Getting To Know... Me - Nerdish Mum!! (And A Cheeky Announcement)

As I've had a couple of weeks break from Getting To Know... to catch up on reviews and other things (see my announcement at the end), I thought it would be fun to do a Getting To Know... with me! So instead of writing my own questions I asked in Book Connectors (an awesome book group on FB and Twitter full of authors and book bloggers) for questions that I could answer and I got some absolutely great ones! This is a bit nerve racking now being in the hot seat but here goes!

What is the inspiration behind your blog name, Life Of A Nerdish Mum - Mairead of Swirl and Thread

When I first set up my blog, the idea was to blog about all the nerdish things that I get up to, to share my experiences and meet other people who like the same things as I do. So Life Of A Nerdish Mum just made sense as I was already Nerdish Mum on twitter. This included reviewing books and comics etc and the book review side of things has just bloomed so much it's the majority of what I post now, but I still do blog about other things too and there is more on it's way (sneaky hint about my announcement below).

What made you decide to be a blogger, how long have you been doing it and how long do you spend each week doing it? - Marie Campbell author of Baby

After having my little guy, Mini Nerdling, in 2013 I ended up with quite bad post natal depression (which goes well with my normal anxiety and depression *sarcasm*) and I needed something that was just about me so I set up my Twitter account and dived into the nerdy/geeky community. I discovered an amazing group called IGGPPC (International Geek Girl Pen Pal Club) and they have loads of groups that are just so friendly. I obviously was drawn to the book group (Iggleworms) and everyone was talking about what book challenges they were going to be doing for 2015 and how they were going to keep track of them. I made the decision to start up a blog that would be a place to review each of the books that I read for my chosen challenges as well as a place to share my experiences of cons and other such things that I went to. So on the 1st of January 2015 my first blog post went up and I've been blogging ever since. For the first year I only really published my posts and never shared them or promoted them in any way until probably about a year into it when I became more and more involved in the book blogging community. As to how much time I spend each week, it varies but I can tell you it's a full time job! I am a stay at home mum during the day, I work six evenings a week and until recently I volunteered one morning a week helping children aged 2-5 with speech delays. Every bit of my spare time (hahahahaha) is spent either reading or blogging. When I'm prepping for my Getting To Know... feature as well, it takes even more time as I like to personalise my questions as much as possible so I research each participant so I can ask the most interesting questions I can manage,

What else do you write aside from blogging and what inspires you to write these things? - Chantelle Atkins author of The Mess Of Me

I used to write articles for Teddy Bear Times as before I had my little guy I made collectors style teddy bears and I somehow ended up working for one of the most well known teddy bear magazines. I also write letters which I absolutely love doing when I have the time as I have met some absolutely wonderful people through being a pen pal and I keep a couple of journals, one book and one bullet, These really help keep me organised, focused and motivated which is really important to me.

I am also in the process of writing my own novel, it's all laid out I just need to finish writing it. Other than it being fantasy I won't give anything else away ;)

I wondered how you deal with books that you start with a view to reviewing, but find you really don't like, do you always finish them? Do you always write a review? - Peta Rainford, author of Isabella, Rotten Speller

I am very lucky in the fact the the books I have received for review have all been good (so far anyway) as I try to only accept ones that I think that I will enjoy. I have a real problem with not being able to put a book down though even if I am hating it, I came very close last year to putting my first ever DNF (on a book I chose myself from the library), but I felt so much readers guilt that I finished the whole darn thing!! I will always leave a review though good or bad for a few reasons; firstly that it'd look weird if I liked every single book that I ever read, I don't think anyone has got that lucky. Next, good or bad, a review on a book is good for the author as it gets their book more audience and I try to be as constructive as possible and a lot of the time I explain that the reason I don't like something is that it's just not for me rather than it being bad. The only thing I would do differently if my review was "negative" is that I wouldn't tag the author or publisher on social media and I probably wouldn't promote my blog post like I do when it's positive review.

What do you find most fascinating about your feature Getting To Know... and is there something that you've learnt that you can use in your own reading? - Susan of The Booktrail

I find each and every person I interview fascinating. I love finding out about people and each person is so different from the last and the next. There was something I did learn which I think is invaluable to both readers and writers from Anna Osborne, author of Walking Wounded, (Anna's Getting To Know... is here) who is also a chiropractor, make sure you stand up and pace around every 20 minutes so that you don't damage your back.

What world from a story you've read is the one that you'd least like to live in; and conversely, the one that you'd most like to inhabit? - Karl Drinkwater author of They Move Below

There's quite a few that I'd hate to live in like Panem, The Phase, The Glade and other such places, though thinking about it they are all post apocalyptic/dystopian so I'm pretty sure I shouldn't want to live in them haha! Also anywhere like Gotham City, Star City or Central City, I couldn't cope with the constant threat of one bad guy or another.

The one I'd most like to live in is actually really hard, I think it'd have to be Discworld! Terry Pratchett just created an amazing world full of both good and bad.

What's the best and worse thing about blogging? - Lorraine of The Book Review Cafe

The best thing is the people! The bloggers and authors and publishers that I've got to know have all been so wonderful and welcoming. I am extremely awkward when communicating so I don't always comment or interact too much, but no one minds and I'm always made to feel so at home with everyone. I finally met my buddy reader a few weeks ago which was so nice after knowing her for over two years and I'm hoping to meet more people in the future.

The worst thing I think is the guilt - you feel guilty for saying no, you feel guilty for taking too long to read a book, you feel guilty for not sharing other peoples blogs as much as you'd like, you feel guilty for spending so much time blogging, you feel guilty that your review is too long/short....the list of guilt is endless. But it's all worth it!

I'd like to know what made you decide to review books in the first place and how you find the books? - Harriet Springbett author of Tree Magic

I've enjoyed reviewing books since I was little. My local library when I was in primary school had a kind of book club in which you could progress through the ranks by reading books and writing reviews for the librarian to read. My primary school was also very into books and having us write reviews so I had a solid foundation in writing reviews when I'd finished a book. I did fall out of it for a while until I discovered Goodreads and the online book community. As to where I get books, 95% or more of my books are books that I buy myself or get from the library, it's only been in the past year that I have started receiving books from authors and publishers, but even then if it is a book I adore, I go out and buy my own copy to make sure I'm supporting the author.

Which book that you've read do you really wish you'd written? - Linda of Linda's Book Bag

Oooooh there's a few for this one (I'm allowed more than one right?) - The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S Lewis, The Talisman by Stephen King and Peter Straub and The Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning. In fact I could go on and on!

What was the first book you remember from your childhood? - Jane Cable, author of The Cheesemaker's House

I still own a lot of my childhood books so that'd be cheating to just look at them, but the first book I really remember reading myself and it really sticking with me was The Sixth Seal by Mary Wesley. I had read things like the Chronicles of Narnia, The Famous Five, The Secret Seven, The Hobbit etc before it, but this one really stood out to me. I had borrowed it from the library and I wrote a book review for school about it (I think I was in year 5) and I even decorated the edges of my review with pictures I'd drawn from things that happen in the book. I always remembered this book and so as an adult, early twenties, I decided I needed a copy of it and I went out and bought it. I've read The Sixth Seal again about two or three times since then and I still absolutely love it.

What is your favourite genre to review? - Alison of Ali's Romance, Thriller and Christian Fiction Book Reviews

I always say that fantasy is my favourite genre, which is the truth. However, I don't like to read just one genre of book, I love classics, non fiction, YA, middle grade, horror, crime, children's etc etc. I could never set myself just one to read as I'd always feel like I was missing out. Since book blogging I have also read books in genres that I never thought I would read and have thoroughly enjoyed reading them so it's always good to keep an open mind.

And that's it! Phew that was pretty intense, but I hope you all enjoyed that as much as I did! Thank you so much to all the authors and bloggers that gave me questions, it is greatly appreciated and I hope I did justice in my answers!

Now onto my announcement! As well as reading, my other number one love is music! I have always been a HUGE music fan and have been to countless gigs over the years. From pop to classics to heavy metal, I love it all (though I am a full on rock chick when it comes down to it). So to include this part of me in my blog, I will now have a monthly feature where I interview bands. I cannot explain how much this excites me and I am really looking forward to my first one going live this Friday the 7th of April. I really hope that this is exciting for you all too and that you'll come join me on Friday when I interview John Lov, the guitarist of Ascendia. (Check out one of their music videos here)

Getting To Know...Alix Long

Today on Life Of A Nerdish Mum my Getting To Know.. feature is back after the Christmas holidays and I'm happy to bring bookblogger and booktuber Alix Long. 

You have both a written blog, Delightful Book Reviews, and a Booktube channel, what inspired you to set these up?

I decided to set up Delightful Book Reviews first because I met PR extraordinaire at a book launch in London, and she offered to send me a few books to review for the Huffington Post, who I was blogging for at the time. After setting up a twitter account and discovering some great bloggers, I decided that I wanted to set up my own personal book blog where I could post about whatever I wanted, and rave about my favourite books. I have been a reader all my life, and this was a way to share my passion with others, and become a member of the awesome book blogging community. This was when I was fifteen - three years later, and that’s when I decided to set up my BookTube channel after being inspired by a panel at YALC, with Amy Thurgood, Lucy Powrie and Sanne Vliegenthart. My BookTube channel is pretty different to my blog, as I share the books I haul from publishers, and my favourite picks of the month, which I don’t do on my blog. 

On your blog, you have a children's book spotlight which I absolutely love, what made you decide to have this kind of feature?

I decided to start my children’s book feature DELIGHTFUL KIDS BOOKS as Alma Books (a gorgeous publishing company!) began to re-publish some of the best loved children’s classics, and I wanted to feature them on my blog. After reading these classics I decided that I still loved kids books, and so I thought by sharing both recently published and old school kids books I could reach a bigger audience and show people that I love to read all sorts of books! Thankfully the response has been great, both from my readers and from publishers - I’m so glad people like the feature, because it’s so much fun to write.

You are part of The Tutor Trust, can you tell me more about that?

The Tutor Trust is a wonderful charity that is based in Manchester, that I am privileged to work for. The Tutor Trust employs university students such as myself to be tutors at primary and secondary schools across Manchester, to provide top quality tuition for kids whose parents would not be able to afford it. It’s main aim is to bridge the gap between the quality of education received by kids in the South and the North, and as someone who went to a state school who was lucky enough to receive tutoring for maths, I wanted to give back. I absolutely love my job and the kids I teach are so wonderful and inspire me every single time I teach them.

When you're not reading what would we find you doing?

Sometimes it is easy for people to forget that, as well as a blogger, I am also your average university student! When I’m not reading I love to hang out with my friends and just chill out! Obviously I need to fit in studying, but I also love to watch TV (Game of Thrones is my current obsession!) and go out. My boyfriend and I love to go out to eat, watch films and go to music concerts at the Bridgewater Hall. At the moment we also love visiting the Christmas markets, which are wonderful. I also love going to see live music - this year I have seen Foals, 1975, Catfish and the Bottlemen, Chance the Rapper and in February I am going to see Drake!

You are currently a student, do you know what career that you are working towards?

When I graduate I would love to work in books in some way - at the minute I am leaning towards publicity and marketing. My absolute dream job would be to have a books column in a magazine and be a freelance journalist, like in Stylist. I want to also keep writing, and it would be brilliant to have the kind of job where I could do this on the side.

Do you have an absolute favourite boo of all time that you would recommend to everyone?

My absolute favourite book is Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë. It is a tale of courage, female empowerment and love. I have re-read it almost as many times as I have read Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, which is my favourite contemporary book. Rainbow is a wonderful person and meeting her at the Worlds Collide tour was honestly a dream come true.

With having both a blog and a Booktube channel, do you have a preference over which medium you use?

I prefer having a blog simply because it’s a lot easier to fit around my current lifestyle. I can blog in the university library in between lectures, or while me and my friends are cooking dinner. My BookTube channel is a lot more difficult to keep updated because I can’t always film in the morning due to lectures - and because of the light this time of year, that’s the only time I can film. Also the editing takes time I don’t always have, and uploading videos is a bit of a hassle too. That being said, it is rewarding, and I do like being able to use both mediums to share my love of books. 

Do you have a favourite author?

My favourite author is without doubt Charlotte Brontë. I love all of her books (apart from The Professor) and I find her such an inspiring figure. Reading her private letters, it seems we have a lot in common, and visiting the house where she lived inspired me to keep writing. I wrote my EPQ (extended essay) on her and it was a really enjoyable experience. Her stories about strength, determination, and fulfilling your goals even when you have a thousand obstacles blocking you have a lot of resonance in today’s world.

Will we see a book written by yourself in the near future?

I would love to publish one day! A novel sounds a bit ambitious at the moment, but in my creative writing class I really enjoy writing poetry and short stories. To have a collection of poems or short stories published would mean everything.

What advice would give anyone thinking about setting up their own blog/youtube channel?

The advice I would give anyone who wants to set up their own blog or YouTube channel would be to just go for it! Don’t get bogged down by reading loads of advice - everyone does it differently, and some bloggers won’t agree with my method just like I don’t follow what other bloggers do. The most important thing to do is to follow your gut and remember that the blog is for you. Obviously it’s a bonus if people do like it, but stats aren’t everything! What really matters is that you are sharing wonderful books because you love reading.

Thank you so much to Alix for fitting my questions in around her super busy schedule and for kicking off 2017's Getting To Know... with a bang! 

To Connect With Alix 

Twitter - @long_alixhttps://twitter.com/long_alix

Blog - http://delightfulbookreviews.blogspot.co.uk/?m=1

Youtube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZ3QOjRcXP0SKeMgqdcWyNg

Getting To Know... Linda Hill

Today is my last Getting To Know... of 2016 and I am extremely delighted to be welcoming book blogger Linda Hill of Linda's Book Bag to Life Of A Nerdish Mum! 

You have an absolutely wonderful (and busy) blog, Linda's Book Bag, what inspired you to set this up?

Thanks for your kind words about the blog! I set up Linda's Book Bag because I wanted to share my love of books. I'd been a reviewer on the reader panel for https://www.lovereading.co.uk/ so I was already sharing reviews there and years ago I used to review teenage fiction for Hodder to see if it would be suitable for inclusion as class readers for KS3. Both these things made me feel it would be good to have my own blog where I could write about the books I'd enjoyed. Since then, it's grown and I also have guest posts, extracts, interviews and giveaways, especially to support those independently published authors who don't have a huge budget behind them for publicity.

On average how many books do you read in a year? Do you set yourself an annual goal?

Normally I would read between 150 and 200 books a year, but life has been tricky of late and I have hardly had any time for reading. I set myself a challenge on Goodreads to read 125 books this year and at the moment I'm on 106 but I have several reviews that I haven't added there yet as they are for blog tours coming up.

Do you have a favourite place to curl up and read?

Ideally it would be in the sun in the garden or on a beach, but anywhere will do. I really like long haul flights as I can get into a book and just read for the duration, so I suppose you could say a plane seat is a favourite place to read too - even in cattle class!

Do you have a particular way of organising your bookshelves or are books just placed where they fit?

You know, I used to be the most organised person in the universe, but now I'm so overwhelmed by books that they are everywhere. I have three book cases in the sitting room and one on the landing, 300 books under the spare bed, a huge set of shelves in my study (about a third of which is represented in the photo) and then a few (cough) awaiting a place on the side in my study too. That's after taking over 2000 between my husband and me to the Sue Ryder charity bookshop in Spalding over the last three years as we were supposed to be clearing out!

When you're not reading what would we find you doing?

First and foremost I'll be drinking tea. I'm addicted to it. After that I'll be outside. I love to garden and have an allotment. I spent 30 years moaning that our garden is too small so my husband organised an allotment for my birthday to shut me up and I'll often be seen there amongst my leeks and beetroot. We go for lots of walks and love to travel too. We've been all over the world from Antarctica to Zambia and have booked Lapland for our next trip followed by Uganda, where we will be trekking in the hope of seeing gorillas in the wild as wildlife is a huge passion too.

You were an English teacher, is that where your love of reading came from, or have you always been a big reader?

No, definitely not. I was a late reader. My sight is really poor and as I have an older sister who used to read with me, as my parents were so poor they were always working, no-one realised and it wasn't until I got glasses at the age of 8 that I really began to read. It was a miracle that those smudges had a shape and were letters that formed magical words. After that there was no stopping me and I read as much as I could as often as I could.

When you were a teacher, did you have a favourite book to teach as part of the curriculum?

Gosh, that's a tricky question. I always enjoyed teaching Macbeth as it's so dramatic and accessible. I loved reading Of Mice and Men with my students, although every time I taught it I still cried at the end and I think some of them thought I was mad. However, not a book, but a poem sticks in my mind most - Dulce et Decorum Est by Wilfred Owen. I had a top set of absolutely wonderful 15 and 16 year olds. We had been studying the war poets and it just happened that I was teaching them over the two minutes' silence at 11AM on one 11th November. I'd shown them the final episode of Blackadder Goes Forth (the episode when they go over the top and are slaughtered) and then we read and discussed the poem. We finished, by chance, exactly as the bell rang for the silence and at the end all of us were in tears. It was so moving I've never forgotten it.

Bookmark, random bit of paper or dog ear?

I nearly passed out when I saw 'dog ear - NO! NEVER! Though I have to admit, I have scores of wonderful bookmarks but more often than not it's whatever I have to hand - nail file, pen, specs, post-it, passport.

Do you have a favourite author?

Every time I read a book that touches my soul the writer becomes a favourite author. And since I began blogging there have been so many that it's impossible to say. From the classics it has to be Thomas Hardy.

Will we see a book by you in the future? If yes, what genre can we look forward to?

I have actually got my name on around 18 books as author and editor but they are all non-fiction resource books for teachers and students so I don't feel they count! I began NaNoWriMo in 2015 and have completed 26,000 words of a novel which could loosely be called women's fiction. I didn't finish it then as my husband was diagnosed with cancer on 6th November and that took all my time and attention. Since then 2016 has been so fraught waiting for my husband to get the all clear in February and again in September after more surgery and then the near death of my Dad from sepsis and the actual death at full term birth of our great niece Emma that, I didn't have the emotional energy for writing. I was going to complete it this November in NaNoWriMo, but when November arrived I'd spent 3-6 hours a day for the previous three and a half months visiting my Dad in hospital after he had a terrible stroke in July and supporting my Mum. Dad died on 9th November and the funeral was 25th with all the arrangements that causes so perhaps I'll do my own DeWriMo instead!

Thank you so much to Linda for taking the time to join me and answer my questions and for sharing with me so much.

To connect with Linda

Blog - https://lindasbookbag.com/

Twitter - @Lindahill50Hill

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/LindasBookBag/?fref=ts

Getting To Know... Sandra At Book Lover Worm

Today Life Of A Nerdish Mum is welcoming Sandra from Book Lover Worm to Getting To Know... 

Your blog, Book Lover Worm, is for all things bookish (and is wonderful). What inspired you to set this up?

Thanks! I started reviewing books, I think because I was aware more reviews got authors more awareness and I found it useful for me and my own records of what I'd liked and disliked.  After a while I realised that I was quite restricted in what I could do and wanted something that was more mine, than say Goodreads, so I started the blog and I'm really pleased with how it's doing given all the other things I have going on at the moment.

Looking at your reviews, you seem to have a preference for crime fiction, what is it that draws you to this genre?

I've always loved crime fiction. I started off reading Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys and other things like that when I was younger and moved on to Agatha Christie (books and tv/films) and it's progressed from there.  I like all types of crime fiction from cosy mysteries to gory crime and psychological thriller.  On a basic level I like the mystery itself, who did it and why but I'm also intrigued by the inner workings of someone's mind, what drives them to commit a crime. Why someone commits a crime will always be specific to them and it's that individuality that I find fascinating.

When you're not reading what would we find you doing?

Probably reading! I started an MSc in September which involves a lot of reading so if I'm not reading fiction then I'm probably deep into non-fiction, research articles or legal stuff.  Apart from that I like gaming, though my PS3 is quite neglected just now.  I also like going to the cinema but also watching tv at home, I'm a sci-fi fan so enjoying watching boxsets of Stargate SG-1 and Star Trek Voyager just now. Having said that I also like Disney/Pixar films so you might catch me watching one of those if I'm having a rare afternoon off!

Do you have a specific way that you organise your bookshelves or are they a random hotch potch?

I have one shelf full of books I haven't read yet. I also have a separate pile of books I've been sent for review but other than that I arrange my bookshelves so that the tallest books are at one or both ends, smallest in the middle and then I arrange based on what looks best to me always keeping books by the same author together.  

On average, how many books do you read in a year? Do you set yourself an annual goal?

I only started reading again a few years ago after not reading for ages due to a great deal of personal upheaval.  After the first year I discovered the Goodreads challenge and signed up so I could find out how much I read in a year but it varies hugely. For instance last year I think I read about 60 books whereas this year I'm already at 92 and it's still November, while I'm answering this, so I expect to reach at least 100 before the end of the year.  

What was your favourite book or series when growing up? 

I've already mentioned reading Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys but I also liked the Chalet School series and Sweet Valley High and a few of the Point Horror books. 

Bookmark, random piece of paper or dog ear?

Bookmark if I can find one or if the book is a special edition or fragile in some way, otherwise I dog ear I always have. I know lots of people don't like it but I find it really handy and it reduces the chance of losing a bookmark while on the train or out somewhere.

Do you have a favourite place to curl up and read?

I like reading in bed at night, I've posted the odd tweet to that effect, but if I'm not there I tend to be on the small sofa that I have which has a lamp and table next to it. This means I can have book, light, drink and snack all within easy reach. The lamp is bright enough to read by but not overly bright so it creates a nice, cosy corner of the lounge which is especially lovely in winter when it's dark outside.

Do you have a favourite author?

Now this is a tricky one! I have lots of authors I like, as I suspect does everyone, but there are a few that I always get impatient waiting for their next book to come out. Currently they are J.D. Robb (loving the In Death series!), Lucy Diamond, Rebecca Raisin and Rachael Lucas (always excited about their next books) and Paul Doherty and M.J. Lee (both write amazing historical crime fiction)

You recently passed a creative writing course, does this mean that we will see a novel from you in the near future?

I would love to write a novel, it's something I've thought about doing for years but never been sure if my writing was good enough.  The creative writing course showed me that while I am not currently a brilliant writer I can produce good work so hopefully, once things settle down or post MSc, I might manage to produce a full novel rather than just 2000 word stories.

Thank you very much to Sandra for joining for me! 

To Connect With Sandra at Book Lover Worm

Blog - https://bookloverwormblog.wordpress.com/
Twitter - @bookloverworm1

Twelve Days And Twelve Books Of Christmas - Day 1

Today I am kicking off my Twelve Days and Twelve Books Of Christmas feature and I'm going all the way back to January with my first recommendation. I will be covering one book a day for each month of the year up until Christmas Eve just in case you missed my announcement in my November wrap up. 

Day 1 - January Book - Six Of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can't pull it off alone...

A convict with a thirst for revenge
A sharpshooter who can't walk away from a wager
A runaway with a privileged past
A spy known as the Wraith
A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums
A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes 

Kaz's crew are the only ones who might stand between the world and destruction—if they don't kill each other first.

My Thoughts 

When Six Of Crows came out at the back end of 2015 I didn't really pay too much attention as I'd never read the Grisha Trilogy and so it never really came onto my radar. As more and more reviews came out and people were raving about it... and lets be honest the cover is flipping beautiful... I thought I'd at least take a look to see if it was a stand alone and what the synopsis was. I was instantly sold. I've never read a heist book (that I can remember) and the band of motley crew sounded so interesting. Finding out that it could be read without reading the Grisha Trilogy first just sealed the deal and off I went to buy it. It must have meant to be though as the book I bought is signed by Leigh Bardugo!

I would share my review but ahem this is it so far - "Review to follow when I have the words!" Even now I have a struggle not to just gush about how much I loved the world and the characters and that I thought the story was just so exciting. Hopefully this should tell you just how much I enjoyed it. I will be writing a proper review, but I plan on reading it again first so that I can hopefully put into words my feelings and to prepare me for Crooked Kingdom (which I own but I just haven't had the time to read yet so no spoilers if anyone has read it!). Also when I finished reading Six Of Crow I immediately went out and bought the Grisha Trilogy and I'm looking forward to reading them in 2017.

So this is my first recommendation. Have you read Six Of Crows or any Leigh Bardugo? If you have what did you think?

Tomorrow I will have my February book choice, so please come back to check that out!

About The Author

Leigh Bardugo is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Grisha Trilogy (Shadow and Bone, Siege and Storm, and Ruin and Rising). 

She was born in Jerusalem, grew up in Los Angeles, and graduated from Yale University, and has worked in advertising, journalism, and most recently, makeup and special effects. These days, she’s lives and writes in Hollywood where she can occasionally be heard singing with her band. Her new book, Six of Crows, arrives fall 2015.

She would be delighted if you followed her on Twitter, elated if you visited her web site, and downright giddy if you liked Shadow & Bone on Facebook. 

Getting To Know... Anna Osborne

Today on Getting To Know... I am welcoming Anna Franklin Osborne, author of Walking Wounded. 

Your debut novel, Walking Wounded, is set across WWI and WWII, what was the inspiration for using this time period?

I live in the past! I love historical fiction and spend an awful lot of time immersed in it. We were walking on a D-Day beach (simply because our ferry was late) and I began telling our kids about my 3 great-uncles who were there on that day, and about my gran, who stitched parachutes in preparation, then began reflecting on the fact that we all have not-so-distant relatives who were part of this incredible era. I began at the end of the 1st world war because I am interested in how war shapes lives, during and afterwards, as everybody picks up pieces of a life which was thrust upon them, and not necessarily what they had chosen.

When you're writing, do you have a set routine or schedule that you like to follow?

Er - not at all, I'm a working mum! When I realised that I was serious about writing, I bought a little tablet, small enough to fit into my handbag, on the basis that if it wasn't with me at all times, this just wouldn't happen. I typed most of Walking Wounded with this balanced on the steering wheel in my car waiting to pick up my daughter (she is beautifully featured on the cover!) so I suppose you could say I had a routine - 15 minutes every day between 3pm and 3.15! I also wrote in the mornings on holiday on a camping table amongst the pine trees while my family slept on inside our camper- all snatched but precious moments.

You have previously written some short stories, do you have a preference between writing them or a novel?

I love writing short stories and intend to do more - I find they can be such powerful little snapshots leaving a lot to the readers imagination. I never thought I could write a novel but found Walking Wounded unfolded as fast as my fingers could type, and now I must confess I can't wait to get into something bigger again - the beauty of a novel is that you really see it through to its fruition. So no, no preference, I see them as utterly different things - it's like asking me to choose between a Cadbury's Creme Egg and a bacon sandwich...

You are part of a choir, Chicken Soup, have you always been a singer?

No! I always sang in the shower and wished I could try it for real - I wasn't part of a church and the science set at school was never offered a chance to join the choir when I was a kid so never really had the opportunity. I received a flyer in my son's school bag one day, advertising a free, non-denominational choir locally, and decided to Just Do It. I went along, literally shaking with nerves, and LOVED it! I When this little group closed down, I went on to another and then to Chicken Soup (so named because chicken soup is good for you) and have never looked back. I now have lessons too and have done a tiny bit of solo work, which I think has to be the most exposed thing I have ever tried, and I really think being part of this wonderful group of people helped me realise that I had a creative side that needed exploring more. As I'm no artist, I tried writing...

When you're not writing what would we find you doing?

In my dreams or in real life?

In my dreams, sailing. Exploring a different place every day, sitting on deck with a glass of local wine every evening watching the sun go down with my husband at my side...

In real life, I continue to spend an awful lot of time running between my 2 jobs and ferrying the kids to all their clubs! the Mummy Taxi days are not over for some long time to come...

Do you have a favourite character that you have written so far?

No, not really, I loved them all! Possibly Stanley, because both the actual facts and our family folk-lore made him seem such a wonderful figure to me as I grew up that I was excited to imagine who he really was and what he was really like.

You are also a chiropractor, can you tell us anything about that and maybe give some tips to readers for how they should look after their backs?

Don't sit for too long!!!!! We are NOT designed for it - set a timer on your desk so you don't get swept away when you're writing - you should stand up and pace about for a couple of moments every 20 minutes - that's how little time it takes for your discs to start to deform under pressure!! And rescue a dog - 2 walks a day are the best way of staying active and fit for years to come.

Have you always known that you wanted to be an author?

Yes, I think so, but that was after astronaut and ballet dancer so it's lovely that this particular dream came true!

Do you have a favourite author?

No. I love so many different authors and genres. But perhaps, as I have spent so much time curled up in my armchair at sea with Jack Aubrey, I think I might have to choose Patrick O'Brian - the Jane Austen of the High Seas!

What can we look forward to from you next?

I am 'cooking' the idea for another novel now so hopefully I will be ready to start again very soon. I hadn't realised how much time and effort was involved in the aftermath of publication and am currently struggling to find time (again!), but will make it happen soon - my fingers are itching to start...

Thank you so much to Anna for taking time out of promoting Walking Wounded to answer my questions. 

To connect with Anna

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/GooseWingPublications/?fref=ts
Website - http://www.goosewingpublications.com/

Walking Wounded

Born at the end of the First World War, a young girl struggles to find her own identity in her big family and is pushed into a stormy marriage through a terrible misunderstanding from which her pride refuses to let her back down. As her own personal world begins to crumble, the foundation of the world around her is shaken as Germany once again declares war and her brothers and young husband sign up with the first wave of volunteers. 
Walking Wounded tells the story of those left behind in a Blitz-ravaged London, and of the web of loyalty, guilt and duty that shapes the decisions of the women awaiting the return of their men-folk as the war draws to a close. 
Spanning the period from the Armistice of the First World War to the exodus of the Ten Pound Poms to Australia in the 1950s, Walking Wounded is a family saga whose internal violence is mirrored by the world stage upon which it is set. 

Through The Gloaming by Katrina Jack - Review

Recently I was lucky enough to review Land Of Midnight Days by Katrina Jack, the first book in The Silver Flute Trilogy and I absolutely loved it! (my review is here) So when I got the chance to review the second book, Through The Gloaming, I absolutely jumped at it. If you haven't read the first book or at least my review, then head off and go and do that first. I will try and keep this as spoiler free as possible, but I'd hate for something to slip through and me not to have warned about it! 

Through The Gloaming

Sequel to Land of Midnight Days, Jeremiah's journey continues.

Robbed from birth of his voice, Jeremiah Tully is nonetheless a musician of astonishing ability. Having fled after the demon wars to a place of tranquility, he must now return to the city and start all over again.

This time his journey will take him into The Gloaming, a world steeped in perpetual twilight and filled with tormented souls, trapped forever in semi darkness.

My Review

We join Jeremiah and the gang, 6 months after the ending of Land Of Midnight Days and Jeremiah and Helen are in the land of the Elwyn but the time has come for them to return to the "real" world as their battle has not ended but only just begun.

I found I still loved all the characters throughout this book, in particular Jeremiah. Joe and the Monk. The Monk is a new character to the story but made a huge impression on me and I thought he was incredibly interesting. We also meet the Abbot in this book and he is an incredibly hateful but intriguing character as you can't help but thinking there's more to him than meets the eye. Sylvan (Jeremiah's mum) shows a lot of character growth in this book and I definitely started to feel a little warmer towards her. Zeb is his usual boorish self and I still cannot find anything to make me like him any more. He rushes into situations and causes more problems than necessary.

We see a lot more of Jeremiah's power of "seeing" peoples memories in Through The Gloaming which was really well used and made flash backs and explanations a lot more immersive as you were experiencing them the same as Jeremiah was. I'd like to see if Jeremiah has even more powers going into the next and final book.

I thoroughly enjoyed Through The Gloaming and my only real complaint is that these books just aren't long enough, I want more of this world and for everything to take longer so I can still be on this journey instead of only having one book left to read!

I gave this book 5 stars.

The Count Of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas - Review

I am horribly behind on my reviews of buddy reads! F and myself finished The Count Of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas back in September and we're on our third book since then. So here I am being good and catching up. I'll have reviews for The Essential Kafka and Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea in the next few days. 

The Count Of Monte Cristo 

The Count of Monte Cristo is one of the great thrillers of all time. In 1853 William Thackeray wrote to a friend: 'began to read Monte Cristo at six one morning and never stopped till eleven at night.'. Falsely accused of treason, the young sailor Edmund Dantes is arrested on his wedding day and imprisoned in the island fortress of the Chateau d'If. After staging a dramatic escape, he sets out to discover the fabulous treasure of Monte Cristo and catch up with his enemies. A novel of enormous tension and excitement, Monte Cristo is also a tale of obsession and revenge. Believing himself to be an 'Angel of Providence', Dantes pursues his vengeance to the bitter end, only then realizing that he himself is a victim of fate. 

My Review

The Count Of Monte Cristo has to be one of the biggest surprises for me this year. I really had doubts about reading it as I didn't really know much about it and it is quite a chunky book; but I absolutely fell in love with this book! 

Edmund Dantes is easily one of my new all time favourite characters. And I now have two all time favourite classics. I was considering if The Count Of Monte Cristo had knocked Crime And Punishment off its perch, but no I think they are both equal. 

I thought the writing was really wonderful and so easy to read. I loved the characters, both the good and the bad and I thought the story was so well thought out and just so very enjoyable. Apparently I like a good revenge story! If I ever need to get revenge on someone I hope I can do it with as much cunning, class and flair as the Count Of Monte Cristo! 

I can now see how this is a lot of peoples all time favourite classic as it is so much more accessible than a lot of other classics due to the language used and the stories aren't always relatable in modern times. Revenge however is understood through the ages. 

Overall a really excellent book, one I'm so glad that we picked up as buddy readers as I may have missed out on this if not. I really look forward to picking this up again in the future, so I can re read Dantes adventures. 

I gave this book 5 stars. 

An Auchenvale Christmas by Emily Anne Brandon - Review

I don't normally read Christmas themed books, but last year I made my first attempt as fitting in a Christmas novel to join in with the holiday reading festivities. It was an unmitigated disaster and my choice did not work out for me at all. I was unsure as to whether I was going to venture back into the Christmas literature world again this year, but I got the chance to read An Auchenvale Christmas by Emily Anne Brandon and the synopsis sounded great so I jumped right back in and I'm glad that I did. 

An Auchenvale Christmas

What would you do if you had to spend an entire weekend with your picture perfect family in a tiny Scottish village at Christmastime? What if your parents were so disappointed in your life choices that they thought you should go to therapy? What if your three successful sisters were all married to rich, handsome men? How do you admit that your thirty-something life looks more like a twenty-something life? How do you explain the humiliating chaos of crappy jobs, never-ending singledom and a permanent lack of cash flow? 

You don’t. You lie. 

The Fitzgeralds come together every year for the weekend before Christmas. It’s tradition. But Robyn can’t face a whole weekend of disappointing everyone yet again, so when a timely opportunity presents itself, she runs with it. She runs all the way to her childhood home with it. 

A perfect Winter novella to curl up in front of the fire with. 

My Review

Robyn is the main character in An Auchenvale Christmas and she is a perfectly average person, working perfectly average jobs and enjoying her girly nights out with her best friend. All of this isn't good enough for her family though who are all high fliers and so she is dreading the weekend before Christmas and the annual trip home. I found Robyn really relatable and I enjoyed listening to (reading) her Scottish brogue and the Scottish words that she uses.  

Robyn meets Jack her local bar tender who offers to help her out and pretend to be her boyfriend to make her trip home a little more bearable. Jack is an absolutely wonderful leading man and is really the perfect guy. He helps a girl out in need and loves her for what and who she is, not needing anything more than that. He's also hot and intelligent so he really is the whole package! 

Robyn and Jack make the trip to Auchenvale which I could picture vividly thanks to the authors fantastic descriptions. I really could feel the cold of the snow and see the beautiful countryside, and they brace themselves for a weekend with Robyn's family. Nothing is as it seems though and everyone has their own problems, some people are just better at hiding it than others. 

I really enjoyed this book and I loved that there was a happy ending. There were also some laugh out loud funny moments which really added to my love of the book. I read an Auchenvale Christmas in one sitting as it was so much fun and so easy to read. It definitely made me feel Christmassy and I'm extremely happy that I read it. This book has renewed my interest in trying out Christmas books. 

I gave this book 5 Stars.