Today I decided it was time for a book blogger and reviewer to be interviewed!
So please welcome Debbie! She has an awesome book blog at Debbie’s World of Books and I appreciate her taking the time to answer some questions.
So all you authors & writers out there, take note!
How many books do you read a month?It varies depending on what kind of books I am reading and how long they are. For the most part I average about 20 books a month.
Do you have a couple favorite authors? Are you afraid to try someone new?I definitely have some favorite authors that I pick up their books no matter what. Since I tend to go through a book pretty fast there are many times there is nothing new to read from my favorites so I love finding new authors to read. This is one great thing about the book blogging world. I have found so many great authors including yourself through other people's blogs.
Are there authors who started out strong, but their successive books have grown week? Is it the repetition of ideas or lack of editing? Or something else?Hmmm...that is a tough one. I will admit that although Julie Garwood is one of my all time favorite authors I have not cared so much for her latest books. I don't think it's so much repetition of ideas or editing but I am not a fan of her contemporary novels.
I noticed under ‘Favorite Authors’ you listed Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child! Which book is your favorite? Which one would make the best movie?I really love their books! I would probably pick Relic since it was the first book I read by the two of them and was the one that got me hooked. Cemetary Dance comes in a close second. I always have a hard time picking a book to be made into a movie because I am rarely happy with the adaptation. Relic would have been my pick and I was excited when I heard Relic was being made into a movie but I thought the movie was pretty bad.
As a reviewer, I’m sure you are besieged with review requests – what’s the most ‘out-there’ book anyone has ever asked that you review?LOL. The books usually are not too bad although sometimes the way the book review requests can be a little 'out-there'. The most recent book that I found a little strange was Fiction by Ara 13. The humor was really odd and the story revolves around a priest trying to convert a group of "natives" whose current beliefs are based on the holy book, The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland.
Ever had an author rant about a less than stellar review?So far I have been really lucky not to have any author rantings. I've seen a lot of news lately about some authors going off about negative reviews and with all the social networks available today it's easy to speak before thinking and then you end up regretting it. I try not to be too negative in my reviews. I'll list the things I did not like but also try to mention the things I did. I think what everyone needs to keep in mind is not everyone is going to like the same book so I can't imagine any book that is going to have 100% positive reviews.
What advice would you give to publishers, publicists, and authors who want to pitch their book to you? What would you suggest to make the experience pleasant for all involved?My main pet peeve is receiving a request that doesn't address me by name. With my site being called, Debbie's World of Books, it is not that difficult to figure it out. It is also helpful to include a summary of the book and if they want the review posted during a time period to also list that. I have received some requests that just say "I have write a book called xyz would you like to review it." That means I have to go look up the book to see what it's about and for some of the smaller publications sometimes those summaries can be hard to find.
What about your real life might surprise those who follow your blog and book reviews?Gosh, I live such a hum drum life I don't know what would surprise people. My co-workers and friends are surprised how many young adult books I read even though I just turned 30. What can I say? I love them. The other thing people are surprised at is that I only have one bookshelf in my house. We live in a tiny home so I can't fit any more shelves in. Not that it prevents me from getting more books and having piles around the house.
And the last word, Debbie…Thank you so much for interviewing me on your blog. I love hearing from the authors I read and I think the blogging world is a great opportunity to encourage interaction between readers and authors.
Here is the link to my Twitter profile
DebWorldOfBooksThanks again for featuring me on your blog!
Debbie
And thank YOU, Debbie! Please be sure to visit her site: Debbie’s World of Books
As the story progresses, our characters start to change. Their hearts grow and they develop a greater capacity for emotion. Perhaps challenges force them to become stronger or bolder. Maybe the situations in their life cause t
hem to question what they thought they knew. Often they become like gangly teenagers, stumbling and failing and struggling to find their place in life.
By the end of our tale, those characters grow up. Like a caterpillar to a butterfly, they are changed creatures. Hopefully for the best, although sometimes the growth is not considered positive. But regardless of the direction, the characters are different and this growth is unmistakable.
