Week-long Blog Friend Celebration, Spotlight, and Giveaway #2

Hey everyone! This week I will be spotlighting 1 blogger friend each day and giving away 2 favorite picks of theirs. I really wish I could highlight everyone, but I could only do 5 this time and will choose different ones the next time I do this giveaway. Be sure and come back every day to read the new interviews and see which books I'm giving away that they have chosen. Here was the Giveaway from Monday with Reading and Writing Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance.

Today's Celebrated Blogger is:

Well, my blog actually started on the basis of a contest one late January day in 2009. Rachel Vincent, one of my favorite authors was having a contest to win her series so far all signed copies. What you had to do was post a review of her books in some online media format. Amazon, Borders, B&N, Facebook, a blog. Well, at the time all I had was an Amazon account and a Borders account. I am not a Facebook person, so I decided to try the "blog" thing. Joined up with Blogger since it was free and posted my review.

Little did I know how addicting blogging was about to become for me! It was a slow start. I was learning things as I went along, following other blogs with similar bookish interests. And then my followers started to grow, which as any blogger knows, is a happy feeling. I just kept writing reviews. I still don't have a specific knack for how I do them. I just try to write them to be engaging and talk about things I would want to know a book is about, things like characters, pacing, the romance element, and other things here and there. It's been really fun and I am hopelessly addicted to blogging now!

What character from a book is your absolute favorite? Please tell us about them without being spoilery.

What comes to my mind first is Maria V. Snyder's Study Trilogy; Janco! Janco was a side character, but he was totally fun and funny! When I read her books, he would make me laugh out loud! I think he was the first character in my reading days that did that.

If you could have one superpower, which one would you pick?

To me, superpowers go along the line with superheroes. No supernatural type powers basically, so I would want to stop time. True flying does come to mind, but if I had the choice, I would so stop time and just read all day, every day and totally annihilate my TBR pile!

What is your favorite mythological creature?

I guess I'd say the vampire. Because my paranormal obsession started with a vampire book, Demon in My View by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes. She was about 13 when the book was published and it inspired me to want to be a writer as well. So, while classic and I know some are tiring of, the vampire would have to be my favorite. It's definitely evolved a LOT over the years!

What book did you love that everyone else hated or hate that everyone else loved?

I can't always remember when people say they hate a book I liked. Usually it wouldn't be a popular one. I guess I am one of the people who can't stand Twilight. These days it is about 50/50 with us bloggers about who likes and who hates that book. I read all the books, but by the end, I couldn't stand it. And then people were going vampire crazy and I had already been reading vampire--and other supernatural creature--books at the time and wayyy since before the first book, I felt like people thought I was just another Twi-fan. Luckily, the majority of close friends already knew I was vampire crazy before that book became so epic.

What are some of your quirks?

I feel like I am a totally weird chick. I love to read these paranormal books with the dark, gritty monster characters--who can also be oh-so-sexy!--and I like a lot of rock music, classic and some of the hard stuff. Yet, I am still a Disney girl at heart! I totally look like a sweet innocent girl--even though I am 25, I can so pass for a teenager--yet I end up surprising people sometimes, because I can have an attitude and be very vocal about some things. But then again, I can be totally shy in the beginning with new people and what all. So, yes to sum it up. I am a totally weird chick. ;)

What is your favorite website to visit?

Well, I don't have just one favorite website to visit. I like visiting the blogs in the vast blogopshere! I love visiting author's blogs and websites scouring for new book info or book tour info. So really anything book related I guess!

What tips or tricks would you pass on to fellow bloggers?

I guess I would go with saying something like one of my teachers said to me. I can't remember what my teacher said, but I reworded it a bit: "Write the review you want to read." When it comes to reviews and getting comments, try to write a review the way you would want to read it. Which is how I try to format my own, and try to be engaging. Unless I am coming off as something else! I don't know really! No one's ever said in comments! ;)

What 2 favorite books do you choose for me to give away?

Despite mentioning other books, I feel like giving one of my older magical books a go. Old Magic by Marianne Curley! It was one of my fave re-reads back in the day when I needed to re-read books. It's an incredible book about magic and time traveling! Seems fitting since the author is releasing a new book this year after a very long absence in the publishing world due to her getting cancer and then battling it!

For the other, how about one of the first adult books I read in the paranormal genre: Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison.

OK, your choice of what I list from The Book Depository (please make sure they deliver to your country first) or an e-book from Amazon or Barnes & Noble. 

Old Magic - e-book from Amazon/Barnes & Noble, paperback from The Book Depository

Dead Witch Walking - e-book from Amazon/Barnes & Noble, paperback or hardback from The Book Depository

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Jessica, I really appreciate you taking your time to answer my questions! You were one of my very first followers and visit my blog all the time, and I won't forget that. I love a GREAT read. Thank you again for being a part of my Giveaway :)