I'm thankful for the support that you give other bloggers :)

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    1. Aw, who's being sweet now? That means a lot to me - thank you! 😊 😘

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  3. Me too on fellow bloggers - I'm pretty sure I would not be blogging if no one comes by my blog.

    I haven't tried it but I like the idea of being a beta-reader, though I might offend a few writers with my opinion.

    Still haven't read any Seanan McGuire books but I do keep hearing about them but somehow, I've not found one that interest me enough to read it.

    I haven't read any Ilsa J. Bick either but I don't think I would like her books.

    My answer is on my blog but I like to say I'm grateful to be able to enjoy other people's blogs like always even if we don't have the same taste in books.

    Have a lovely day.

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    1. Being a beta reader means being honest, and authors know sometimes you'll be brutally so - which is exactly what they need if they want their books to be better, or if they want to be aware in advance of how they could be received. Of course, you have to develop a relationship of sorts with them before they ask you to beta-read their books, and they have to trust your judgment. I got lucky, because a few of them found my reviews insightful enough that they decided to take a chance on me. And I love to help indie/small pub authors out.

      I don't think Bick would be for you - her books are quite dark - and probably McGuire either, for the same reason...

      "I'm grateful to be able to enjoy other people's blogs like always even if we don't have the same taste in books."
      Exactly! Almost all my closest friends in the book community read different books than the ones I do, which is kind of funny. I'm glad it's not just me 😉.

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  4. Omg yes, Seanan McGUire, thank you!

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  5. Yea! I'm looking forward to a low-key day (Thanksgiving) and enjoying those I'm thankful for!

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    1. I hope you're doing just that right now 🙂. Happy Thanksgiving!

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  6. Awwh, this is such a sweet post! I totally meant to do this prompt, but this week just passed me right by. 😅 Maybe I'll catch it next year!

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    1. I would have loved to read your answers! But this could easily be a yearly post (it actually was, when Heidi was hosting), so maybe you will make it in 2021.

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  7. I'm thankful that I discovered your blog, and I always enjoy your posts!

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    1. That was so sweet! Thank you, and likewise!

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  8. I was a beta reader twice for 2 different authors and it was fun. I really love my fellow blog readers too.

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    1. You were? That's one of the most exciting things!

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  9. Awww this is SO nice! I love that authors reply so soon to your questions! I have read the first two books in Ilsa's Ashes series, I REALLY need to read the third, but wow are they dark! (In the best way, of course hah!)

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    1. Wow, that's a long time coming LOL. I still have to read Ashes...apparently, the cash-on-delivery sites where I buy my books don't have it anymore...

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  10. I am grateful for Ilona Andrews. They posted on website, wrote, informed. I looked and still look forward her everything.

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    1. It's great when an author (well, two authors in this case) has (have) an ongoing dialogue with their readers and a strong internet presence!

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  11. I agree, we don't say thank you nearly enough! I wanted to join in on this post but our blog went down and I didn't get to it in time. I have to especially "ditto" your first one - I've been an on again, off again blogger these past couple years and am so appreciative of this community - the old friends that stuck around and the new ones (like you) that I'm just getting to know! Hope you've had a great week!

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    1. I've been around for 8 years now, and every year I make some new friends, and it's awesome to be part of such a caring, accepting community!

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  12. I thought I had already commented but I think I read and got...distracted lol

    I'm thankful for you and you're unwavering support even when I'm a cannot be scheduled, flight little blogger lol

    Karen @ For What It's Worth

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    1. Thank you! 😘 But you were one of my first followers and definitely my first friend when I started blogging, so why wouldn't I? 😉

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  13. I love this! And I want to say I am grateful to YOU for continuing to try and comment on my blog even though it hates letting you in for some reason D:

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    1. It's weird, because I can comment on Simone's blog just fine 😥.

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