Today I am happy to be talking with Maria E. Schneider, author and blogger. I thought it would be fun to learn a little bit more about her and share what I learned. Be sure to visit her blog, it is a great one. It almost always makes me smile.
Thanks so much, Maria, for agreeing to be interviewed.
Could you tell us a little bit about yourself and your blog?
BearMountainBooks is like a bookshelf–a little bit of everything: Giveaways, recipes, stories, cats and family. That about sums up my life. A bunch of hobbies, a writer reaching out to readers and food!
Where did the name of your blog come from?
I’ve been blogging for so many years, I don’t remember how I decided on the name! I didn’t want to name it after myself because it’s really not about me–it’s about cats, sewing, making shampoo, cooking (definitely cooking!) hiking, gardening, ranching, books, stories and more books! I love American Indian art and have many pieces depicting the Medicine Bear in my home. Since the Medicine Bear logo is one that I drew myself, it was a natural pick for the blog header.
What made you decide to start a blog?
I started it as a way to connect with my readers, but because cooking is one of my favorite hobbies, for years it was all about recipes and gardening tips!
How do you manage your time, being both an author and a blogger?
Manage my time? By the seat of my pants! I attack projects and hope to get one of them done now and then.
Where do you find inspiration for your blog topics?
Junior and Leo the cat. That picture is of Leo the Convict with his pet snake. If the cats aren’t up to something, I usually am. My family provides a few good stories too. Not that they do so on purpose, but they are..inspiring for a writer.
When you are not writing or blogging, what do you like to do?
Learning. Right now I’m learning to embroider. Well, I would be learning, but the machine we bought is broken–which is why it is missing one of the covers in the picture. No fully working, warranted machine for me. No, no, those are for sissies! I insist on doing everything the hard way!
How much time would you say you spend on your blog?
When I have news to share, I blog every day. But in general I post about 3 times a week.
How do you think someone would describe your blogging style?Eclectic, sometimes funny, sometimes serious, full of characters!
Can you tell me some of your strengths that you feel help you in your blogging?
I’m a story teller. Blogging is all about stories.
How can readers follow your blog?
There are two ways to follow my blog. You can sign up for giveways and new book release notification or you can sign up for blog updates (or both!) The first subscription means you’ll get an email when I run a giveaway or have a new book out. Giveaways include book bags (See photo–I made these so they are
probably a bit misshapen!), books, art subscriptions to sites like depositphotos, soaps and even deodorant! Some of my giveways are sponsored; many are ones I run myself. The second subscription sends you an email every time I post to the blog so you can keep up with all the news, antics and recipes any time I post.
To sign up, go to http://www.bearmountainbooks.com and look on the left sidebar. Both sign ups are just under the comments!
Thanks for having me as a guest on your blog!
Maria
Thanks again, Maria, for agreeing to do this interview. I enjoyed learning more about you and your crazy life. And you are a great story teller!
mjbreviewers 