Meet Andrea Bates of Good Girl Gone Redneck

Andrea Bates has been a quiet, gentle, yet strong force in the blogging community for years. She has been instrumental in getting NC Blogger Network going (she is our Facebook Administrator and operates our Instagram account). We wanted to give you a chance to meet  her.

Get to know Andrea of Good Girl Gone Redneck

1. How long have you been blogging?

I started blogging in early 2009.

2. What do you blog about?

I blog about parenting, love, life, grief, loss, family and friendships. I also regularly write book reviews with the occasional sponsored post/product review thrown in for good measure.

3. Why did you start blogging?

As a stay-at-home mom to my toddler daughter I was looking for a way to connect beyond my immediate circle. I was also looking for a way to use my voice again, as I’ve been writing since I was a young girl.

4.  What is your FAVORITE post you’ve ever written (you can pick 2)?

My favorite posts are always personal posts. I’ve got one titled Without Any Marshmallows that I’m quite proud of. I explore the importance of recognizing what we, as moms, deserve.

And a second favorite would be Time Apart, written this summer about the first time my daughter spent an extended period away from my husband and me to visit her grandparents.

5.  What blog (other then your own) do you love?

One of my favorite blogs is From Tracie, which is written by a friend of mine. Tracie and I connected through blogging and I’m truly grateful for the opportunity writing and sharing has given me to meet people I cannot imagine functioning without.

6. What is your biggest piece of advice for other bloggers?

Be genuine. It’s almost a catch-phrase these days to say be authentic and true to yourself, but honestly, it’s what you need to do. Whether you’re looking to make money off of your blog, make friendships, or just find your voice and share it – what you need to do is be real. Be true to yourself. None of these things will fall into place if you’re not keeping it real. So try it. Do it. Thrive through your voice.

7.  What are you looking forward to for you as a blogger in the upcoming months?

I’m *thisclose* to my redesign being launched! I’m currently working with my designer to finalize a few details and I can’t wait for my new, much sleeker look. I’m also looking forward to submitting my work to various publications with hopes that my words will show up in print sometime soon. And lastly I cannot wait to head to Type-A Parent conference in Atlanta in a few weeks to refresh my blogging mojo and connect with some incredible people face-to-face!

Visit Andrea online and show her some North Carolina love.

Good Girl Gone Redneck

• Facebook: Good Girl Gone Redneck
• Twitter: @goodgirlgonered
• Pinterest: Andrea Bates
• Google+: Andrea Bates