categories : Literary Road Trip
![]()
Some of you may already have heard that Jenn and I were chatting it up on about local authors the other day and as a result two blog projects were born. First, her “Virginia is for Book Lovers” where she’ll showcase local authors from the State where she lives. The second is my Literary Road Trip idea (see below for more info).
As we continued to gab on about it all and bounce ideas off each other several people chimed in on Twitter and then in response to Jenn’s kick-off post, that they too would be interested in undertaking the same for their home States. Yipee, I say!
So, me being me, my original idea morphed a bit into something else. Now without further ado, I bring to you the Literary Road Trip. What is this you ask? Well it will be a bit of a crossroads (get it….ha ha, road humor) where we create a bit of a community.
Now, please keep in mind I’ll be fleshing this out a bit more over the next week but I’m just so excited about the prospect that I’m going to get the first steps going now:
- Wanna represent and and showcase local authors?
Sign up and grab dibs! Reply to this post and stake your claim. Please give me the State , Canadian province, or for you internationals the country you want to represent and the URL for your blog. - Since I too want to participate and showcase authors I’m going to go about it at a more global level. As conductor of the Literary Road Trip I will be writing reviews for one debut author from each of the States as well.
Wanting to make this more fun than it already is I’m going to try and build a bit of a community here and see if I can’t get some author chats, interviews, giveaways and other such fun stuff going on as well.
Like I said I’ve got to think a bit more on logistics over this week but I know for sure that each week, here on Galleysmith, I’ll post an update with links to all the new showcases in one central location so readers can get that local flavor on your blogs.
So grab a good book, reserve your seat on the bus and get comfortable because we’re in for a fun ride!

Tif:
I host a monthly event very similar to this called Literary Locals!! Nothing beats supporting your local authors! I’ve been posting reviews of books from many of the states that I’ve lived in and would love to spread the word some more! My only concern is if I have the time! If you can’t find anyone for Missouri or Montana, then give me a holler and I will do one or both of those! Just email me at tiftalksbooks (at) gmail (dot) com. Oh, and if you are interested, here’s the link to my event: http://tiftalksbooks.blogspot.com/2009/01/literary-locals.html
July 24, 2009 at 10:27 pm (Quote)
Michelle:
Tania, Serena and Trin I’ve updated the road trip listing to reflect your participation. Please remember to add links to your posts for the trip using the Mr. Linky provided on the Literary Road Trip page. The link can be found on the top of the page.
Tif I’d love to have you cover Missouri and Montana.
July 26, 2009 at 1:08 pm (Quote)
Leela Soma:
Could I grab Glasgow Scotland please? There is our ‘Aye Write’ our Literature Festival coming up March 5-13 and I my blog http://www.leelasoma.blogspot.com often links with Madras India too. Michelle this looks like such a fab idea.
January 24, 2010 at 6:27 am (Quote)
Tania McCartney:
Loving this, Michelle! Thank you – I’ve posted some more links.
July 29, 2009 at 4:28 pm (Quote)
Carolina Gal's Literary Cafe:
I have been doing research on and off for awhile without success. I will try again. I love the idea to host the area and local you are from. Don’t know many other bloggers from SC. This will get us all connected too.
This is a great idea.
August 4, 2009 at 10:14 am (Quote)
Kari @ Five Borough Book Review:
I claim Tennessee!
August 10, 2009 at 6:58 am (Quote)
Rebecca:
I thought this would be too much for me to take on at this time, but then I realized I did not have to post weekly and that makes me feel more relaxed about it so I can enjoy it and not dread it. And isn’t that the point? Sorry I missed that before. I live in NC. I’d love to help Booknaround with our state. Can we also showcase more prominent authors or is it for more unknown authors only?
August 14, 2009 at 3:22 am (Quote)
Alexa:
Sounds a great. I had a bit of break form blogging this summer and was looking for ideas to start with in September, so this would be ideal.
I’m in DC too.
August 22, 2009 at 11:35 am (Quote)
Jodie:
I’d love to grab England (or the UK) if it’s not taken already! I bet I have tons of stuff I could push up the reading queue.
August 23, 2009 at 9:38 am (Quote)
SJ:
I’d be happy to write about Ohio authors!
August 30, 2009 at 6:54 pm (Quote)
Michelle:
SJ – Fabulous
I’ve added you to the listing in the Literary Road Trip page. Welcome aboard!
September 2, 2009 at 3:32 am (Quote)
Jodie:
Hello can I take England?
September 2, 2009 at 6:54 am (Quote)
Michelle:
Absolutely, England is all yours
September 2, 2009 at 6:24 pm (Quote)
Melissa (Betty and Boo's Mommy):
If we can take two states, I would love to join Beth F. Reads for Pennsylvania, and I can also take Delaware. (I’m currently reading a book by a Delaware author, so that fits.)
Congrats on your BBAW nomination! Very well-deserved. I’ve been meaning to sign up for the Literary Road Trip but this post is what reminded me to do so.
September 12, 2009 at 4:06 pm (Quote)
Jen - Devourer of Books:
Okay, I give in, I’d like to take Illinois!
October 12, 2009 at 2:09 pm (Quote)
Carolina Gal's Literary Cafe:
I would like to do SC for my literary road trip. I have already spoken to a author that is close to my home.
October 13, 2009 at 6:26 pm (Quote)
Jen - Devourer of Books:
You know, I’ll take Indiana too, since it is super close to where I am now geographically, as well as my place of birth.
October 18, 2009 at 7:14 pm (Quote)
Ash:
I’d love to take Iowa! I’m living in Iowa City right now which is a UNESCO City of Literature. We’re chock full of local writers.
October 26, 2009 at 9:14 pm (Quote)
MarthaE:
May I cover Florida!! I already have a couple authors in mind too! Wonderful idea!! My Blog is Reviews by Martha’s Bookshelf; http://marthasbookshelf.blogspot.com/
December 5, 2009 at 10:29 am (Quote)
MarthaE:
I don’t see a Mr. Linky but here is a link to my post for Florida:
http://marthasbookshelf.blogspot.com/2009/12/calling-florida-authors-join-literary.html
December 10, 2009 at 3:27 pm (Quote)
Sheri Wallace:
I’d love to do Tucson, Arizona and focus on books that families can enjoy together.
January 14, 2010 at 9:43 am (Quote)
Colleen:
I know there are already two claims to NY but I would like to do New York City. Love this idea – thanks!
January 16, 2010 at 8:32 pm (Quote)
Jan@eatingyabooks:
I will take Missouri. I have already lined up one author’s interview and will see what I can do about others. Thanks for this great idea.
January 21, 2010 at 1:48 am (Quote)
Becky from Page Turners:
This is an amazing idea – I am from New South Wales in Australia (born and bred in Sydney) so I would love to review some Australian authors for this road trip.
January 22, 2010 at 6:25 pm (Quote)
LORI CASWELL:
I am from Wisconsin and have already posted on my blog that I want to read 15 books this year that are set in Wisconsin or by Wisconsin authors. I hope you will check out my blog and allow be to be another voice from Wisconsin.
January 25, 2010 at 12:00 pm (Quote)
stacy:
What a fantastic idea!!!! I would love to take on Georgia! We have some amazing authors here in the Peach State. I look forward to contributing!
January 27, 2010 at 9:39 am (Quote)
stacy:
oh, and my blog is located at http://anovelsource.blogspot.com
January 27, 2010 at 9:40 am (Quote)
Becky from Page Turners:
I have completed a review for the Literary Road Trip – The Household Guide to Dying by Debra Adelaide – a book by an author from Sydney Australia.
Here is the link to be added to reviews for the literary road trip
http://pageturnersbooks.blogspot.com/2010/01/household-guide-to-dying-by-debra.html
January 30, 2010 at 1:40 am (Quote)
Colleen:
I have posted another review for the Road Trip from NYC – New World Monkeys by Nancy Mauro. Please check out my review here
January 30, 2010 at 11:52 am (Quote)
LORI CASWELL:
Posted my 1st leg from Wisconsin today. 3 books by A. Manette Ansay.
February 13, 2010 at 1:18 pm (Quote)
Sheila DeChantal:
If you dont have a Minnesota I will do it
February 21, 2010 at 9:25 pm (Quote)
stacy:
I finally posted my first link for GA! Yeah! But it wasnt my Judson Mitchum
I’ll have to get to him at a later date….
Find my review at
http://anovelsource.blogspot.com/2010/03/book-review-what-southern-women-know.html
March 2, 2010 at 12:55 pm (Quote)