The Sunday Roast

The English Blogger With a Hula Skirt

This week's interview is with Akelamalu,
who writes the blog Everything And Nothing.

The first of the standard weekly questions: Why do you blog?

I started blogging because my good friend Queenie asked me to. She had recently started her own blog and was so enthusiastic about it she wanted me to do the same. I was waiting to go in to hospital to have a total knee replacement and I thought it would be a good idea to keep a journal on how the operation had gone, and track my progress afterwards. Of course it has become much more than that.

My blog is a year old and in that time I have shared ups and downs and made many friends in the blogosphere. I would find it very difficult to give up now, its compulsive – hopefully I will carry on for a long time to come.

What’s the story behind your blog name?

Whilst trying to think of a blog name I came across a few sites on which you type in your real name and it comes up with a pseudonym be it a pixie, elf, cartoon character, porn name or in my case Hawaiian name. I liked it so I used it – Akelamalu. My blogging friends have shortened it to Akela, ake, malu, lulu, amulu etc, etc. I think that’s nice – turning a made-up name into a nickname – I’ve never had a nickname before, apart from fatty when I was at school!

What is the best thing about being a blogger?

It keeps my mind active. I’m always thinking "that would make a good post", "that would make a great picture", "the other bloggers would love that joke". I have also been introduced to Friday 55 Flash Fiction which has practically taken over my life! For 55 Flash Fiction you write a story - with a beginning a middle and an end, with at least one character and you have to do it in exactly 55 words.

I absolutely love writing 55s, once I start I can’t stop and probably write between three and six at a time. I have written over 100 now – not all published on my blog yet of course. I will carry on until I run out of ideas. People seem to like them so I’ll carry on, who knows I may even try to get them published.

Also because of blogging I found a way to fulfil a promise to my father – my proudest achievement, apart from producing my two wonderful sons. I have published my Grandmother’s biography – KIT – which he wrote 13 years ago. At the age of 83 he has finally seen it in print and fulfilled his promise to his mother. You can find a link to the book in my sidebar and how I did it.

What key advice would you give to a newbie blogger?

Visit lots of blogs and leave a comment – this way you build up your own blogroll. If someone leaves a comment on your blog reply to it and visit their blog and leave a comment – this is common courtesy. There’s nothing more disheartening than not having a comment acknowledged and reciprocated. There are some bloggers who think that people just want to read what they’ve written and they never have to visit –that is the height of bad manners in my book! There are some bloggers I no longer visit because of this.

What is the most significant blog post you’ve ever read?

I have read so many I couldn’t possibly choose one. I find it very humbling and I feel privileged to read posts about personal problems and events in people’s lives. I often find myself crying, feeling elated, sad, annoyed for them, when reading what they’ve written. Bloggers are great with advice, sympathy and empathy, the level of caring and genuine concern in the blogosphere never ceases to amaze me.

What is the most significant blog post you’ve every written?

I think you would have to ask my readers that! I do have my favourite posts though (listed on my sidebar) – do go over and take a look – and leave a comment please – I promise I’ll reciprocate (wink).

Today's Sunday Roast with Akelamalu is the tenth in a weekly series of interviews with bloggers from around the world.