In talking to Chelsea (The Page Flipper) and Heather (Book Woman), I thought it would be a fun to turn the tables and do a series on my blog of interviews with YA book bloggers — let them be the stars! So now every Tuesday, another Book Blogger will be featured.
If you’re interested, please e-mail me.
Amber “Pixie,” Page Turners Blog
1. Describe yourself without using any qualifiers relating to reading, blogging, or writing… who are you outside of your literary life?
I’m a mother, wife and an on the side photographer. I have four children; my life is built around school, Dr. appointments, meetings and anything else that happens to pop up.
2. You’re trapped in a dystopian society like that in Fahrenheit 451, where all books, periodicals, scriptures, texts, or other forms of written communication have been banned… but in this society, every person can hoard away one piece of writing to keep for herself. What is the one written piece that you choose to keep, and why?
The Host by Stephenie Meyer. It’s long, not as long as Stacey’s choice but almost. It’s just a great story, with an unfinished ending. Plus I could daydream about my Ian(played by James McAvoy) all day.
3. Congratulations! You’ve been given the position as Personal Assistant to any author of your choice (all time periods and genres allowed)… who is it, and what’s the biggest problem you have to overcome working with them?
Man, there are so many great authors, it’s hard to choose. Not sure what “problem” we would have, because I would be grateful I had a job I loved. But the first thing I thought of after I read the question was- Suzanne Collins – trying to convince her to write me into the story as Gale’s new love interest.
4. When it comes to reading and reviewing, which aspect of a book is the most important to you? The plot? The characters? The setting? Something else entirely?
This is a hard question. I am all about the story; it has to be a great story. It can be flawed, with editing errors and the over use of chagrin, but if the story is interesting, I am going to like it. To have a great story, you definitely need well developed characters a defined plot/conflict and a cliff hanger ending. Even if the story ends there, leaving it open, will have the readers contemplating different possibilities.
5. If book blogging weren’t an option, how would your reading habits be affected? Would you be as motivated to read if you couldn’t widely impart your thoughts on books to other readers?
Probably the same thing I was doing 6 months ago- annoying my daughter and teenage sister in law. I’ve been “on the internet” chatting about books for the last few years, with our blog it’s easier to pick the books we want to read. Like Stacey mentioned, I wouldn’t be reading as much YA as I am now. I would still be in the store asking kids, have you heard of this book. Is it any good?
6. You’re giving a dinner party for three contemporary (living) YA authors and three dead classical authors. Who are they, and who do you seat next to whom? Why?
Classic – Jane Austen, J.R.R Tolkien & Mark Twain
Current YA –Stephenie Meyer, J K Rowling & Suzanne Collins
Man, where do I sit?? I guess it would be Austen, Meyer, Me, Collins, Rowling, Twain, Tolkien
7. What’s your favorite punctuation mark? Why?
Does 11 count? You know when you see!!!11!!!, that always makes me laugh. I guess my favorite one would be ?, Because that is usually my state of mind.
8. What literary device could you happily never see used again? (Simile, metaphor, spoonerism, hyperbole, etc.)
I am going to say repetition in sequels. I know some of it needs to be in there, but it’s usually overdone. I hate saying this; because I love this series, but there is a certain vampire series (not Twilight) that up until the 6th book the same things were repeated over and over and over.
9. What is your favorite local bookstore? What’s a bookstore that you’ll never set foot in again? And do you have a ‘dream bookstore’ that you’d either love to visit… or would love to design and own one day?
There is one in Houston that I really like. It’s called Murder by the Book, not really local but pretty close. I only go there when they are having events I want to attend, because it’s closer to drive to B&N to pick something up. It has that old time library feel, there is a back corner that I could just curl up and read a book in all day. Luckily, I haven’t found a bookstore that I don’t like. If I could build my own— I would definitely want to put it in the middle of down town, in a loft. With a lot of windows, maybe a spot to get something to drink and some none book damaging to snack on. I love to snack when I am reading. Oh books, yeah we need a lot of books. I would keep it simple. It would be a certain type of book store like mystery or YA/Children.
10. Have you been to any Teen Read Week events or other Writers’ Conferences? What was your favorite meet-and-greet or interview experience?
Unfortunately, I have not been able to attend any of these. I would love to though.
11. In your opinion, what is a YA novel? How is it different from a children’s novel, and how is it different from an adult novel? What makes someone a YA reader — because it’s clearly more than a matter of their being “a young adult.”
A YA primarily have characters between teen – early 20’s. Their books are more “adult” they start dealing with life experiences, first love, heartbreak. Yet they are not as mature as some adult books dealing with the same situations. As an adult YA reader that is one of the things I love about YA, I can read them and talk to my daughter about certain things in the book, things she is just starting to go through(she is still preteen). I can’t really do that with any other genre of books. A YA reader can be anyone old enough to read it, there is no age limit on YA. Some of the best books ever written are considered fit into that genre. Adults sympathize with the character while teens are experimenting, living these situations with the character.
12. What’s your guilty pleasure reading snack? And what’s your guilty pleasure to read while snacking on it?
I am a huge snacker, when reading. I love to snack on raisinettes or apples. The book doesn’t matter; I would snack reading the phone book.
13. “Don’t judge a book by its movie!” As a connoisseur of all types of books, which genre do you think translates the best from page to screen? What’s your favorite book-to-movie adaptation? Conversely, what’s a book that you hope never to see filmed?
I agree with Stacey. I think historical fiction translates into some of the best book to movie adaptations. When I am watching a book to movie adaptation, I kind of forget the book, so that I can enjoy the movie without yelling- “There is no climbing in trees!!! Or Dobby showed him the room” I just want to be able to enjoy the movie. I hope to never see The Black Dagger Brotherhood Series made into a movie, because it would make a better series on Cinemax.
14. What are your plans for the future? Do you see yourself working in the literary community?
Not sure, once all my kiddos are in school I have been planning on going back to college maybe to teach or maybe to become a Liberian, but that is about it for me.
15. Describe your perfect reading location… are you in a coffee shop sipping cappuccino or curled up at home near the window? Reading on a Kindle in the Big City or taking in the smell of a dusty hardcover?
It would be in an oversized stuff chair next to a bay window (with a great view it could be city, beach or green mountain)- with some raisinettes and a large cup of Jason’s Deli black current tea.
