Welcome to a new series here in Media Reviews, where we will get to know our Families.com bloggers a little bit better. Our first interview will be with Valorie Delp.
Valorie, how long have you blogged for Families.com?
I started in June of 2006.
What topics do you blog about?
Currently–homeschooling, food and baby (or as someone else aptly put it–the breastfeeding blog)
What is your favorite thing about blogging for Families.com?
There are lots of things I like–but one thing that stands out here vs just a plain old freelance writing job, is the community. You get to know people and make friends. I love it when I get a note from someone thanking me because my blogs have been helpful too.
You also work as the assistant editor and a moderator as well. Can you tell us a little about that?
My job as the assistant editor is to help Heather (the managing editor) edit blogs. I try to read everyone’s blogs and make sure they’re up to par but since our writers are so fantastic. . .it’s an easy job! As a moderator, I watch the boards for spam, watch to make sure that conversations are civil (there are lots of loopy people out there that like to crash a debate with useless or needless info) and try to encourage conversation. I also really try to focus attention on getting people who read the blogs, to visit the forums and vice versa.
What do you like to do when you’re not blogging?
I love to cook and bake, do crafts with my kids, and I help run a tutoring program for inner city students. (We live in the inner city.)
You homeschool your children. How do you fit school, blogging and managing in to your busy schedule?
I don’t clean my house? Just kidding. My husband is fantastic–and helps homeschool, or clean, or cook, or do whatever needs to get done. I homeschool year round so there’s less to do in one day, and I get up ridiculously early to write. I love writing in the silence but as the day wears on, I struggle for words.
What else can you tell our readers about you?
I speak two other languages besides English fluently and am currently working to learn Arabic. It’s slow going.
I will have been married for twelve years in May.
If I had unlimited funding, I would consider going back to school for a Master’s degree in Children’s literature. And then for my PhD in French literature (which was my major.)
I’m working on two books right now: a children’s book about science concepts and a devotional book for moms. They may or may not ever get published, but I like the process of writing them.
We love living in the city. We moved here to be a part of our church.
Valorie, thank you for joining us!
If you would like to read some of Valorie’s fun and informative blogs, here are some of her personal favorites:
Those Blasted Grass Roots Movements
National Lunch Association Takes Aim at Those Who Dare to Eat at Home
Loaded Brickle Cookies (my favorite cookie recipe)
Are You Trying to Fit a Square Peg in a Round Hole
Coffee Cake Cobbler (a new breakfast favorite)
Voting for Homeschooling in the Presidential Elections
The Real Problem with Homeschooling