Friday, June 1, 2012

Follow Me Friday: Blog Style


Hi! Welcome to Follow Me Friday: Blog Style!  I believe that book bloggers should help one another, because well, we all have one thing in common- the love of blogging, and books. I've had the pleasure of meeting and networking with some great bloggers out there, and my little tribute to everyone is to start up this fun Friday post!  The power of uniting has helped Storm Goddess Book Reviews & More grow into what it is today, and I'm not about to forget the help I've gotten to achieve this goal.  My hopes in starting this is to get other blogs some more followers, whether they are a well known blog or a small one, a blog that's just starting out. I'm here to help. 




This Friday I'd like to feature The Celtic Rose.   The owner/creator of this blog is Miriam Newman.  I hope you'll follow along as I ask some questions pertaining to the blog, and a few fun questions. Ready? Let's begin!




Hi! Welcome to Storm Goddess Book Reviews and More! I'm really excited about this, and glad that you have taken part of the fun!

So, tell us a little bit about yourself!  I'm a lifelong lover of Celtic myths and poetry, now translating that into mainly Celtic-themed and/or historical novels.  A lifelong horse addict, I also seem to parley that interest into my books!  Widowed and sort-of-almost-maybe-someday-retired, I live on a small horse farm in Pennsylvania with a motley crew of rescue animals.  

What made you decide to start a blog?  As a promotion medium, of course, it's one of the recommended steps.  But I honestly think (romantic heart that I am) it was the picture of the Cliffs of Moher offered as a blog background that finally propelled me into action.  I have spent a lot of time in Ireland and it called to me.

How did you come up with a blog name?  The Celtic aspect of my blog, plus roses for romance:  The Celtic Rose.

How many people do you have on staff, and how do you decide who does what job?  It's a private blog.

How long has your blog been live/active?  It is just going into its third year.

What type of things do you do? Services you provide?  Naturally I post my own articles and book releases.  But I love to offer other authors the chance to do the same, plus I do an occasional review of a book that really has the "wow" factor for me.

What are THREE unique things about your blog?  The picture!  The fact that it is mainly restricted to Celtic-themed and closely associated material.  But also the fact that I have a lot of crossover readers and writers who equally enjoy anything set in the British Isles, Medievals, Vikings, Anglo-Saxons, even the occasional Regency.

How do you go about spreading the word about your blog, and the posts?  Mainly through the Yahoo loops, several special interest chapters I belong to, plus Facebook and Twitter.

What's the best thing about blogging?  The chance to express myself without suiting someone else's agenda.

What's the hardest thing about being a blogger?  Getting time to do it properly.

Besides blogging, what are some of your other hobbies and passions?  Anything to do with horses, hiking, gardening, travel, tromping round through the woods and fields with my hunting dogs.  We're not hunting, just tromping.

Which author have you not hosted on your blog that you'd LOVE to have?  Diana Gabaldon (I can dream, right?).



Where can readers find you?  How many ways to follow do you have?  The best way is through my website www.miriamnewman.com.  And of course I'm on Facebook and Twitter.



How would an author go about getting a feature, whether it be an interview, guest post, etc?  If someone wants to blog, all they have to do is email me at mrmireland@aol.com

Most memorable post/even? Probably the series of posts I did giving a no-holds-barred history of my checkered writing career!  I’m not sure whether that was a good thing or a bad thing, but it was honest.








And now for some fun questions!


Three books on your keeper's shelf.  The Once and Future King by T.H. White.  Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien.  Child of Awe by Kathryn Lynn Davies.
 
Favorite authors?  Laura Kinsale, Diana Gabaldon.

Book you've re-read the most?  Is it OK to say my own?  I am my own worst critic.

Favorite TV show?  I really don't watch.  For anything on The History Channel, I'll make an exception.

Favorite color?  Blue, although green gives it a fight.

What's your dream job?  Not to have one.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, no money holding you back, where would you go?  The British Isles.

Anything else you'd like to add in, maybe something I didn't ask in the interview that you'd love to share with readers?  I also have a general, non-Celtic themed blog, The Blue Rose.


I really appreciate you answering my questions. It's great getting to know other bloggers that share the same interests as I do.  Before we end this post, please share any links that come in handy for you and your blog. 
www.miriamnewman.com
www.thecelticroseblog.blogspot.com
www.theblueroseblog.blogspot.com




Readers, I hope you'll check out this blog and give it a follow if you haven't already!


Thank you, Miriam for sharing your beautiful blog with us!



I hope you enjoyed today's Follow Me Friday post! If you want your blog featured, shoot me an email at Stormgoddess925@yahoo.com and we'll set something up!


Until next time,

Storm Goddess

15 comments:

  1. Thanks for the invitation. Of course I love talking about my blog and my favorite-in-life theme, Celtic romance. I hope others who enjoy it too will stop in at The Celtic Rose.

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  2. Wonderful to see Miriam and her blog featured here. The Celtic Rose is an entertaining and educational blog, one I enjoy visiting often.

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  3. The Once and Future King is one of my all-time favorites, too, Miriam. You go, girl!

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  4. Great feature, headed over to check it out now!

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  5. Love the pictures and the blog sounds interesting. Heading over with Kristi to check it out :)

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  6. Wonderful idea drawing attention to others and pulling in new viewers here too! Love to read the posts on the Celtic Rose and especially love the Grammar Guru posts. ;)

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  7. Great post! Nikki - I love that you are doing these blog features :)

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  8. Nikki, what a great opportunity for bloggers. Thank you for doing this.
    Wonderful interview, Miriam. Thank you for sharing.

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  9. Great interview, Nikki and Miriam! I love that your CelticRose blog is a showcase for authors from all across the spectrum of Celtic writing, on turf both ancient and modern. Your Blue Rose blog is a good companion piece, often full of comtemporary issues of interest to all authors.

    Okay, Miriam, with all that "tromping" through the woods, aren't you afraid of critters? Even very, very small critters?

    All the best to you in your writing. I've said it to anyone who'll listen that you have the soul and pen of a poet. Slán, Erin O'Quinn

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  10. Thank you, everyone, for your comments. Yes, Erin, tromping with the dogs is undoubtedly what got me my second case of Lyme Disease. (Sticking out tongue) Readers and writers are always welcome at either of my blogs and I appreciate Nikki giving me the opportunity to showcase The Celtic Rose, an offshoot of my CelticRoseWriters Yahoo group.

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  11. Fabulous blog! Love the pics. I also travel in service of my writing.

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  12. Thanks, Suz. There seem to be no limits to where my muse wants to go. It's just the limits of my checkbook that worry me!

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  13. These interviews are wonderful. I'm able to meet and know people I wouldn't otherwise. Miriam, I'm a horse gal, too. (Don't you just love the way they smell?) I had a granny from County Kern, so I heard her Irish stories. Great interview. Nice to meet you.

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  14. Thank you, Sheri. I think this is a great idea Nikki has here, introducing more people to blogs and vice versa. It never fails to amaze me how many different ideas people have and how many interests, and this is a place we can connect. My Nana was Irish as well and it's quite an influence those Irish grandmothers can have on us, not the least of which can be putting us on a horse as soon as we can walk! LOL.

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  15. Such a great post! I'm so glad that your blog is getting noticed! You work so hard on it!

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