Selena Blake's Blog, page 41
March 22, 2013
Book Blogger Interview: Talking Supe
Where are you from? – I was born and raised in Manila, Philippines. Currently I live in Tennessee
Were you a big reader as a child? – I guess I was. My father is a big reader himself as well as several aunts and books were always around the house. I remember back in elementary I’d always borrow story books on myth and the Adventures of TinTin. The first series I’ve truly followed was Sweet Valley Twins by Francine Pascal and it just evolved from there.
What made you decide to start a book blog? – For those of you who don’t know us and Talk Supe, I share it with my cousin, Debbie. We’d talk and gush about books and one day I suggested that we start an online book club just to get more people to gush with us. Before blogging I’d submit book reviews to our local library and I guess it wasn’t enough because nobody was responding LOL. So she suggested a blog instead and it took off from there. Basically we just wanted an avenue to unload all our thoughts about books, the rest is icing on a very delicious cake.
What’s your biggest challenge as a book blogger? – Finding the time to blog! Reading is the easiest part but it’s the reviews and the aesthetic part of creating the post and pimping it to social media sites that’s taking the most time for me. Aside from that, once your blog starts getting an audience and the numbers starts to pick up, you start getting invites from various people to review their books, feature, tours etc. and it’s all so exciting but I’m afraid sometimes I bite more than I could chew and that’s when it starts to stress me out. I literally want to read every book review request and join every book tour but I only have so much time in the day to do it.
Who are some of your favorite authors and why? – A lot! But the ones topping the list are Anne Rice, Tiffany Reisz, Tim O’Rourke and Michael Scott. These people never fail to have me on suspended disbelief every time!
Before I would stick to reading books from authors that I’m familiar with or the bestselling ones like Anne Rice and John Grisham. Blogging opened a lot of genres for me to explore and read. That jump out of my reading comfort zone enriched my reading life and I’ve grown to love a lot of books that I wouldn’t have paid attention to in the past. Now I’m more comfortable reading just about anything that I find interesting.
What’s your biggest book/story related pet peeve? – I really find insta-love and love triangles to be too fantastical. It probably happens in real life but the chances of that happening all the time is very minute. To be more specific, these two are almost always present in every YA novel and it automatically makes my eyes roll when I see it coming. In general, I dislike it when the author makes “convenient” scenes, conflicts or endings. Like blow up a very simple conflict to make it dramatic or screw around with familiar processes (i.e. legal/procedural stories) to fit their plot.
If you could only read one genre for the rest of your life, what would it be and why? – I don’t think this will ever happen and I would go on strike if someone tries and make me read just one genre.
Thank you for having me!
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
BLOG – www.talkingsupe.com
GOODREADS - www.goodreads.com/user/show/5773665-talk-supe-blogspot
TWITTER: twitter.com/TalkSupeBlog
FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/TalkSupe
LIBRARY THING: www.librarything.com/home/talksupe.blogspot
SHELFARI: www.shelfari.com/braine
March 21, 2013
Book Blogger Interview: Redheads Review It Better
Where are you from? Were you a big reader as a child?
-I enjoyed books as a child. I remember my mom taking us to the library constantly when I was a child. She would read to me and my little brother each night until we started not wanting it. Then all of a sudden I discovered music and was done with the kid stories.
What made you decide to start a book blog?
-Let’s go back to Christmas 2010. My mom is a big romance reader (she’s who got me away from reading all YA books and into what she called “big girl” books. LOL) and had a Kindle. I noticed that she was always reading and asked her about it. While telling me, she mentioned that Amazon has free books to read all the time and she was constantly finding new books to read. So I got a shiny new Kindle for Christmas and that was when the monster was created. I am pretty sure I stalked that free list on Amazon and got any romance book I could get my hands on. I found some great authors from that list and upon going to their sites, I stumbled upon some book blogs. Now my friends were constantly asking me for book recommendations by this point and I figured, why not start and book blog and review the books I read, that way my friends can check them out that way. And that’s when I started Redheads Review it Better.
What’s your biggest challenge as a book blogger?
-I think sticking to a schedule for posting stuff. I used to post daily during the week but I stopped doing that months ago because of all the time that it took. My son was starting to become more demanding of my time and he will always come first.
Who are some of your favorite authors and why?
-Man. This is a super hard question for me. I am definitely a romantic suspense addict so I love Julie Ann Walker, Elaine Levine, Lori Foster, Catherine Mann, and ML Buchman. Now if I want a good paranormal read, I usually go for N.J. Walters, Kerrelyn Sparks, Heather Killough-Walden, Pamela Palmer, Tina Folsom, and Brynn Meyers. For the rest (contemporary, erotica, western/cowboys) I love Lorelei James, Robyn Carr, B.J. Daniels, Diana Palmer, Melissa Schroeder, Erin Nicholas, and Leslie Ferdinand. There are so much more but we would be here forever. LOL.
What’s your biggest book/story related pet peeve?
-I am soooooooo tired of hearing about the 50 Shades series. I only got to about the 6% mark in the first book before I decided to stop reading it. I just couldn’t get past the writing. It probably is a great book but I would rather spend my time reading a better written story. Sorry for those 50 Shades lovers out there but I couldn’t stand the book.
If you could only read one genre for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
-Romance. There are so many great books and authors out there and are always more popping up. And then there are so many sub-genres under the romance umbrella so if I get tired of a certain type I am reading, I can move on to a different one.
Bio:
I am a busy mother of 1 to an attitude driven 3 year old boy with another boy on the way due March 25th! 
I currently am not working but I do plan on going back to watching a kid or two out of my home again towards late April. I know, I’m crazy watching kids from my home but have you checked the price of daycare?? I would literally work to pay for daycare and not see a single dollar in return. I just don’t see the point when I can stay home and not miss a thing with my boys. I will also be going back to school to become a Medical Transcriptionist so I can work from home and bring in a little more money than what watching a few kids can.
When not losing my mind around kids and reading any chance I get, I am what I like to call Pinterest obsessed. Lol. My family says I have an issue but I have gotten some great ideas off that site! I have recently started hand painting wine glasses and are toying with the idea of selling them on Etsy to help fund my book obsession. Any little thing helps!
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Redheads-Review-It-Better/253371711352865
Twitter: @redreviewsit
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/user/show/6235773-crystal-redheads-review-it-better-cuffley
Blog: www.redheadsreviewitbetter.com/
March 20, 2013
Book Blogger Interview: Fictional Candy
Where are you from?
I am from the Metro Detroit area in Michigan. I love it here, we get all four seasons and have the most beautiful lakes and forests.
Were you a big reader as a child?
I was! My mother was a big reader, and she started me early. I was reading Stephen King when I was in elementary school, but I also loved Sweet Valley High, Christopher Pike and VC Andrews.
What made you decide to start a book blog?
I really happened on blogging by accident. I was looking for books similar to Black Dagger Brotherhood, so I just started Googling, and then I discovered this whole new world. I was reading other blogs and entering giveaways, and it was only a week or two before I decided I needed to be in on the action.
What’s your biggest challenge as a book blogger?
Personally I have a problem with connecting the dots and rambling in my review posts. I can’t even count how many times I look back and wish I had made mention of this incident or that character. I’ll make minor edits to a post until my newsletter sends out, but after it hits the mailboxes I try to leave the posts alone.
Who are some of your favorite authors and why?
This is always such a tough question!! I really love Eve Langlais and Cassandra Carr. They both have such wonderful characters, fantastic steamy heat, and terrific storylines. But I also really love Annie Walls and Emily Goodwin – their zombie books will make me lose sleep because I can’t put them down until I finish!
What’s your biggest book/story related pet peeve?
I think I am pretty easy going in this aspect. Although lately I seem to have a “thing” about the male MCs always having blue eyes. Don’t get me wrong, blue eyes are great, but I’d love to see more brown eyed hunks out there! Other than that, the only thing that really gets under me is repetitiveness. You can tell me something once or twice, but when its every chapter, it gets to be a bit much.
If you could only read one genre for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
Hmmm… Man, that’s rough. Can’t I just make an amalgamation of all my favorite genres and have Paranormal Erotic Romantic Horror?
Thank you so much for having me here, it’s been a lot of fun being on the other side of the interview!
Button code:
Website: www.fictionalcandy.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/FictionalCandy
Twitter: twitter.com/FictionalCandy
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/user/show/6062267-liz-at-fictional-candy
Pinterest: pinterest.com/lizatfc/
Google +: plus.google.com/u/0/b/105809877148944420327/105809877148944420327/posts
March 19, 2013
Book Blogger Interview: Book Monster Reviews
Where are you from? Were you a big reader as a child?
I was born & raised in Queens, NY so I am a city girl! I honestly HATED reading when I was younger. I never picked up a book, they just couldn’t hold my attention. Until one day when I was about 25 my mom had picked up the Twilight books and told me since I was into the paranormal stuff I should check it out. I read through all 4 Twilight Saga books in 4 days. I actually read books 1 and 2. My mom was reading book 3 and taking too long so I read book 4 and then went back to read book 3. I was hooked. I then went onto Amazon and bought $200.00 in paranormal romance books and haven’t stopped since. That is how I became the “Book Monster”. I devour books like the Cookie Monster devours cookies. I just don’t eat them LOL! My apartment looks like a library which I get yelled at about everyday by my hubby. But I’ll never stop! ;-)
What made you decide to start a book blog?
I decided to start a blog because I wanted a way to share all the incredible books I’ve read with other book lovers. Besides my mom I don’t have any friends that like to read and I had no one to share my love of books with.
What’s your biggest challenge as a book blogger?
My biggest challenge as a book blogger would have to be trying to get through all the review requests. I get so many of them I just can’t keep up. Even with four reviewers there’s just not enough time to get them done!
Who are some of your favorite authors and why?
Oh the dreaded question! My all time favorite authors are Gena Showalter, JR Ward, Lara Adrian, and Jennifer Lyon. I love every book that these authors have written and they just get better and better.
What’s your biggest book/story related pet peeve?
The only thing I can honestly say that I don’t like about some stories is that I hate when a romance is rushed. I can’t stand when the hero and heroine jump into bed within an hour of meeting on page 10. I would rather go through a whole book of no sex and sexual tension that read a forced romance.
If you could only read one genre for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
If I had to chose only one genre it would have to be Paranormal Romance. I’ve loved everything paranormal since I was a kid and I love reading about vampires, werewolves, big cat shifters and witches. I love reading about magic and powers and being strong enough to handle the powers they are given. And my favorite of course is the ultimate battle between good and evil and the love that overcomes everything! I’m a sucker for a good love story! My second favorite genre is romantic suspense.
You can find Book Monster Reviews at:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
What You’re More Than Welcome to Say To This Author
I saw a link come across my twitter feed the other day that caught my attention. Normally I don’t pay attention to the “authors behaving badly” threads of the universe. I’m a big believer that we all have bad days and digital communication is rarely received exactly as intended (no matter how carefully worded or how many smiley faces you include.) But for some reason I clicked on this one. I won’t actually link to it because I don’t see the good in spreading more fire.
To sum it up: a reader sent an author an email. The reader explains that she’d purchased the author’s book, enjoyed it so much that she bought the author’s backlist. She’s disappointed with the wait time for the upcoming books in the series. She then requested, with respect, that the author write faster.
Despite the sweet tone of the email (at least to this author) the author didn’t read the email that way and took exception to the reader’s wording. She went as far as to rewrite the reader’s email in what she thinks is a more tactful manner. She then goes on to list a variety of other questions “one should not as an author.”
Dearest readers, please don’t think this author speaks for all authors. Yes, her blog post is entitled: What Not To Ask Your Favorite Author. But her post certainly does not express MY feelings.
I’m an author, but I am also a reader. And as a reader, I get invested in series. I wait for them. I am impatient for them. I want to prod authors along and see where the story goes. This is nothing new. But this feeling lets me know exactly what it feels like to my readers when my books aren’t released fast enough. I imagine that most authors have favorite series and know this feeling of “oh my gosh, gimme the next one already.”
I also know that sometimes I do feel guilty when I watch TV instead of writing. I feel guilty when I sleep in and readers are waiting for the next book in the series. I feel guilty about lots of things. But I use it to make me work harder. Faster. To make my readers happy. Because I understand how they feel, I sympathize with them. And I never want them to wait. It doesn’t matter if they’re waiting because the publisher has stretched out the release dates or if I simply haven’t been able to pull the book together fast enough. Whatever the reason for the delay, I understand wanting to be absorbed in the story, to reunite with those characters I love so much. I could never feel an irritation with a reader for feeling that way.
So with respect to the author, whom I do not know personally, readers should not ask HER those questions. They should not prod HER to write faster.
What hurts me about this whole issue is that many authors (this one included) would love, absolutely love, to get the email this reader sent to this author. That’s the kind of email that would make my smile like crazy, bounce around in my chair and reply that the reader had made my month.
Just this last week I have had six different readers encourage me to WRITE FASTER. Those were the exact words they used. While some might say the phrasing lacks tact, I don’t care. When I see that message I read it for what it is. They enjoyed my book so much that they can barely contain themselves waiting for the next one. And to me, that is the very highest praise a reader can give. And yes, it does make me write faster.
So, to sum up dear readers, please know that you are most welcome to, at any time of day or night, tell me to write faster.
Now, I’m off. To write faster.
March 18, 2013
Book Blogger Interview: Cara Sutra
Where are you from? Were you a big reader as a child?
I grew up in Jersey, Channel Islands. A long way from Lincolnshire UK where I presently reside!
I read so much when I was a child. I would use my brother’s library card as well as my own so I could borrow 12 books instead of 6.
In no time at all I had read all of their Enid Blyton, the Nancy Drew section, Babysitter’s Club and Roald Dahl. I soon moved on to Watership Down, Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Red Dwarf and more.
What made you decide to start a book blog?
Well I love reading and erotic fiction is my chosen genre to read and review most. My blog is actually a magazine containing various aspects of my life, book reviewing being just one of them. After discussing some of my favourite books in my blog posts I was soon contacted to review short stories and novels for publishing houses and self published authors.
What’s your biggest challenge as a book blogger?
Definitely to read everything I am sent! I have a Kindle full of stories and books that I should get round to reading, as well as a shelf full of hard copies. I need more time!
Who are some of your favorite authors and why?
My favourite authors from the past year have been Tiffany Reisz and Janine Ashbless – I was simply stunned by their work.
In general I love Ann Rice, Robert Jordan, Terry Goodkind… so many different authors, from many different genres. If they can capture my imagination and creatively transfer their incredibly detailed mini worlds to my mind, then I will love them as an author.
What’s your biggest book/story related pet peeve?
Finding typos and grammatical errors in printed books, or any type of published work. If I feel I could proof the work further than it has been and I am reading it as the end user, I won’t be very impressed.
If you could only read one genre for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
Ooh that is a difficult question! Probably a mixture of fantasy and erotica… there are too many good pieces of writing in either genre to be able to properly choose between them. Sorry!
Links:
Twitter: @thecarasutra
Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheCaraSutra
March 16, 2013
Snippet Saturday: In the City
This week’s theme? Set in the city. Which immediately makes me start humming You Belong to the City by Glenn Frey. Great song. But I digress.
I’m pulling a selection from Seduced by a Cajun Werewolf. Enjoy! And be sure to hop on over to the other authors participating in this Snippet Saturday.
Ultra sexy werewolf Laurent Deveraux thinks that Violet, the love of his life, died two hundred years ago until she shows up in New Orleans looking for him.
Violet, now a vampire, thinks she’s someone else. Her powerful and dangerous sire has bound her memories, taught her how to kill and Laurent is her next target.
Laurent is determined to awaken her memories and her undying passion before danger steals her away again.
New Orleans, present day
The Smokestack bar on the corner of Iberville and Decatur overflowed with locals, tourists, and thick cigarette smoke but Laurent Deveraux still felt alone. Seated at a small round table in the back corner of the dark room, he nursed a glass of whiskey. A moody blues ballad reverberated off the walls and soaked into his bones.
“Slow down there, buddy,” Burke said as Laurent drained his glass. “Leave some for the rest of us.”
“I doubt New Orleans is suddenly going to run out of whiskey, brother,” Laurent said wryly.
Burke cut him a look. “What crawled up yer butt and died?”
“Nothing,” he muttered.
He envied his brother’s easy going attitude. Burke sat with his long legs stretched out in front of him as if he didn’t have a care in the world. He moved his feet to the music and smiled when the waitress stopped by their table for the fifth time that night.
Laurent took another sip of whiskey. Would he ever be happy like that again? Most of the year he managed to shake himself from his funk. But not today.
His inner wolf felt caged. He wasn’t known for keeping his temper leashed. What he needed was a good fuck.
He surveyed the crowd, his gaze falling on the females. He worked his jaw back and forth as he looked them over and dismissed them all just as quickly.
None of them were her.
And this close to the anniversary of her disappearance, no one else would do.
With Sebastian and Jules mated, their pack was growing larger, and at the same time, shrinking. Each time he saw his cousins with their women, Dieu, they reminded him of what he’d never have.
It was damn near impossible to go a whole day without hearing the women’s laughter or see the love shining in their eyes. Laurent didn’t blame them, didn’t begrudge them their happiness, but he couldn’t help but think of everything he’d lost.
Laurent shoved the thought into the back of his mind and gulped down another sip of the amber liquid. Relishing the fire that scalded his throat, he prayed for forgetfulness. The band’s lead singer strummed the guitar with old weathered hands and sang from his soul—of loss, hope, and loneliness.
All things Laurent was intimately familiar with.
A mellow jazz tune filled the room and the hot breeze blew into the space like a blow torch. A single figure cloaked in darkness entered and crossed Laurent’s line of sight. The woman kept to the shadows and settled at a table in the opposite corner. She was dressed in black from head to toe, and Laurent immediately discarded her as Goth or a wanna-be vamp. Plenty of those lived in the city.
But then the scent of roses wafted under his nose, tickling his memory. He crossed his arms over his chest and pushed the recollection away. Only, it didn’t want to go. It remained as fresh in his mind as it had the first time he’d smelled that sweet floral scent. Two hundred years did little to erase the memory of that day.
Or of her.
Long brunette curls framed her angelic face, and she had the brightest blue eyes he’d ever seen. They changed with her mood. And her smile, Dieu, her smile could charm even the most chaste saint. Her image flashed before him like a blip on the television screen.
Laurent shook his head.
“You all right, cousin?” André asked in that quiet, deep voice.
Laurent nodded. “You guys should go on home. You don’t have to stay with me.”
“You sure?” Burke finished off his beer.
He nodded. “I’ll get the bill.” After all, he’d done the most drinking.
They stared at him for a moment, and then got to their feet. He watched them depart. Lifted a hand to wave goodbye. Then tossed back another shot of whiskey.
Damn his high metabolism.
Laurent savored the darker hours, when he felt most at peace, closest to his true self. These were the hours during which he didn’t have to work so hard to hide.
Electricity sizzled through the bar, and cold fingers tried to reach into his mind. He slammed the door shut on his thoughts and looked around the room suspiciously, his gaze falling on the newcomer in black. A ray of light sliced across the room, briefly highlighting the woman’s face. Brilliant blue eyes met his, and he sucked in a breath.
No. It wasn’t possible. He struggled with the reality of what he’d seen…and of what he knew to be true.
And just like that, the light was gone—and so was she.
What the hell?
He narrowed his gaze on the empty chair, and then glanced around the room. Was it possible she wasn’t just a gothic chick? Was it possible…no, he wouldn’t put a name to it. Wouldn’t think that thought. It was better for his sanity if he told himself she was dead.
He finished his whiskey, tossed several bills onto the table, and headed for the door.
Even in the middle of the night, the streets of New Orleans were bathed in heat and humidity; both wrapped around him like a wet wool coat.
Sex, sweat, and exhaust swirled together in a combination that was distinctively French Quarter. Thunder rumbled overhead as he started down the uneven sidewalk and the hairs on the back of his neck tingled in warning.
He stuck to the shadows; his hands in his pockets, his pace decidedly laggard. Ever since he’d moved here from France, he’d been amazed by how alive the city was even after dark, with dangers lurking around every corner. Bars were open till dawn, and party goers danced all night.
Stepping across the street, he headed northwest through an alley. The wind picked up, and he lifted his face to the sky. It would rain soon; he could smell it and he welcomed it.
The city lights blocked out most of the stars, but he could just make out the moon as it danced through the clouds.
A raindrop hit his cheek. Then another. And slowly more and more droplets rained down. Big, fat, Texas-sized drops. Commotion filled the streets as people ran for cover. He forged on, not even bothering to quicken his steps.
As he crossed another cobble-lined street, a stealthy figure in his peripheral view caught his attention. He turned and took in the curvy form in the long black coat. The hood hid her face from the light, but two aqua eyes glowed at him from the inky darkness. Cool fingers tickled his mind again, and he decided to let her in just enough to find out what she wanted with him.
What do you want?
She said nothing. Not aloud, nor in his mind.
Instead, she stepped from the shadows and strode into the middle of the street, her boots coming together as she stopped with almost military precision. She seemed almost a silhouette. Not quite real, but not an illusion, either.
Laurent’s breathing quickened, as did his heartbeat. His body tightened, going on full alert, and his inner wolf crept forward, slowly taking over his human senses.
He couldn’t hear her heartbeat. Perhaps she didn’t have one. She clearly was in no rush to tell him why she was stalking him.
The rain fell in heavy drops, but she didn’t seem to notice. In the dim light of the street lamps, he could see her clearly now. Slowly, she lifted her hands and pushed back the thick fabric hiding her face. She was almost too beautiful to look at—and yet, Laurent couldn’t look away.
He knew that face as well as he knew his own.
His breath left his lungs in a rush. Her skin was still dewy and perfect, like that of a fine porcelain doll. Ethereal. Her brows were perfect arches, the same charcoal brown he’d been fascinated by all those years ago. Even in the darkness, he could make out the thick lashes that fringed her eyes.
Those eyes…so blue, so beautiful. He felt like he’d been kicked in the gut by a mule. Damn, she was beautiful.
What was she doing standing in the middle of a street in New Orleans when she’d died two hundred years ago in France?
His arms and legs felt heavy; he was getting drenched. But it didn’t matter. He’d stand in a hurricane if it meant finding out if she, if Violet, were real. Or if he’d finally lost his mind and was only envisioning her.
Her lips were just as rosy as he remembered; her nose as perfectly shaped, her face oval and oh so familiar.
She remained silent. Did she recognize him?
He stepped closer, silently praying to the gods, Fates, and anyone else who would listen. Sniffing the air, he tried to catch her scent but she was downwind.
“Violet?” He didn’t like the husky tone of his voice. Hated the weakness in his knees, the soreness that resided where his heart had once been. Loathed the desire he still felt for a woman long dead.
Could his eyes be playing tricks on him? Could this woman really be his little Violet? After all these years?
Not trusting himself or his luck, he took another step. She lifted her hands to her lips, almost as if she were praying. Her fingernails were long and polished a glossy red.
A sharp ache erupted inside his chest, and he reached up to rub it. His hand brushed something, and he looked down to see a dart sticking out of his skin. Plucking it out, he stared at the woman before him. Then she and the rest of the world went dark.
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March 15, 2013
Book Blogger Interview: Bitten By Paranormal Romance
Where are you from?
I was born in Michigan but we moved to South when I was a young child. Were you a big reader as a child? No, but I was as a teen.
What made you decide to start a book blog?
I wanted a place to share my love of reading with my friends. I basically didn’t really know what a true book blog was when I started.
What’s your biggest challenge as a book blogger?
Finding time to be able to do other things besides running the blog, the blog takes up at least 5 to 6 hours out of my day and that is without reading.
Who are some of your favorite authors and why?
Sherillyn Kenyon, I loved all of her pre-Acheron books. Back then she wrote excellent paranormal storylines and kept the romance first and far most.
Eve Langlais, I love humor added to my stories and she knows just how to write humor.
Caris Ronae, she has kind of taken place of my love for Sherillyn Kenyon because she keeps the romance first and she has excellent paranormal world build.
Cynthia Eden and Laura Adrian, their books are always awesome.
What’s your biggest book/story related pet peeve?
Urban fantasy, straight fiction, and chick lit masquerading as romance! I have found some authors get so carried away with huge paranormal world building and back story, they forget they’re writing romance. When I am reading romance, even if it’s paranormal, the romance needs to be the main focus of the story.
If you could only read one genre for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
Paranormal romance. I live in what most people would call normal life. I have a few good days and I have tons of bad days, so when I read I don’t want to read ordinary everyday problems that people have in life like you do in contemporary romance or historical romance stories. I have always found paranormal books carry different storylines and world builds that take you away from ordinary everyday life problems.
Links:
Bitten by Paranormal Romance
Goodreads
March 14, 2013
Book Blogger Interview: Parajunkee
Where are you from? Were you a big reader as a child?
I am from New Orleans, Louisiana. Moved away a few times, but always came back. Was I a big reader as a child? That is an understatement. I was a voracious reader. I had read through my school’s fiction section in the library by 5th grade and had moved on to the public library and adult books by 6th. I wish I was exaggerating. I was restricted to libraries, because there were not any bookstores near me. You had whatever you could pick up at the drugstore or grocery stores. Remember when grocery stores sold books in the check-out lane?
What made you decide to start a book blog?
It was an experiment in blogging. I needed to learn how to blog and I figured I should blog about something I like. Blogging + Books = Book Blogging. That is the short answer at least.
What’s your biggest challenge as a book blogger?
I’m a perfectionist, so I have a really hard time organizing everything just perfect. And I can never get it perfect. There is always a spelling error, or a picture that won’t align, or something. Drives me up the wall.
Who are some of your favorite authors and why?
I’m a huge fan of Karen Marie Moning, because her Fever series is off the charts good. Julie Kagawa is another big favorite of mine. I like authors that can write females that are tough in all the right places and soft in other places. Not to mention, the ability to craft a male hero that will make you stop and pant.
What’s your biggest book/story related pet peeve?
When the author cheats, by either making the character act “out of character” to make the plot move in a certain direction. Drives me nuts. I know some people act irrationally. But, if you have a character that is afraid of water, that suddenly vacations at the beach…drives me crazy.
If you could only read one genre for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
Ouch, that hurts. I would probably go with Young Adult Paranormal. I’m hemming myself in with that one, but at least that genre is a bit varied.
Blogger Bio:
Rachel, whom you might know as Parajunkee, is the blog owner of parajunkee.com and the design blog parajunkee.net. Rachel has been blogging for close to four years, designing / web programming for over twelve, but her real love, reading, has been her favorite hobby since childhood. Rachel has won numerous awards for her writing, the blogs she has created and her design work.
Web: parajunkee.com
Twitter: @parajunkee
March 13, 2013
New Orleans: Places to Go, Things to See.
I’ve compiled a list of all the places that were recommended to me to visit in New Orleans. Be sure to leave a comment if there’s one that was missed.
Places to Visit:
St. Louis Cemetary No. 1 which includes the grave of the voodo queen Marie Laveau.
Congo square in Louis Armstrong Park
Basin Street Station(Next to St.Louis Cemetary)
St. Louis Cathedral/Plaza D’armes
French Market
Saints & Sinners
Central Grocery
Events in New Orleans:
Find More Information:
View Places to Visit in New Orleans in a larger map
*Photos Courtesy & Copyright of Jar O’ Marbles
