Sophia Rose's Blog - Posts Tagged "blogging"

I have decided to do a bit of something new for some of my blog posts. So voila, I have for you Sophia's Sofa Chats coming soon to a couch near you.

Much in the spirit of having a friend or two drop in for a visit to my home, I will be hosting the occasional GoodReads friend at my GoodReads’ blog.

Each of these guests have graciously volunteered to allow me a chance to interview them. Hopefully, it will be a lively time for you to get to know some of the authors, bloggers/reviewers, and readers I have friended through GoodReads and discover something about their book-related hobbies and work.

Stop by to make the acquaintance of my guests and feel free to toss in your own questions or fun comments. More the merrier.

Upcoming Sofa Chats:
April 22nd with Claudine the hostess of Just Jane1813, a book review blog

May 6th with Rita the hostess of From Pemberley to Milton, a book review blog

June 3rd with Ceri the hostess of Babblings of a Book Worm, a book review blog

My first guest has been a GoodReads friend for nearly two years now. We encountered each other over our mutual appreciation for all things Jane Austen. Claudine is an active supporter of Austen and Jane Austen Fan Fiction (JAFF) stories and writers. Her thoughts on books are insightful and she gives great recommendations. I was tickled to death when last year saw the launch of her blog, Just Jane 1813 where she talks books, authors, and all things Jane Austen.
Ope, there she is now, right on time…

Howdy, Claudine!

Thank you for inviting me here today. Your place is so lovely and it feels so inviting. I have to thank you for your lovely comments about my blog, because people like you have been a tremendous support to me along the way. I also want to thank you for all that you do for Austenesque lovers, such as myself. Your Austenesque group on Goodreads has been such a delightful way to connect with readers who love Jane Austen.

Ahhh, my pleasure! Love the camaraderie of the group, too.

Come on in and make yourself comfortable. It’s a bit nippy here still in Southeast Michigan, but oh so green and the flowers are in riotous bloom. We’ll sit here by the window and appreciate it all. What’s spring like for you in your neck of the woods?

It’s been really chilly in my neck of the woods. I got in my car several days ago at 7:00 am to head to work, and the car thermostat said it was 25 degrees outside here on Long Island. Springtime weather in NY has become less predictable in recent years.

Can I offer you some tea? Coffee? Hot Cocoa? And surely you can’t pass up my latest batch of raspberry thumbprint cookies? Or I do have the back up blonde brownie stash just in case I murdered the cookies which I can do once in a while when I get lost in a book…

I’d love a nice steamy cup of coffee and a nibble, or so of one of those blondies. They are a guilty pleasure of mine.

Fantastic choice! No worries about the ‘guilt’ just enjoy the ‘pleasure’. I waved the magic calorie wand over everything before you came. We’re all good here.

I was just telling the folks about your love for Jane Austen and JAFF and how you have taken the initiative to start your own blog, Just Jane 1813.
You get this question a lot, I’m sure, but where and when did your Austen love begin? And when and how did you discover JAFF?

My love for Jane Austen began nearly twenty years ago, when I came across the title of “Pride and Prejudice” in Anna Quindlen’s book, “How Reading Changed My Life.”
She has these wonderful lists towards the back of her book, and “Pride and Prejudice” was listed first on her list titled Ten Book’s I’d Save in a Fire (If I Could Only Save Ten)

Therefore, in 1999, I was twenty-nine years old when I read the most memorable opening line in the history of literature and fell head over heels in love with the arrogant, but loyal Mr. Darcy and the feisty, but compassionate, Elizabeth Bennet. As an avid reader, I immediately followed “Pride and Prejudice” by reading all of Austen’s novels; yet, “Pride and Prejudice” always remained as my personal favorite. There’s never been another story for me that has captured my heart, my soul and my mind in the very same manner.

Flash forward to 2011, when I saw “Death Comes to Pemberley” by P.D. James at my local Costco. I had never seen another book related to “Pride and Prejudice” and I enjoyed it. Costco? Really? That’s where I encountered my first JAFF story, too. But ahem, sorry to interrupt. However, I was very busy pursuing my studies and working full-time, so I never ventured further to see if there were other books similar to Ms. James’ book, so I remained completely oblivious to the existence of the JAFF community until I accidently stumbled upon a list of recommended JAFF titles on Pinterest.

I selected “Unequal Affections” by Lara S. Ormiston as my next JAFF read, and I have been “beyond hooked” on JAFF ever since this time.

Pretty sure it’s a safe bet that you swoon over a good romance.
If I say ‘forced marriage trope’, does that cause your heart to go pitter pat or do you get stirred up over an entirely different trope- enemies to lovers? Love triangle? Forbidden love? Second chance? Friends to lovers?

I have learned that the text structure doesn’t matter as much to me when I look for my next JAFF read. For me, I am most attracted to reading JAFF stories with great characterizations, an interesting mixture of internal and external angst that’s all within a well-written storyline. The other non-negotiable for me is that I love stories where Darcy and Elizabeth spend a lot of time in each other’s company. Perhaps that’s because in canon, they spend so little time together in each other’s company and I find the connections between them to be quite mesmerizing.

Got a recommendation from your favorites’ shelf for the forced marriage trope or one of the others?

Back in the day, when I was a teacher, my students would tell me that I had too many favorite books and songs to name just a few. I feel the same way about JAFF. For readers who want to see me favorites, they can browse my (https://www.goodreads.com/review/list... ) virtual shelves.

With Fan Fiction there are some regular types that the reader can expect.
When it comes to types, does a variation do it for you best or is it a retelling or sequel? What type is your least favorite?

After reading nearly 200 JAFF stories, I can honestly say I don’t have a favorite type. I initially started looking to read more JAFF sequels when I began this journey; however, I have read so many great sequels, variations and retellings, that I can no longer claim one type of story solely as my favorite type.

If you can’t read Jane Austen or JAFF, what are some of the other books you pick up?

Why wouldn’t I be able to read Jane Austen or JAFF? LOL!!

I have been an avid reader my whole life. The very first series I ever read, Laura Ingalls Wilders’ “Little House” series, sits right in front of me in my office each day, as a reminder of my tremendous love of reading and the power of a memorable series of books. I read cookbooks, magazines, websites, professional resources, research articles, and nearly anything that speaks to my interests. I was a big fan of Jodi Picoult’s books for a long time, and I met her a few times, but there isn’t an author of fiction who communicates to me the way that Austen does through her prose, so when I am not reading JAFF, I read from a variety of authors and genres.

Because I’m nosey, just how many books are sitting on your TBR Pile right now? No judgment here, ‘kay because I have enough to bury me alive between virtual and real shelves.

Only 440... I thought it was a larger number, but that’s where I am right now.
Oh, not bad. You’re doing great staying on top of that thing. It’s the group challenge, right? Haha!

When you’re not reading, what’s something else you enjoy doing?

I love to be creative and I love history, so I have spent a lot of time scrapbooking my children’s’ lives. I’ve made so many types of scrapbook albums and pages, it’s something I love to do that I also find very meaningful in the overall scheme of our lives.

I also love to cook, entertain family and friends, and most of all, I love to spend time with my four children, except when I am trying to get them to do something they don’t want to do, such as their homework, wink, wink!

In the real world, what do people think of your love of books?

Many people think that I am a bit too obsessed with books. I have always been the type of person who brings a book everywhere with me, even to go to the movies, so I can read before the movie begins. Every time I see a bookstore, I have to go inside of it. When I travel, I pack bags filled with books, magazines, articles, etc. Even my mom, who has known me the longest from anyone else, thinks I am too consumed with reading. Now that I read mainly JAFF, she recently asked me, “You read all these books and they all have same characters?” Therefore, having all of these amazing friends on Goodreads has connected me with so many people I can connect with through JAFF and it’s really hanged my life in so many wonderful ways!

Do you have a particular reader pet peeve? Personally, I hate it when someone walks up to me while I’m reading and says ‘hey you’re not doing anything…’


The only thing I can’t tolerate is when people don’t take good care of books. I’m typically so obsessed with keeping my books in good condition, I can’t fathom how some other people don’t feel the same need to preserve the quality of the books that they read.


Now reviewing…what made you start writing them? And what made you decide to carry that over into blogging?

When I discovered JAFF, it was as if I died and went to heaven. I couldn’t believe that there were so many fabulous stories in the world who were writing such memorable stories based on Austen’s characters! As I became happily immersed in JAFF, I felt tremendous gratitude to the authors who took the time and energies to write these stories that have made me so very happy. When I learned how important reviews are to an author’s livelihood, I wanted to give back in a way that mattered to their success, and I felt writing reviews was a way that I could do this for them.

The idea for blogging evolved from my own love of blogs, I have followed many blogs over the years, and yet, I never felt I had an inspiration to write my own blog that would keep me inspired and enthusiastic for the long haul, until I started reading JAFF. First, when I started reading JAFF, I found the JAFF world very challenging to navigate. Who were the authors, where were all of the JAFF books located, especially the kinds I wanted to read? So, eventually I created a blog to help others navigate the JAFF world and to give back to the authors in some small way, for all they have given to people like me through their stories.


How did you come to calling your blog Just Jane 1813 and what decided you on the scope of your blog content (or are you still expanding on that)?


I really wanted a catchy, memorable “brand” name, knowing that anything too long may not be easily remembered. Do you remember on the show “Will and Grace,” when Jack would say “Just Jack?” Well, that seemed like the perfect way to convey my blog’s vision and the addition of 1813 is in honor of the publication date of Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice.”

Clever! Now I get it.

My vision for Just Jane 1813 is evolving; I didn’t know I’d love blogging as much as I do! Therefore, I am creating my vision for my blog throughout this first year, with the hopes that by the end of year one, my blog will look and feel the way I want it to for the next several years.


Now that you have several blog posts and events under your belt, do you have a favorite yet?

Thank you for asking me this question. I am still establishing my blog and my vision for its potential. Therefore, I don’t have any favorites yet, since I have found myself relishing this whole experience.

If I were someone new to Just Jane 1813, what could I expect to find when I visit your blog? Love the warm, welcoming atmosphere and the little extras you add to your reviews like the linked articles, play lists, and Pinterest Boards. Regular features? Special posts?

I am thrilled that you’ve noticed the little touches I’ve added to make Just Jane 1813 a little bit more than a typical reading experience for my readers. I am very responsive to the creative aspects of blogging and hope to expand my creativity as my technology skills develop over time. I can’t help but ponder what Jane would think about our tech-savvy world today!

The vision of Just Jane 1813 is to create a modern JAFF community based on stories, author interviews, and various works of art that are inspired by the compelling vision Jane Austen had regarding our relationships with each other, especially her ideas about womanhood and woman’s roles within society. That’s why I love to include JASNA and other related articles on my blog, as well as special Pinterest boards and playlists. They help to inform my readers about Austen and the Regency era, while immersing them in other pleasurable activities, such as web-browsing and listening to music related to Jane Austen and the lovely JAFF stories being published in recent years.

I also want blog visitors to know that Just Jane 1813 is still a work-in-progress and that I am open to hearing their feedback about what they enjoy on the blog and where I can improve the blog. I also have a blog redesign scheduled in the next several months, where I will have a new structure to my home page and the overall blog, including gorgeous graphics that speak to my vision for Just Jane 1813.

Anything new coming up on Just Jane 1813 you want to share about?

This year, I have been working very hard on a yearlong group read of “Pride and Prejudice” titled “We Still Need Her.” This past Sunday, April 17, 2016, Meryton Press author, Karen Cox, hosted chapter 18, which is the pivotal chapter containing the events of the Netherfield Ball. Karen did a wonderful job bringing her wit and her insights to this post where she describes why this chapter reads like a sit-com titled “Everyone Loves Elizabeth.” I’d love for readers to jump in and enjoy this chapter and consider joining this informal group. Readers can join us at https://justjane1813.com/category/jus... and have their share in the conversation.

Next month, I am hosting my fifth blog event. I don’t have a name for it yet, but I will be reviewing and highlighting JAFF that’s based on all of Austen’s major works, except for “Pride and Prejudice” because I wanted to give my readers some exposure to some different kinds of JAFF, since I focus a lot of my posts on JAFF based on “Pride and Prejudice.” I’m hoping readers enjoy this event, as I will be offering a variety of posts throughout this event, including a review of the new Jane Austen adaptation, “Love and Friendship.”

I’m also very interested in hearing what readers want to see more of on my blog, so if there are suggestions for me from your readers, I hope people feel free to make suggestions on this post.


Sofa Starter Questions:
Coke or Pepsi? Pepsi
Dog-ear or bookmark? Dog-ear
Clutter Queen or Organized to the hilt? Organized to the hilt!
Live to eat or eat to live? Live to eat
Hike or Dance? Hike
Introvert or Extrovert? Extrovert
Willoughby or Crawford? Always Willoughby… I have a strange weakness for him that I can’t really articulate.

And, I guess I should let her get back to real life. Thanks so much for stopping by Claudine! I’ll bundle up some of these cookies for you to take home with you.


Here’s where you can find Claudine when she’s not hanging out on GoodReads:
Blog: https://justjane1813.com/

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/JustJane1813

Twitter: https://twitter.com/justjane1813

Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1...

I have another guest dropping by today, folks. Rita is a friend I met through GoodReads over the last year and we soon learned that we share a love of Jane Austen and Elizabeth Gaskell which, incidentally, is how she came up with the name of her book review blog, From Pemberley to Milton. Love it!

Rita's bookshelf on her blog

What a gorgeous sunny spring day here in Southeast Michigan! We’ll have our chat on the cushy chairs on the back porch. It’s early afternoon so I think I’ll put out an array of sandwiches, fruit, and mini cream puffs. Do you think that sounds good?
And there’s the knock, right on time…

Bem vinda, Rita! (Did I get that right? My grandfather spoke Portuguese, but I’m sadly, monolingual.)

Hi Sophia, your Portuguese is perfect ;) Thanks for having me here today, I’m very happy to visit your lovely house.

Yes, indeed, your visit has been much anticipated. You’ve come from quite far. What’s the spring like in Portugal? Have you gotten out to do any spring activities?
The weather in Portugal is truly amazing! It’s never too cold or too warm. Spring took a little longer to get here this year, but now that I’ve started to see the first signs of it, I’ve started doing one of my favorite things: sit in a coffee shop in front of the ocean while reading a book, that’s my favorite spring activity.

Oh, now that is good that you enjoy sitting out with a nice view because we’re going outside to my best view when I’m reading. Hope you don’t mind. Your visit gave me the added incentive needed to make my flower beds more presentable. Do you do any gardening or growing of plants?
I wish I could do some gardening! I live in an apartment and there isn’t much space to grow anything, but one of my dreams (along with having a library) is to buy a house with some space where I can grow some flowers and vegetables. Until then, I keep dreaming…

Oh yes, I had to get creative with the leafy friends when I was apartment living.

Here I have a little something in case you enjoy a light spread of food while we chat.
Would you care for tea, coffee, or juice?
Coffee please! That’s my one and only addiction! I can’t resist the smell and taste of coffee.
On a regular day I would have drunk 3 already, but today this will be my first, so I really appreciate it ;)
You know, I often think I wouldn’t adapt to regency because I love coffee but I hate tea (I know…shame on me). Er, um, I’m not a fan of tea or coffee so I’d really not be a welcome sight to Regency hostesses. *said in an aside*
But go on, I don’t won’t to interrupt your line of thought. Yes, let’s do move on before the tomato throwing starts.

So, Rita, I know you love to read and particularly fan fiction for Jane Austen and Elizabeth Gaskell’s stories. But what made you choose to start blogging about books? How long have you been a blogger?
As almost every story, that is a long story, but I’ll try to sum it up.
When I discovered JAFF, back in 2010, I started reading so much that at a certain point I didn’t know which books I had read, who were the really good authors, etc. Everything was very blurry because the characters were the same, some premises were similar and so on. Also, after reading over 30 books, I realized there were some genres I preferred to others.
So, I decided to organize the books I had read by genre to help me be more thorough in my amazon research when looking for new purchases. I also started writing reviews to remember what I had read and which authors I liked the most.
Yep, I’m tracking with you there. That was one of my reasons for writing review, too.
At that point, those reviews were just for myself, I was still a long way from thinking I could ever become a blogger, until one day while talking to a co-worker about this, and complaining I could not find a place on line with a list of JAFF books per genre that would help restrict Amazon’s research (no matter how many times I googled it, I could never find an updated list, nor did I find any of the amazing blogs that are now on my favorites page…don’t ask me how, but it’s true), he suggested I did it myself.
And so, I created a blog with the list of books I’ve read organized per genre and author. A few days later I started posting the reviews I had already written, and I was so welcomed by the community I never stopped until today. It was 9 months ago, and I hope I can still go on, even if sometimes it’s really hard to coordinate this with my day time work.
Those clever co-workers. They’re good for something, right?

What is the best thing about being a blogger? Is there something you struggle with or want to learn still when it comes to blogging?
The best thing about being a blogger is to have the opportunity to talk to other readers and authors. To be able to discuss the books I’m reading with people who share the same love for JAFF than me and who know these books and can talk with me about them, share their opinions and suggest other books and authors.
I’ve learned so much in the last months, and met so many amazing people that I can truly say the best thing about blogging is the people I meet along the way. I used to think I was alone in this, and that few people read JAFF, but now I know I am part of a huge, amazing community with wonderful people such as yourself Sophia. Ahhhh, right back atcha, lady! :)

What I struggle with is the IT part of it. I have to confess, I suck when it comes to technology, so most of the time I waste a lot of time just trying to understand how to do something on the website. I’m an old fashioned kind of girl who still prefers letters to e-mails and likes to send postcards to her friends whenever she travels, so all this technology tires me a bit.
Oh hey, ditto. I am the opposite of tech savvy. You’re off to a good start though.

With fan fiction, there are a variety of plot types. I personally don’t have a preference, but what about you? Are you a fan of variations, sequels, retellings? Only historicals or will you read moderns?
When I started reading fan fiction I had a very rigid vision of it. I only read “clean”, close to canon regency variations. I wasn’t too fond of sequels, modernizations didn’t appeal to me and if I saw a review stating the book was not “clean” I would probably not buy it.
But now I realize that, just like Elizabeth, I was being prejudiced and I overlooked many good books because of it. I’ve read some modernizations that I really loved, and they opened my eyes, so now I read a bit of everything. :)
But I’m still partial to variations in regency era. They are definitely my favorites because I believe they are the ones which transmit the greatest intensity between Darcy and Elizabeth and I love an intense and emotional book.


But if you’re not reading fan faction, what other types of writing to you enjoy? Is there a genre that you can’t stand or have no interest in?
I used to read a lot of different books, but since I started the blog I hardly have time to read all the JAFF books I want to read, let along other types of literature. But I do miss other types of literature, so I’m trying hard to read at least 2 or 3 non JAFF books per year. Last year I manage to read Haruki Murakami and David Duchovny, but this year it’s been only JAFF.

I enjoy the South American magical realism very much.
I remember loving Luis Sepúlveda, Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Isabel Allende with all my heart, but some of my favorites are The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, Blindness by José Saramago, North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell (obviously) and Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte.
Dumas and Bronte, le sigh....
There isn’t a specific genre I can’t stand because I like reading many different things, but there are some authors I particularly dislike such as Kafka or Virgílio Ferreira.
You've mentioned quite a few authors that I need to investigate. :)

As you can see, I enjoy gardening (yep, in virtual world, I can look like the best gardener in the world. In real life? Not so much, but I do try).
What is something you enjoy doing besides reading?
I am a woman of many hobbies; I’ve collected postcards, coins, I love the theatre…but apart from reading, my biggest passion is traveling. I love traveling! I love researching for places to visit, to organize the whole trip, including transportation, hotels, points of interest and then to actually go to a different place, see new landscapes, meet new people, know new cultures and habits. Everything about traveling is appealing for me and I can talk about this for days! My husband says that even before going on a trip, I’m already planning the next one, and I think it drives him a bit crazy, but in the end he enjoys these trips…well, except maybe that time when we spent 18 hours on a regional train going from Xi’an to Xangai. Oh, yikes, that would put a damper on the fun. Haha!

Rita at Big Sur, California
Hsst, my dad's side of the family is from this area of Central California. So neat that you got to see it.


Knowing you're a travel bug, I do have to go there with the questions. Where have you been outside Portugal? And for those of us who have never been to Portugal, what is a must see site if we ever come to Portugal?
You can tell right? I think I’ve been to over 20 countries apart from Portugal. I’ve been mainly to European countries due to the proximity, but I’ve also been to Cuba, China, Turkey, Israel and the USA.
My favorite trip so far, was the road trip I did with my husband last year on the West Coast of the USA. That was a dream trip for both of us, and we are eager to go back because even though we’ve been to 4 different states, there was so much left to see and to enjoy! I spend God knows how many hours planning it, but it was worth it… I’ll never forget the indescribable landscapes, the people, the feelings it brought on me and…I Hop (gotta love the American breakfast…and all the other food).
Bless you dear lady, I am an IHoP fan as well.
Unfortunately I spent so much time abroad I think I have neglected Portugal in the last couple of years, but I’m trying to mend that.
Portugal is a wonderful country to visit, did you know Portugal is the country in Europe with the oldest established borders? That’s right, we are basically the oldest country in Europe as were established in 1139 and our final borders have remained the same since 1297, so you can imagine that our country is full of history, with plenty of castles, palaces and old towns to visit. But we are also a very sunny country with a lot of beaches and mountains.
See! That's the sort of information I find fascinating. Thanks!

Lisbon

The must visit city in Portugal is Lisbon, and I’ll be happy to make a plan for anyone who wants to come. Just let me know and I’ll be your guide while you’re in Portugal ;)

And finally, if I were new to your blog, what are some of the features I should look to enjoy? Anything new coming up on From Pemberley to Milton to which I can look forward?
Well, I mainly post reviews, guest posts and interviews in From Pemberley to Milton, but I like to think that the blog might still be useful in its initial purpose: to allow readers to see an organized list of fan fiction per genre. Also, I’m very happy to have not only information on JAFF but also North and South fan fiction, which I also love.
I’m currently working on a blog button (actually, a friend of a friend is, because you know me…technology is definitely not my thing), and once I have it, I hope to start having some additional buttons and lists. I would like, for example, to finally publish a list of my favorite books. :)

I would also like to develop 2 other projects: to start hosting fellow readers with their own guest posts as part of a specific event (Any volunteers? My idea is to promote discussion and give everyone a chance to share their opinion and insights on the topics they are very knowledgeable and fond of ), and putting together my love for traveling and my love for Jane Austen by posting a Jane Austen Tour by Rita. What do you think? Sounds interesting? Yes, this is fantastic!

Uff…I’ve talked too much, no? Sorry…I can be boring sometimes, ask my husband…he knows.


Rita being boring getting her kicks on Route 66, USA *that was said with tongue firmly planted in cheek. Ha! This gal is not boring and I'm thinking her husband would agree. ;)


Sofa Starter Questions:
Brooding hero or Flirty hero?
Brooding! No seconds thoughts on that ;)
Paper or Electronic book?
That’s a hard one…Do I have to choose?
Appetizer or Dessert?
Dessert…
Spa Day or Road Trip?
Road Trip! Every day *smiles big for the camera*
Caroline Bingley or Mrs. Norris?
Caroline
Museum or Sports Arena?
Another hard one…I love both…But If I have to choose…Museum

Ahhh, thanks for being a fantastic guest, Rita. I enjoy having you stop by for a visit. Have a safe trip back and keep us posted on what's coming up for your next traveling adventure and we look forward to the unveiling of that new blog badge. :)

Here’s where people can find Rita on the internet:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rita.s.deodato
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ritadeodato/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RitaDeodato
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4...
Blog: https://frompemberleytomilton.wordpre...

My guest will arrive shortly and I am eager for her arrival. I have chosen something special to serve her. I was gifted a box of Bingley’s Teas’ Emma’s Perfect Match and I believe this is just the right occasion and I dusted off my scrumptious apple-cinnamon scone recipe gifted from a pal living in Aberdeen that I practiced with twice before I got them right.

Why so much flutter? Because my book friend, Ceri, is coming all the way from Wales to relax in my living room and chat with me today.

I’m not even sure when I first encountered Ceri whether it was during a Jane Austen blog event or post, but I was excited to exchange friendings here on GoodReads a bit more than two years ago. Ceri is a long-time Jane Austen fan and JAFF reader through hosting authors and posting reviews on her Babblings of a Bookworm blog and participating in several on-line locations where JAFF readers and writers congregate. I’ve found Ceri’s positive and insightful opinions on books to be a great guide to my own reading pleasure.

And here she is right on time even though it’s somewhat stormy and the air is muggy, but I’ve kept it cool and dry inside so we can be comfortable.

Howdy, Ceri!
Come in before you drown out there. We are really getting a lot of rain around here. I keep expecting to see Noah’s Ark float by.
How are things back home?
Hi Sophia, it’s lovely to be joining you today. We have been having our fair share of rain in Wales too. It’s just about the rainiest part of the UK, which is known for getting quite a bit of rain. In fact, some people say that you only know it’s summer in Wales because the rain is warmer than usual!

Haha, now that is saying something about your weather.
Have you ever taken a trip out of Wales before?
As you may know, Wales is pretty small, and the part where I live is about 30 minutes’ drive from England so it’s no trouble to get out of Wales, although I don’t do it often. I can actually see a part of England from the top of my road, the coast of the county of Somerset (where Anne Eliot hails from!) is just across the Bristol Channel from South Wales. It takes about an hour on the train to get to Bath, so I’ve had some lovely days there, walking in Jane Austen’s steps.

How lovely to be so close! That is nice to have Bath and the coast within easy distance (I reason more like Darcy than Elizabeth with travel distance).
What is a dream trip you would like to make?
I’ve only been abroad a few times as we spent years saving and renovating our home and then had children so the budget has never allowed for much travelling, so there are LOADS of places that I’d like to go.
I’ve always wanted to see geysers in Iceland, the Northern Lights, the Black Forest in Bavaria, the Amalfi coast in Italy, New York, my list can go on and on! Added to these, I haven’t seen all the best literary places in the UK yet; I’ve been to Stratford upon Avon but I’d like to go to the Jane Austen museum, Winchester, Brontë country, Mrs Gaskell’s house, etc.
Oh yes! I do like that list. Indeed I do.


The West Welsh Coastline

I have only ever seen Wales on TV or in movies, but I would love to see it in person. What are some places and things I must see and do if I come to Wales? Best time of the year to visit?
My favourite part of Wales to show you would be the coast in West Wales. It’s seriously beautiful. There are such lovely beaches, and the countryside there is gorgeous too.
I’d also recommend some trips to take in some of the history – there is a museum of Welsh life in Cardiff, the remains of a Roman fortress about 20 miles away and there is another museum where you can take a trip down a coal mine to get better concept of the work place for many Welsh men (and children).


Tintern Abbey
If you’d like to do something with an Austen connection, you could go and see Tintern Abbey, a stunning ruin, which Fanny Price has a picture of on the wall in her little room in Mansfield Park.

If you visit, I’d recommend June or July as the weather would hopefully be better, and the schools don’t finish until the end of July so places are less busy before then.
That will definitely get me started thinking. Oh yes, timing the school breaks is good advice, thanks!

I was pleased that you could accept my invitation for a sofa chat, but then I got super nervous about serving a Brit tea especially since I don’t drink it or prepare it very often for others. But I had a bit of something special put by. This tea is inspired by Jane Austen’s Emma Woodhouse.
Would you care for a cup? Or if you prefer I have some chilled Cran-Raspberry juice. How about a scone (and yes I warn you now they are made with whole cream and stuffed with cinnamon-apples)?
I think as long as we have a tea pot all will be well.
Scones are one of my favorite baked sweets.
Do you have a particular baked good that is the most sinfully delicious temptation for you?
Unfortunately for my ever-expanding waistline I like practically anything high calorie! I have a particular fondness for scones though, especially in a cream tea style with jam and clotted cream.
I am also very partial for Welsh cakes, which are like a fried scone. They are delicious, but to my shame as a Welsh person, I am no good at making them! I keep saying I will master it, but I never get around to it!
Welsh cakes

Are you one that likes to have food or drink by you when you’re reading? If so, what’s some of your favorite reading snacks and drinks?
I am afraid so. In fact, that’s one of the benefits of reading a kindle, that you have a spare hand for a drink or a snack. My top reading snacks are all unhealthy - chocolate bars, cake or biscuits, and the choice of drink would be tea, coffee or maybe a glass of wine. The only way I can be safe from snacking when I read is if I read in the bath!

Now, just because I’m nosy, I’m curious about your bookshelves. What book/s hold place of honor?


Place of honour goes to my collection of Georgette Heyer books. I got most of these in the days before e-readers. I particularly like the older copies, most of which I picked up in a day trip to Hay-on-Wye, a picturesque little town on the border of Wales and England, which has a huge number of second hand book shops. I would have included this in my suggestions of places to visit in Wales but I don’t know whether it’s suffered from the move to online book buying habits.
Oh yes, a day at the second hand shop would set me up nicely.

I love paper copies of books and am one of those odd types who like the scent of book paper and I even pet over an intriguing or pretty cover.
Now tell the truth, are you influenced by cover art? Have you ever bought a book because of the cover?
I really like good cover art, it grabs the attention, even for e-books. I have bought a few books based on their covers – I have a set of clothbound classics of Austen’s stories because they bring me joy. I also have a Peacock Pride & Prejudice, but sadly all of these books are tucked away safely. I need to think of a way to display them, because they are all too beautiful to hide.




Okay, but really, if it’s not the cover what key words or phrases are going to instantly grab your attention toward a book?
I’ve discovered that ‘spies’, ‘dragons’, ‘mystery’, ‘gothic’, ‘atmospheric’, ‘quirky small town characters’, and of course ‘Austen’ will hook me in.
‘Austen’ is always a good one, or if something is described as being like Heyer or Agatha Christie I’ll also be interested. I am sometimes a sucker for a bit of comfort reading – mention ‘marriage of convenience’ or ‘fake fiancée’ and I will be very tempted to have a closer look!

What was the last book to make you want to read it all at once or that stuck with you for days?

The last book I read in one go was ‘Side by Side, Apart’ by Ann Galvia, a sequel to ‘Pride & Prejudice’ that sees Elizabeth struck by amnesia, and losing 11 years of memory in one fell swoop. Her memories of her husband end with him walking away from Hunsford Parsonage after having his proposal of marriage rejected and she has no idea why she would have accepted him.
Oh, yeah, this one had a similar effect on me.

What made you decide to start a book blog and how did you happen on Babblings of a Bookworm for the name?
I really enjoy reading Pride & Prejudice variations, and by their very nature there are some similarities between the stories. I once read a book and only realised when I was a third of the way in that I’d read it about 6 months before! So I started to write short reviews to remind myself of what each book was about, which I posted on Amazon.
Then the lovely Jakki of Leatherbound Reviews offered me the opportunity to review a book for her blog, which set the wheels turning that maybe I could start my own blog to have a place to put my thoughts on things. I didn’t think that anybody would be interested in my blog posts, and I was very surprised and touched at the amount of support and encouragement that I received from the lovely JAFF community.

As for the name, I would have liked ‘So Little Time’ but Candy already had that one, so I had to think of something else. I didn’t feel that my meanderings would be good enough to have a very official sounding title. Being a fan of alliteration I thought of ‘Babblings Books’, a pun on a babbling brook, but then I decided on ‘Babblings of a Bookworm’. If anybody rates my posts as better than just some babbling I am always very pleased. This blog name also has a hidden ‘sofa’ in it, which is something that is always lovely for reading .

What was one of your favorite blog posts? And what kind of post is your hardest to write/format?
I think my favourite posts are the ones where I’ve been brave enough to review Austen. I don’t feel worthy, so I have been pleased when I’ve managed to review one of her books. My favourite posts to write are the ones where I plan my reading or give my top reads of the year.

As for the posts that are hardest to write, I struggle sometimes to write reviews. Sometimes I just don’t have the words, but I don’t like to start a new book before reviewing the last in case I forget any details. As for formatting, general blog posts are ok to format, but I wish I had more expertise with graphics! You see some wonderful graphics on blogs, like awards rosettes and logos and I not only have no clue how to make them but I also am very limited on time to learn!

Now that we are on the doorstep of summer, do you have any summer plans?
Not really. I am hoping to do some nice things with my children but that is the extent of my plans so far.
Well, I'm sure they'll have some ideas for you. Haha!

Sofa Starter Questions
Art or Music?
Music… but when I say ‘music’ I use the term loosely. If I can’t sing along to it loudly in the car then I probably won’t enjoy it! I particularly enjoy singing along to disco and 80s music.
Seaside or Mountains?
Seaside. I just love the sea. The way the light sparkles on it, the sound of it, the smell, the air; it’s just soul-cleansing.
Lucy Steele or Mary Crawford?
I can’t bear Lucy Steele, sly thing that she is! Mary on the other hand is entertaining and witty and is generous enough to value Fanny Price’s good qualities. Her morality and principles are doubtful, but I blame that mostly on her bad upbringing. I wouldn’t trust Mary, but I am sure she’d make a delightful companion for dinner.
Rugby or Football (soccer in the US)?
Although the national game in Wales is rugby I really don’t understand the rules! I never have a clue what is happening, but I can enjoy watching football.
Butterscotch or Caramel?
Yes please, Either. *big smile*

Thank you, Ceri, for coming by my home to chat. Hwyl fawr am nawr!
Diolch yn Fawr Sophia. Thanks for inviting me to your sofa. Hwyl fawr!

When Ceri’s not over at her blog, Babblings of a Bookworm, here are some places you can find her on-line:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Frawli1978
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/34855...
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1...

I was tickled pink when this guest agreed to stop in for a chat. I’ve been following Braine’s blog for probably four years now. I’ve enjoyed watching her reading tastes evolve from all PNR/UF to include a wider variety of genres and taste. The spine-tingling thrillers and steampunks she finds are filling up my reading wish list right now. Braine (and yes that is a screen name) is witty and insightful and she can write a concise review that leaves me envious for her power with words.

It has been a mild though humid day so far and I’ve been keeping busy with a closet organizing effort so I’m ready to cut out and welcome my guest. I’ve worked up an appetite so I hope she’s in the mood for some of my crock pot white chicken chili and sweet cornbread with Iced Tea. Might have some triple chocolate brownies setting out on the counter for later, too.

Howdy, Braine! I’m so glad you could take the time away from life on the blog and the real world to chat with me. How’s your summer going there in Tennessee? Hitting the festivals or doing any other fun stuff? Any local sites or activities you can recommend?

Hi Sophia! First of all, I know I’ve told you this already, but you are one of my favorite Supies! Thank you for being a loyal follower of my little blog for all this time!

And it’s frickin’ hot here in TN! We get weird rain now and again, but it’s blazing here right now. I just hit the park in the afternoon, get some me time on a swing and read a few pages before I go home. As for activities, we have a lot of pretty lakes here in Tennessee. Jessica Lemmon is in town as I write this and she seems to be enjoying the lake life. Ohhh, that reminds me, I need to snag her latest. That contemporary marriage of convenience plot she has going has me intrigued.

I’ve got a pot of chicken chili going and some corn bread. Can I interest you in some lunch while we chat?
Girl’s gotta eat. Bring me a plate and I’m sure I’ll have seconds! I’ll bring some pie and whipped cream for dessert. Oh and some old Southern Sweet Tea while we’re at it. Now you're talking. :)

I know folks are dying to know and that includes me. Where did your screen name ‘Braine’ come from? I had thoughts of the older cartoon ‘Pinky and the Braine’ as my guess.

Lol, I have to look that up, Pinky and Braine.
Okay so I just dated myself.
So remember when Yahoo had like this super cool chat rooms about 15 or so years ago? Well I rode that wave and my name then was “Brainfreeze”. I met a lot of awesome people there, some I’m still friends to now and because I’ve had such great luck with the name, I thought I’d keep it, add a little spin, and thus Braine came to be. Aha, well that works.


How did Talk Supe blog come about?

I have friends who read and some family but our types of books vary. It’s a cousin, who now has her own blog, who teamed up with me for this. Our book tastes are very similar plus we wanted to just be dorky so that’s how Talk Supe was born. I do wish her well on her own blog. I was following you about a year when you gals blogged together.

I’ve seen your blog evolve a bit over the years since I’ve been following including such unique posts as Steampunk Sundays and BB&B. What has changed for you from first starting out until now as far as your blogging philosophy or practices?

So much, it’s really a lot of experiments and trials and errors. Steampunk Sundays is truly my own and BB&B is my version of a book haul which was created after that thing with Story Siren’s IMM blew up.

Like most bloggers, I went through an eager beaver stage where I feel like I could read everything and blog everything. That slowly changed, my real life changed and so the blog changed with it.
My fifth year blogiversary came and gone, I didn’t celebrate it this year. I thought this time it’ll be MINE in that I want to treat me and read the books I want and love versus following deadlines and beating release dates. I know it’s not ideal, we book bloggers have to be ahead of the curve or even help set trends, but I gotta stay back for a bit and enjoy what I’m doing so my reviews can be meaningful and fun again. Agreed. Burn out is a real issue for book bloggers if they can't figure out how to pace themselves and keep the joy for reading and talking books going.

Now let’s talk books. You enjoy a goodly variety of books. What draws you in to choosing your next read?

I do have a calendar where I keep track of the release dates of the books I have. I try to keep up with it, sometimes I can, most of the time I fail. I’m every bit of a mood reader. Like currently, I haven’t read a full-on romance for over a month. All I’ve been enjoying to read are either, crime thrillers, dark fantasy, or the ocassional romantic suspense. I’m also rediscovering YA. Now that the Twilight romance look-alikes are done, the new YA fantasies that are coming out are more to my speed than the old romance centric ones. I’m 38, I don’t enjoy reading teens fall in love even if it’s cute. LOL

What would make you take a pass on a book or at least make you hesitate to read it?

I stick to my genres. I remember when erotica had a come back, I read almost everything. Now I stay away from BDSM (I’m tired of it), copy cats, and there’s a few authors whose style just doesn’t work for me.

What’s a book/s that pushed you out of your comfort zone or didn’t seem your thing at first glance, but you are ever so glad you read it?

Top of my head, it would be One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid. It’s more literary fiction than the intense, sexified contemporary romance. I thought I was going to dislike it based on my mood, but I signed up for the two months ago before my dark preference started so I was half prepared to email the publisher that I didn’t like it. I ended up giving it 5 stars, super awesome! It’s my favorite Summer read so far.

Do you have a preferred format for your books? Or any shelf idiosyncrasies like the whole series has to be the same edition and format?

Not really. I’m after the story unless the formatting is really messed up like in some egalleys, then I could care less about the format. Then again, I think there are books, like Illuminae by Jay Kristoff, that I think would be best enjoyed in print than in digital format. Oh yeppers, that is a good example of a book that is best read in print format. There is no way I could have read those spirals of words in that dark space scene on an e-reader.


Now I know you are an avid movie and TV show fan. What’s the latest to have caught your eye? Any summer blockbusters grab you?
I’m behind on the Marvel movies and those are the ones I’m dying to see. TV shows I am loving the ones at AMC: The Night Manager, The Preacher and Turn: Washington’s Spies. It is easy to get behind on the superhero movies. There is a plethora of them. Not that I'm complaining (go Cap and Thor!).

Recently you launched a new craft business called November 12. I’m amazed at your talent because crafting is an all thumbs endeavor for moi. Would you share a bit about November 12? Any special projects you’re working on right now?
November12 is another hobby, I make bows and fabric bookmarks. Nothing special atm, this is on a semi-hiatus but I plan to come up with some other thing later this year. I guess I am a professional hobbyist!

Sofa Starters
R&B or Country? R&B
Batman or Superman? Batman!
Soup or Salad? Both?
Green or Purple? Green, it’s the color of money after all. lol
Dystopian or Sci-Fi? Neither, but gun to my head it would by Dystopia.
Tahiti or Tanzania? Tahiti

I’ve enjoyed having you stop in for a chat, Braine. Thanks so much for the visit. Got any fun plans for the rest of the summer?
Stay out of the sun! lol Oh, I hear ya, I'm not a heat lover. Thank you so much, Sophia! This is so much fun! Muah!


If Braine’s not hanging around on GoodReads, here’s where you can connect with her:
Blog: www.talksupeblog.com
Twitter: @talksupeblog
FB: Facebook.com/talksupe