Kate and I sadly are unable to attend BEA this year, but we are there in spirit! We both have participated in Armchair BEA in the past. This will be our first year together working on this event.
Let's get on with the introductions!
Please tell us a little bit about yourself: Who are you? How long have you been blogging? Why did you get into blogging?
Kristen: I'm Kristen and I'm a school librarian near Chicago. I have a wonderful husband and love my job of working with younger kids and getting them excited about reading. I've been blogging for 3 years on the nose right now. I spent two years by myself at Bookworming in the 21st Century, but then last year switched to a combo blog with my blogging friend Kate, where you are right now. It's been great doing a combo blog because with my busy school schedule it helps to have to people working on getting reviews up and staying up to date with our blog. I can blame my blogging obsession on Goodreads. I was in a group where someone shared their book blog and it was my first summer with little work to do and I said "I could do that" and so I did.
Kate: Hi guys! My name is Kate. Currently, I live in Tennessee but will soon be making the move to Ohio. By day, I work for as a cell phone technician. By night and whenever else I can, my nose is usually stuck in a book. Like Kristen, I have been blogging 3 years now. I began blogging in 2009 at The Neverending Shelf. In 2011, after years of talking about, Kristen and I decided to come together and form The Book Monsters. I think I got into blogging kinda by accident. When I first started, book blogging was really starting to take off and I was really interested in blogging in general, so two and two came together and I haven't looked back since. Some days, it is really a struggle to keep going, but I love this side of the book world, so I will not be stopping any time soon.
What are you currently reading, or what is your favorite book you have read so far in 2012?
Kristen: Well, you should know I am currently reading 4 books.. The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan on audio, The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan on audio, Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore, and Velveteen by Daniel Marks. As for my favorite books read so far this year, it would have to be a tie between The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater and The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen.
Kate: Currently, I am reading Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson and Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs. My favorites of this year have all been debut authors. I love debut authors and to have them as my favorites is super exciting. Like Kristen, I loved The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen. That is one seriously amazing book. As a dystopian junky, I was really surprised by how much I loved The Selection by Kiera Cass. I honestly have read that book at least three times so far. It was incredible.
Tell us one non-book-related thing that everyone reading your blog may not know about you.
Kristen: Oh geez, alright, I'll admit to being a bit of a gamer girl. I love RPGs like Diablo 3 and am looking forward to Torchlight 2 coming out this summer. And I love action movies. Give me something blowing up in a movie and I'll be happy. 
Kate: I am a tech geek. This trait I blame mostly on my hubby. But my love for working with coding is purely mine. As a blogger, if you want things to get done, you have to do it yourself. I started small and worked my way up. I think I could spend all day playing with coding.
What is your favorite feature on your blog (i.e. author interviews, memes, something specific to your blog)?
Kristen: I love when we host our Pick-Your-Thons. I like the idea of having mini-bloggiestas from time to time to get caught up on reviews and reading.
Kate: I love Design It Up! That was a feature that I started at The Neverending Shelf. It basically is a step-by-step guide to doing some blogging tweaks. Unfortunately, I have not had the time to really put toward that feature lately, but I am hoping to keep it alive and going.
Where do you see your blog in five years?
Kristen: Still kicking and reviewing great books. I hope never to give up blogging as I have chosen a career so closely aligned to reading books and promoting books, I feel like blogging about books just furthers my love for them.
Kate: Knowing Kristen and I, The Book Monsters are here to stay. Blogging is one of those things that just get into your blood, and it will not go away. We both love working with each other, and we are a good balance for one another. I am not sure what kind of changes may occur around here. Will we still be on Blogger or move to WordPress? I don't know. Will the blog go through a few redesigns? Probably. Actually, I am itching to do one now.
Annette
Kristen — an Illinois school librarian? I am too! (Close to St. Louis.) Are you a member of ISLMA? Do you read the Abe Lincoln or Caudill books? What school? email me and we’ll talk! Also… following your blog.
annettesspot AT gmail (dot) com
My BEA Post
Lisa Schroeder
Hi Kristen and Kate! I’m reading THE FALSE PRINCE right now and loving it! Also, I recently did a school visit outside of Chicago and it was awesome. I think Illinois librarians are some of the best!!
Thanks for all you do in the blogging world, sharing your love of books with others. It is very much appreciated!
fredamans
Kristen and Kate is was awesome getting to know more about you. I hope you will visit my post; http://fredasvoice.blogspot.ca/2012/06/armchair-bea-day-one-introductions.html
Liviania
I’ll have to look up some Design It Up! posts. My blog could definitely look nicer.
Debbie
Hi! I love that the two of you got together to create a new blog! It must be so much fun! Awesome name, BTW. Enjoy Armchair BEA!
My Armchair BEA Intro
Alyce
I could definitely see the benefits of pairing up with someone to run a blog!
It can definitely be a lot of work.
Heidi Grange
Great introduction. I think it’s fun to get to know more about some of the blogs that I so enjoy reading.
Peggy Marsiglio
Great post guys! I’m currently going to get my Master’s in school library sciences and can’t wait to work in the field. I love that there are so many school librarians out there in the book blogging community!
Stacy at A Novel Source
when you guys were at your own blog I remember stopping by frequently! I especially loved the blogger tips and then the camaraderie you both appeared to emulate. Glad to have found you again!
The Brunette Librarian
I looooove the monsters on your header
Such a great little blog – incredibly fun. 
Armchair BEA @ the Brunette Librarian
It was wonderful “meeting” you
Teresa
Your blog is lovely! I’m going to be checking out some of your features and adding your blog to my reader. Your current reads have piqued my interest! Great to meet you.
A Backwards Story
Oh, I want to re-read the first two KANE books before I read the final one! I loved BITTERBLUE! I still need to read VELVETEEN, SCORPIO RACES, and FALSE PRINCE, despite library attempts on the last two! I’m excited to read TIGER LILY when it comes out!! I was really excited about THE SELECTION from the moment the publishing deal was announced! I’m big on RPG games because I love the stories!
Jenn
Your current lists of reads are wonderful! Some of those titles are on my TBR. I have been waiting for Tiger Lily so long!!
Meg @ A Bookish Affair
I definitely want to check out some of your fave reads for this year! I haven’t read any of them!
Chrystal
Nice to meet you both. Wish I had the patience to learn coding more so that I could do some fun stuff with my blog. But my patience is almost gone lately. Hopefully that will change soon (once the wedding planning is done). LOL