Saturday Spotlight and How You Could Win An Amazon Gift Card!!

It's already my favorite time of the week again!  Yes, it's the Weekend! And the Weekend means The Saturday Spotlight and the Saturday Spotlight Means Learning about A Fellow Blogger!  This week I have a Blogger that I've always admired! Her site is informative and fun!  Without further ado, I give you...

This week's Saturday Spotlight...

Spotlighter? Are you there? *yoo-whoo* Come out! Come out! Where ever you are ... and tell us YOUR NAME!!

Sheila DeChantal

And What would be your Online Alias Sheila?  In blog comments and on Twitter I go as Bookjourney!

I *knew* that ... I just didn't know if *everyone* knew that ! (now you DO!)

What's Your Blog name? One Persons Journey Through a World of Books (believe me.... if I would have known about the blogging world when I started my blog.... the name would have been much shorter! LOL)

*Giggles* I REALLY Like it though!  It's Right to the Point! *Bam*! -- Which makes it VERY You!

Where can we find you in the Blog-o-sphere?  http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/

Can you give us a quick bio about yourself? Sure! I am a 42 YO go getter. I love to have adventures! I am married with 2 grown boys. I enjoy reading (it's true!), writing, biking, rollerblading, and hanging with family and friends. I love helping out my community and I have been to Honduras 6 times to work with street kids. My 7th time will is coming up on October 30th of this year.

*SEVEN* times! You ARE a Go Getter! And that's only ONE reason I LOVE ya'!

Why did you start your blog? I started it for me... I didn't know there were others like me when I started. It was more of an online journal of what I had read. Like record keeping. I was so surprised when someone commented on my blog and when I linked to them... I found a whole new world! (I can almost here the words to that song in Disney's Aladdin movie.... "A Whole New World"

::Singing Aladdin's Theme to herself:: *ahem* Stop doing that! I'm losing my concentration! And while it's easy to do, I'm trying to conduct an interview! By the way, you started your blog for THE BEST reason EVER!

What is your favorite genre and/or genres? Currently I am really enjoying historical fiction, YA, and women's literature. It does change though!

Who is your favorite author? That is so tough.... there are authors I try not to miss like Jodi Piccoult and Harlan Coben... yet I read so much and enjoy so much I am not sure I could pick a fav.

What's your favorite book of all time? I have several favs but one I almost always recommend is Summerhouse by Jude Deveroux. Seriously - read it. And then let me know you read it and what you thought. The book is... magical.

I LOVE that description! So, I'm making a mental note!

Name & describe your blog features: I review books and have chats with authors. I enjoy doing giveaways, book related topics, and a few memes. Readers really seem to enjoy my Morning Menaderings which is basically me forst thing in the morning, "unplugged" - except for coffee! Morning Meanderings can be about my life, a book I found on another blog... anything.... I let the true me come out in those posts... they can be a bit crazy.

That's ANOTHER Reason I LOVE Ya'!

Tell my reader's a little bit about your review system Once I read a book I put my post up with the back cover info from the book, sometimes author info if I have it, and then I finish with my thoughts. I am very careful to not give away too much of the book... I want to create interest but not tell the story. I work to be fair and honest even if I did not enjoy the read. If I did not enjoy it I will let you know why. After the review I treat myself to 8 green M&M's and a diet pepsi.... j/k.... it's actually 9 green M&M's.

*giggles* I ONLY eat the Green ones.  I'm Lying...I'd Eat the ENTIRE package and let me tell you, COLOR is the LAST thing I think of while doing it! Yummy!

How is your blog unique from other blogs? I work hard to keep it current and a place people can go to read about not only the up and coming great books - but also some of the ones you may not have heard of. I read a wide variety of books from YA, mystery, fantasy, Christian and Christian fiction, memoirs and more so I think there is something for everyone.

Agreed!

How do you market your blog? What's your *Secret*?  I try to communicate on Book Blogs when I have time. I comment and visit others a lot, I use Twitter and occasionally Facebook.

All AWESOME Ways to Market!

Can you give us 3 tips about content? 1. I think good reviews are huge - I always tell new bloggers when they inquire about how to do a review to let the readers know how the book made you feel. That is huge for me. 2. The trick is to share about the book but do not give it away. I have read reviews where the reviewer gives away key points of the book that I would have enjoyed reading and discovering for myself.... dont do that! 3. Decide what your blog is going to be about and what you are hoping to get out of your blogging and make a list. Then decide how you are going to make that happen. Once you know your goals - stick to it and make them happen.

And what about 3 tips about blog promotion? 1. If you are looking for blog traffic - comment, comment, comment! When people comment on my blog and they have a blog as well, I always go visit them. A lot of bloggers do this. I make it a point to take time to read other blogs. I believe I have brought many loyal readers to my blog through comments and communication.... 2. If you do not Twitter... I reccomend you do. This is a great way to link to a giveaway you are having and build blogging relationships with other bloggers. 3. Stay current. You dont have to post several times a day - or even once a day.... but I would say try to stick to a minimum of 3 times a week. If your blog has the same post today as it did 2 weeks ago when someone reads it... readers may not come back.

Thank you SO much Sheila for being here at Park-Avenue Princess! The Pleasure has been ALL Mine!

Thank YOU Amy!

I will have a different blogger in the *spotlight* next week and if you'd like that to be YOU! Just drop me a note and I'll make sure it happens!

Sheila was SO happy to be in the Spotlight this week, that she's offering ONE Gift Certificate to Amazong worth $10.00 towards an item of your choice!  This Giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY!  In order to Qualify, the only MUST is that you FOLLOW ME and you FOLLOW SHEILA!  After that, you're Giveaway instructions can be found below!

SATURDAY SPOTLIGHT GIVEAWAY!!

For an AMAZONG GIFT CARD!

ONE Of My LUCKY Readers Will WIN The Above Prize!!

Courtesy of Book Journey and Park-Avenue Princess
This Giveaway is INTERNATIONAL!

How Do you Win? It's Simple!

You must follow BOTH Blogs by hitting the FOLLOW button

that way we can see you and know you are one of our readers!

If you are NOT willing to follow this rule, and you have a Blogger Blog, you can't participate.But, how simple of a step IS that...plus, you'll get all the important updates)

All Entries MUST be in By Midnight October 30th Winner Drawn on HALLOWEEN!

Extra Entries

You MUST be a FOLLOWER with GOOGLE FRIEND CONNECT HERE ON BOTH BLOGS

(It's the Button Over On The Right Side Of the Blog You Should See Your Picture)

I Recommend Following On Twitter -It's NOT Required But I do Contests,

Including The CURRENT Contest that I'm Hosting For Author

E. Van Lowe,  Where You Can Win A Book A Day,

and Other Giveaways as well!

Plus, there are Major Announcements made on Twitter and not Here!

The Choice Is Yours!

+2 If you Subscribe by Mail

+2 If you Subscribe via Google Reader

+3 If you Rate Me On Blogged (see bottom of blog)

+5 If you TWEET About This Giveaway

+10 If you Follow Me @APrkAvePrincess on TWITTER! (Leave @TwitterName)

+10 If you Follow Sheila @BookJourney on TWITTER! (Leave @TwitterName)

+15 If you blog about this Giveaway in it's own post (or any others I'm having)

+20 If you Put My Button On Your Blog and Link Back

Try to Separate your entries one per post!

(+25 for each and every NEW follower you bring me)

They just have to mention it in their post!

As Always, Good Luck and HAVE FUN!!

Thank you ALL for Stopping By!

Without you, your comments and input, this blog

wouldn't be able to continue to grow!

Questions/Concerns? Please do not hesitate to Contact ME!

If you'd like to be FEATURED, Please Hit "Contact Me" or

Send me an email at IAmHiMaintenance@aol.com

and Preach to the Princess!!

KISSES & TOODLES! x0xx