The YA Spill (#6)

 Welcome to The YA Spill! 

The YA Spill is a (mostly) weekly meme where I'll have Q&A with YA book bloggers. As a founding member of a YA book blog, I've had the pleasure of getting to know many bloggers and even though I've stepped back from blogging in that capacity as often, I'm still a huge fan of reading YA book blogs and love hearing the blogger's opinions on the hottest books out there. 

So each week I'll be spotlighting anywhere from one to three YA book bloggers with a few questions on what they're currently loving and can't wait to read next. If you're a YA book blogger, and you'd like to participate in The YA Spill, please email me at cindythomaswrites (@) gmail (dot) com. 

 Please welcome this week's awesome participant:

Gabrielle from The Mod Podge Bookshelf

(Blog / Twitter / Goodreads / Facebook)

What is the most recent book that you've read and loved? 

I've read only a fraction of the books I read this time last year, but let me tell you, the list is pretty incredible! Amelia Anne is Dead and Gone by Kat Rosenfield, Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin, Monstrous Beauty by Elizabeth Fama & Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo are all so brilliant!

What book recently surprised you?

 

One For the Murphys by Lynda Mullaly Hunt, the voice of her MC was very surprising! I wasn't expecting an irreverent twelve year old with heart-felt insecurities to narrate the story, but Carly remained consistent throughout her tumultuous circumstances.

What types of books do you wish there were more of? 

If Jellicoe Road could be a paranormal romance, a historical fiction, a self-help guide and a dystopian novel, then I'd be thrilled. Basically I just want to feel a book like I feel that book. That book is, in a way, every book all rolled into one. If I could bottle that book, I would spray it behind my ears and spritz my wrists everyday before I wrote.

What book comes out soon that you can't wait to get your hands on?

Insurgent by Veronica Roth! Revived by Cat Patrick! Timepiece by Myra McEntire! 

Can you tell us a little about yourself and how you became a YA book blogger?

I became a book blogger during a very, oh, what's a good word here? Trying. Trying is good, actually trying was bad, however it is very appropriate to say that I began The Mod Podge Bookshelf during a very trying time in my life. Looking back, I don't exactly know why I did it. I'm thinking it must have been a lot of Divine inspiration mixed with a soupcon of book loving and a dash of Hello, World? Are you there, or are you ignoring me entirely?
 

What is the first book you read & reviewed as a blogger?

 

I'm going to say Wither by Lauren Destefano. Wither was the first ARC I ever received for review purposes, so when I read and reviewed it, I really felt a sense of arrival. 

As a book blogger, you probably get lots of review requests. What is the best way for an author or publisher to receive a response from you when sending you a request?

Get my name right. Attach nothing. And send a request that at least gives me a feel that you've actually seen my blog before, maybe read my review policy. The problem I get with a lot of self-published authors (a lot, not all- some of my favorite people self-published) is that they never wrote a query letter. For those of you who did, the same rules apply here. It may not be as high stakes if you are featured on my blog as looking to be accepted as a client, however if you really care, take the time. If you take the time to research me and my blog, I get a strong impression that you took time to write your book and write it well! Also? Spellcheck. 'Nuff said.

 

Thank you so much for joining me today, Gabrielle!