How Much Author Information is Too Much Information?

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As a blog author, how much information, do you, or should you share with your readers?

Not just in regards to posts, but for example, an author page or blurb in the sidebar; I would say I give a 20:80 share of personal to non-personal information regarding posting and the information I give about myself at the side.

The level of appropriate sharing will depend on the subject on which you are blogging; general or personal bloggers will need to share a little more of themselves to gain a connection with their readership – however, there is a way to do this without over sharing (Manda and Cassie, for example.) Whereas book bloggers such as myself do not need to share information in the same way to be relevant.

I am in this quandary, because I see many blogs with and without an author bio, and from a reader’s perspective I would like to know if it is interesting having insight into an author, or if you enjoy reading a blog regardless.

So, in the spirit of sharing, here are seven vague and possibly uninteresting facts about me:

  1. I was twenty-one when I fell in love with books.
  2. I find it difficult to enjoy Comics or Graphic Novels because of all the pictures – I get distracted.
  3. Nightwish were the first band I loved that had nothing to do with chart hits or mainstream music.
  4. I prefer The Kinks to The Beatles.
  5. And I think Fleetwood Mac, The Smiths and Roxy Music are the greatest bands in existence.
  6. I wrote my University dissertation on the film A Clockwork Orange, and discussed why it was a ‘cultural shock’; it is possibly one of the worst things I have ever written.
  7. I am slightly obsessed with Dinosaurs, Unicorns and Dragons, but I try not to let it interfere with living my life.

NB: This ‘Emergent service worker‘ has got herself an internship in LDN for three weeks; my posting schedule will (hopefully) remain the same, however, you may find Monday’s discussion/non-review posts pithier than usual.

Consciously Naive; ‘I Capture the Castle’ by Dodi Smith [1948]

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There are moments when you connect to a character so completely you are unsure where they end and you begin; their lives intertwine with yours like a merging strand of DNA. We may not have had a lot of money growing up, we never went abroad, but we always did something interesting – times never felt tough. We certainly weren’t poor, holidays were travels to beachy Cornwall or trips to castles, old houses and museums. I doubt I was as enthusiastic with this rose-tinted idyll as a child, I probably wanted to do whatever my friends were doing, however, I now appreciate it for the educational experience that it was.

I Capture the Castle was like a trip into my childhood; I am not sure if this is good or bad, as it involves a naivety and an unrealistic view of the world, but it is never remembered with sorrow.
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Poetry: Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost

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I came to this poem, rather unconventionally, via an episode of Elementary; a surprisingly wonderful show, mainly because of the omghessogoergous, Jonny Lee Miller. Watson gives Sherlock a framed copy of the last verse to commemorate his first year sober. The fine details of the episode escape me, it was not one of the better ones, however, the verse made me cry. I forgot about drugs, and my mind skipped to suicide; I am not sure why, I do not know anyone who has committed suicide. Yet, inside this dark poem, this poem which initially lays there adventureless, I saw hope, wisdom – perhaps determination, “and miles to go before I sleep.”

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village, though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

Brighton Festival: Volunteering Days 3, 4 & 5 – Tracy Chevalier, Alan Rusbridger, Irving Finkel and Building on What We Have

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Part of the beauty of volunteering for a festival in Brighton is being allowed into – behind the scenes of – some of Brighton’s best buildings. The Theatre Royal, built in 1808, is one of the oldest theatres in the country; two events I assisted with were held here.

This is what it looks like from the stage:
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Such Fun!: ‘Is it Just Me? by Miranda Hart [2012]

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I have had an epiphany; well, a realisation; well, a thought – my film taste is the total opposite to my literary. On a small and effortless quest during one massive bout of procrastination, I began listing my favourite films – anything not Tarantino or Ghibli was either a musical or teen’s dream; Meet me in St Louis, Thoroughly Modern Millie, My Fair Lady, The Holiday, 27 Dresses, 10 Things I Hate About you, Pitch Perfect, Hairspray, Get Over It, Pretty In Pink, Sixteen Candles, Breakfast Club. A collection of films design to stop me thinking.

This really has no relations to my Miranda review, I just felt like sharing. Onwards!
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