I am
honored to introduce to you, Shaterica Washington, “the blogger behind the
blog,” Book Beauty Chronicles.
The
Blogger
VIP Hello Shaterica,
thanks for sharing your story with us. How are you today?
Blogger I’m doing great.
Thanks for asking! How are you?
VIP That’s good, I’m
doing great as well. How did you come up with the name for your blog “Book
Beauty Chronicles“?
Blogger Coming up with
the name of my blog was pretty hard because the first few names were taken. I
wanted something that represented me as a person as well as the purpose of my
blog. Of course the word "Book" is a key component in the title
because my blog is mainly about "Books"; I like the word
"Beauty" because it is a representation of various things; the beauty
within me and the beauty I find in reading some of the most amazing stories
written by people that look like me. I decided to utilize the word
"Chronicles" to keep a record of the books I read and the reviews.
VIP Amazing! I love the
name of your blog & that’s such a creative & unique way of naming it.
I’m actually considering renaming my blog as well …I want to give it a unique
& personal name. When did you create your blog & why did you decide to
create such a blog?
Blogger I originally
created my blog November 2015 but I didn't launch it until April 1, 2016.
I read a lot, at least 10-15 books a month, and I enjoy telling people about the books I read and recommending new books or series to my fellow readers so I decided to write them down and post my reviews about them. My blog specifically expose and promote literature written by African American authors mainly because there is not enough mainstream media exposure for African American authors like there is for authors of other races like James Patterson, J K Rowling, or Jane Austen.
African American authors
are always grouped together, regardless of the genre they write in it’s GROUPED
under one label. Secondly, you may find two shelves of books at libraries,
department stores such as Wal-Mart or chain bookstores such has Half-Price
Books, but there is still not much exposure being provided. I believe that
African American authors don't get nearly enough credit and exposure for their
work. So I'm hoping to be able to do that with my blog.
VIP I completely agree!
Those are the same reasons (among others) why I started my blog plus the many
literary services I provide. African American authors just don’t get enough
exposure or recognition & that is a big problem in my book. Who is your
potential audience?
Blogger My potential
audience is anybody who enjoy reading as much as I do. My blog doesn't just
focus on urban/street lit because I read across various genres. I read
Christian Fiction, Young Adult Fiction, Motivational/Self-Help, Drama/Suspense,
Thrillers, and Crime/Mystery, etc. The only books I don't read are Paranormal
and Sci-Fi fantasy. Nothing against it, I just prefer to watch things like that
on television instead.
VIP Readers are our
number 1 audience. I too read various genres. I enjoy a variety of genres. What
type of content can readers find on your blog?
Blogger My blog consist
of book reviews, author interviews, author Q&A’s, character interviews,
literary events, blog tour hosting and various tips and resources for the newly
and aspiring writers. I will also be posting things about me and my life as
well. I'm an aspiring author so I want to share my journey with my readers.
Writing my first book is a walk of faith; I have always wanted to write a book
and visualized myself being a bestselling author. I had allowed fear of failure
to hold me back but I’ve decided that I was going to step out on faith in 2016
and do it. If it works it works and if it doesn't it doesn't, but I will never
know unless I try.
VIP You are absolutely
right! That’s one of my plans this year as well, however time has not been my
friend. I’m a very busy woman. I will get to it though. Are you a full time
blogger? Is your blog monetized?
Blogger No, I am not a
full time blogger although I am aspiring to be one day. My blog is not
monetized yet but I have been researching various ways to monetize my blog. I
do have advertising space available for business owners, publishers, etc.
VIP Well, you are already
on your way. That is a source of monetizing. What services do you offer to
authors &/ other literary professionals? How can they contact you?
Blogger I currently offer
services in the areas of virtual assistance, social media promotion,
proofreading, and writing/editing. I can be reached via email at
bookbeautychronicles@gmail.com or by phone at 832.384.4350.
VIP That’s awesome! We
may need to talk about virtual assistance once we’re done. Do you have any
monthly or annual events or specials that you’ve created on your blog?
Blogger As of right now I
don't. I will be posting and advertising other literary events that will be
taking place around the world. Book fairs, book festivals, book signings, award
shows, etc. I will be advertising on my website. I do have a few blog series
that I am currently working, which will be pertaining to authors and
publishers.
VIP That’s good to hear.
Maybe we can collaborate in the future. Have you ever been discouraged as a
blogger? How did you deal with it?
Blogger Yes, being a
blogger has been discouraging at times because "Book Blogs" are not
as popular as other blogs that may talk about other topics such as celebrity
gossip, fashion, food, make-up, etc. So getting readers to visit and follow
your blog can be a tedious process. I deal with it by reminding myself daily
why I decided to blog, I didn't do it for money nor for awards or accolades. I
did it to share my love of reading and to be able to promote African American authors
who are normally overlooked.
VIP Yes, I definitely can
agree with you on that. Sometimes I be wanting to throw in the towel myself but
then, like you, I remind myself why I do what I do and I keep pushing forward.
Do you have any advice to give to book bloggers that are struggling in any way?
Blogger Yes, don't allow
thing such as money, followers, or readers to discourage you from blogging
about your favorite past time. Blog about it because it is something that you
enjoy doing don't allow things to take the fun out of it.
VIP That’s great advice!
When it’s no longer fun & becomes a burden, we aren’t loving it anymore.
Not letting everything or anyone steal our passion & love for blogging is a
key to our success. Why should readers follow your blog? What makes your blog
different from other book blogs?
Blogger Readers should
follow my blog because I have a lot of things to share. Like I said before I'm
an avid reader of various genres and work by African American authors. I
don't just read the same type of story, with same type of plot, from the same
publishers. Looking for a good read to encourage you in your time of struggles,
I got you. Want to read something based on true story, I got you. Looking for
something with some hot and steamy sex scenes, I got you. You want something
with some drama and scandals, I got you. Need something to satisfy your inner
"Private Investigation and CSI skills," I got you. Maybe you want
something that intrigues that alter ego of yours, you know the "the
hardcore thug", I got you. Or maybe you are a history buff, I got that
too.
VIP Name some awesome
book bloggers you follow & would recommend readers to follow?
Blogger Honestly, I only
follow one book blogger right now which is yours, Vaneka Miles (Vaneka’s VIP
Literary Services). I'm currently researching other book bloggers to follow;
but I can be very picky when it comes to people I follow. I prefer bloggers who
update their blog at least once a week, it doesn't matter if they focus on one
genre or multiples, I also like bloggers who are honest. I don't want to read
the same review that you gave for the last six books you posted about. If
there are any bloggers who want me to follow their blog they can email me the
link to read at bookbeautychronicles@gmail.com.
VIP Awww, thank you! I am
honored! I follow you as well. I too, am very picky because I like consistency
and honesty is a must as well.
The
Person
VIP What are some of your
interests other than blogging & anything to do with the literary industry?
Blogger I have a lot of
interest outside of blogging and the literary industry. I'm in the process of
starting a social enterprise and a networking social organization for women. I
also am the Founder & Executive Director of Empowered Girls! Youth
Foundation which is a non-profit organization that promotes self-sufficiency
and increase employable skills for teenage girls and young adult women ages
16-24. Our main focus are teenage girls and young adult women who have been
incarcerated or in the process of being released.
VIP That’s amazing!
Congratulations on your foundation. It’s great to help others & make a
difference in their lives. Do you have a family?
Blogger Yes, I have a
family. I have been married for almost seven years and we have two beautiful
children, my daughter Kamryn (Kam) who is 10 and my son Dondrick (DJ) who is 8.
VIP You have babies, lol.
My youngest is about to turn 12. What is your occupation?
Blogger I have been
working in Higher Education administration for nine years now. I currently work
as an Administrative Assistant for a university in Houston, Texas. I have a
desire to work in continuing education and workforce development as well as
become a vocational community college educator.
VIP How do you manage to
balance blogging, work, family & “me time”?
Blogger I block times
throughout the day for certain things. Monday-Thursday is my main workdays and
Fridays are half days so from noon-4 on is my "me" time. Saturdays
and Sundays are spent with my family which are generally filled with days at
park for football and cheerleading. Sundays I’m at church and with my parents
and sisters. I generally blog and write at night once the kids are sleep or
during breaks at work.
VIP You are one busy
woman! Most people don’t realize how busy we are and/or take for granted the
work that we do. What are you passionate about?
Blogger I'm passionate
about a lot of things but I will have to say my passion definitely lies within
helping other people succeed and reach their goals in life. I enjoy working
with youth and young adults about various choices and issues they go through in
life. I have had a hard journey in life and I don’t mind sharing my story of
what I went through to help others get through it as well.
VIP What is your biggest
fear?
Blogger I would say my
biggest fear is failure which is something that I am currently working through.
VIP What is one thing
about you that most people don’t know& /or wouldn’t believe?
Blogger I'm really an
open book. I guess one thing that people who aren’t close to me or that don’t
know me is that I am 28 years old and I do not know how to drive. Very long
story but I’m working on that too. LOL
VIP Now, that is
something that I never expected for you to say. What have you been waiting for?
It’s good that you are working on it now. What do you like to do for fun?
Blogger Honestly fun for
me is hanging out with my family at my parents’ house. I absolutely love
hanging with my siblings and my nieces and nephews. We can seriously have our
very own reality television show and we will have people rolling from start to
finish. If I’m not doing that, then fun is me and my husband up at 3am playing
dominoes and eating tacos from the taco truck.
VIP How would your family
& friends describe you?
Blogger My family would
describe me as a strong and loving person with a big heart. A girl with big
dream and a positive attitude on life.
VIP How sweet. Where is
your dream vacation destination located?
Blogger Truthfully, my
dream vacation is anywhere out of Texas. LOL. No but seriously, my dream
vacation is being locked away at a secluded resort bungalow in Fiji with my
husband.
VIP Do you prefer tea,
coffee or soda?
Blogger That’s kind of
hard to decide but I would have to say a love coffee and soda about the same
depending on time of day. Before noon, I prefer coffee and then after that I
desire soda. I like tea but it’s not something that I actually crave. I will
drink it if I have nothing to drink.
VIP What would you rather
have more time to do?
Blogger I wish I had more
time to travel. I would love to take a road trip across the US to visit and
explore what our country has to offer.
Favorites
Author Kimberla Lawson
Roby
Book Flint Sage by
Treasure Hernandez & Leslie by Omar Tyree
Genre Romance
TV Show Law & Order
SVU
Music Genre & Author
Contemporary Gospel - Yolanda Adams, R&B - Gerald Levert
Color Purple
Food Shrimp
Accessory or Item Cell
Phone
Animal Giraffe
Cause You Support Anything
that has to do with the advancement and
growth for African American communities, women and youth. I am a proud
supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement.
growth for African American communities, women and youth. I am a proud
supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement.
Thank
you for stopping by today Shaterica! We really enjoyed your company &
learning more about you and your blog. Please stay in touch.
To all
you die-hard readers out there, make sure you go subscribe to Book Beauty Chronicles and follow Shaterica on social media!
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