Author Interview

Interview with MyFavoriteAuthor

 in Author Interview / Blog Events / Fun / Young Adult by

Reading is such a great thing to do. Writing about the books is great too. But it can be a little lonely. So, as it is summer I thought I would venture forth and dip my toes into the water of the  blogshere (so to speak….summer metaphor!) and meet some other bloggers. People who inspire me. Get to know them. People who love books and blog about them. So, I decided to do some interviews. Find like minded people and get to know them.

My first interview is with Angela from MyFavoriteAuthor. She does great reviews and has a good variety of books. So, lets meet Angela. I hope that you enjoy it.

Thanks Angela ~ MyFavoriteAuthor ~  for taking the time to answer these questions. This was fun.

What inspired you to create a blog? A heated debate in bookclub about BREAKING DAWN by Stephenie Meyer.  I went home and wrote a long post on my family blog about it and realized that wasn’t the best outlet for posts like that.  Then I had the *brilliant* idea to start a blog where I blogged just about books and reading … I thought I was so original with my idea, but I was glad to find such a large community of book blogs already out there to read.

What are you currently reading? I can’t decide whether to start WOLFSBANE by Andrea Cremer or SUPERNATURALLY by Kiersten White.  Both authors had EXCELLENT first books!

What can you be found doing in your spare time? What’s spare time?  Haha!  Usually reading, or playing the piano.

What are your top 5 favorite books? THESE IS MY WORDS by Nancy Turner, BOOK OF A THOUSAND DAYS by Shannon Hale, THE ACTOR AND THE HOUSEWIFE by Shannon Hale, PARANORMALCY by Kiersten White, NIGHTSHADE by Andrea Cremer, ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS by Stephanie Perkins, MISTRESS OF ROME by Kate Quinn, STRINGS ATTACHED by Judy Blundell, SING ME TO SLEEP by Angela Morrison, THE SIREN by Kiera Cass, THE DARK DIVINE by Bree Despain, LOYALTY’S WEB by Joyce DiPastena, SONG OF THE SPARROW by Lisa Ann Sandell, THE SEASON by Sarah MacLean, MUDVILLE by Kurtis Scaletta, WICKED LOVELY by Melissa Marr, THE HOST by Stephenie Meyer, THE FALSE PRINCESS by Eilis O’Neal … okay I’ll stop there.  It’s so hard to pick only 5!!

This summer, which is the best book which you have read so far? It’s hard to pick just one … but sticking to the strict definition of summer, my favorite book read since June 21st is STRINGS ATTACHED by Judy Blundell. So amazing!

What are your top 5 favorite movies? Haha! Most of my favorite movies are adaptations of books!  North & South (the Elizabeth Gaskell one, not the Civil War one), Penelope, Pride & Prejudice (A&E and Kiera Knightly versions), X-Men, Pirates of the Caribbean, Inception …

If you were stranded on a remote island and food and shelter is not a problem, what 5 things would you bring with you? I think as long as I have my Nook (because there is electricity & internet & an unlimited credit card balance that I never have to pay off in my version of this scenario) and sunscreen to go with the food & shelter, then I’m probably good for … ever!

Do you have any pets, and if so what are they? Much to my children’s continued disappointment, we do not have pets.

What is your favorite activity to do? Read!  🙂 And play the piano.

What is your favorite way or place to read a book (ex. In bed snuggled up, in a cozy chair covered by a blanket, in the park?)  I think my new absolute favorite place to read is on a Caribbean cruise!  But really, I can (and do!) read anywhere.

What is the biggest book which you have ever read? I adore long books!  I can rarely find a book long enough to suit me, but most of the books I read these days seem to top out at 400-500 pages.  I know I’ve read 1000+ page epics, but I can’t think of the titles off hand right now.  Although I consider books in a series as one long story and will frequently re-read my favorite series.  That’s easily 1000+ pages right there.

What is the best book to movie you have ever seen? While it’s fun to watch movies based on books, they are rarely as good as the book.  The only exceptions I can think of off the top of my head are the BBC book-to-movie adaptations (P&P, North & South, etc) and THE NOTEBOOK by Nicholas Sparks.

Why inspired the name of your blog?  Where most people are looking for a good book to read, I’m always looking for a new author to read.  Chances are great that if I love one book by an author that I will love other books that they write.

Bits And Pieces

 in Author Interview / Book Events / Books by

 

 

We had a long weekend, Memorial Day, and quite a few books were read. Reviews coming. Until then a few things happening to keep you busy.

In honor of Memorial Day (yesterday) when we reflect on those who gave their lives for our freedom why not send a book to a soldier? GalleyCat has several suggestions on sending a book to a soldier overseas. Here. Why not share the love of a good read with someone in a far off place?

Amazon has come up with a list of the Top 20 Most Well Read Cities in America. Here. Um, I am a little curious……..how exactly do they work it out that these are the best read? Obviously, they are the cities with the most purchases – but aren’t they making assumptions? And how do you quantify “well read”. Does Twilight count? Comments?

And for Rick Riordan readers ( nice website btw) and fans of Percy Jackson (really cool website with downloadable games) something to keep you on the edge of your seat. Here.

Enjoy the last day of May!!

Holiday Helper

 in Author Interview / Books / Younger Readers by

There is so much going on at the moment, it feels like the world is spinning too much. So much to do, so little time. So, once again here to help you with some gift ideas for others (or yourself……yours elf!!) here are some excellent suggestions.

Amie Borst of From The Mixed Up Files blog has written a lovely piece about holiday traditions in her home with a great list of books in various subjects. Here. Thanks Amie, wonderful suggestions.

If you are into technology you have to check this out. Full explanation is here. Technology, kids and reading is something we have touched on before but this has them listening to books. Here at MLCWO we love listening to books and have our favorite readers as well as books. This looks like it could be the perfect addition to a child’s development of reading – supplementing the books, of course. While checking the site out (rather quickly) Rodney Yee (cool yoga dude) was found doing a little meditation piece…..not sure if they are planning to move into adults as well…..or maybe it was for the harassed mother in the introductory video.

Here they are…..

 in Author Interview / Fun / Interesting / Young Adult by

This is what you all have been waiting for. The Cat Pictures of Lenore’s 2 kittens she will be getting and Emmy, the older cat. Well here they are and I hope they are as cute as you all hoped they would be.

Read the full interview below.

Emmy

Kaia (Now)

Lu (Now)

Enjoy!

If they were as cute as you thought, tell me what you think. Opinions are valued on my blog.

Kaia (picture from Lenore's blog)

Lu (picture from Lenore's blog)

Interview with Presenting Lenore

 in Author Interview / Blog Events by

I signed up to do an interview swap on BBAW’s website and my partner is Lenore from Presenting Lenore (click here to see her blog.) Interviewing another blog writer is a good experience and this was a lot of fun. So I asked her 10 questions and here is what she had to say.

What motivated you to start a blog? How long have you had your blog? What do you cover on your blog?

My blog began as a personal blog to share my experiences in Germany and on my travels with my family and friends in the states.  Then, in March 2008, I attended the Bologna Children’s Book Fair in Italy and heard Candy Gourlay (author of TALL STORY http://www.candygourlay.com/ ) talk about book blogs. Someone recommend Scott Westerfeld’s UGLIES to me, and my book blog was born shortly after.

I mostly cover YA books, but I review everything I read, so any genre could pop up. I was actually shortlisted for Most Eclectic Taste at last year’s BBAW.

I notice you are part of other blogs and blog with others (not on your blog that I know of yet.) What is it like to blog with others? Also if you had to choose between blogging with others or blogging by yourself which would you choose and why?

So far the group blogs I’ve joined haven’t exactly worked out.  Blogging is so time-consuming, it’s hard enough to make sure you have quality content for your own blog on a consistent basis, let alone for a group blog.  That said, I do envy group blogs that can share the load, such as The Book Smugglers and Forever Young Adult.  Unless they invite me to join, though, I’ll probably stick with my own blog 😉

I notice from some of your posts that you are a cat person and have multiple cats and are getting 2 more. What is it like to have so many cats and are they the type of cats that curl up on your lap when you read?

I am actually not sure what it is like to have “so many cats”, and to be honest, I am a bit apprehensive!! Right now we just have Emmy, since Finn died tragically mid-summer at only 16 months of age.  Emmy can’t really be alone, which is why we are getting more cats.  Emmy is definitely the curl up on your lap kind of cat.  Her favorite thing to do is to lie in the crook of my arm while I read in bed.

While looking around your blog I noticed your rating system. Why did you choose to use zombie chicken? What inspired you to do that?

I only use the zombie chicken rating during my Dystopian Theme Months (in February and August).  The zombie chicken actually came to life in a brainstorming session with Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. We wanted to do an over-the-top spoof on all the blog awards people were giving out left and right.  So we came up with the Zombie Chicken Award and my illustrator husband, Daniel, (www.danieljennewein.com ) made a graphic for us.  The award actually became quite popular, and it when I needed a rating system for Dystopian lit, I had to think of those adorable zombie chickens.

If you could recommend 10 books to someone (not a series) what would they be?

It would of course depend on who that someone was, but if it was someone with similar taste to my own, this would be my list (these also happen to be the books that I loan out most often too):

Fingersmith by Sarah Waters (for its’ amazing plotting and twists and turns)

Trap for Cinderella by Sebastian Japrisot (for the theme of identity)

The Doomsday Book by Connie Willis (one of the most emotional books I’ve ever read)

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (I’ve yet to come across someone who doesn’t’ like it)

The Likeness by Tana French (I just LOVE Cassie, the main character)

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver (high concept, but still so immediate)

The Eyre Affair by Jasper Forde (just so much fun!)

The Awakening by Kate Chopin (one of my favorite classics)

Ghostwritten by David Mitchell (love these linked short stories)

Is Your Buffalo Ready for Kindergarten? by Audrey Vernick (because my husband illustrated it!)

What is your favorite thing to do on the weekend?

I am a freelance copywriter which means the day of the week has little meaning to me beyond the stores being closed on Sundays in Germany.

What are your top 5 favorite movies?

So difficult to say!  I always get sucked into watching The Lord of the Rings movies.  Legally Blonde is so clever and fun (though I wish the sequel didn’t exist). Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (and really, almost anything Kate Winslet is in).  The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast are my Disney favorites.

What is your favorite meal and why?

I’m sure it has artichokes in it! Or avocados. Or both.

I see you do interviews on your blog. What are your top 5 favorite interviews and why?

I have enjoyed all the interviews I’ve done. I put a lot of time into coming up with questions that are as original and tailored as possible, and most of all, I ask questions that I really want to know the answers to!  I think so many blog readers tire of interviews because some bloggers approach them like they are some sort of chore or obligation.  I don’t do a lot of interviews, but I want to make sure the few I do sparkle!  It’s paid off in more ways than one – after all, I was BBAW shortlisted this year for Best Author Interviews.

If you could go anywhere in the world where would it be to and why?

My second biggest hobby after reading is travelling and I’ve been to 55 countries so far!  My current dream destination is Bhutan, but probably next on my travel agenda are Kuwait and Senegal to visit friends.

Later I will post some pictures of her cats but for now you can look at the ones on her blog (to see it click here). But I would like to thank Lenore for taking time and answering my questions. This was a fun experience for me to interview another blogger and the first one too and I look forward to doing it again in the future.