SUE’S READING NEIGHBORHOOD

SUE’S READING NEIGHBORHOOD

Sue’s Reading Neighborhood started in January of 2018 and had built up a following of almost 3K. What made Susan’s group special, is that it really did feel like a neighborhood instead of a social media site. Last month Susan decided to close the group …but don’t worry - Susan Peterson will still be around! Sue joined the team at Bookish Road Trip as a "conductor" and will be bringing them book reviews every Saturday!

Why did you start Sue's Reading Neighborhood? After I retired in 2014, I started to learn how important it had become for authors to get their books reviewed, and that social media had become a way to publicize books. I joined a couple of groups, and won a few books—that’s when I started writing reviews and also started posting about them on my personal Facebook page. In 2018, I thought I’d see of I could start a little group, a place to share my reviews and to promote authors. I started very small, and was surprised how quickly it grew!

What was the most fun about having the group? I loved the connections that I made by sharing my love of books. I became friends with both readers and authors, and the bonus was being able to meet some of them in real life! I also felt I’d found a niche in supporting debut authors, beginning with authors like Donna Everhart who is now the author of five books; it’s been so much fun to watch authors like Donna grow in their storytelling ability and their popularity.

What was the most surprising? I think the most surprising thing has been realizing I’ve made a difference! You never really know how well you’re reaching people, so when someone says that they’ve loved the books I’ve recommended, it is extremely rewarding. The surprise I guess is realizing that people listen to me!

What was the hardest part of running such a large group? The hardest challenge for me was always trying to maintain a high level of engagement. I was like a nervous parent whenever an author would come pay us a visit, anxiously waiting for people to show up and be part of the conversation.

How many books do you read (on average) a week? I usually read 4-5 books a week. It totally depends on the book I’m reading—some I read more quickly than others! I’m retired, and I usually read 2-3 hours every afternoon, plus other times, as well.

What's your favorite genre? My favorite genres are women’s fiction, historical fiction and romance. My penchant to read romance has grown exponentially in the last few years! Since Covid, I am always looking for books that are uplifting, and the romance genre has really evolved.

Other than reading - what do you like to do for fun or to stay busy? Every morning I can be found at my Jazzercise studio, working out and having fun! I volunteer at my former school, helping out two of my friends. I love anything Disney, too!

What are some of your favorite groups to follow and why? Bloom with Tall Poppy writers and Bookish Road Trip are the two groups I follow the most. Both groups really make it interesting for readers, spurring fun conversations about books and life.

How can people stay in touch? I am on Facebook and Instagram, and I still plan to post about my favorite books in both places!

What is one of your favorite quotes or sayings? My favorite quote comes from one of my favorite books, Broken Pieces by Kathleen Long. “The truth was, sooner or later life broke everyone. We were all broken pieces. The trick was to gather up our remaining fragments and move forward.”