My Primary Social Media forums are twitter (@brumnordie) and this blog.
I use twitter to interact with publishers, authors, and people I know, and whose judgements I trust. This is a great way to find out what is coming out, who is talking about what when, and supporting others in their work.
I also use Facebook for my friends and I use goodreads and librarything (both as “nordie”) primarily to track my reading. Twitter, Goodreads and Librarything are not only great ways of getting new books (publishers often have competitions on all three sites) and I have picked up quite a few books by interacting on all three sites. Some publishers (e.g. Transworld books, Doubleday etc) have my personal email and home address as a result of these interactions, so I occasionally get books that are not even on the Social Media!
I use Netgalley to pick up digital galleys of books I want to read, but I am requesting few at the minute as I have more than enough books that I already have to read!
Perhaps my longest running site that I’ve belonged to is Bookcrossing, where you get to register a book on the site and then see where it goes. As an offshoot, the site has social groups in many cities across the world, where people get to meet up, and it is here that I get most of my paperbooks that are sitting on my shelves right now. The site also allows you to have a wishlist, and if anyone has a book that is on your list, they often will send you an email asking if you want it (and you can do vice versa). I’ve had books come to me from all over the world, and likewise I have sent books out all over the world.
A contact who is no longer active on the site – but we are facebook friends – has recently moved house and has had a hard visual reminder of just how many books she has. I think she has “been persuaded” that now is the time to be getting rid of some of them! Because I saw one of her pictures I was able to go “actually – any of those types of books – I’ll take em!”. She is much happier for them to go to someone she knows, than go off to the charity shop (nothing against charity shops, who will get all the other books, but she can say there was some point in her keeping them).
Writing about books 
Bookcrossing sounds really interesting, I’ve heard of something similar before. How are you finding International postage?
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I only offer international postage when I think I have the funds to cover it! You can do country specific (uk for me), semi-international (e,g. Europe) or fully international depending on size and likely audience. If it’s a big book, like GoT, then there’s usually enough copies to do country specific
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I’ve been a bookcrosser for many years (I’m debnance there). I wish I knew more about Twitter. Every time I try to use Twitter I feel like I’ve been thrown out of a washer during the spin cycle.
Here’s mine!
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Twitter is a minefield if you dont do it regularly! (I’m Nordie over there but only use the site to register and release)
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I use Twitter more than anything besides RSS and commenting. I have not taken the time to find out about Bookcrossing. It sounds really interesting. I will be checking that out later today.
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good for you, I’m Nordie over there if you want to look me up. Have a search to see if there’s a local chapter that meets up, as you may make some new friends IRL!
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I’ve always loved the idea behind BookCrossing but I’ve never actually joined in! That would be something fun to get in to! Netgalley is so dangerous because I can’t control myself. I am majorly behind on my reading there because of university, but hopefully I can change that this summer! I hope I see you at the Twitter chat tonight! Thanks for sharing 🙂 Can’t wait to read the rest of your BEA posts!
My BEA post
Juli @ Universe in Words
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Check out Bookcrossing in your local area – there well be a local “chapter” (pun always intended!) that will meet on a regular basis, and can provide a great way of getting rid of and picking up new books.
I hope to join at least one twitter chat, but since I live in the UK (4 hours ahead of EST), it might be past my bed time!
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Ooh definitely will! Book puns are the best puns! I like in the UK as well so I’ll be struggling to stay awake long enough to get involved actively! 🙂
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I’ve heard of programs like Bookcrossing, but this is the first time I’ve known a name! It sounds like fun.
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go on! have a go!
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Hi Sorcha! I hadn’t heard of Bookcrossing before or Librarything. I’m definitely going to give those a look now. I also added you on Twitter. Thanks for the great info!
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you are welcome! Thanks for stopping by and the follows!
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