Book Blogger Appreciation Week: Day 2 - Interview Swap!

Day 2 of BBAW means... Interview Swap!

I'm happy to welcome Kristin of Beneath the Shinning Stars, I Read. She was sweet to answer all of my questions and has a really lovely blog.

So, without further ado, I give you... The Interview!

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Why don't you tell us a little about yourself?
Where do I even begin? I've been a bookworm for as long as I can remember and if I'm not reading a book, I'm probably writing down plot ideas for potential stories. I'm a native Californian, definitely not an outdoor sports sort of person, and I'm a Doctor Who fan. I'm known for my ability to be exceedingly random and my penchant for wearing headbands while reading, writing, or eating (because I value my ability to see).


And a little about your blog?
Beneath Shining Stars, I Read is definitely a handful to say. However, it got its name due to the fact that I'm mildly obsessed with stars and because I'm always reading at night. The main focus of my blog is on YA literature although there are also (on occasion) adult level literature reviews on my blog as well.

Would you mind doing a lighting round of Bookish questions? All right...
Tell me...
...what's your favorite genre?
It's a tie! I really adore books that are paranormal or dystopian.

...Your favorite book of 2011, so far?
Hourglass by Myra McEntire! (But The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens was pretty awesome too--and it's a middle grade book!)

... the book you're looking forward the most?
Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins! I absolutely adored Anna and the French Kiss, so I can't wait to see what Stephanie Perkins has done with Lola and the Boy Next Door. Also, I can't wait to get my hands on a hardcover of Shatter Me by Tehereh Mafi!

... a book that really surprised you?
Across the Universe by Beth Revis. By surprised, I mean that there were several plot twists that I did not see coming and as a reader, I love that authors can still surprise me. There's also Divergent by Veronica Roth which surprised me simply because I wasn't expecting to love it as much as I did! If you haven't read it yet but enjoyed the Hunger Games trilogy, definitely do so!

.. a book you think it's unappreciated?
Michelle Zink's Prophecy of the Sisters trilogy. I adore this series and Michelle Zink's writing style is just wonderful. If you enjoy historical fantasy, you might want to check it out.

... your ultimate book rec?
I read so many genres that it's ridiculously tough to give an ultimate recommendation! If you enjoy historical mysteries then perhaps you'd enjoy Deanna Raybourn's Lady Julia Grey series or if you enjoy contemporary YA (and haven't read it yet) then you definitely need to get your hands on Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn't Have) by Sarah Mlynowski.

... what's your favorite book quote?
"You don't forget the face of the person who was your last hope." (The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins)

Now, tell me something you have learned about yourself while blogging?
I've learned that I'm terrible at writing reviews at the last moment--unless the book was absolutely amazing. It's such a bad thing to say, but it's completely true! To counter this, I've begun writing my reviews immediately after I finish reading and schedule my reviews well in advance. Also, I'm actually pretty good at social media! I know it doesn't sound like much, but I really didn't expect to be good at it (I'm really shy in person).

Do you have any advice for new bloggers or people who are thinking of staring a blog?
Be yourself, don't feel obligated to post every day of the week, and have fun with it! Honestly, that's the best advice that I can give you. Also, know that blogging takes work. Yes, work. After all, you can't expect people to find your blog on their own! It's up to you to get your name out there!

Any parting words?
Keep reading and party on! :D

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That's it!

Thanks again to Kristin for the interview! And Keep enjoying BBAW!!!

Love, Alex.

PS - You can check out my interview over at Beneath the Shinning Stars, I Read.