Blogger Interview

Well I am back to interviewing bloggers again and I have three new blogs lined up. If you would like to be interviewed simply leave me a comment. Please include a blog link and email addy.

Today we are talking about the lovely blog, Taste Life Twice. The link is: http://taste-life-twice.blogspot.com/

1. Who or what inspired you to start blogging and reviewing?
I was using StumbleUpon, and I stumbled on a book blog. Before that, I didn't know they existed. I had always loved reading, and I thought a blog was a great way to get my opinions of books out of my head and into the world. I started surfing around blogs and entering contests, and within a week, I decided to start my own. Not much later, I invited Kiki to join me, so she does posts here and there. Two of the first book blogs I read were Reading Keeps You Sane and Persnickety Snark.

2. Is there a blogger you go to with questions?
I'd say I go to Susan of Color Online and Black-eyed Susan's for a lot of things. She's definetely my blogging mentor. My blog first centered around YA lit, without much direction, until I somehow found Color Online. I commented on one of Susan's posts, telling her that I had also noticed a lack of multicultural lit, and she invited me to be part of her project. My blog is still YA, and I still review all types of books, but now I make a conscious effort to read and review books by and about people of color.

3. What is the one book you re-read over and over again?
The Fearless series by Francine Pascal. The series goes on forever, so I have a bit of a cycle. I read them, forget about them, rediscover them, end up buying a couple more books from the series off Amazon, and the cycle repeats. Also, I can read Crank by Ellen Hopkins over and over because it's so gripping. I'll start out re-reading one of my favorite parts and just end up reading the whole book. I tend to overindulge when it comes to books written in verse.

4. What was the book that really made you start to love reading?
I think the book that really began my love of reading was Marco Comes Late by Dr.Seuss. It's about a boy who gets to school late and gives his teacher a fantastic excuse. My Dad used to read it to me before bed in the most animated way. I stopped reading for a small portion of elementary school, but I read The Watsons go to Birmingham-1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis, and it really reignited my love of reading. I reviewed it on my blog.

5. Do you want to attend BEA next may? Do you think you'll get to?
I would LOVE to attend BEA, but I don't think I'll get to, because I'll be so worried about AP testing and preparing for college around that time. Plus, my parents will be reluctant to pay for the trip, but hopefully I'll get to go.

6. Have you met any bloggers face to face?
Sadly, no. But I've only been blogging for a couple months, so hopefully I've got plenty of time left. If you're a book blogger in the L.A. area, let me know!

7. Do you buy a lot of books each month? How many would you guess?
I buy a lot less now that I've started blogging, because there are so many contest wins and review copies on my shelf that I try to hold back. I usually end up buying about 5 a month anyway, and this is only with the help of friends. I tell them before we go near a bookstore,"Do not let me buy any books. I need to read the ones I have." But sometimes they let me slip by with buying one. It's because I'm a sneaky ninja. lol

8. Anything unique about you we can know?
Well, I have a fondness for brownies, bubble wrap, and musicals, I can toss and catch a six-foot pole, I worked at the polls in my neighborhood for the Presidential Election, and I am a really clumsy procrastinator. Haha Thanks for having me!