When I'm Not Reading (#6): Heather from SupaGurl Books

Hey everyone, and welcome back for another installment of When I'm Not Reading. This week we have the my awesomesauce Heather, who hangs out at SupaGurl Books! She's a definite Supa Gurl, too. Just wait until you meet her. :)

Heather a.k.a. SupaGurl I'm 33 years old. Married to my complete opposite and my soul mate! I have two kids T-man who is 9 and Kai who is 6. I'm a stay at home mom/wife who escapes in books! I still have not figured out what I want to be when I grow up but it will come to me...eventually! 

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Me and the hubby on a ride

What are some of your pastimes while you're not reading?

Well, I love to ride my 4-wheeler. We just take off sometimes and head to the mountain and ride for the day. I love it, mud and all. I also really love to go caving. I haven't gotten to go in awhile but there is just something about being in a cave and exploring that calls to me.

That's awesome! You sound like quite the adventurer. I love 4-wheelers, myself. :) What's one of your favorite places to go to take it easy/have fun?

T-man & Kai

Besides the above in question 1, the movie theater. I normally go with a friend or my sister in law and hey in those two hours inside the theater, No one yells hey mommy!! or Hey babe can you do/get this? Plus I get to watch a movie! WIN. Yeah, I am a wild woman LOL. I am a stay at home mom and wife. Two kids plus the husband and I need that every now and then.

I totally get that! We need some good peace and quiet sometimes! Where's one place you'd love to see someday?

Just one? Eeek Ok if I am talking just the US I am going to say Roswell, NM. Yes, I am a weirdo and I'm good with that. I was obsessed with the show Roswell when it came on the CW *The WB* and I so wanted to go there, and I will one day. Now if we are talking Worldwide I'm going with Egypt to see the pyramids! I would love to visit and see those, and really love to be able to go inside and look around/explore.


Egypt sounds like such a neat place, and if you go to Roswell, please come back. Don't let any otherworldlies take you away! But let's get to the bookish questions. What made you start blogging?

Well, real life friends were always asking those questions...What are you reading? What have you read recently that was good? So, yeah I couldn't remember all that on the spot so the blog started out as a place where they could come and see what I have read, what I thought, and what I was currently reading.

Makes sense to me! Do you have a certain place you enjoy to read?

The bathtub! Again, 2 kids, husband and not having a job to “run away to” this is my escape. I get total peace and quiet time in the tub with my book!!

Hah! Just don't get them wet! :) What was your favorite book growing up?

I loved Great Expectations! I could read it over and over and still find new meaning in that book.  

It seems like a lot of people mention that book as a starting point. I'm wondering what I'm missing! What's your favorite book this year so far? (It's okay if you have more than one!)

Whew! More than one is good. In case you haven't noticed...I'm not good at choosing just one fave. Already I have read some AMAZING books, so here goes.. The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa *yes I've got to read this already*, Divergent by Veronica Roth *yes, I'm behind on some*, This one is not a YA book but I'm in love with it-Desperate Betrayal by Hildie McQueen.

I'm totally jealous you've gotten to read the new Kagawa book, and I have Divergent on my TBR! You've got good taste. :) If you could meet one author, alive or dead, who would it be?

 Here you go again with the whole one thing LOL. So yeah I can't do that I'm a rebel that way :) So I would LOVE to meet up with you and hang out. Also, Taryn Browning, Shelly Crane, Megan Duncan, J.R. Ward, and Rachel Vincent!

Those all sound like great authors...not to toot my horn, haha. :) But seriously, I'd love to meet Ms. Crane! If you could bring one character to life from a series, who would it be, and why?

If you notice now I am ignoring your ONE word LOL. YA character(s) Kai from Dark Seeker, WOW I want to just hang out with him! Hottie, and wicked strong plus that snarky attitude Yes please. Jace from Mortal Instruments series, why? Does anyone really need me to explain that one? LOL  Non YA character(s) Vishous from Black Dagger Brotherhood series, and yeah I cannot explain this one I would need to cover eyes of the readers ;0) Mercy from The Mercedes Thompson Series! She would be so amazing to hang out with! She is a kick butt girl who knows how to handle things.

Hah, I'm glad you're taking liberties with my questions. :) If you could be any kind of otherworldly, what kind would it be, and why?

Well, this is a tough one. I'm going to go with shifter though. While I love to read about vamps I also really love shifters. They have the freedom of the daytime still. They are bound strongly to family/pack and that's important to me. Plus they are all wicked strong and fast 

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And there you have it, folks! That's Heather in a nutshell. Now go get to know her better by hanging out with her!

SupaGurl Books -- Twitter -- Goodreads -- Facebook

When I'm Not Reading (#5): Kara from Great Imaginations

Hey everyone, and welcome back for another installment of When I'm Not Reading. This week we have the most awesome Kara, who runs Great Imaginations! And, if I might add, she's a total BA editor...so if you writers out there are looking for someone, look no further. She'll knock your socks off. :)

Anyway, without further ado, here we go!

I love reading. I'm obsessed. I read mostly young-adult because I never fully matured, but I also enjoy reading contemporary fiction and literary fiction. I also read some Urban Fantasy, memoirs, and travel fiction. I love Bill Bryson. I am currently working as a copy-editor for self-publishing and indie-authors. My editing services page is now live. I am a huge Big Brother fan and I am also an animal lover. You can find me on twitter pretty much constantly. My handle is @Kara_Malinczak.

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Now onto the fun stuff...her interview! :)

What are some of your pastimes while you're not reading?

I love watching I Love Lucy. I love spending time cuddling with my dog. I work a lot. I edit self and indie-published novels in my spare time. That's my job. And it takes up a lot of my time. I probably pull in over 70 hours a week working. But I do it because I like it and want to help authors put a great product out there. 

Also, every summer, I disappear from planet earth to watch Big Brother on CBS. It's my favorite show and has been for years. I am what you call a super fan. I watch it 3 days a week and subscribe to the live feeds which are live on the internet 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I post on message boards. It usually starts the first or second week of July and runs until the end of September. My reading is severely diminished during that time, but I do the best that I can.

Sounds like a crazy 2 months! :) What's one of your favorite places to go to take it easy/have fun?

I'm a bit of a hermit. I don't leave the house a lot, and there is nowhere I go where I am a known regular. So I guess I would say home! But I am looking for the next best sushi restaurant in the city that I live in. I just moved and the one I used to go to is too far away. 

Well I hope you find a great one! Where's one place you'd love to see someday?

I'm actually planning a trip to Southeast Asia. I am nowhere near saving the money I have to save to go, but I'm hoping I can make it there before I hit the big 4-0. It's a budget trip. I don't want to stay in fancy hotels and eat gourmet meals. I want to hang with the locals, eat from food stalls, and stay in guesthouses. I want to be immersed in the culture. In my opinion, it's the only way to travel. I want to hit every country in SE Asia, but if I have to choose one, it would be the Philippines. 

Oh, wow! That would be amazing. You'll definitely have to post pictures if/when you go! And of course, the "bookish" questions: What made you start blogging?

Well, I started writing my reviews on Goodreads first. I saw that other people had blogs, and a few that I chatted with suggested I start one. I wasn't sure at first, because I didn't know if I wanted that level of commitment, but once I realized that I didn't have to post every day and I could blog at my own pace, I decided to start one.

That's great. It seems a lot of people get started on Goodreads. Must be the place to start! Do you have a certain place you enjoy to read?

My favorite place to read is the bathtub. But since I can't always be there (I'm not a mermaid), I usually read in my favorite chair. Or in bed. Not very creative, I know, but I would rather read at home than out in public.

No, that's totally okay. I would agree that curling up at home with a good book is the best! What was your favorite book growing up?

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. But I have many. I was a readaholic when I was a child. I also liked the original yellow hardcover Nancy Drew series, 90s thrillers like Fear Street by R.L. Stine, and anything by Beverly Cleary. But seriously? I had over 300 books as a child and I used my library regularly. I pretty much spent my summers reading. I wish it was still like that with kids today.

That's so awesome! You started your love of reading early, then. ::high five:: What's your favorite book this year so far? (It's okay if you have more than one!)

My favorite book so far this year has been The Humming Room by Ellen Potter. It's this great middle-grade novel that is a retelling of, what else? The Secret Garden. And I adored it. It's not out yet, but you can see my review here: http://greatimaginations.blogspot.com/2012/02/publisher-feiwel-and-friends-release.html 

 

Oh, you're lucky! We'll have to put it on our TBRs when it comes out. If you could meet one author, alive or dead, who would it be?

I had to think about this one for a long time. I'm going with Agatha Christie. Because she was a brilliant story-teller, writer, and the master of writing the whodunit. One of my favorite book settings of all-time is from her book And Then There Were None, and I would love to read every book she has ever written. I would like to ask her questions about her writing and her writing process. She must know something that the rest of us don't. 

Now I'm going to have to pick up And Then There Were None. Thanks a lot! :) If you could bring one character to life from a series, who would it be, and why?

Professor Snape from the Harry Potter series. I admire him and I just want to meet him and shake his hand. He. Is. Awesome. Better than Dumbledore in my opinion.

I totally have a secret crush on Snape. Well, I guess it's not so secret anymore, lol! But seriously I agree, Snape is just BA to the core. If you could be any kind of otherworldly, what kind would it be, and why?

Definitely a vampire. You get to live forever and your time is unlimited. You could get to see the entire world. It might get lonely after awhile, but there are always ways to die if you don't want to do it anymore. The drinking blood part sucks, but I think eventually, like all things, you would get used to it.

 

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Well, there you have it, folks! That's Kara in a nutshell...isn't she awesome?! Now head on over to her blog and check it out, or go say hi on Twitter! Thanks, Kara, for stopping by! :)

Catch Kara on: Great Imaginations -- Twitter -- Facebook

When I'm Not Writing (#4): Donna from Book Passion for Life

Hey everyone, I hope you had a great weekend! I've got another great blogger for you all to check out this week...Donna from Book Passion for life! This lady is just made of awesome and if you haven't checked out her blog, go do it NOW...well, after you've read this interview, of course. :)

Name: Donna
Age: 26
Interests: Reading, Cooking, Shopping, Going out with friends, Spending time with my family & Travelling
Favourite Books: Twilight, Hush Hush, The Mortal Instruments, Nightshade, Perfect Chemistry, Firelight, Angel, The Hunger Games.
About Me: I'm 26 years old and I'm from Birmingham, UK. I live with my partner of 4 years and our baby daughter 'Isabel' who is 15 months old. Twilight was a series for me that started my reading off. Since then, I have been a avid reader and love Paranormal Romance & Urban Fantasy. I enjoy speaking with people about books and I love getting recommendations off people. So feel free to pass any my way :)

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What are some of your pastimes while you're not reading?

My favourite pastime is spending time with my 15 month old daughter. It amazes me how much she grows into her own character and every single day she does something that will surprise me or make me proud to be a mum - . It’s a true gift to watch your child grow and I love every minute of it. And of course, spending time with my partner and family too. My second pastime is watching TV. Before reading I was a TV fanatic, I’d finish work and watch re-runs of Friends, Sex and the City, Buffy, Angel, Roswell & Dawson’s Creek. Now it’s all about The Vampire Diaries, 90210, The Secret Circle & Teen Mom whenever I’m not reading.

I love seeing pictures of your daughter; she's adorable! And I totally love TVD. :) What's one of your favorite places to go to take it easy/have fun?

By where I live we have a big entertainment place called Star City. It’s full of my favourite restaurants like Nando’s & Bella Italia but it also has a casino, bowling, a cinema, arcades, a bar with pool tables and also a small fair or circus depending on the time of year. I love going their because there is such a wide range of things to do and I always have fun with whoever I go with.

Okay, when I come over there to visit, we're going to Star City! It sounds awesome! Speaking of traveling, where's one place you'd love to see someday?

Does the whole of America count as one place? Lol. Honestly, I want to travel all over America. I want to go to New York to see the Empire State Building and eat some hot dogs. I want to go to San Francisco to visit Alcatraz. I want to go to Florida for the amusement parks and Disneyland. I want to go to LA to see Hollywood. Not only that I’d love to travel down route 66 and I’d love to visit all the other places like Ohio, Texas, Georgia, and Washington PLUS I so want to go and meet my book blogging bestie Haley from Ya-Aholic. It’s safe to say if I ever won the lottery….you’ll know to find me somewhere in America. Lol

Hah! Well if you ever get over here to America, you better come visit me in Wisconsin! We have cheese...and cows. Seriously, what's not to love about that? ;) And of course, the "bookish" questions:

What made you start blogging?

I’ve always enjoyed reading but after reading so many good books and never have anyone to share my thoughts with, I started writing mini reviews on Goodreads. After a few weeks I kept seeing all these lovely blogs out there and thought….why not? So….I asked Jess if she wanted to join me because she’s just awesome, lol and I’m so glad we’ve got so far as we have. It’s nearly been a year in March we’ve been blogging and definitely it’s been a year to remember. There are so many awesome people I’ve met and without blogging, I don’t think we would have met them. So I’m truly grateful to blogging for bringing in all these wonderful friends into my life.

Your blog is great, and your reviews are phenomenal! Obviously since your main goal is to spread the love of books, you've gotta curl up and read. Do you have a certain place you enjoy to read?

In bed! I love curling up and reading.

Ah, I love reading in bed! Perfect way to end the day in my opinion. What was your favorite book growing up?

I’m ashamed to admit I don’t have a favourite book growing up, because I didn’t read and it’s one of my biggest regrets. I remember one of the first books I read though and that was Memoirs of a Geisha. An old work colleague convinced me to read it and I loved it and it’s also one of my favourite films too.

It's totally okay that you didn't read much when you were younger. You're making up for it now! Plus I love your book suggestions, so with that in mind, what's your favorite book this year so far? (It's okay if you have more than one!)

2012 has started out with a bang and so far my favourites have been Touch of Power by Maria V Snyder, Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi, Touch by Jus Accardo, Accordance & Devour by Shelly Crane. All books I highly recommend.

I've read Shatter me, and I was pretty impressed! I am really intrigued by Shelly Crane's books, so I might just have to check those out on Goodreads. If you could meet one author, alive or dead, who would it be?

Could I pick Megan Curd? Lol I think it would be awesome to have a meet up and good chat about books and life. - Otherwise I’d have to say Cassandra Clare or Julie Kagawa. I love all these authors.

Now I know you're just buttering me up! (You're doing a good job, haha) If you could bring one character to life from a series, who would it be, and why?

Oh my! It’s definitely a boy….but which one to chose? My answer will probably change as the more books I read but as of right now….I’d pick Aiden from Half-Blood by Jennifer L Armentrout. He is one hottie.

He sounds yummy, and I've been hearing great things about Armentrout's books. I'm getting curious. Those may have to go into the TBR pile too. Finally, if you could be any kind of otherworldly, what kind would it be, and why?

I really like the idea of being a faerie, there just awesome BUT I have to say these half Greek descendants are really creeping there way into my heart, it’s a tough choice. I can’t choose! 

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Thanks so much for stopping by, Donna! It was great to have you on the blog, and I can't wait to read more of your posts on Book Passion for Life!

You can find Donna on: Book Passion for Life -- Twitter -- Facebook -- Goodreads

When I'm Not Reading (#3): Haley from YA-Aholic

Hey everyone, and welcome to this week's edition of When I'm Not Reading. This week, we get to meet one of my good friends and great bloggers, Haley from YA-Aholic!

Hi my name is Haley Elise, I live in an average size town in Washington state, yes I live in that state that rains all the time and had Twilight filmed in it. I am 19 yrs of age, I work at a tanning salon, and I go to Clark Community College. I just started reading the summer of 2010 so yes I have a lot of catching up to do. I will read anything that is YA or anything with some romance that is too good to be real. I don't really know what I wanna do with life yet, so I'm just taking things day by day until something dawns on me.

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What are some of your pastimes while you're not reading?

uh oh, ha honestly I am a hermit. The majority of my time is spent reading or blogging at home, but when I'm not reading I love watching movies, playing mario with my boyfriend Ray, hanging out with my friends, just the normal stuff!

I love Mario! What's one of your favorite places to go to take it easy/have fun?

Panera!! I LOVE Panera it's this really delicious sit down bakery cafe like place, I love going there to catch up with friends or hangout. 

Panera is great. I love their caramel coffees, and it's just a great place to hang out. Where's one place you'd love to see someday?

Switzerland! It is insanely beautiful in pictures, I would love to see it in person someday. 

I was there and snowboarded on the border of Italy and Switzerland! I wasn't there long, but it was definitely gorgeous! And now, of course I have some "bloggish" questions. :) What made you start blogging?

I actually just started reading about a year and three months ago, I had picked up the Immortal series by Alyson Noel and from then on I realized I loved YA books, sadly though I don't have any friends that read so I had no one to talk about the amazing books I was reading. One day while I was on shelfari I came across a girls book blog and I thought it was so cool! So I went ahead and made one, and the rest is history! 

That's awesome! Do you have a certain place you enjoy to read?

Not really I will read anywhere, but mainly I like reading in my bed with the lights off and a flashlight! 

What was your favorite book growing up?

I didn't read much growing up, but I did always love Alice Hoffman's books. My favorite was her book The Foretelling, I think I have read that book about 5 times or so, it's great!

What's your favorite book this year so far? (It's okay if you've got more than one!)

of 2012?!? ha I actually haven't finished a book yet! I am almost done with Significance by Shelly Crane, and it is amazing! It will deff end up a favorite of 2012 I think! 

I'll have to check that one out! If you could meet one author, alive or dead, who would it be?

Edgar Allan Poe hands down!

What's your favorite meme?

Ah I love memes besides In My Mailbox, I really love the meme Dusty Reads! It's a fairly new meme, and it is so fun! It's where you pick a book that is getting 'dusty' on your shelf, meaning you have owned it for awhile, but still haven't read it and really want to! I personally own ALOT of books that I haven't read so doing this meme is always fun (:

Oh, that does sound fun! Maybe I'll have to start doing that one as well. :) If you could bring one character to life from a series, who would it be, and why?

Puck from the Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa!! So I could marry him! -_-

The Iron Fey is on my TBR list! Everyone talks about Ash and Puck...it makes me anxious to get into them! Finally, if you could be any kind of otherworldly, what kind would it be, and why?

hmm well I would either want to be 1. a fairy  or 2. a shape shifter.

A fairy because fae is my favorite paranormal  to read about in books and they are just awesome.

Shape shifter- I would want to turn into a lion, I flippin LOVE lions!!!

Thanks for interviewing me !!! :D

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Thanks for stopping by, Haley! If you'd like to get to know Haley better, here are some places you can find her: YA-Aholic -- Twitter -- Facebook -- Goodreads

When I'm Not Reading (#2): Michelle from Book Briefs

Hey everyone! Sorry I missed a week of When I'm Not Reading, but I'm back, and with one of my favorite bloggers out there, Michelle from Book Briefs! Read on to get to know her better and where you can find her on the interwebs! :)

BIO:

I'm a 24 year old, 2L at Florida State University College of Law. I love dogs, YA books, reality TV, estates and trust law, and quotes. Maybe not in that order. My blog focuses on book reviews (mostly YA, but some adult too), author posts and interviews, bookish news and giveaways. Blogging has helped keep me sane in law school, and I have met some of the nicest people ever in the book blogging community.

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And without further ado, here's the interview! :)

What are some of your pastimes while you're not reading?

Well, classes and internship take up a lot of my time, so when I'm not reading, working or in class I like to hang out with my friends and watch a movie or just catch up. I have also been watching a lot of Storage Wars lately. There is just something about that show that I love! 

Storage Wars cracks me up! I love the guy that yells "yuuuuuuup!" all the time. Since we know what you like to do when you're not reading, what's one of your favorite places to go to take it easy/have fun?

The movies! I love watching movies. I used to work there so I get to see free movies, so I see pretty much everything that is out when I'm home.

That's a nice set up! When you're not home, where's one place you'd love to see someday?

Italy. I'm Italian and I have been to europe a few times, but never to Italy. I have seen some incredible countries and I would love to add Italy to that list!

I'll attest that Italy is GORGEOUS! I got to go over spring break one year. Definitely see Rome at some point! And of course, the "bookish" questions, starting with what made you start blogging?

When I first discovered the world of book blogs I was instantly obsessed. I have always been a huge reader but reviewing was new to me. I started posting my reviews on goodreads before I started blogging. I saw all these amazing blogs and I was convinced that I would not have anything new or interesting to bring to the table. I didn't think anyone would be interested in what I had to say. But after months and months of watching and commenting on other blogs, I finally gave in an decided to take the leap and start my own blog. The community has been so amazing ever since!

That's great! I'm so glad you made the lap, because your blog is one of my favorites! Do you have a certain place you enjoy to read?

I can read anywhere, but I love curling up under a blanket in my bed or on a comfy chair to read. 

I'm the same way! I love a blanket and a comfy chair. :) What was your favorite book growing up?

I loved Ella Enchanted and the Wayside School books. I have read them countless times and my copies are practically falling apart. I also have always loved Meg Cabot books. 

I haven't read any of those, so maybe I'll have to check them out! What's your favorite book this year so far? (It's okay if you've got more than one!)

Well since the year just started this should not be too hard. I think I have only read 11 books so far. I have LOVED Destiny's Fire by Trisha Wolfe, Austen-tatious by Alyssa Goodnight, and Blue Sky Days by Marie Landry

I look forward to reading so many more amazing books in 2012.

I've heard great things about Trisha Wolfe's Destiny's Fire, and can't wait to get my hands on a copy! If you could meet one author, alive or dead, who would it be?

Oh man, this is a really tough one! I think I would have to go with Meg Cabot or Dr. Seuss. (JK Rowling would be pretty cool too!) Meg Cabot is my favorite author so seeing her would be beyond awesome and Dr. Seuss is brilliant!

I think those are all great choices! If you could bring one character to life from a series, who would it be, and why?

Oh my goodness, I don't even know how I would answer this! OK, I will narrow it down to a guy but I really can't pick. This is just too hard for an indecisive person like me to choose! Can I plead the fifth on this one?? Pretty please.

I'll let you slide this time. ;) If you could be any kind of otherworldly, what kind would it be, and why?

Great question! I think I would choose a fey. They are smart and cunning, and like to have fun, and have their own brand of magic. But whatever I do choose I would like to be able to read minds.

Great answers, Michelle! For those of you curious where you can find her, here are the links where you can catch up with her and talk books! Thanks, Michelle, for stopping by today, and please keep the blog rolling! You have loads of fans! 

Find Michelle on Twitter -- Facebook -- Book Briefs