Meet the Panelists : Alyssa from The Shady Glade

Only 3 days until the Cybils Awards are announced!  To get you excited, I'm featuring a Fantasy & Science Fiction panelist (or two) every day until the awards are announced.  For Part 2 of my Meet the Panelists feature, I'd like to introduce you to Alyssa from The Shady Glade.  Alyssa's blog is one of the first blogs I read when I started blogging.  She's currently in college (how in the world did you have time to read all of the books on our list, Alyssa??!) and she worked at Walt Disney World last summer.  So without further ado, here is the ultra cool Alyssa...

When did you start blogging and why?

I'd been doing reviews for a Young Adult website for about 8 months before I started my own blog.  Through the forums of that site I had become friends with Jocelyn over at Teen Book Review.   She had posted one day that she started a blog, and I went "Hey, I can do that!"  So here I am, almost 3 years (and a whole lot less free time) later.

What are some of your favorite posts that you did?

I've done several that I've enjoyed.  One was a discussion on headless covers that generated a few interesting comments. I also hosted a writing challenge in the Summer of 2007 that was lots of fun.  Of course, right now I think my favorites are my regular Contest Monday posts and my Waiting on Wednesday features.

What was your favorite part about being a Cybils panelist?

Free books!  Ha ha, okay I'm just kidding.  I already have books coming out of my ears.  I love the opportunity to network with other book bloggers.  We spend about 3 short months getting to know each other, but by the time the shortlists come out I feel like I'm saying goodbye to family. 

Any advice for future panelists?

Mostly I'd mention the time commitment.  A lot of people think it's an easy job, but it really does take up a lot of time to search out and read all these books.  The Cybils is growing more and more each year, and those nomination lists get longer every year.  Oh, and make sure your library has a good interlibrary loan system.

Why do you blog about teen books?

Mostly because that's what I read!  When I started blogging, I was in my third semester of college, and I still had refused to "graduate" to adult books.  Now I read some adult as well, but YA is still the age group I enjoy the most. 

If you were a Cybils judge, which category would you like to judge?

That's a hard decision!  For me, I've always enjoyed both Sci Fi/Fantasy and Graphic Novels.  I'm not sure I could choose between the two...

Where is your favorite place to read?

On my bed!  I'm so busy lately that before bed is the only time I have to read.  Plus, my cat sometimes curls up on my feet, which is always a bonus in my book.  I sometimes wish I had a big, comfy, oversized reading chair, but I suppose that will have to wait until I get my own house.  Right now my roommates are upset enough about my four bookshelves!

Thanks for taking the time to answer all my questions, Alyssa!