BBAW: Impromptu blogger interviews Part I

Earlier this week on the interview swap day, it looked as though my blogger swap wasn't going to happen, and so I put out a call for anyone who wanted to answer a few questions to take part in an impromptu interview! I was really pleased, and a bit overwhelmed, with the response. This post is the first instalment highlighting the bloggers who responded!

First up we have Janicu who blogs at janicu.wordpress.com, who said in her comments that she intended to sign up for the interview swap later, and then forgot! I've been there before!

What is your blog called? What was the inspiration behind the name?

It's janicu's book blog (janicu.wordpress.com). Which is because my name is Janice and one of my nicknames is "Janicu". This is because in college I had a couple of Japanese roommates and they decided the way to make my name cuter was to add an "oo" to the end of it. By the way it's pronounced "janis-oo", not "janik-oo". Anyway, that was the best I could come up with when I started my blog.

What kind of books do you like to read?

My taste is a little eclectic, but my favorites are in genre fiction. I like science fiction, fantasy, romance, and Jane Austen and fairy-tale retellings.

What is your favourite recent read?

I JUST read BAYOU MOON by Ilona Andrews which is coming out soon. It is so great. It's set in a place called the Edge, which is sort of an overlap between our word (called the Broken), and a parallel world where magic exists (called the Weird). There's a wolf shapeshifter who is trying to track down an agent and kill him, and he runs into a girl with a sword who's family has been threatened by the agent. The girl has a very big, crazy family, the setting is a gigantic swamp, and the fight scenes are like something out of NINJA SCROLL.

Where is your favourite place to read?

I love to read in bed, but I have to read in the living room. The cat is not allowed in our room and if I leave for bed a little too early he gets very whiny. My cat is quite spoiled.

Share one thing about yourself or your blog that your readers might not know.

Um.. when I was a kid I had a few pet squirrels. Actually they were called squirrels but they looked more like chipmunks. They don't have the same kind of squirrels that they have in the US in the tropics.

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Next up is Katherine from one of my favourite recent blog discoveries!

What is your blog called? What was the inspiration behind the name? 

My blog is called Historical Fiction Notebook. It was inspired by the stacks of half-finished journals I have lying around. Each one has lists of books I've read, books I want to read, favorite quotes from books and little jotted-down notes about aspects of historical novels I liked or didn't like. I thought it was time to bring it all together in one place!

What kind of books do you like to read? 

For historical fiction, I like anything that takes me into someone's daily life - royal or non-royal. I love detail - chances are that if I liked a book, it's because the author was able to seemlessly integrate detail into the narrative. I love European and American history.

What is your favourite recent read? 

Definitely Sally Gunning's Satucket novels set in Colonial Maasachusetts. Even if you don't think you're interested in that time, you should give them a try.

Where is your favourite place to read? 

I recently picked up a grey-green recliner on Craig's list - I have it set up in a corner by a window and have decorated the space with framed paintings and plants. It's perfect! I can't wait to get home from work and settle in!

Share one thing about yourself or your blog that your readers might not know. 

In my professional life as a journalist, I've specialized in the history and culture of Afghanistan. I produce a weekly TV show that airs on the largest channel there.

I have been wanting to read those Sally Gunning books for a while. Looks like I need to make an effort to find them!

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How gorgeous is this blog header? We are just coming to the end of a long winter, and so these colours are just screaming spring to me!

What is your blog called? What was the inspiration behind the name?

Gerbera Daisy Diaries -- because they are the flowers I had for my wedding.

What kind of books do you like to read? 

Anything really, but current fiction and historical fiction mostly. With some biographies throw in there too!

What is your favourite recent read?

Still Alice by Lisa Genova -- knocked my socks off!

Where is your favourite place to read? 

Anywhere my kids are NOT!

Share one thing about yourself or your blog that your readers might not know. 

That I used to be a lobbyist in Washington DC -- a lifetime ago.

Stay tuned for more blogger interviews tomorrow!