Armchair BEA - Day 1: Interview Yourself

It's the beginning of June, which of course means it is time for that beautiful annual event known as Book Expo America where all the cool kids hang out - authors, bloggers, publishers. Now that is the place to be for my kind of celebrity sightings. But alas, I cannot be there this year, so instead I am participating virtually via Armchair BEA. So let's get the ball rolling, shall we?

Day 1: Interview Yourself!

1. Please tell us a little bit about yourself: Who are you? How long have you been blogging? Why did you get into blogging?
My name is Monica and I'm a bibliophile (which I guess really goes without saying). I've always been one though, because as a shy kid, books were the things that made me feel less alone. So I got my English degree and my library science degree to make my devotion college-approved. I'm very, very new to book blogging having only started this blog back in October, 2011, but I'm loving it so far. The Fuma Files came about because I am always reading and wanting to share my thoughts on books with people just as enthusiastic as I am, but there wasn't anyone around to talk to who seemed to be as crazy about books (especially YA) as me. And so the blog was born!

2. What are you currently reading; or what is your favorite book you have read so far in 2012?
My favorite book so far of 2012 is John Green's The Fault in Our Stars, hands down. That book explores the nature of the human condition in a way that had me laughing out loud on one page and balling my eyes out the next. Other books I've really enjoyed so far this year include A.S. King's Please Ignore Vera Dietz and Marissa Meyer's Cinder.

3. Tell us one non-book related thing that everyone reading your blog may not know about you.
In high school, I was one of those people who lived at school. I was in student council, band, yearbook, drama, political club, web team, and I even got my JV letter on the bowling team. Also, I have a YouTube channel where I've recently started posting my own videos (though, admittedly, a lot of them are about books haha)

4. What is your favorite feature on your blog (i.e. author interviews, memes, something specific to your blog)?
As I said, I'm still really new to blogging so I don't have features really yet. I do have a segment called Wednesday Words where every week I talk about some book/library/publishing related item, be it something in the news or just something on my mind. I do hope to reveal a new feature I've been working on tomorrow though, so stick around! I'm excited about it!

5. Where do you see your blog in five years?
Hopefully bigger. I don't really have much of a following or readership right now (and I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that I can't host any giveaways). I'd love for there to be many more comments and followers in the months and years to come!

6. Which is your favorite post that you have written that you want everyone to read?
I'm not sure if I have a favorite post, but there is a clear winner as far as what my most widely read post is. A few months ago I wrote a review/my thoughts on The Element by Ken Robinson (which is one of the few reviews I've written that is not about a YA novel). That post has gotten over 1200 views since its original posting in February. A post that I'm particularly proud of is the review I did of Please Ignore Vera Dietz because Ms. King, being the amazing, incredible woman that she is, actually quoted me on her blog. I mean, come on, how cool is that?!

7. If you could eat dinner with any author or character, who would it be and why?
This is an impossible question! I guess....oh man this is hard!....I think it would be an amazingly hilarious time to eat dinner with Maureen Johnson and John Green - the pair of them are awesome. Or Elizabeth Eulberg! I have loved all of her novels, and I feel like her books and mine (incredibly unpublished, but whatever!) would get along haha

8. What literary location would you most like to visit? Why?
Again, a difficult one! I think Paris would be amazing, especially since it's the unofficial home of the Lost Generation. Watching Midnight in Paris only solidified that fact. Going to the bookstore Shakespeare & Co. has long been an item on my bucket list.

9. What is your favorite part about the book blogging community? Is there anything you would like to see change in the coming years?
I have loved meeting other bloggers because when I'm with them, I feel like I finally fit in. Finally, other people who are as crazy about YA lit and books as I am! The blogging community is mostly friendly, which is great. One change I'd like to see though is a willingness to reach out to each other and support people new to the community. It's been a challenge to gain an audience, and I'd love it if more bloggers gave each other a boost or shout-outs =)

10. Have your reading tastes changed since you started blogging? How?
I can't really say my reading tastes have changed all that much in the last eight months, but I do feel a desire to stretch outside my comfort zone more. While my heart seems to belong to YA, I'd like to stretch my wings and read more memoirs and some poetry, too.

So that's it for Day 1! Stick around for more excitement the rest of the week =)