Armchair BEA Day One: Introductions First

Welcome to the first day of Armchair BEA, an event designed for those of us who are unable to make BEA (Book Expo America) and the Book Bloggers Convention but still would like to share in the excitement.

As one always does on the first day, it's time for introductions so below are five questions to help get to know me, Nikki Sapphired Dragon, a little better:

1. Who are you? How long have you been blogging? Why did you get into blogging?

My name is Nikki Sapphired Dragon, i live in Australia and my blogging site is called Realm of the Sapphired Dragon. Mostly it contains, reviews, memes, giveaways and other bits and pieces in the adult/YA genres of Urban Fantasy, Science Fantasy, Dystopian, Paranormal and Paranormal Romance. I am 35, a fitness administrator and instructor as well as an avid avid reader.  I have just had a little girl is now ten weeks old and the most beautiful baby in the world :-) I have been blogging now for just over a year.

As for why I got into blogging, well I have always been a reader from the time I was a child and I also have always liked to write but I found my writing extended more to journal or blogging type writing rather than fiction.  I attended a fitness convention in April 2011 where there was a panel on fitness and communication. It was essentially all about being a personal trainer /fitness professional and ways to promote your business using communication I.e. search engines, social media and of course blogging.

What I took away from it was that I really wanted to start my own blog...but about books.  I had a couple of friends who already had established book blogs so after picking their brains for a bit, Realm of the Sapphired Dragon was born.

2. What are you currently reading, or what is your favorite book you have read so far in 2012? 

Currently I am reading the first 4 books in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J R Ward and I need to get them all read by tomorrow as that is when the fourth book Lover Revealed is due back to the library :-)

I am really enjoying this series.  It's a lot of fun and I am looking forward to reading the next 6 in the series. However, next in my reading line up is Hourglass and Timepiece by Myra McEntire.

3. What is your favorite feature on your blog (i.e. author interviews, memes, something specific to your blog)?

Up until recently my favourite feature was In My Mailbox (hosted by The StorySiren) as I love showing off the books I have received each week. However, I have just also started an On My Wishlist feature (hosted by Cosy Books) where I get to showcase and talk about books that I WANT to read both already published or yet to be released.  What I love about it is often it is just as much a surprise to me that I want a book because I like title or the cover and have not even bothered to read the synopsis.

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

The literary location I most want to visit is Wales and in particular, the isle of Mon along with the Kings Men Stones in Oxfordshire. My favourite book, The Ancient Future by Traci Harding is set mostly in Wales and the main character goes back in time while visiting the Kings Men stones. 

5. Have your reading tastes changed since you started blogging? How?

I don't think my reading tastes have changed so much as been clarified. I have always been quite an eclectic reader and depending on my mood reading anything and everything from thrillers to romance to high fantasy to non fiction.  In the last year or so that I have been blogging I feel I have really nailed down the genres that I particularly like reading and these are the genres I tend to read and review (and are listed in question 1). 

Well that is my introduction so hopefully now you all know me just a little bit better. Feel free to comment and let me know you have been by. Now I am off to meet a few more of you.  Wishing you all a great Armchair BEA 2012!!


*design credit for armchair picture at top of post and button in sidebar is Emily of Emily's Reading Room