As an early kick-off for BlogHer, which is now 10 days away (I’m quite excited to network with my fellow BlogHers again), I am going to interview myself. To pre-introduce myself to the other BlogHer attendees, and anyone else who may be interested.

 So, hi :)

In choosing to interview myself this way, I am choosing questions that are more unusual than your standard interview. So here we go.

Why did you choose to share that piece of yourself in a photograph?

Getting married to Ianiv represented, to me, not just love but personal growth. To get married takes trust and responsibility and dedication. I feel like I have made great progress in my life and I am proud now to be married and committed to Ianiv.

The picture also represents an achievement of other sorts. Not just the stress of planning the wedding (there was lots of that), but of the year in general. It was the year we both quit our jobs and started our own business. A very public business, interacting daily with people around the world. So, the hands represent not only that achievement and love, but also the reaching out to the world through what we do together.

Are you and your blogging persona the same person?

I think every blog I write has a little piece of me, but some blogs get a larger piece than others. Blogaholics represents my "blogging home" - it is the place where I try to share "me" as if I were conversing with friends. Telling people what is affecting my life and what my opinions, joys and sorrows are. Not everything goes online - I make choices, and the act of writing does distinguish between the "online me" and the "me" in general. Blogaholics is the most accurate portrayal of me, but it is still yet a persona.

As we brdge out into my other blogging efforts, we find different pieces of me. Cooking Gadgets has my love for food and for baking and gadgets - but has only parts of my personality. She Knows Best has my love for shopping, for helping others, and my taste - but only in that area. Gilmore Girls News is an over-amplified version of my liking of the show. And then we move to my least authentic blog, Lohan Groupie. Following a celebrity who honestly annoys me, and writing in a style foreign to my beliefs. Pure profit incentive, nothing more.

So, when you read me, you don’t always see me. It depends where you go ;)

How do you use blogging to build friendships?

I love to talk with other bloggers. I often email back bloggers who left good comments and that leads to emails or Skype conversations. I use Skype almost exclusively to speak with other bloggers. Conferences have been a great way to meet other bloggers and start those relationships as well. To find new people to read and talk to, and new ways to express myself in my writing as a result.

My involvement with b5media has given my a very good opportunity to meet and work with some amazing bloggers, and to develop new relationships. At first, my role as CE was overwhelming. Hard to manage the growth of the channel and the needs of bloggers. But as relationships have formed, I have come to love my role. I act as friend and advisor, but I learn always from them and my experiences in the network.

If you had a super power, what would it be?

To fly. Oddly enough, I don’t like the feeling of free-fall - would never skydive - but I have always wanted to fly. To feel weightless and to power through the wind and see the world below. Freedom.

What is your favorite thing that you wrote? What got a strong reaction from readers? 

These are two different questions. My favorite post is the one that was hardest for me to write - I have struggled with the question of Canadian Identity, and identity in general, for a long time. I tackled the question in school, and again on the blog. I am still dissatisfied with my writing, which is why I like the piece. It’s not complete, but it is an expression of my personal struggle.

As for a strong reaction, it was my blunt honesty about a cafe that drew the strongest, and most negative, feedback I’ve ever received. It caused me much pain but reminds me that I need to be inclusive - to involve the people behind the story in the story, rather than omitting them. However, it reminds me also of the progress yet to be made by the corporate world in embracing open commentary.

Tags: BlogMe, BlogHer06