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Blogger Alert – Ash @ Smash Attack Reads

Blogger Alert – Ash @ Smash Attack Reads

Posted by on May 2, 2013 in Blogger Alert, Interviews | 5 comments

I’m a pretty straight shooter and I’m not going to lie, I did some fan-girling when Ash agreed to come on the blog. I know it really should be fan-maning, but that just doesn’t have the same ring to it. I assure you though, it was totally manly…but I digress.                                                                             Ash over at Smash Attack Readers is one of my                                                                                         favorite bloggers. And one of my favorite things about her blog is the World Building Wednesdays, where she invites authors to talk about World Building (one of her favorite aspects of a novel). She always has a full line-up of posts on her blog, and has become so busy she now works with a team of reviewers on her site. So now that she’s agreed to be my Blogger Alert for the month of May, I get to do one of my favorite things, and turn the interview spotlight on a blogger. Let the DOOM begin!   The Interview   1. For the sake of starting out simple, tell us how you got involved with blogging, and what made you decide to start your own site? I’ve actually been blogging for about 15 years. I started out a personal journal on LiveJournal and moved to Blogger. My friend back home, Brooke, was really involved in blogging and reviewing books about 5 years ago. I’ve always had a love for reading so I became really interested in this new world she introduced to me. I noticed my personal blog started to become overrun with bookish posts, so I decided to take the plunge in 2010. I can’t believe I’ve been doing this for almost 3 years. I sometimes feel like I just started. 🙂 2. As a busy blogger, sometimes you lose the opportunity to read what you want, when you want. You have a stack of books to be reviewed that is constantly staring back at you, and you have commitments that you’ve made to them. Now, sometimes we pick up a book that sounds interesting, but later we put on our shelves because we’re not in the mood for it. I imagine this is the same thing that happens with review books, only you don’t always have the opportunity to put them aside. So tell me, are there any books you had to read because of a review deadline that ended up taking you by surprise and completely...

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Blogger Alert – On A Book Bender

Blogger Alert – On A Book Bender

Posted by on Apr 1, 2013 in Blogger Alert, Interviews | 9 comments

April’s Blogger Alert is pretty special for a number of reasons. First off, Amanda at On a Book Bender is an amazing blogger. One of my favorite things is that although she is involved with so many events and other bloggers, she really maintains independence on her site. She does her own thing and doesn’t pay much attention to the outbursts that we can see in the blogosphere once in a while. Amanda hosts some fabulous discussion posts, hilarious reviews with some of her co-blogging friends, she co-hosts Bout of Books, and well, she’s a busy blogger! What else is so special about this month’s Blogger feature? She just so happens to be my copy editor, a fantastic friend, and a constant supporter of both me and giraffe shifters. As you can see this girl is practically swimming in awesomeness. Because she’s also my editor, I want to link you to her business site too. The reason being is that she offers so much more than just editing for authors and I want everyone to know! If you have a blog, a business, use online media, etc. Amanda has a lot of different features that can help, and some of them are even do it yourself resources she’s developed. I know they’ve helped me and so I need to share the love. Now, let’s see how this giraffe shifter loving, tentacle book obsessing blogger handles the INTERVIEW OF DOOM.  The Interview   1. You’re an active, consistent, and organized blogger. The “About” page on your website even outlines exactly what posts will come when. How do you stick to that schedule and avoid falling into the dreaded “blogging slump?” And if you can’t avoid it, how to you keep your blog rolling with new posts, reviews, and interesting discussions? I think the biggest trick I have to sticking to my schedule is that it is sustainable. I read more books than I review, for example, so I’m always scheduled ahead. But no one is immune to the blogging slump. I went through one earlier this year. This is part of what led me to taking on another associate reviewer. I evaluated how much I could realistically do, stopped doing extra, and got help where I needed it. I have time to make do without an associate reviewer, but an associate reviewer gives me the sanity I need to continue blogging. 2. As an avid reader and talented editor, you have a passion for the written word. Have you ever considered publishing your own work, and if yes, what genre do you think you’d work within? Yes. Giraffe shifter erotica, NA contemporary, or adult urban fantasy. At least those are the current story ideas I have rattling around in my brain. 3. Hypothetical #1 – You’ve been given the opportunity to venture to Canada for an editing conference. While leaving the airport, your...

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Blogger Alert – Laura @ Little Read Riding Hood

Blogger Alert – Laura @ Little Read Riding Hood

Posted by on Mar 1, 2013 in Blog Events, Blogger Alert | 12 comments

Today I bring to you a pretty kick ass book blogger. At least I think so, and since for today only I’m adopting this blogger’s blog philosophy of “this is my blog, so I’m always right,” it doesn’t make any sense for you to disagree with me. Good? Good! I’ve spent some time getting to know Laura at Little Read Riding Hood, and I immediately liked her because she’s a dog person.  So much so, that she actually works with dogs for a living. If I wasn’t a writer, I think working with animals would be amazing career. But this isn’t about me, it’s about Laura, my scuba diving, dog loving, Fantasy reading, occasionally adult-language oriented book blogger for March, so let’s get right to the interrogat—I mean the interview!   The Interview 1. Laura, I’m going to ease you into this. Tell us about your earliest memory of falling in love with books. I can’t remember a time NOT loving books. It was all I wanted when I was little, to have my parents read to me. Did I want to go outside and play? No, read me a story. I think they got tired of reading to me so they taught me to read at a pretty young age. I think they did that so when my younger siblings came along, I could read to them. 2. You primarily read Fantasy books in some aspect. In fact, on your blog you make a bold statement that says you read to escape reality, so you prefer not to read something based inside reality. I think that’s a fair statement, but is there any times that you venture out of the Fantasy realm, and if so, what are a few great books you’ve discovered since stepping out of your usual reading routine? I have ventured into some New Adult, Contemporary Romance, and some Historical Romance, though those usually have some sort of fantasy/paranormal element to them! I am pretty loyal to what I consider ‘my’ authors (and before you ask, yes Matt, you are mine!) and if I’ve loved something they wrote in the paranormal/fantasy realm, I will try anything else they write. Some examples are Chelsea Cameron, with My Favorite Mistake and Deeper We Fall. They are in the New Adult category and take place in college. For the most part, I really liked college and enjoy putting myself in those books. Another example is Karina Halle’s newest release, Sins & Needles, which I am happy to say has been buzzing all over the book universe. It is of course well deserved buzz. That is NOT a story I would want to live, but man the ride she takes you on with Camden and Ellie is wild. 3. You’ve recently achieved your scuba diving certificate. That’s a much more outgoing activity in some respects, compared to locking yourself...

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Blogger Alert – Ana @ The Book Hookup

Blogger Alert – Ana @ The Book Hookup

Posted by on Feb 6, 2013 in Blogger, Blogger Alert | 10 comments

This month’s blogger alert goes to a fellow igloo-dweller, Ana from The Book Hookup. There are five different bloggers that contribute to The Book Hookup, but Ana is the one I met first, and so she’s special. Because of this, you will love her, or there will be yellow snow coming at you. An avid reader with eclectic taste, Ana has been reading for as long as she can remember. So today, we’re taking some time to see what else we can learn from the book-loving Canadian. She wants a story that can take her places, but let’s go deeper than that. The Interview   1. No messing around here. You read Fiction, Non-fiction, and everything in between. Is there any specific genre that you really don’t enjoy? If yes, what is it about that genre that turns you off? I will pretty much read anything once.  I’ll give something a try no matter what the genre is as long as the description and cover appeal to me (yes, I’ll admit being influenced by the cover).  However, I have found that I’m way too squeamish and girly to truly enjoy a horror book.  I like to read at night but I don’t enjoy having to leave the lights on or jumping at every sound after I put my book down! So, no horror for this girl! 2. You’ve been reading for as long as you can remember. What’s the first book you remember reading, and since that book, is there any one book that rocks your bookverse more than any other? The first book that had an impact me was Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery.  I vividly remember reading way past my bedtime and starting the book again as soon as I’d finished it.  As a shy kid, I loved Anne’s spunk and her ability to win over even the most skeptical adult.  She has so many challenges to overcome but she does so with great sass.  I may have wished that I was her…or that I could have her as a best friend!  3. Hypothetical #1 – You’re trapped in a library of epic proportions. Everywhere you turn you see towering bookshelves lined with creased spines. Your TBR list is growing longer with each moment. The power goes out and you’re in complete darkness. You can hear the ruffling of pages and the sensation of magic crawling up your arms. Candles around the room ignite at once, their flames flickering on the air. You find not one, but three creatures of your bookish nightmares stalking towards you. You start to panic, all those horrifying pages coming back to haunt you, and those nightmares have come to life. Out of nowhere, three books fall from a shelf and land open on the table. Three fictional heroes step up from the pages to save you. Who are...

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Blogger Alert – Stuck In Books

Blogger Alert – Stuck In Books

Posted by on Dec 3, 2012 in Blogger Alert, Interviews | 8 comments

I’ve been saving this one for December for a reason, and that reason is because this is the month that Release finally comes out. Val from Stuck In Books has been an integral part of my writing. She’s supported me, cheered me on, and helped me in more ways that I could list. Val is the reason the Release blog tour sign-ups were such a great success. She was the organizational mastermind behind it, as well as the promotional tour for Exiled and Shift. And most importantly, she’s been a wonderful friend to me. Stuck in Books is a very well respected book blog, and one of the things that originally drew me to it, was Val’s excitement. When Val loves a book, it truly shows. Not just because she is a driving force in promotion for the stories she loves, but her reviews are genuine. She’s honest, polite, and a great asset to the book blogging community. She takes her own free time to help others, both authors and bloggers alike. And one of her best traits, in my opinion, is the commitment she has to her readers. In honor of all that she’s done for The Protector series, I want to tell Val how thankful I am. For all the hard work and time she’s put into it, and for all the support she’s given me. So without further ado, let me introduce you to a book blogger I think everyone should get to know. Whether you’re an author or a blogger, Val’s blog is one you don’t want to miss. The Interview   1. You’re coming up on the two year anniversary of your blog. That’s an impressive feat. So many people get burned out and lose the passion they once had for blogging, but you’re holding steady and strong. Is there anything specific that keeps your passion alive, and if you ever feel yourself getting into a blogging slump, do you have any tricks that help you get out of it, or prevent it altogether? Hmmm…I do get overwhelmed and discouraged with blogging.  About six months ago, I seriously considered quitting.  I spent some times considering why I wanted to quit.  I realized that the part of blogging that was getting me down was when I accepted a book to review that I wasn’t passionate about reading.  It made blogging a job instead of a joy.  I decided then that I would read what I wanted.  I had to learn to say no to requests.  I suspect that I will always have to be reminded of that little discovery or the discouragement will return and StuckInBooks could go away.  That would just make me sad so I will continue to say no. 2. You’re a huge J.L. Armentrout fan. You found her books, fell in love with them, and devoured them. Because of your passion...

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Blogger Alert – Parajunkee

Blogger Alert – Parajunkee

Posted by on Nov 5, 2012 in Blog Events, Blogger Alert, Book Reviews, Interviews | 2 comments

So in light of Exiled going free on Friday, and some other things that came up, I had to postpone this a few days, but today it is postponed no more! May the awesomeness that is Parajunkee be unveiled. I had the pleasure of being introduced to Parajunkee through Twitter earlier this year (If you haven’t noticed, I meet all the greats on Twitter, so you should be there), but I’d been captivated by her work for quite some time. Parajunkee is not only the great talent behind this websites design, but a ton of other ones as well, not to mention she’s done some phenomenal book covers. But it’s not only her talent as a designer that had me interested in spotlighting her for the month, it’s what she gives back to the book blogging community. Parajunkee Designs is amazing, but Parajunkee’s View is something else entirely. A whole website dedicated to not just book reviews, but author blog tours, promotion, and giveaways. And let’s not forget the blogging advice that people flock to her for, or the special topics she runs each week that encourage and help other bloggers develop their sites. And lastly, my favorite part is when she hosts discussion posts. Parajunkee has built such an audience that these posts draw people in from all over the blogosphere to become involved. She isn’t afraid to take on touchy topics, and she always tries to work from both sides of the argument. Parajunkee is a gem in the blogging world, always helping others and truly offering something back to the community she is a part of. I’ve invited her here today to be assaulted with ridiculous questions, and to spotlight what I believe is an incredible contribution to the book and blogging community. The Interview   1.    Let’s talk Parajunkee design first. When did you figure out this was something you loved, and what made you decide to turn it into a business? This is a long answer. How does one define a life path? I actually have a degree in Graphic Design, it was a last minute switch, when I realized a degree in English Lit really only had one possible viable outcome – teaching. With the English / Graphic Design mix I was quickly sucked into corporate Marketing, or what I would describe as the seventh circle of Hell. Imagine Devil Wears Prada, but instead of just one boss/client, you have about five. The funny thing was I really loved putting together marketing plans for clients, designing their campaigns and conceptualizing new products. But, in a Marketing Department, or at least the departments that I worked within, it was never the clients, it was always the other co-workers that made things very stressful. It was just a very cut-throat industry. You are only as good as your latest greatest idea. Not to mention, the moment a company does...

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