Viralogy

Contact: samanthaekarol [at] gmail.com
Twitter: @sameve
Websites: http://www.lifeschocolates.com/, http://bloggingbookworms.blogspot.com/
Career: Marketing Assistant for CPX Interactive, an online ad network and global marketing company
Passion: “I am passionate about writing, making the most of every day, and appreciation ”

Why you should watch this video

Samantha is such an amazing person who really talks about things that no other blogger is talking about.  In this interview, she talks about the loss of a friend, how she found the courage to write about the loss, she talks about religion and why bloggers are too afraid to write about it, and her best friend online.

I want you all to encourage Sam to pursue her passion for journalism.  The economy is tough right now, but if you truly try hard enough and push yourself to the limits, then I believe you can do what you’re passionate about and make money doing it.

I really enjoyed meeting Sam and I know that you will too.

Conversation Breakdown

If your blog is about personal topics, how personal do you get and where do you draw the line?

There are some things Sam has never written about because she feels it’s important to distinguish between a blog and a diary.  Not too much is off limits with Sam though.  She wrote about how her friend passed away last summer and she wanted to share that experience with others in hope that they will gain value from the experiences that she has had.

How did you get started in blogging?

Sam was a print journalism major in school, and was of the mindset that blogging wasn’t a legitimate form of writing.  When she graduated and entered her job, she was resonposible for creating the company blog.  Something about the whole process really hit Sam very well, so she decided to create her own personal blog do share her life experiences.

Can you tell us about your mission for appreciation

Sam tell us the story behind this post: http://www.lifeschocolates.com/appreciating-life/honoring-max-the-story-behind-my-mission-of-appreciation/

How did you feel after writing the post

Sam truly felt better because it was one of the things she had never written about.  A lot of people give advice, but haven’t really gone through what they preach.  She felt it was a great way to honor her friend and to encourage people to spread the love.  When something sad happens, it’s encouraging when something positive can come from it.

Can people in the virtual community really become friends?

Sam believes that if you truly want to be friends in the virtual space, then you have to make the extra effort.  You need to get to know someone on a one to one basis, beyond blogging and Twitter.

Who is one of your best friends in the online community?

Sam started an online book club with one of her best friends online Grace Boyle.  The book club is called Blogging Book Worms.

Why do so few bloggers write about religion?

Blogging about religion is hard to do because religion is such a touchy, personal, devisive topic.  Samantha has transcended and write about religion because it has always been a big part of her life.  She’s used to being the “token super Jew.”