1. I began on Friday by signing up for the 2010 Comment Challenge on the MotherReader Blog. Since then I have commented on 18 blogs some of which I have not visited before.
2. I prepared my 2010 New Year’s resolutions thanks to Rebecca at the Book Lady’s Blog.
3. I began preparing cheat sheets and templates for my book reviews and blogs thanks to the great idea provided by Danielle at There’s a Book.
4. I checked to make sure my copyright date was up-to-date and that my copyright information on my blogs was current, thanks to Pam at Bookalicious.
5. I backed up my blog thanks to Jackie from Farm Lane Books.
6. I joined the Bloggie Cult and asked to become a Mentee thanks to Kristen from Bookworming in the 21st Century. But wait, there’s more…
7. I added RSS, Facebook and “Follow me on Twitter” widgets to my sidebar.
8. I created a Facebook page for forwordsbooks.
9. I added an Amazon.com search widget to my sidebar.
10. I wrote my Sydney Taylor Book Award Blog for next Tuesday.
11. I finalized my Tu B’Shevat Blog for next Thursday.
12. I wrote 7 book reviews. I have a lot more waiting for me.

I have spent approximately 16 hours over the course of the last three days working on things connected with my website. That is simply fantastic. Thank you Maw Books, Pedro and everyone associated with Bloggiesta for the chips, the salsa or whatever it is that put that fire in my belly to move me forward. See you in June!

Happy Reading,

Kathy B.

And I checked to be sure my copyright date is updated to 2010 so one Bloggiesta mini-challenge has been accomplished…

And I have written two comments today…so far…

Moving on.

Happy Reading,

Kathy B.

MotherReader - where I signed up for the 2010 Comment Challenge and thanked her for the opportunity.

Lee Wind – where I thanked Lee for partnering with MotherReader on the Comment Challenge and giving us the opportunity to meet new people.

Maw Books Blog – where I signed up for the Boggiest and thanked her for the opportunity.

There’s a Book – where I got involved in a Bloggiesta mini-challenge and learned about creating a cheat sheet for my blog and thanked him for the template.

The Book Lady’s Blog – where I got involved in another Bloggiesta mini-challenge to think about my goals for my blog in 2010 and commented about how I  am already completely overwhelmed.

I am happy it is Friday night and Shabbat will allow me to relax just a bit. But before I light the candles, here are a couple goals for 2010:

1. Finish the forwords Catalog of Jewish Books and get it up on the website and let the Jewish community know it is there and updated in the next two weeks.
2. Target a Jewish Value each month and find secular books that support it. Feature those books and write a blog about the value and how the books support it.
3. Work on my Amazon affiliate program and see if I might generate a bit of income through book sales.
4. Attend the 2010 kidlitosphere Conference. Meet some the incredible people writing these amazing blogs.

I am sure there will be more,  I haven’t even touched the social networking stuff yet. But let’s leave it here for now.

Happy Reading,

Kathy B.

JON SCIESZKA

I am not kidding.  Jon Scieszcka commented on my blog. Jon Scieszcka, the Caldecott award winning, First Ambassador for Young People’s Literature thanked ME for writing a tribute to HIM.  So not only does this incredible guy, write fantastic books with excellent Jewish values content, he’s also a mensch. And yes, I thanked him for thanking me.

Now I have had my taste of the kidlitosphere and the real possibilities it harbors. Not that Caldecott Award winning authors are going to be commenting on my blog every day, but the feeling of being part of a larger community.

With that in mind, I have decided to participate in two online challenges that are starting today:

The 2010 Comment Challenge sponsored by MotherReader and Lee Wind. A 21 day event running through January 28 that challenges kidlit bloggers to post 5 comments a day for 21 days.

And

Bloggiesta sponsored by Maw Books Blog, a weekend event to help those of us who tend to procrastinate with our blog maintenance duties focus on some clean-up tasks.  The mascot for Bloggiesta is Pedro,  Plan. Edit. Develop. Review. Organize. He’s a cute little guy with a lot to say.

I have a lot to do this weekend and in the days ahead. I am looking forward to making some new friends in the kidlitosphere and beyond. Wish me luck.

Happy Reading,

Kathy B.