The YA Spill (#7)

 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:

Kris from Imaginary Reads

(Blog / Twitter / Goodreads / Facebook / Pinterest) 

 

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

This is a toughie. There are so many outstanding books in the market nowadays. I’m going to go ahead and seriously talk about the most recent book I read that made my favorites shelf, which would be Endlessly by Kiersten White. I love Evie's wit and humor. And, bleep, I fell in love with a faerie midway through the book! My poor little heart is broken over the end of the trilogy.

What book recently surprised you? 

Tiger Lily. I knew it was going to be a dark retelling of Peter Pan, but it still blew me away. The characters are all broken and flawed yet compelling and endearing in their own ways. Each character has a story to tell, and I ended up sympathizing even with characters I wanted to hate. Also, the world building was spectacular. This book is a keeper.

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

I'd like to see more contemporary novels out there, especially ones that get me thinking like Sarah Desen's books. It’s getting harder to find them with all the paranormal and urban fantasy books out there. I love paranormal and urban fantasy, but I like to read a good contemporary too!

The bigger problem I'm experiencing is finding YA books with diversity. Recently, I read Team Human by Justine Larbalestier and Sarah Rees Brennan and found myself cheering over the great diversity I found in the book. It’s the book that made me realize just how few books there are in the YA market that cover diversity, so few that I'm ecstatic whenever I find even the smallest hint of diversity in a book.

I would also like more stand alones. While I love a good series, with so many series in the market nowadays, a good stand alone is refreshing and much more likely to stand out.

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

There are a bunch of awesome books coming out, but I’ve already got a good number of them in the form of review copies. I’m really looking forward to The Forsaken, and I want Endlessly because I love it so much and want a finished edition to complete my Paranormalcy collection. I’m also looking forward to Rift by Andrea Cremer. I love her writing and world building and am excited to read the first book in the prequel series to Nightshade!

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

My friends all know that I have two obsessions: ballroom dance and books. When I’m not studying, I am often either ballroom dancing or reading—or talking about one of them. Okay. I might also be taking picture of squirrels running around campus again, but that’s another story (in which I love stalking living creatures with my camera).

I began ballroom dancing late August of 2012 after my friend invited me to join the ballroom dance club with her. I fell in love with the sport and joined the ballroom dance team just so I could spend more time dancing. Seriously. I wasn’t even sure I’d be good enough to compete; I just wanted to dance. Well, I’ve been competing for almost a year now under the best coaches ever, and I’ve been holding my own on the dance floor. It helps that I have amazing partners to support me.

I founded Imaginary Reads five months before that, in April 2011, when I realized that I wasn't book talking as often as I liked and wanted to spread the book love to a wider audience. I spend so much of my time with books that they're a part of me. It's impossible for me to imagine a life without them. In fact, my dream is to work full-time in the children's book publishing business, specifically in the young adult section.

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

 

Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon. I won a contest on her blog, granting me one of the first review copies ever made. Literally. I received a first edition ARC of the book back when it was still called The Carrier of the Mark, and HarperTeen hadn’t remade the cover with the lighter color scheme and the title change. I wasn’t yet a book blogger, but I felt the responsibility of reviewing the book since I’d received a title that few else had the privilege of reading yet. I posted the review on my personal blog and then copied it over to my book blog later when I started it. Actually, you could say that Carrier of the Mark is the reason I began book blogging because it was so much fun writing the review that I began reviewing more books on my blog, so much that I decided to created a whole new blog for the sole purpose of talking about books.

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?

It helps to be addressed personally, as it’s not that hard to find my name if you’ve even glanced over my blog, and it definitely helps to show that you’ve looked at my review policies. I like to see a request that includes the book synopsis and a link to the author’s site and Goodreads, so I can learn more about the book. I also like to see understanding and flexibility. While I’m honored that an author or publisher will take the time to contact me out of all the bloggers out there, I receive so many review copies that it’s impossible for me to accept every request that I receive. I appreciate it when the author/publisher understands my situation and is willing to work with my schedule.

I don’t like it when the request tries to sell the book to me. I don’t care to see glowing remarks from other readers copied and pasted into the email. That’s their opinion. A book that someone enjoyed may not be the book for me. I certainly don’t like to see the author’s book or anything attached if I haven’t requested it, unless I know the author and he/she knows I want to read it. And unless I know the author, I hate receiving a mass email from an author. I understand that authors have their own busy schedule, but with so many review requests coming in, it helps when an author shows consideration.

As an avid reader, are there any books that have stuck with you no matter how much time has passed since you finished reading it? If so, which one(s)? 

Anything by Sarah Dessen, Shannon Hale, L.M. Montgomery, or Tamora Pierce, to name a few. The books that I’ve read by them are books that I could reread forever. Add to that Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver, Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson, the Curse Workers series by Holly Black, and the Vampire Academy and Bloodlines series by Richelle Mead. These  are just the ones off the top of my head.

If you were a YA character in a novel, which one would you be? Which one is most like you?

I’d be a side character. I don’t want to be the main characters, I want to meet them and be friends with them! There are a lot of characters I can relate with, but I don’t know which one would be most like me. Family and environment makes each of us unique! I could really relate to Mel in Team Human because of her desire to protect her friends at any cost and her desire to remain human. Gigi from Smart Girls Get What They Want is another character I can relate to. I was a quiet, studious girl back in the day, and it was in sophomore year of high school (like Gigi and her friends) that I decided to start branching out more. That was the year I founded the Environmental Awareness student group in my high school.

Is there anything else about you that you'd like us to know?

I would like to thank all the amazing authors out there. Without them, I wouldn’t be a book reviewer, and I’d lose half my childhood, as a large chunk of it was spent raiding library shelves. All my childhood librarians knew me. I was such a frequent visitor.

Thank you so much for joining me for the Spill, Kris. It was lovely getting to know you and your fabulous blog! 

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! 

The YA Spill (#3)

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 participants:

Katie from Mundie Moms

(Blog / Twitter/ Goodreads / Tumblr)

Mundie Moms just (yesterday!!) celebrated their 3rd birthday. Happy Blogoversary Mundie Moms!! 

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

That's a tough one! There's been a lot of great books I've read lately. To make it easy I'll narrow it down to what I've read the last month and out of those I'd have to say my favorite is SCARLET by A.C. Gaughen I LOVE this book! Her unique take on Robin Hood and Will Scarlet is fascinating and completely engaging. I loved everything about this book.

What book recently surprised you?

I'd have to say Dan Wells PARTIALS. It was one of those books that was everything I had hoped it would be and it surprised me by how much I enjoyed it. 

What types (you can specific here, or vague as to subgenre, etc) of books do you wish there were more of?

Stand Alones! Don't get me wrong, I love a well written series, but there's so many fabulous stand alones out there as well that get over shadowed by how many series there are. I feel like there's this drive for series right now and not every well written book needs to be apart of a series. I wish there were more stand alones.

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

Again, that's a hard question but with it being less than two months away, City of Lost Souls. I NEED to know what happens to Jace and Clary. Than of course there's Insurgent by Veronica Roth, Hidden by Sophie Jordan, Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins.... I've got a huge list of books I can't wait to get my hands on.

As a blogger, you get lots of review requests. What are you looking for in a request that will make you say yes to a review?

Great question! I've gotten a bit tougher on my review requests lately, because I've got a lot more going on outside the blogging world now and I have to picky on what books I'm going to spend my time reading and promoting.  alsoI get a lot of requests and don't have the time to reply to all of them in a timely manner like I used to, which has sadly made me pickier about the ones I do reply to. Well I should say I reply to all the request that are addressed to me personal, and that will make more sense below. 

Here's three things that will make me say yes or reply back to a request:

1) My name. I do not take the time to reply back to generic review requests at all any more. If someone has taken the time to address an email to either my first name or to Mundie Moms I take the time to reply back. 

2) A request that gives me a brief synopsis of their book, as well as links to their sites and a link to where I can read up more about their book is fabulous. That allows me to go research their book and decide if it's a book I'm able to spend the time reading/promoting on my site. I don't want a request that tries to sell me on their book or list all the reasons why I SHOULD read their book.

3) Understanding. I really appreciate a request that understands that I've got a busy schedule and may not be able to read their book in the time frame they would like, and are willing to work with me to fit their book in at a later date. For me, that goes a long way. On the flip side, I also understand there's a lot of bloggers/reviewers out there for them to choose from and I completely appreciate the fact they took the time to contact me and asked me to review their book. The reality is it's impossible for me to get all the reviews I'd like to do in a short amount of time. I personally really appreciate it when an author / publisher understands that.

Thank you so much for having me on!

It was a pleasure, Katie! 

The YA Spill (#2)

  

Welcome to the second installment of The YA Spill! You're probably wondering what The YA Spill is, right? 

The YA Spill is going to be a weekly (I hope) meme or sorts 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 two or 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 participants:

Yara from Once Upon a Twilight  

(Blog / Twitter / Goodreads)

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

I just finished reading about a week ago, Julie Kagawa's new book in her new series. The book is called The Immortal Rules and its part of Blood of Eden series. I was extremely excited to get it and be able to read it. This book was Fantastic, which I'm not to surprised since I loved Julie's iron Fey series. 

What book recently surprised you?
 

I will probably say Lisa T. Bergren series The River of Time. I just finished the 3rd installment called Torrent not to long ago. This series is a historical romance and honestly the genre is not at the top of my list. So when I began reading the series and fell in love with it immediately, it completely surprised me. 

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

Well what I love is paranormal and I think we have plenty of choosing in that genre and a new genre I have grown very fond of is Dystopian which also seems to be producing tons of books too. So really I think Im pretty set for now as far as what I want more of. Now if the questions was what author do I want more book published from then I could go on and on. 

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

I was lucky to get a few at ALA Midwinter when I attended and a few directly from the publishers except for one I really wanted. The one title I have not received and would probably do just about anything to get my hands on would be Insurgent by Veronica Roth, which is the sequel to Divergent.

Andrea from Reading Lark

(Blog / Twitter / Facebook) 

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

The Calling by Kelley Armstrong - This is book #2 in the Darkness Rising series and comes out in April. I was lucky enough to receive an ARC from the publisher. I couldn't put this one down. I love Armstrong's writing style. The plot, characters, universe - it's all amazing.

What book recently surprised you?

I am currently reading an adult novel, The Baker's Daughter by Sarah McCoy. I am finding it to be surprising because I am learning things about Nazi Germany that I never knew and also being forced to consider another side to the current illegal immigration issue in the United States. This book is told in an interesting format and calls attention to some pretty important social issues. It has taken me by surprise - in the best possible way.

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

I am a paranormal junkie, but I find that there is a real lack of uniqueness in that area these days. I'm tired of angels, werewolves, and vampires. Yes, shocking, I know. I want to see either those creatures in a completely new universe OR see something new entirely. There are so many fascinating supernatural beings and so many awesome stories from myths and legends. I just want a book that can transport me into a world that I don't want to leave. I haven't truly been able to recreate that since the first time I read the Twilight Saga. Those books weren't the most well written, but there was something addictive lying between those pages. I loved to spend my spare moments of free time in that world with those characters. I want that experience again. After all that blabbering I suppose if I must choose something more specific, I'm longing for a good ghost story. Its been awhile since I've been captivated by one of those.

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

There are so many good ones coming out soon. This is a really hard question! I suppose if pressed that I would say Carnival of Souls by Melissa Marr.

Thank you so much for joining me, Andrea & Yara!