JOT IT DOWN BLOGGER Kari Nunez
BOOKISH CONTENT CREATOR
Kari Nunez is the founder of Jot it Down, a small business operating in the outskirts of the Portland area. This online store offers unique record-keeping books for teachers, planners, and, of course, bookworms. For a decade, Kari taught junior high-age students the history of ancient and modern civilizations, the European invasion and settlements in the Americas, and the rules, influence, and power of politics and activism in the United States. While teaching full-time, Kari earned a Master’s Degree in Interdisciplinary Education, the art of teaching, learning, and curriculum development. In time, these skillsets matched with an odd passion for data collection, produced unmatched teaching resources, a For the Record scorebook, and the latest release, Between the Covers: Book Journal.
Currently Reading: The Christie Affair by N. Gramont
Currently Listening: Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
HOOKED ON BOOKS
I love a good story.
From my perspective, stories have the power to inspire people, aid in their
decision-making, and energize their imaginations. I’d know; I spent ten
years as a history teacher. The stories of the past reveal the story of us –
the good, the bad, and the disturbing parts of human history. Books share
alternate perspectives, compelling insights, and enriching subject matters
that challenge people to view the world with a different set of spectacles.
At the start of the coronavirus pandemic, people worldwide experienced mass isolation. People barricaded themselves indoors, and as my door closed, my books opened. Thanks to online video calls, my reading experience wasn’t isolated but shared by bookworms in parts of San Francisco and various cities in San Diego. In 2020, we read fifteen novels, twenty-four books in 2021, and then 20 last year. This year, our reading library continues to expand. I encourage all avid bibliophiles to find their community of readers.
THE BOOK THAT SPARKED THE BLOG
I published my first blog in February 2022. Our book club selected The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling. This was an anticipated read. This story hit all my guilty pleasure points – magic, witches, black cats, and romance. Here is a brief synopsis of the story: warlock status. As the summer came to an end, so did the relationship. Rhys returned to England, leaving heartbreak for Vivi, who, in turn, left Rhys with a curse.”
“Never mix vodka and witchcraft” is solid advice and, for us mere mortals, a helpful reminder that alcohol mixed with emotions can be a recipe for regret. That day of remorse could come the following day, or in this case, nine years later. Once upon a time, nineteen-year-old college student Vivienne Jones locked lips and held hands with heartthrob Rhys Penhallow. Rhys has charm, looks, and the family name that tethers him to Graves Glen’s founding and infamous warlock status. As the summer came to an end, so did the relationship. Rhys returned to England, leaving heartbreak for Vivi, who, in turn, left Rhys with a curse.”
I loved the book cover as it evoked a nostalgic feeling from the tv series “Bewitched.” But as I turned the pages, the story and its characters were not as I had expected. The cutesy cover was misleading, so I designed a book cover that felt true to its genre and themes. The photo pictured here is the first graphic I designed.
To those curious to read this post, this blog is a negative book review. I took a great pause before publishing this blog. As a rule, I strive to support artists and commend all who put themselves out there. Erin Sterling is Rachel Hawkins, a well-known author who took a different direction in her writing. I settled on being honest and reporting on how our book club responded. Turns out that other bookworms share a similar opinion. With every story we read after, my imagination went wild. The memorable scenes and their characters inspired my artwork, which led to more blogs.
JOT THIS DOWN - THE BLOG
As a teacher, I created lesson plans, assessments, and classroom activities for school-age children. When you do
this kind of work for so long, it’s challenging to put it aside, especially when you enjoy teaching. Our book club
started in March 2020 with Where the Crawdads Sing. This book included book club discussion questions for our
group to reflect on, share, and discuss the story. Our next couple of books contained questions for readers, but
several of our reads did not. Thus, I stepped up and began writing.
Naturally, I started jotting down the characters in the story, the setting, and some reading notes. My notes were
helpful during group discussions, so I thought I’d share the love. Each blog details the following:
- Story Synopsis – a short description of the book
- Book Publication – the month and year of publication
- Character List – includes character names and a brief description of each character (relationship, job, etc.)
Setting – where the story takes place - Book Club Discussion Questions – at least eight to ten questions
- My Review – a few thoughts on the book
- Did You Know – facts about the story and author possibly unknown to the book community
I always include a graphic to showcase and introduce the blog. Below are pictures from the following books: The
Night Circus, Homicide & Halo-Halo, and The Alice Network.
BETWEEN THE COVERS: BOOK JOURNAL
As our group consumed more books, remembering the characters and plots of other stories became increasingly difficult. Other bookworms admitted suffering from this same affliction, like my aunt.
My aunt loves to read. On her visits to the west coast, she had several books in her luggage. She can read in airplanes, cars, trains no problem! She can focus on the story and block out the distractions. Turning the last page, she hands the book toanyone who might enjoy it. To my surprise, she would often confess that if you ask her about a book, she may not remember certain parts or even the main character’s name.
Over time, the story would fade from her memory, and she’d need reminding of what the story was about. She is not the only one hooked on books yet forgets the storyline ten books ago.
So, I began designing this book journal.
Between the Covers took over a year to create. To compare the first draft with the design of today would be
astounding. Thanks to book clubs and avid readers, I’ve ensured that this journal provides space to review,
remember, and relive the stories of old and new. There are writing prompts to help record, analyze, question, and
rate the novels in your library. Among the 100 journal entries are unique engagement activities – such as banned
books, author notes, favorite genres, book awards, and fun questionnaires. The journal is colorful and packed
with watercolor artwork. Between the Covers was a joy to create and has been a helpful tool for fellow
bookworms and myself.
THANK YOU
Tusen Tak (translation, a million thanks) to Tia from @Books4movies for the opportunity to introduce my story,
art, and work to your community. Your enthusiasm to support book bloggers is appreciated, and I am thankful to
be part of your platform.