Armchair BEA 2012: Meet That Artsy Reader Girl!

Armchair BEA is a fun online event that those of us who could not attend BEA in New York City can participate in! There's ways to network with other bloggers, posts on blogging tips, giveaways, and happenings at BEA from people who are there. Visit the Armchair BEA blog to see a schedule of events!

Today's post is all about networking, and getting to know other bloggers participating in the event. Hopefully we can all make some new friends! So, here are five things about me (the questions were provided by the creators of the event)! 

Meet Jana

1. Please tell us a little bit about yourself: Who are you? How long have you been blogging? Why did you get into blogging?

Well, I'm Jana! I'm a graphic designer, substitute teacher, world traveler, art history lover, and bookahaolic! Oh, and I'm turning 25 this month. Oh. My. Heck. I started out blogging with The Broke and the Bookish back when the blog was born in June of 2010. Jamie, the creator of the Goodreads College Students group, thought it would be a fun idea, so about 10 of us joined together and entered the blog world. I'm not sure any of us thought the blog would grow so big so quickly. In November of 2011, I decided to break off of TB&TB (don't worry! I still write there too!) and run a solo blog so I could post reviews more frequently. I absolutely love the blogging community, and have had so much fun getting to know all my blogger friends! I've also found a deeper love for reading than I ever imagined. 

2. What is your favorite book you have read so far in 2012?

Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard (read my review!). I connected so much with that book. Bria, the artsy main character, had the courage to do something I had always dreamed about! She took off on an amazing traveling adventure, fell in love, and learned a lot about herself. About a week ago, I returned home from a 6-week extravaganza through Europe with my mom. I didn't fall in love, but I learned SO much about myself. I came home wanting to read Wanderlove all over again, because I would be able to connect with it on a whole new level. Perhaps a re-read is necessary!

3. If you could eat dinner with any author or character, who would it be and why?

I recently hosted a tour stop on the Of Poseidon by Anna Banks official tour. I got to interview her after reading her amazing book! She is so hilarious and so down-to-earth. I'd love to have dinner with her (and I would hope she'd bring along Emma and Galen), and then go pedestrian-hunting. Check out the interview and giveaway of Of Poseidon here.

4. What literary location would you most like to visit? Why?

I want to visit the world in Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi. It's a crazy-sounding place, with virtual realms and the Aether (which sounds SO much like van Gogh's Starry Night). It's a dangerous place, I know, but I would absolutely LOVE to see it! 

5. What is your favorite part about the book blogging community? Is there anything that you would like to see change in the coming years?

I love all the people, the authors, the publicists, and publishers. Book lovers are the coolest people in the world. It does not matter where we live, what we do for a living, or what we think. We all love books, so we're all connected. The bookish discussions and recommendations have changed my views on so many things, changed my preferences on books, and really shaped my own blogging persona. I've made some lifelong friends, and I know I will always have at least one person to cry over fictional characters with! 

Thanks for stopping by! It's so nice to meet you (or see you again)! Please leave me a link to your intro post so I can get to know you better, and if you're not participating in Armchair BEA, please tell me something about yourself that I don't know already!