Time once again for Featured Blogger Friday, and this week I am delighted to welcome Heather Burnell. Welcome Heather.

Firstly, why do you blog?

I started blogging because one of my critique partners thought it would be a great way for us to get to know each other better, but it may have been a conspiracy to help me become more outgoing. I was absolutely terrified that someone was going to read my blog. Weird for a writer, I know, but with a manuscript submission, you’re once removed (until you sell a book, of course, but that’s another story). With a blog you’re right there for the world to see. The conspiracy worked, I’ve definitely gotten over my fear of other people reading what I have to say and knowing that I wrote it.

What do you blog about?

I write children’s books, so I blog about all things kidlit. I do picture book reviews, author (from picture book to YA) and illustrator interviews, and blog about writing in general. My picture book, Bedtime Monster, is going to be released on September 15th and I’ve been sharing some of my journey to publication along the way, which has been really fun.
 
I’m also a librarian, so I blog about library stuff. I love blogging book displays where I’ve picked out picture books that fit into a certain theme. I live a different sort of life up on a secluded mountaintop where there are dirt roads, bears, and no power lines, so I blog about the craziness of mountain living from time to time as well.
 

Who is your target readership?

Well, at first my target readership was just my few critique partners, I really didn’t think anybody else would be reading. These days though, quite a few writers, librarians, and booksellers stop by my blog. It’s really cool.

 
How often do you blog?

Oh boy. I’ve tried the schedule thing: I solemnly swear I will post Illustrator of the Month on the first of every month and The Unread on the 20th, book reviews on Wednesdays and writing tips on Fridays. It sounded great in my mind but it didn’t work for a second. With three kids and numerous random writing, library, and mountain life projects going on, I just can’t work on a schedule. Randomness is part of my nature, so I’m just going with it. I average around six posts a month. I like to think that I don’t ask too much of my audience.
 

How much time do you devote to blogging?

Too much. I over think things. I don’t like the idea that I’m not being edited as things that come out of my brain tend to be jumbled up at first. I type up posts and look over them again later to fix any screw-ups I can find, but I have to let it go after that. Like a friend told me, it’s a blog, people don’t expect perfection. To which I say yeah, but perfection sure would be nice.

Do you have a favourite blog post?

I didn’t think this would be a hard question, but it turns out it is! I just learned that I have 202 blog posts. Wow!
 
My favorite blog series is definitely The Unread where I interview hard working kidlit writers who have yet to be published. It’s a lot of fun learning how other writers work and a couple Unread interviewees are going to be read real soon, which excites me immensely.
 
My favorite recent blog post is Galleys! where I talk about the journey the UPS man made to bring me the proofs of Bedtime Monster. Plus there’s flower confetti. That makes everything fun! 

What do you see as the benefits of blogging?

Blogging has been a great way for me to get myself out there. I’ve learned that I have a lot of experiences that people are actually interested in. I’ve learned that as writers we have a lot of the same questions and hopes. It makes me happy when I blog something and someone finds it inspiring or helpful in their writing life. And people have been really generous with advice for me when I’ve needed it, which lately involves reading to large groups of children. I’ve met a ton of nice people through my blog, that is definitely the true benefit.

What blogging platform do you use and why?

I started using Blogger because that’s what my friends used and it was easy enough for me to figure out. I’ve stuck with it because I know how to use it and I’m all set up. I like the blog follow feature, and they have all these cool new templates now. Love that.

Do you have a favourite blog to visit (other than your own)?  

The blogs I like to keep track of are on my sidebar. Favorite blog? Writers can learn almost everything they need to know from reading Editorial Anonymous. Snark, love, and children’s books. Can’t beat that.

Lastly, when you are not blogging, what else do you do?

Why does that feel like a loaded question? I take care of my kids. I deal with the obstacles life on a mountain throws in front of me. I go to the library. I write. I pull my hair out because I don’t have enough time to write. I submit manuscripts, and I spend way too much time dreaming that one day I’ll have an agent and will have a little help in this big world of publishing. Oh, and sometimes I do the laundry and wash dishes, but only when I have to.

Thanks for dropping in.

Thanks for having me! It was great fun! If anyone wants to visit, they are welcome to stop by my blog http://frolickingthroughcyberspace.blogspot.com anytime!