Armchair BEA: Day 4, Beyond Your Blog

Today's Armchair BEA topic is:  Beyond Your Blog
Has blogging opened up opportunities for you beyond getting free, advance copies of new books? Has it helped you get offers to write or review elsewhere (maybe even for pay)? Have you gotten invites to special events or places you might not have been to otherwise? 

I've only had my blog for a little over 2 weeks. Why did I choose now to start it? I don't know really, but after thinking about it, I think it's the time of the year. In the past 5 years, 3 people in my family have died in April or May. So, I've pretty much been doing nothing with my life other than the usual. I think I started the blog because I need something new, different, and positive. Now, I've not picked up any fancy swag or met famous people, but I've met a lot of nice people, interesting people, and helpful people. Started the blog has helped me start to look at the world as being full of possiblilies again. I'm thinking of entering NaNoWriMo this November. No, don't worry, I won't be spamming everyone's inboxes begging for editing help. It's just one of those things I've been meaning to do, for years, except I've never actually done it. (Like the blog, until this year) Every one of my kids gets a personal story growing up- not always right away, it's more of an evolving oral story that gets expanded and changed with each retelling. But, this is the year I actually begin writing them down as a keepsake for the kids. So, that's the real opportunity blogging has opened up for me- the ability to try new things again.