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.

Michelle Delisle, Whatcha’ Reading Now?

1. Describe yourself without using any qualifiers relating to reading, blogging, or writing… who are you outside of your literary life?

Mom, wife, friend, sports fan, music appreciator, cookie baker, room painter, etc.

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?

Bartlett’s Quotations because it encompasses most of history — religious, political, artistic — and each quote can inspire its own story.

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?

Stephen King because I used to read absolutely everything written by him. He’s got an incredible imagination, great characters and dialogue (I’m all about character) and it’d be wonderful to learn from him. The problem would be that although I used to love reading horror and I’m not as fond of that genre anymore.

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?

Character, character, character! I can read a book where the plot wanders or is even loosey goosey, but can’t take it when characters feel flat.

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?

Absolutely! My list and priorities might be different, but I’ve always been a reader.

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?

Geez. This question is impossible! I can’t decide whether to invite people who I know (or suspect) would be interesting or those whose writing I adore. I’ll just mix it all up and hope it’s a good party! OK, here they are seated left to right: Sherman Alexie, Kurt Vonnegut, Mary Pearson, Jane Austen, William Shakespeare, John Green.

Hopefully each of them would have something to discuss with the people next to them. Alexie and Vonnegut have wit and different views on society. Vonnegut and Pearson can talk futuristic/sci-fi. Pearson and Austin can talk romance. Austin and Shakespeare can talk about so much, especially the good old days. Shakespeare and Green can talk about the mystery of women. I get to sit between Sherman Alexie and John Green and I love their writing.

7. What’s your favorite punctuation mark? Why?

I’d say the question mark because of Whatcha’ Reading Now? BUT, someone else might say that, so I’m going with a comma. It gives rhythm to writing.

8. What literary device could you happily never see used again? (Simile, metaphor, spoonerism, hyperbole, etc.)

I’m OK with any of those, used with discretion.

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?

My favorite local bookstore in Books and Books in Coral Gables. I don’t get there often enough. The bookstore I’ve always wanted to visit is The Strand.

10. Have you been to any Teen Read Week events or other Writers’ Conferences? What was your favorite meet-and-greet or interview experience?

Twice a year I attend SCBWI’s Florida meetings and recently was thrilled to meet Meg Cabot (I’m a huge fan) at the Miami International Book Festival.

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.”

For me, YA has the quality of the main character questioning authority — rebelling in some way.

12. What’s your guilty pleasure reading snack? And what’s your guilty pleasure to read while snacking on it?

Dove Dark Chocolate Promises. Louise Rennison’s Confessions of Georgia Nicholson series.

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?

Typically, I say that action/adventure translates to the big screen better than quieter books, however my favorite book to movie adaptation is Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption. A book I don’t want to see as a movie??? Hmm…The Catcher in the Rye. I don’t think a film would do Holden Caufield justice and it would take away his mystery.

14. What are your plans for the future? Do you see yourself working in the literary community?

In the very near future we’ll be launching the WRN web-site. Beyond that, I hope to be a successful published author.

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 ICity or taking in the smell of a dusty hardcover?

Curled up at home with a paperback. I read hardcover all the time, but prefer paperback. Weird, I know.