I've known her since my college days and currently work with her at a research firm.
Q. For many bloggers, blogging doesn’t pay the bills, at least not all the bills. So tell us a little about yourself. What else do you have going on in life?
Blogging definitely doesn’t pay bills for me because I don’t generate any kind of income from my blog. I do it all for fun and to connect with fellow book lovers all over the world. Like I usually say, I don’t have enough real life friends who read for fun so it’s always a good thing to be able to talk about something you love to those who understand it.
My blog is a hobby of sorts (although sometimes it feels more than that) because I still have a day job and I try to spend as much time as I can with family and friends. I love to eat so I usually eat out during weekends. :D
Q. How do you manage your blog and daily life?
Thankfully, my day job only requires me to work 8 hours a day. I usually don’t have to work overtime so I can read and blog when I get home after work. And on weekends when I don’t have any plans.
Q. What turned you onto blogging? Don’t be shy.
I think I first discovered the book blogosphere back in late 2009. I was so excited to find out that there were other people out there who got excited about the same books that I read so I started following some blogs and before I knew it, I started my own. Book bloggers are really friendly and they welcome newcomers with open arms.
Q. After the book has arrived at your house, how long does it take you to post a review? And could you tell us about your review process?
Q. After the book has arrived at your house, how long does it take you to post a review? And could you tell us about your review process?
Oh wow, I don’t think this question is applicable to me since I have around 170 books in my to-be-read pile. I don’t get to read the books that I buy right away. Although I’m pretty casual when it comes to the review process – just read a book and write a review, that’s it for me.
Q. Have publishers or the like try to contact you.
Yep, I’ve received a few review copies although I’ve never received ARCs (Advanced Review Copies). In general, I wait for people to contact me for reviews instead of the other way around. I’ve also won some books through giveaways. I have a Kindle and I don’t mind reviewing ebooks so that will probably make things easier for publishers or authors who wish to send review copies. Not a lot of people are willing to spend for international shipping.
Q. Some bloggers believe in short reviews while others believe in a more extended reviews. What are your thoughts on the subject?
I think my reviews are in between? They’re not short and they’re not long either. I don’t mind reading those kinds of reviews as long as I can get a feel of whether the book blogger liked a book or not.
Q. What genre do you prefer to review and why?
I read all sorts of books but mostly genre fiction and my favorites are fantasy and young adult fiction. Hmm… it’s pretty hard to answer the question “why?” but I can make it simple and just say that’s what I enjoy reading.
Q. How do readers affect the content of your blog?
I can’t say that my readers really affect the content of my blog but I do reply to all comments and I like coming up with discussion posts.
Q. As a blogger you must have set some goals for your blog. What has been successful so far and why do you think it has been successful.
Honestly, when I started my blog, my only goal was to have fun and to connect with other readers in the blogosphere. Now, I guess I’d love to expand that goal by being more active in online book blogger activities. I also manage the site Filipino Book Bloggers (URL: http://filipinobookbloggers.wordpress.com/) and I think it would be great if more bloggers joined the group. We try to have meet ups every other month and maybe when there’s enough interest, we can make it a monthly thing.
Lighting Round:
2. What is the next book you are reviewing? I’m currently reading Nobody’s Princess by Esther Friesner so I’ll probably review that next.
3. How long have you been doing this blogging thing? I started my blog January last year so I’ve been blogging for a little over a year now.
4. Name one living author you would love to interview? Megan Whalen Turner, author of one of my favorite series ever – the Queen’s Thief series.
