BBAW Interview: Florinda from The 3 R's Blog

I'm participating in the Book Blogger Appreciation Week interview swap. I was paired with Florinda from The 3 R's Blog: Reading, 'Riting, and Randomness (It's Not Just a Title, It's a Mission Statement) and we conducted our interviews via email. I edited these answers very slightly, and mostly just added some links.

Florinda posts frequently and has a very relatable style, so pay her a visit--you're bound to find something you like. In addition to her blog, you can find Florinda on Twitter and LibraryThing.

What is the history of your blog? When and why did you get started?

My first blog post was March 16, 2007. For several months, I had been using an online organizing program to keep a record of what I was reading, but as it started to get more detailed, I thought maybe a blog would be a better way to do it. My first few posts were summary reading lists with short descriptions of each book and a few comments, but after a couple of months I began doing individual posts after each book I finished.

Has your blog evolved over time?

I realized pretty quickly that my blog probably wouldn't be just about books. Most of the blogs I read early on weren't book blogs--it actually took me some time to start finding those. But I'd find things to think and write about on other blogs, and sometimes I'd even write about things that happened in my life. That mix is still there, and that's the third R (the "randomness").

I participated in NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month) during November 2007, which got me into the posting-every-day habit--and I liked it. I still post five or six times a week (most of the time). I have a loose editorial calendar in which certain types of posts appear on specific days. And I think my book reviews have improved a lot :-).

It looks like you are much better than I am at having recurring features on your blog. What's your secret? Do you think this is more work for you or does it seem to make it easier?

I actually think it's easier. It helps give my blogging some structure (I'm an accountant--my brain operates better with structure). I also try to write most of my posts at least a few days in advance. The two features that probably look the most work-intensive--the TBIF book-related round-up on Fridays, and the Weekend Review linkfest on Saturdays--really aren't, since they're basically works in progress all week. (Google Docs is my very good friend.)

What is your favorite blogger meme/game and why?

I don't do a lot of memes, and I try to concentrate them into just one or two posts a week, even though that means some of the daily ones don't go up on their "official" day of the week. I've most consistently participated in Booking Through Thursday, and I like doing the Friday Fill-ins just because they're fun. But my favorite one may be Tuesday Thingers, because it's really helped me learn more about using LibraryThing.

What is your all-time favorite book (feel free to list more than one if you'd like)?

I usually avoid this question like the plague, because it's JUST TOO HARD! And since I've gotten out of the habit of re-reading, it's become even harder. But here are three that rank very, very high on the list (and that I've read more than once):
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott
Wonder Boys by Michael Chabon

Cloth, paper, or ebook? Have your book buying habits changed over time?

I probably buy more books now than ever :-) --nearly always trade paperbacks. I rarely buy hardcovers. I got a Kindle a couple of months ago, and I like it much better than I ever expected to, but it's not going to replace books on paper for me. However, it does give me a way to get new books sooner--I don't have to wait for the paperback, and they're cheaper, too!

What are some of your favorite blogs/websites?

Again, it's just too hard to play favorites :-)! I maintain three separate blogrolls--one for book blogs, one for blogs by authors, and one that's a hodgepodge of all the other types of blogs I read. But since it's Book Blogger Appreciation Week, here are a few book blogs I really like:

Devourer of Books
Everyday I Write the Book
Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin'?
Musings of a Bookish Kitty
Rebecca Reads
She Is Too Fond of Books
Sophisticated Dorkiness
The Betty and Boo Chronicles
The Boston Bibliophile

And, to steal from you, ask and answer any one question that you wish I had asked.

Q: What time of day do you do most of your reading?

A: I nearly always read at breakfast, and again before I go to sleep, although I don't really get through many pages in the morning, and the amount I read at night depends on how long I can stay awake! My favorite reading time, though, is the weekend mornings when I take myself and my book out to Starbucks.

Thanks, Florinda!