Wednesday, March 31, 2010

International Book Blogger Mentor Program Featured Bloggers (1)

Yes, the International Book Blogger Mentor Program is up and running! All March mentees should have gotten their books by now, and today I am introducing the February mentees and mentors.

First up we have Audrey at Brizmus Blogs Books who lived in France but is moving to Japan right about now. Audrey chose 3 books from my pile including MAGIC UNDER GLASS by Jacyln Dolamore which she gave a very positive review. I thought it brought across very well why she enjoyed it. Here's an excerpt:

MAGIC UNDER GLASS a love story like no other, and I have always been a sap for forbidden, strange love. Nim, a lowly trouser girl, and Erris, a fairy prince, are so different, and yet their circumstances are so similar that it is easy to see how their friendship, as it develops, easily turned into love. I fell hard for them both, and I couldn't stop turning the pages, practically praying that things would work out for them.

So if you like passionate reviews, Audrey's is a great one to check out and subscribe to! I'm sure she'll also be sharing stories from her new life in Japan very soon - just like she's been doing with her life in France on her personal blog.

Because I had such overwhelming response to the IBBMP, I solicited blogger mentors and author sponsors to help me out. (See my IBBMP FAQ if you are interested!)

The wonderful Trish of Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin'? was my first blogger mentor volunteer and I paired her up with Marjolein of The Netherlands.

Marjolein has been book blogging at MarjoleinBookBlog since April 2008 (same as me!), and really wanted some help with layout and promotion. Trish seems to have given her some great advice! She also received 3 books from Trish as part of the program and reviewed THE ROSE OF SEBASTOPOL by Katherine McMahon. Here's an excerpt:

Overall [THE ROSE OF SEBASTOPOL is] a very interesting historical novel, very well written and romantic, and a lovely cover too as a cherry on top!

Marjolein's reviews are concise and fun to read. She'd love it if you stopped by! ETA: Her second review, of Thrity Umrigar's THE WEIGHT OF HEAVEN, is also up!

I was thrilled when the amazing AS King agreed to be IBBMP's first author sponsor, especially since I adore her debut so much. I paired her up with Ruby from the Philippines who blogs at Ruby Loves Adventure. In addition to her own book, DUST OF 100 DOGS, which Ruby reviews here, AS King sent her three other YA favorites. And I was also thrilled that Ruby loved D100D! Here's a excerpt of her review:

[DUST OF 100 DOGS] is a must read. I would never have picked up this book if it wasn't recommended to me and I'm more than happy that it was recommended. A friend of mine who I loaned the book to was asking if this was going be the next movie blockbuster. I just hope it will be, as the concept of the book was utterly awesome.

Ruby's reviews are very honest and amusing. Show her some love!


If you would like to be part of the International Book Blogger Mentor Program, see my IBBMP FAQ for all the details on how to apply!

17 comments:

bermudaonion said...

What a great program and what great looking blogs! I'd volunteer to be a mentor, but I don't have any expertise to share. I'm winging it as I go along.

Squishy133 (Sas) said...

I still think that this is a fantastic idea and I'm very happy because now when I get bored tomorrow, I've got a whole host of new blogs to go see!
You are wonderful Lenore!

Sandy Nawrot said...

Lenore, I must have missed the original post (I've been MIA for a couple of weeks) but you really are a genius. What a great idea! I'm sorta with Kathy. I would love to give back to someone new in blogging, but I don't really have the confidence that I know what the heck I am doing, even a year and a half after starting. I just fumble along. I say Brava to you!

Zibilee said...

This is such an awesome and admirable idea, and it's a great way to get to know some new bloggers. Thanks so much for doing this, Lenore. I have the idea it's going to be very successful!

Lenore Appelhans said...

Thanks all for your support. I'm so glad this is taking off!

Mardel said...

I read the Dust of 100 Dogs also. I loved it. I loved the layout and how it essentially was three stories, although I would have like to read more about the dog lives.

What a cool program you are sponsoring - the mentoring..

Liz @ Cleverly Inked said...

I love Brizmus...Her blog is so unique

Shweta said...

Thnaks for creating this program Lenore! I am sure lots of new international bloggers are going to be benefited and it also makes way for new friendships. :) Off to check out their blogs !

bookaholic said...

Lovely idea Lenore!

Ali said...

I love that you're doing this, what a great group of new bloggers! Looking forward to the next installment.

Unknown said...

I can't wait until I have had my blog for a year and then I will apply to be a mentor. I so love this idea.

Bookalicious Ramblings said...

I still think this is a brilliant idea and now excuse me while I go kick myself for not having the time to sign up when I should have. :( Excellent feature though!

Unknown said...

Hiya Lenore! Ruby here =)

Many thanks for mentoring me! I'd taken the notes you've provided from our previous mails and will apply it to my future reviews. :) Thanks also for the button! Could I use it on my site as well?

Serena said...

Lenore this is such a wonderful idea and I like that it seems to be progressing well.

trish said...

I'm kind of embarrassed and feel guilty because Marjolein was such an easy mentee! I gave her a couple of tips and she ran with them! I couldn't believe the difference! We chat about once a week and I totally love it!

(I can't believe every sentence had an exclamation point. Obviously I'm excited about this!) :)

brizmus said...

This really was so much fun! Thank you SO much for being my mentor! I really wish I would have taken more advantage of you, especially as just now I've finally got a few questions I wouldn't mind asking you1
You rock!

P.S. I've just linked this post up in my blog!

Mari - Escape In A Book said...

Thanks for the update,Lenore! I visit Brizmus every once in awhile but Marjolein and Ruby were both new to me book bloggers. Looking forward to check out their blogs.

I'm also glad to see that the mentoring program works out so well. I've seen several bloggers offering to mentor, most of them have mentioned that you have inspired them.