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Melissa is also one of the nicest and friendliest bloggers that I know and I always enjoying chatting with her, either on her blog or on Twitter, about books and just life in general. Melissa is one of the first bloggers that I got to know and it's from her example that I learned about developing relationships with other bloggers because everywhere I visited there was Melissa, with her kind and friendly comments. I was glad to be able to get to know Melissa a little bit better through this interview and I really appreciate knowing her these past two years.
Melissa of My World...in Words and Pages
If you wrote a book what would the blurb on the inside back cover (right beside your picture) say about you?
I live in my own little world of reality, which has been founded to be a fantasy, in South-western Pennsylvania. I enjoy sharing the worlds I create with you and hope you enjoy them as well. I live with my husband, son, two loving German Shepherds, and a cat that rules over the dogs. I work during the day in the real world of accounting and paper pushing, but in the evenings I live in the fantasy realms created by others and myself.
How long have you been blogging for?
I’m actually coming up on my 2 year blog anniversary as well. But I’ll say 2 years. ;)
How did you come to start a book blog?
Oh, I have this to blame all on the forum chats at Barnes and Nobles. I made some great book friends there. Some started out to the blogging community. I just set up an account so I could comment on their blogs, then before I knew it I was creating and posting at My World.
Have you always been an avid reader?
Oh heavens no. lol. As a kid you couldn’t get me to read if you paid me. But I did enjoy those little pick your path books as they were more action based and science fiction or fantasy things. That should have been my first clue. And I loved to be outside more for most of my life. But when I got laid off from a full time job that had filled my days and nights I was bored. I picked up a book of my sons and that was the end of it.
Was there a particular book that turned you on to reading?
Believe it or not, yes. I’m sure some people might say no or not remember the book. But I do. I was bored at home after working 12 hours a day and picked up one of the books I bought for my son, Eragon by Christopher Paolini. I loved it and found my love for fantasy books.
Has being a book reviewer changed the way that you approach reading?
Not really, but has fine tuned my sticky not obsession. Lol.
Book bloggers often find that reviewing books encourages them to read books outside of their regular reading comfort zone. Is there a particular book that you would never have otherwise tried if you weren’t a book reviewer, but you ended up loving?
I will say blogging has introduced me to the expanded the world of fantasy for me to steampunk and more science fiction then I could ever have imagined. And even further to dystopian. And I’ve found I really enjoy them. But the one book I read that I probably would never have read if it wasn’t for a fellow blogger at the time was The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I had this image of a book where young kids had to kill each other for the audience of others to enjoy, and I wanted nothing to do with it. When I got talked into reading I was convinced before I started I was not going to like this book. Well, that was such a WRONG impression and I loved the book. I’ve even suggested it to others and their children have read it. Even my son has recently started the series too. The book wasn’t all about killing and seeing that. And I enjoyed that about the book as you never really “saw” the killing part. It was about survival.
Are there any particular topics or causes that you have discovered a passion for since becoming a book blogger which you might have never thought much about before?
I have not really taken up a cause, well yet. I do feel strongly about bad reviews though. I feel we can do them with good taste and don’t need to bash a book all over the place. But, I have to say the bloggers I follow all have great taste in their reviews and I’m proud to say I follow them. I look at these authors and think they are doing something we haven’t done, and putting their dreams in your hands. Just because a book isn’t for you doesn’t mean someone else won’t love it. So be kind.
What’s the last book that you read that blew you away?
Oh this is another hard one! Lol. I’ve read a few books that blew me away for different reasons. Thief was the last, but there was Bloodlines by Skyla Dawn Cameron and Chasing the Bard by Philippa Ballantine.
Theirs Thief by Sarah-Jane Lehoux. The ending was one I loved. She really made a choice here that I want many books to do. And she brought a few tears to my eyes. I’m not a book crier! I couldn’t believe it. The ending and my reaction to it just blew me away.
If you met someone who was only going to read one book this year which book would you recommend to them?
Hmm, it kind of depends on what they read as my fantasy (general term) is pretty broad.
Urban Fantasy w/action ~ Ann Aguirre’s Corine Solomon series, starting with Blue Diablo
Young Adult Fantasy ~ Cassandra Clare’s The Mortal Instruments series, starting with City of Bones
Fantasy ~ Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn trilogy
What’s the most interesting thing has ever happened to you?
Well, I think I lead a pretty boring life these days. I’m a mom and I work. So doesn’t leave much time for interesting to happen. Some people I talk to talk about how I always have a story, and do you believe I’m without a story to spin here. Lol. Um… One I talk about with my brother was how fortunate I was when I fell out of a tree when I was in third grade, making me about…8 years old. I LOVED climbing trees. I was a true little monkey then. I wasn’t tall enough to get into the one everyone else was in so being little Miss Independent I went in search of the perfect tree. I found one. It had limbs like steps. I was able to go right up it. Cool! I started climbing. But on the second step my foot slipped on the sleek smooth surface of the bark. I caught myself behind my knee of my left leg and pulled myself up and off the tree. A little shaken from all most hitting the ground I dropped to the ground and walked back over to where everyone else was. My brother started screaming! “She’s dyeing!” over and over again. I couldn’t figure out what he was talking about. He could see my thigh, which I couldn’t feel. I had thought I caught myself with my knee on the broken limb. I actually had my inside thigh caught by the limb. I thankfully missed the main artery and ended up with well over 200 stitches. Yep, I have to admit that ended my tree climbing obsession.
Favorite snack while reading?
I don’t really snack while reading. Even thought I try to read while cooking (more stirring things) I seem to get distracted from the book while eating and reading. I do eat and read at lunch time, but prefer me and a book. And I’m a little goofy as I don’t want greasy finger pages, so I don’t eat chips or snacks with my books. But, I do have to have my teas. I’ve been drinking the Apple Spice Chai tea or Ultra Spice Chai lately.
Favorite word?
There are many words out there I love. But I’m going to say jealous, all because of a story from when I was young, like 3 or 4 young. My mom couldn’t understand what I meant when I was going around saying I was jealous. It took a little work but she found I was cold. I must have heard the word jealous somewhere and was cold at the same time and associated the two together. Lol. I don’t think that any more, but I can still see the relationship between the words. Can’t you? ;D
Favorite quote?
Oh, this is a tough one. I have a list of about 10 quotes on my sidebar on the blog. I love them all for different reasons that resonated in me. But to pick one, this one I try to remember and use. Although it’s hard to do in personality, but helps me strive in things I do. It’s by Ken Scholes from his book Lamentation.
“Watch for the ones who leave your mouth hanging open. Study them, find out what they love and what they fear. Dig the treasure out of their soul and hold it to the light.” He leaned in even closer now, so that Neb could smell the wine on his breath. “Then Be like them.”
If your life were a book what would the title be?
Hmm, I’m never good at coming up with names, but I’ll give it a try…
The Mixed up World of a Fantasy Dreamer
If you could spend the day with any book character who would you choose and why?
A short month or so ago I read the book Bloodlines by Skyla Dawn Cameron, and decided the main character was my new VBF (Vampire Best Friend). I think this character would have to be the one I would spend the day with. I really enjoyed reading about her and seeing there really is more behind the tough facade and she could be fun too. She was one of those characters to call out to me when reading.
Thank you so much Melissa!
I was supposed to have one more blogger interview for you tomorrow but I haven't heard back from that blogger so I'm not sure if it's happening. I guess you'll just have to check back here tomorrow and find out for yourself.
