Armchair BEA 2015 Introductions

Welcome to Sunrise Avenue Armchair BEA friends! 

And thank you for stopping by :) This will be my third year participating. Last year I think I slacked off too much, so this year I really want to challenge myself to comment on the ABEA blog daily and visit at least three new blogs every morning. And I always participate in the Instagram challenges. Those are fun AND easy!

First, a bit about me. I am a lifelong reader who discovered book blogging and couldn't resist. I am not the best, the hippest, or the most current, but I love books and love to share what I read. This year I am judging the 2015 INSPY Awards so that is keeping me busy this May and June. I am so passionate about reading that when the opportunity came up to start my own book business, I simply couldn't say no. Now I get to help kickstart the joy of reading in children. What could be better?!



An, apparently, outdated Welcome page gives you some basic facts about me and the blog. Or, more recently, HERE as well.

Me and SIL. We are so ....normal..

What is my theme song??
Excellent question, my dear Watson. I am not sure I have one cut and clear theme song for my life, although my husband would say 'White and Nerdy' by Weird Al. Perhaps 'Chandelier' by Sia? That makes me sound so depressing however. So don't take it to heart.

What does diversity mean to me?
Simple really. I am not a huge diversity advocate, but of course I would like to see more in everything I read and watch. Mostly, I don't want it to be forced. I don't want it to become 'that token black dude' or 'of course there is a gay guy involved'. I want diversity to come naturally. I want authors to write characters in all shapes and sizes simply because that is the way they come to the author's mind in the first place, because it is unavoidable. I want diversity more than I want 'strong' female characters. Katniss is overdone. But WOWZA that is a whole 'nother blog post!

What is my current read...s (duh it's plural)?
I am listening to the Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman and the Gates of Thread and Stone by Lori M Lee. I typically have an audio book for the car and then another one on my phone for around the house and at the gym.

I just finished an INSPY read earlier, so I will start Hearts Made Whole tonight.

Random dog picture. Hi Gabby! 

If you were stranded on a desert island, which author would you take with you and why?
I am sure I should say something terrible clever and pick some author that has written about desert islands or survival skills. But really, I would just want to pick an author I love that I know would unravel beautiful love stories to keep me distracted from hunger and death. Still, a suuuper tough choice. Becky Wade? Melissa Tagg? I think I will have to settle on Tamera Alexander. An author who can write those epic and beautiful stories is worth being stranded on an island with. .....sorry Tamera.

And that is me, good friends! Come back tomorrow for the social linkys and some visual expressions...

 Baby Girl via Snap