Book Blogger Hop

Sorry for posting this so late, but I wasn't sure I was going to have time to post this week.  Work has been CRAZY and I haven't been able to even get to my blog this week, let alone post, let alone get a chance to even read and comment on other people's blogs. 

This weekly hop is hosted by Jennifer @ Crazy For Books and is a fantastic way to hook up with other bloggers who have a fascination, and dare I say it, an addiction to books.  It's a great way to socially connect with others, share opinions, thoughts, and ideas, and find out a whole lot about the book publishing world.  And there are so many amazing things happening out there, so come check it out!!!!

The big question this week is what intrigued me: 

What are your feelings on losing followers?  Have you ever stopped following a blog?

When I first started blogging, I remember being so thrilled at receiving followers I couldn't help but keep looking at that little number all of the time.  J Kaye was my first follower and that amazed me as her blog was the first one I discovered on the Internet and I couldn't help but feel that was an auspicious beginning.  When I first lost some followers, I remember feeling upset and thinking, "Was it something I wrote?  Did I offend someone by what I wrote in my review?"  I tend to be pretty blunt, but I work hard to temper that in my blog as I don't want it to be the place where I vent everything as it could quickly turn into a negative blog and I really want it to be more positive.  Then I thought, maybe I need to change my content so I can keep my followers and not lose them.  And that's when I changed tunes rights away!!!   I reminded myself why I have a blog, who I really write for, and does it really matter.   I appreciate every one of my followers, and am overwhelmed and awed by what has happened, but in the long run, I am a writer and I love to read and write.  It's why I do it in the first place.  I don't ever want the loss of a follower to diminish my love of reading and writing, and if I think too hard about it, that's exactly what could happen.  And I don't want the loss of a follower to dictate what books I read and review on my blog.   It's too important to me for that.

Have I ever stopped following a blog?  Yes, I have.  One of the main reasons is because the owner of the blog changed and I didn't find the new owner's content to match my own interests anymore.  Others I stopped following because they stopped posting (a couple I didn't see a new post for several months so I stopped visiting their blogs).  I try to make a concerted effort to visit many of the blogs I follow, but my time is so limited that it is difficult to make a lot of comments.  I wish I could as it looks like I never visit which is not the case.  I don't usually stop following blogs because of genres as anyone following my blog knows I am a very eclectic reader, but the content itself, or the writing style, could turn me off.  I stopped following a couple of blogs because the colours on their site were so bright that I couldn't even read them, which had nothing whatsoever to do with their content.   If I can't read the material, there is no use following.  Other than that, I am pretty easy going.

Have a wonderfully fantastic weekend everyone!  I am going to bed and sleeping for about 12 long beautiful hours!!!!!!!!!  Hopefully the kiddies won't wake me up!