Monday, September 14, 2009

An Interview With Mel of He Followed Me Home...

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: the best part of Book Blogger Appreciation Week is that you have to expend very little energy to meet many, many, many wonderful bloggers. A case in point is this interview swap.

Volunteers from the studio audience were asked to sign up for interviews, and it was very wisely decided to pair a more established blogger with a new one. This is how I've come to know Mel, whose blog He Followed Me Home...Can I Keep Him? sprang to being in August.

When I learned that Mel was my interview buddy, I immediately hot-footed it over to her blog, where I got the giggles at her choice of graphics for Mailbox Monday. Anyone who'd choose a graphic like that is my kind of blogger!

Let's get to know a bit more about Mel, shall we?

Name: Mel

Blog Name: He Followed Me Home...Can I Keep Him?

Blog URL: http://hefollowedmehome.blogspot.com/

About Me:
Well I obviously love books, lol. What you may not know about me is that I am a wife & mom to two cute boys. Like Peter Pan, I’m not sure if I’ll ever grow up…I really don’t feel that old! I live in Canada but hate the winter (no, I do not live in an igloo). Thanks to my boys, I consider the park across the road my second home.

When and why did you start your blog?

About two months ago I realized it was time to do something for myself and decided to read more. My best friend & I Googled, discovered the world of book bloggers and the rest is history! I love the opportunity to find so many new books!


What is your blog all about? Any favorite features that you'd like to share?

If you've had the chance to read my blog, you'll quickly notice that my taste in books is pretty eclectic. I hope to add some value with my reviews and love when I have the opportunity to host giveaways. On Thursdays I started a meme style posting to see what people have read, where their books have taken them & what they've learned. I love chatting and try to reply to all the awesome people who comment on my blog :)


Do you have a review system? If you do, would you like to explain it for us?

I rate my books on the typical 1 - 5 scale, 5 being best. I hope not to read many 1's and 2's though!


Any tips or advice for those starting or thinking about starting a blog?
The community is so friendly, just jump right in with both feet! Start commenting on other book blogs and get to know everyone.


What are some of your favorite genres and/or books currently?
I'm a fan of both fiction and non-fiction (specifically psychology, business & memoirs). YA is my guilty pleasure. Books I recently read and loved are hush, hush by Becca Fitzpatrick and The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks.

Hardcover, trade paperback, or mass market paperback?
I'm a big fan of hardcover. I carry my books back and forth to work so sadly they can take a beating. I buy trade paperbacks if I can't get the hardcover but generally avoid mass market paperbacks...oh no, am I a book snob, lol??

Buy or borrow? If buy, Amazon or brick-and-mortar?
99% of the time I buy and usually online with free shipping!


Alphabetize by author, or alphabetize by title, or random?
Author, didn't realize there was any other way, lol!


Read with dust jacket, or remove it?
Remove it so the book looks to be in perfect condition on my book shelf.


Stop reading when tired or at chapter breaks?
During the day, I read until the next chapter. When reading late at night, I read until I realize I've had to read the same line like three times.


Morning reading, afternoon reading, or nighttime reading?
All of the above, anytime I have an opportunity really. I read on the train ride into work, at lunch (when I can), on the train ride home and once the kids are in bed.

Stand-alone novels or series?
Both but I must admit that waiting for the next book in a series annoys me.


Five of your favorite books of all time?
The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling, Angels and Demons by Dan Brown, Blink by Malcolm Gladwell, Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare and Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
.

What are you reading right now?
The White Queen
by Philippa Gregory (and it's awesome!!)


I had such a great time getting to know more about Mel, and I hope you did, too! If you'd like to get to know more book bloggers, head on over to the Book Blogger Appreciation Week website to check out more interviews!

10 comments:

  1. Oh, I love reading these interviews. BBAW is new to me. I'm discovering lots of new bloggers, including my own partnered blogger.

    Here's the link, if you would like to look!

    http://tjbook-list.blogspot.com/2009/09/bbaw-interview-swap.html

    Sassy
    :)

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  2. Oh boy -- I'm going to burst from meeting so many great new-to-me bloggers!

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  3. I LOVE your blog design - it's gorgeous. I've "met" Mel before through comments on my blog, but you are a new-to-me blogger - Hi! :)

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  4. Mel sounds like fun. I'll have to head on over to her blog.

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  5. Thanks for introducing me to Mel - she's got a great blog! I love the picture you gave her for your interview!

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  6. Yes, thanks to BBAW and Mel's link, I'm just finding you too! I love your background...looks like my bedside bookcase (that's right, not a bedside table anymore)

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  7. What a great interview. I have her blog on my blog roll and feel really glad that I do.

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  8. Great interview Cathy. I'm glad you introduced me to Mel. I'm off to see what I can learn about you.

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  9. Oh, fun interview! And I love the badge you created. =)

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  10. Mel's blog name is fantastic! Maybe we'll see it in the running for "best name" BBAW 2010 :)

    I'm with you, Mel, on organizing books - fiction is alpha by author, nonfiction by subject ... is there any other way?!?

    Thanks for the introduction, Cathy!

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