Today is Day Two of BBAW 2011: Interviews. I was very fortunate to get paired up with Gayle of the blog Everyday I Write the Book, a blog I have long admired and read. Gayle posts terrific reviews of books, almost everyday, it seems. She has a talent for writing informative, enjoyable and succinct reviews, a talent she also applied well to our interview (unlike myself!).
I hope you enjoy reading my interview with Gayle as much as I discussing questions/answers with her! Be sure to check out her fantastic blog, Everyday I Write the Book when you're finished here!
1. Tell me about your blog - when did you start blogging, what kinds of books do you review, and what do you hope to get out of your blog?
I launched my blog in August 2006, so I just had my five-year blogiversary. { Congratulations, Gayle, that's a terrific accomplishment!} I can't believe I have been at it that long! I mostly review literary fiction, but occasionally memoirs and very occasionally non-fiction. My blog is definitely a hobby, as I work full-time and don't have nearly as much time to devote to it as I'd like. But I love doing it, and love the community of readers and bloggers that I have come to know over the last five years. I've seen the book blogosphere explode in recent years, and I love the passion and enthusiasm and genuine love of books that I see every day among the book bloggers I follow. I've also greatly enjoyed getting to know some of the authors I admire via social media.
2. What are the three best books you've read so far this year?
The Year We Left Home by Jean Thompson; Open by Andre Agassi; and You Know When The Men Are Gone, by Siobhan Fallon.
3. If you could be friends with any character you've met in a book, who would it be and why?
Kostya from David Beniof's City of Thieves. I'd love to share a few beers with him. He's smart, funny, and a huge flirt.
4. What time of day do you do most of your blogging, and where are you when you're doing it?
Late at night - usually from 11 PM-12AM so that I can get the post up before the calendar day is over. I am almost always sitting on my sectional with my laptop on my lap, watching TV at the same time. Right now it's a Modern Family rerun - I am trying to clear out my DVR before the new season starts next week.
5. What is your favorite guilty pleasure? (This can be edible or not.)
Reality TV and rice krispie treats (the kind that come already packaged from the store).
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I love BBAW interview day - it's so much fun getting to know so many new bloggers, and getting to know others better!
ReplyDeleteI loved this interview. Great questions. Wonderful answers!
ReplyDeleteReading the interviews is so much fun! I am learning so much about the book bloggers..
Here is my post:
BBAW 2011: Interview Swap
I loved meeting Gayle for the first time at the National Book Festival and our Tour of the Library of Congress. It was definitely fun.
ReplyDeleteI met Gayle when Serena did - yet another blogger with amazing stores of energy and talent!
ReplyDeleteI blog while I watch TV too!
ReplyDeleteit's so fun to think that five years is ANCIENT in blogging terms. Congrats, Gayle.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful interview! I need to check out Gayle's blog. She sounds like a really neat chick!
ReplyDeleteGreat interview Amy! I was lucky enough to interview Gayle last year. She is incredibly smart and has her act together. I haven't read her first recommendation, but LOVED the other two.
ReplyDeleteNice interview ladies. I am a late night blogger sometimes too.
ReplyDeleteGayle does seemingly do it all! Great interview.
ReplyDeleteFive years, wow!! Great choice of a character to meet. I bet he'd be fun. And Modern Family! One of my favorites! Great interview, Amy. I need to go visit Gayle's blog!
ReplyDeleteLovely interview -- Gayle's guilty pleasures are mine! :)
ReplyDeleteGayle's one of my favorite blogging people - thanks for the chance to get to know her a little better!
ReplyDeleteFive years - that is impressive!
ReplyDeleteShelleyrae @ Book'd Out
Gayle was one of the first bloggers I discovered! I'm with her, Kostya would be a great character to have a beer with!
ReplyDeleteI just mentioned on another blog that it is great to get to know new bloggers in this way - great interview....both of you.
ReplyDeleteHEATHER: I completely agree! It's one of my favorite aspects of BBAW!
ReplyDeleteGAUTAMI: Thank you ~ Gayle is great, so much fun and interesting to talk with. I've been reading so many o the interviews and learning a lot about bloggers whose reviews I read every week!
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by!
SERENA: Lucky you! I'd love to meet Gayle in person. A tour of The Library of Congress sounds fantastic and so interesting!
ReplyDeleteRHAPSODY: That sounds like such a fun and interesting day ~ also a great opportunity for meeting bloggers (obviously!). Gayle must have enormous amounts of energy since she keeps up a busy schedule and finds time to write great reviews and posts of books she reads!
ReplyDeleteREVIEWSBYLOLA: I tend to have the TV on while I blog but I usually miss whatever's going on...I fade out reading or typing and when I clue back in I have no idea what's going on on the TV!
ReplyDeleteREBECCA REID: It amazes me that so much has changed in the book blogging community in 5 years - it makes me wonder what it'll be like here in another 5 years!
ReplyDeleteZIBILEE: I think you'd like Gayle's blog a lot...she reviews awesome books and her post are great!
ReplyDeleteSANDY: I thought you were the one who interviewed Gayle last year...I loved your interviews, that's when I really started reading Gayle's blog! I love her favorite books~ I have Jean Thompson's book here and I'm excited about Agassi's book because I'm a huge fan and think he's great. And now you are telling it's a great book, too!
ReplyDeleteNISE': Thank you! I wish I could be a late-night blogger but unless I have a strong dose of caffeine in late afternoon/early evening, I'm a goner by 11 pm or midnight!
ReplyDeleteBERMUDAONION: Thank you, Kathy! Gayle's amazing and so sweet! I'm thrilled to have the chance to interview her this year.
ReplyDeleteERIN: Gayle named so many books I have now added to my tbr list...it's becoming like a tome! Gayle's blog is fantastic, I think you'll really like it Erin! Gayle and I share a love of Modern Family, it's the one TV show I try not to miss!
ReplyDeleteAUDRA: Thank you! Gayle's guilty pleasures are pretty cool so you've got some good taste!
ReplyDeleteFLORINDA: It was wonderful to get the opportunity to get to know Gayle better and, honestly, to be reminded how terrific her blog is. I visit it but not as often as I want to...now I won't forget! Thank you for stopping by!
ReplyDeleteBOOKDOUT: I totally agree, Shellyrae! Nice to see you here!
ReplyDeleteLISA: Gayle and her blog are wonderful, you found a great one. I, unfortunately, don't know Kostya yet but I totally trust yours and Gayle's recommendations so I need to get my hands on "City of Thieves".
ReplyDeleteDIANE: I agree, the interview is a great way to get to know book bloggers a little bit better...it rounds out the people behind the wonderful blogs we visit every week!
ReplyDeleteI've been following Gayle's blog for awhile, so it was fun reading more about her. She just made me wish I'd grabbed You Know When the Men Are Gone when I was at Border's last weekend!
ReplyDeleteThese interview exchanges are my absolute favorite part of BBAW.
ReplyDelete(and now I'm craving Rice Krispie treats!)