Armchair BEA 2013: Say Hi to Jana!

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!

To kick off this awesome week of virtual BEA-ness, here's a few things about me I thought you'd like to know!

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, and I'm 25 years old. I graduated with my Bachelor's degree in graphic design (art history minor) in December of 2009, and I'm starting up grad school this fall to get my Master's in Library and Information Science. Yep, crazy, huh? Needless to say, my fellow graphic designers were rather surprised when they found out I was aiming for a MLIS instead of an MFA (Master's of Fine Arts). An artsy librarian? Heck yes! I also love to sing, and have been doing so since I was a tone deaf 3-year-old. Luckily I have perfect pitch now. I travel a lot (for pleasure), love shopping, design and make jewelry, and have an obsession with art books. I've been blogging with The Broke and The Bookish since June of 2010 (when we started), and I started this blog in November of 2011. I love sharing my opinions on books, so why not blog!? :)

2. Where in the world are you blogging from?

I live along the Wasatch Mountain Range in Utah, USA. It's gorgeous here, and I love it! (Although I have documented proof that I am allergic to every tree, grass, weed, flower, and plant in the entire region.)

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This is a panoramic view of my city from the top of the mountains parallel to my house.

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Looking North, this is the view from my house. I never get tired of this mountain!

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I live at the mouth of this canyon.

Just in case you ever go on Jeopardy, here are some fun facts about my awesome state:

• The Great Salt Lake is eight times saltier than the ocean.
• In 2002, Salt Lake City hosted the XIX Olympic Winter Games.
• Utah has the highest literacy rate in the nation.  Woooo!
• Utah is the Jell-O capital of the World.

3. Tell us one (or a bunch of) non-book-related thing(s) that everyone reading your blog may not know about you. 

Umm... string cheese and popcorn are my comfort foods. I get sick a lot. I'm obsessed with polka dots. I'm a font snob. I did some freelance graphic design work for Microsoft XBOX. I fall into the tree in my front yard while putting up Christmas lights almost every year. I am deathly afraid of spiders. Even the ones you can't see without a microscope. I hated hamburger until I was 17. Pretty much the only time I make my bed is right before I go to sleep.

4. What is your favorite book you have read so far in 2013? 

Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill! It's an adorable YA rom com with travel aspects, young love (but not insta-love), and some really endearing characters. If you're interested, my review is here. 

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

That is REALLY hard. Probably Sam from Josie Meadows's Incarnate trilogy. He has lived for a very long time, and has lived so many different lives. I'd love to hear stories of his past, and get a firsthand account of how the world has changed over time.

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Well, thanks for visiting! I'm excited to "meet" all my fellow Armchair BEA participants! Link me to your intro posts, and if you're not participating, tell me something about you that I don't know!