I love Fridays, because every Friday brings a new visitor – here for Featured Blogger Friday. Today’s featured blogger, all the way from Canada, is Jan Markely. Welcome Jan.

Firstly, why do you blog?

Initially it was all part of my plan to take over the world one blog post at a time! No, really, I like to feel like I’m talking to people who love writing and reading children’s books. 

What do you blog about?

My blog is called: Three Dead Moths … where writing meets life or life meets writing. The title for my blog was inspired as I went through the painful and excruciatingly long process of submitting my Dead Frog on the Porch manuscript to publishers and agents. Everyday for months, I would lift the ill-fitting mailbox lid and find the same thing … three dead moths. I found the three keys to getting published were: rewriting, persistence, and stalking. The blog has my ‘how I got published’ story (in a series of posts labeled ‘published’) and explores the place where writing meets life … or life meets writing.   I take incidents from my life and make analogies to elements of writing. I also share what I’ve learned about the writing and publishing process, and share the writing events in my life like school visits and what I learn at conferences.

Who is your target readership?

I’d say writers, readers, teachers, librarians, and parents. While it’s not aimed at children, there are children who follow the blog or their teacher gets them to check it out before I do a school visit. Basically, it’s for anyone who loves writing and reading.

How often do you blog?

I try to blog three times a week. 

How much time do you devote to blogging?

I’d say about an hour a blog post. I try to work up a few ideas in advance, and I use a lot of images and links. Sometimes to give my self I break I’ll post a couple of funny videos about writing. I also spend time reading blogs and commenting on my favourite blogs. Blogging tip: people love pictures of cats and dogs doing crazy things!

Do you have a favourite blog post?

What do you see as the benefits of blogging?

It’s a great way to explore your voice. I have a lot of fun with it. A blog has to have something to offer for the reader – information, advice, insight, a few laughs, so they will come back. It’s a great way to connect with a community of writers and readers. It’s also increased my computer literacy immensely. It’s funny because people think of me as a neo-luddite when it comes to computers, but since having a blog I’ve become the Empress of the Embedded link.

What blogging platform do you use and why?

I use Blogger. I like the functionality and the templates. My niece recently helped me update the template and I love some of the new templates they have. It’s really easy to upload photos and to change their size etc., 

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

Well, let’s start with your continent. One of my first followers was Jade at Jade Hears Voices (I hear they have medication for that now!). She did a review of Dead Frog on the Porch. I like Nathan Bransford’s and
Janet Reid’s  blogs – they are must read blogs for the latest on the publishing industry and information about querying publishers etc.,

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

My debut novel Dead Frog on the Porch came out last fall. So I did some book launches, promotional events, went to a couple of conferences and presented at numerous schools. As well, I wrote the second in the Mega Byte Mystery series Dead Bird through the Cat Door which will come out later this fall. I am currently writing the third in the series Dead Bee in the Sarcophagus which will come out in 2011.  Jeepers, now I know why I’m so tired! Where’s the yawny face icon! 
 
Thanks for dropping in.

Thanks for inviting me. I hope your followers will get a chance to check out my website and blog at: http://deadfrogontheporch.com