Today's post topic is "Ask the Experts." Where we're supposed to ask our readers our "burning" questions. I only have one that I've been thinking about for a long time:

This post is all supposed to be about how to make blogging beneficial besides just blogging.

... um... I don't do that.

Everything I do on my blog is just for the sake of blogging. I don't make money, in fact I lose quite a bit doing contests. I'm a math major so the writing practice doesn't help me much academically. I do work at a library, but... even that's not very closely related to my blog. My blog does affect a lot about what happens to me IRL, but that's all just more blogging stuff in the real world.

So today's topic is not for me. I did try to add blogads to my blog, but they've been sitting there for a long time and there's been no response. I'm thinking I'll get rid of them because they're ugly.

What about y'all? Do you make money blogging? Has your blog led you to get a job or start a new hobby or something? Clearly I need advice in this area.

So today we're supposed to talk about local networking in real life. I've always been a big author-stalker (though I kicked it into gear about 6 years ago after meeting Shannon Hale), but when I was blogging I thought I was the only one around who did it. Sure I knew there were other bloggers, I just didn't think there were any around me.

Then one day I got a package from Emily and I noticed that her address was in my same county! Imagine my excitement! I immediately e-mailed her, expecting her to say something along the lines of "I thought I was all alone!" because that's how I had felt. I was more than a little surprised to find out not only was I not the only Utah blogger, there were a BAJILLION of us, and we all got together regularly!

Fast forward to now, and I'm totally engrossed in the real life blogging community, as well as the online one. Emily and I text regularly, five of us had a meeting over dinner to decide what would happen with Utah Book Month, I went to the Hunger Games with a bunch of bloggers, and now I have author-stalking buddies!

Author-stalking is it's own sport by itself in Utah! There are so many fabulous Utah authors: Shannon Hale, Ally Condie, Bree Despain, Brodi Ashton, Brandon Mull, Sara Zarr, and that's just to name a few! I've learned that these ladies (I mostly interact with the lady authors) are SO SWEET! And knowing them has paid off! I got to help with the graphics of Calamity Jack, Ally Condie is always SO SWEET to me, and I was in a critique group with Brodi Ashton. Not to mention the review copies that I get from them (which are not many, but are always AWESOME).

Meeting Elana Johnson, Moira Young, and Michelle Hodkin. (I'm the one with the book over my face)

And publishers are starting to notice our fair state. Due to some awesome people at our local libraries and bookstores (I'm looking at you CL and TKE), we've had some HUGE names come our way. I've got to meet Scott Westerfeld, Moira Young, Markus Zusak, and more! And coming up I get to meet Eoin Colfer, Lois Lowry, Jonathan Maberry, Veronica Roth, and even more!

All in all, I'm pretty sure I live in the best blogging-state there is. Networking in real life is my FAVORITE part of blogging. Hands down. Does your state have a strong IRL presence? If not, you should try to start one! Utah's IRL fun-times wouldn't have happened without some motivated people getting it started (Thanks Natasha!). Maybe you can be that motivated person for your state!

Happy networking!

Today is giveaway day! And since the theme is also "Best Books [of 2012]" I thought I'd give away one of my FAVORITE books of all time!

A paperback copy of The Adoration of Jenna Fox! It may not have come out in 2012, but it's certainly still one of the best books EVER! Open to US only, enter the rafflecopter to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I'm participating in Armchair BEA. The awesomeness that is ABEA would take too long for me to explain, so you should click here to find out all there is to know.

Now! On to day one: Introductions! Here are my answers to the five (actually, I chose six) questions:

Please tell us a little bit about yourself: Who are you? How long have you been blogging? Why did you get into blogging?

• I'm Enna Isilee, which is not my real name but I think I've actually reached a point where I have more friends that call me Enna than that call me my real name. I've been blogging for almost 5 years (blogoversary next month!) and I started blogging to get free books (BAD ENNA!) but I kept blogging to keep a record of what I read and to connect with other book-lovers.

Tell us one non-book-related thing that everyone reading your blog may not know about you.

• I have two jobs: one in a library, and one as a snake/reptile handler. No joke.

• I really like my IMM vlogs. I know many people don't like them, but they're one of the few times I get to share some of my favorite songs as well as books. They make me happy.

Where do you see your blog in five years?

• Hopefully going just as strong as it is now. I don't plan for a whole lot of growth because I'm happy with what my blog has become, and the next five years are going to be a time of much changes in my personal life. If I can just keep squeaking, I'll be happy.

What literary location would you most like to visit? Why?

• For the last year I've been dying to go to Prague because of The Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor. It just sounded so magical!

What is your favorite part about the book blogging community? Is there anything that you would like to see change in the coming years?

• I just love interacting with other book lovers. Really. I wasn't kidding when I said I have more friends that call me Enna (AKA I first met online) than I do that call my by my real name, in real life. I owe blogging for most of my real social life, not just my online one. I do hope we'll somehow reach a point where blogger envy will die away. But seeing as that's more of a human issue, not a blogging one, I'm not sure it will happen. A girl can dream!