February's #ReaderInterview, part 2: J from @life_love_fandoms

Welcome back to part two of this month's Reader Interview with J! :) If you missed part one you can check it out HERE.

Since we recently finished the Book Boyfriend #k8chat on Twitter and, at the time of me sending this, will be doing a Prince one this upcoming week (yay), tell us about your top three book boyfriends or princes, and what makes them so special.

Will Treaty from the Ranger's Apprentice series. I've been with Will through twelve books, so you can guess that I'd be pretty attached to him. He's a super planner, coffee lover, archery master, cloak-wearer, animal lover, funny, sweet, a pretty talented musician (he also sings), and to top it all off, he also cooks. Believe it or not, that's just the tip of the iceberg. What's not to love?

Peregrine from the Under the Never Sky trilogy. Quiet. Mysterious. Brooding. Peregrine is a character you really have to take your time with. He keeps you guessing for a while and before you know it you're hooked. He's a hunter who's great with a bow and arrow and has excellent observation skills. He's pretty lethal, but he also has a definite soft side. Peregrine's friends and family mean more to him than anything and it clearly shows. He's a sweetheart with a definite edge. All in all he's an incredible character and one I always find myself coming back to.

Logan McEntire from the Courier's Daughter trilogy. Logan is a technological genius. He can build anything he puts his mind to (so long as he has the parts) and has a habit of analyzing every situation and breaking them down into neat lists of best and worst case scenarios. Don't let his brains fool you though, this tech head is incredibly skilled with a sword, as well as with a nifty little weapon of his own creation he calls a "switch". Add that to his sweet and considerate personality, and desire to take care of others, and you'll see why he makes my top three.
 

 
How about your favorite female MC?
 
This is probably the hardest question thus far. I have several girls who are all very deserving of this title, but I'm going to go with Audra from Let the Sky Fall by Shannon Messenger. Audra, to put it simply, is a "get it done" type of girl. She's a seventeen year old Sylph guardian, who protects her charge no matter what it costs her. (You've kind of got to admire her determination.) Even though she's not as popular as Tris she would definitely give her a run for her money in the bravery and toughness department. With that said, she's not some hardcore emotionless robot either. She's relatable (at least to me), clever, and has a fire to her, without being impulsive. (I find that to be rather refreshing) Audra is a unique character and I love seeing how she thinks and feels about everything going on around her.

 
What’s your favorite YA title? (You don’t have to have read it yet.) 
 
Open Thy Heart. I love the title, because it's incorporated into the story. It's not just thrown in though, it actually has a heavy significance. It's poetic, yet I feel like it also helps to shape not only the book itself, but the series for what is to come. 

Why thank you! :) I love it, too! 

Do you have a favorite line or quote? 

"Break my heart. Break it a thousand times if you like. It was only ever yours to break anyway." ~Maxon Shreave. The One by Kiera Cass
 
*cue tears and feels attacks*

Favorite reading snack?
 
Nutella!!!!!

What’s the oddest thing you’ve used as a bookmark?

I think I used a random coupon I found in my mom's bag. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

Indeed they do! ;) 


Thanks so much for being here--I had a lovely time interviewing you!

Check out J's lovely bio, and feel free to connect with her at the places listed below:

8 Things About J:

1. I am terrible at describing myself. (You would think that after 18 years I'd be better at it by now.)
2. I've been running my fandom account on Instagram for almost two years.
3. I'm very passionate about books and music.
4. I'm very creative, but I'm also a perfectionist when it comes to anything creative I do.
5. I firmly believe that coffee is a God-given right; not a privilege.
6. I am currently writing my first book and I'd like to write a trilogy. (Provided I survive this one, of course.)
7. I nickname all of my close friends.
8. When I find a book I love I feel morally obligated to make as many people read it as I possibly can. (Mainly indie novels. I read a lot of those and always want someone to discuss them with.)

Instagram: @life_love_fandoms
Twitter: @lifelovefandoms
Kik: @life_love_fandoms

November's Reader Interview with Madisyn, part two

Welcome back to day two of November's reader interview with Madisyn! If you missed day one, go HERE.

Name an interesting/unique element in a book that you really enjoyed:

I loved the overall concept of Delirium by Lauren Oliver. The fact that love is considered a disease is crazy to me. Like it’s not even like it’s just romance love, there isn’t even a strong love between parents and child or siblings. I just couldn’t imagine love being a bad thing, but the book was fascinating!

What’s the first thing you read when you get a book (blurb, back, et cetera)?

It all depends on how soon I play on reading the book. If I plan on reading it soon, I just start reading it or put it on my shelf until I read it. If I don’t plan on reading it for a while, I’ll read the back. I hate reading the back of books before I read them though. It almost spoils the beginning of the book for you. It’s harder for me to get attached if I read the back.

Agreed! I've even stopped reading entire blurbs from Goodreads when I'm getting ready to read for the same reason!

Name a book you didn’t think you’d like, but ended up being pleasantly surprised by.

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch. I went into it just thinking I was reading it for WIRC (Westmoreland Interscholastic Reading Competition), and I wasn’t going to care about it, just reading it for the competition. But the book was fascinating, I loved it. It was so emotional and not what I was expecting. I plan on using Randy Pausch for any essays or anything when I need a person or nonfiction book for school. I’d suggest reading it! ;)

List one book-to-movie adaptation NOT yet in the works that you’d love to see happen:

I don’t believe Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac is in the works. It was written by Gabrielle Zevin, and it was extremely emotional and thought-provoking. I’d love to see it as a movie!

Paper, or ebooks?

My first instinct is definitely paper because I have like 500 or so books, and I love the feel of books and everything! But my Kindle is so convenient and cheap! I can get books for free or like $2 and stuff like that. Plus I can get books at 4 am with no judging from crazies. I will always say paper over ebooks though…

Worst book hangover?

Ha! Ha! My first thought was Clockwork Princess or Allegiant. Then my mother got involved and screamed, “Sing me to Sleep!” So, yeah…I uhh…that was a bad day. So I read it all in one night until 4am. They also had a song from the book (pretty sad and emotional), so I played it on repeat for a while. I’m like bawling my eyes out for hours. I finally fall asleep, and wake up the next morning. My mom’s all worried because there’s a bunch of used tissues and an empty tissue box on the floor by my bed. I have makeup stains down my face because I didn’t take it off before my cry fest. I listen to that song all day at a loud volume, running around my house ranting and crying. At like 2pm, I sit down to try to start a new book, then I relate a character to Derek (from Sing me to Sleep) and start crying and give up. My cousin came up to scrapbook with my mom, so I’m like I NEED to read a new book. I pull out this short book that looks good. I read it that night until 2am. So, yeah, that book was about a girl grieving over her dead boyfriend with memories and flashbacks, and I cried more. I was an emotional wreck for the next week, and I COULD NOT start a new book until almost the end of July. 

And... that ends this month's reader interview! Thanks so much for doing the reader interview, Madisyn! :D

It was fabulous! Thanks for inviting me to do it! You have really awesome, hard questions too!

Hi there! I'm Madisyn! I have multiple accounts on social media because I'm obviously an obsessed book nerd that dedicates her life to books and accounts dedicated to books. Here's a beautiful list of important things to help you get to know me better:

 Blog | Tumblr | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Figment | Pinterest 

October's Reader Interview with Kaitlin... part two

Welcome back to day two of October's Reader Interview with Kaitlin from Reading is My Treasure! If you missed part one yesterday, go HERE. Continuing yesterday's questions... 

Name a secondary character you’d love to be friends with in real life:

Ric from Danielle Ellison’s Salt series had a great personality, so I wouldn't mind being friends with him.

Secondary character you’d like to tell a thing or two to:

I’m not really sure if she’s considered a secondary character or not, but Gerald’s sister in Reality Boy by A.S. King was a horrible person. I would like to tell her what a bad sister she was.

Villain you’d love to see in real life (even if just from afar):

I wouldn’t want to see any in real life, but the villain I would be most willing to see would have to be the Duchess of the Lake from The Jewel by Amy Ewing. She probably dresses well.

What is your favorite YA cover of all time? What made it so great?

Jessica . . . that’s such a hard question! There are so many amazing ones and I’m pretty sure my favorite changes at least every other day. That said, The Heir by Kiera Cass is my favorite at this very moment. It is beautiful. It’s definitely my favorite of the series and I just adore it.

Nice choice! It is gorgeous!

Most recent book that made you laugh:

Loop by Karen Akins was a really fun read. That one made me laugh quite a few times!

Name a character you’d never want to be stranded with on a desert island.

I’ll pick someone from a book I recently read: Queen Levana from The Lunar Chronicles. She is definitely not a friendly character that I’d want to be around. Plus, she would most likely take control of my mind and make me do everything for her. She would be the queen of the island and I would be her own personal slave.

Strangest storyline you’ve read lately, and why:

I read Slaughterhouse-Five earlier this year and it was definitely a strange read, mainly because there was time travel that resulted in jumps from one time to another. There was also a lot of weird things happening in the story, like an alien abduction.

Last, being a book blogger, you’re able to receive a LOT of ARCs (Advanced Reader Copies). Are there any that you’re looking forward to (or really hoping to get your hands on) in the coming months?

Yes. LOTS. You know there are some seriously amazing looking books releasing in 2015, right? I’m looking forward to The Orphan Queen by Jodi Meadows, None of the Above by I.W. Gregorio , Denton’s Little Deathdate by Lance Rubin, The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord, Liars, Inc. by Paula Stokes, and so many more!

Thanks so much for being here at LMTAS, Kaitlin! :D

Thank you so much for having me! :)



About Kaitlin:  I love books (of course), gorgeous book covers, polished rocks, gemstones, food, lists, and Pepsi. My current obsessions are The Vampire Diaries and Orphan Black. I spend most of my time reading, blogging, tweeting, or just looking at books. I've never been good at introductions. Connect with Kaitlin at Reading is My Treasure | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

September's Reader Interview with Geeky Chiquitas, part two

Welcome back to part two of this month's reader interview with Geeky Chiquitas! You can read part one, HERE.

Here's a question I ask pretty much every time: Tell us one character you'd never want to trade places with.

Beryl: Okay, this one's hard. Uhm I'd probably choose Hazel Grace from The Fault in our Stars. She may have a pretty romantic love story but it's just the worst to have cancer and the love of your life dying.

Audrey: I would never want to trade places with Katniss Everdeen. I admit she is badass but her life is terrible. Like I am never, ever, ever, ever, EVER, trading places with her. If I was in her place, I would probably sleep through the whole thing. Then they'd draw me out with fire, but I would be too lazy to run through my sleepy haze so I would probably die. Yeah.

Kimi: I would never trade places with Tris from Divergent. I think everyone knows why.

If someone were to borrow a book from you, what would be the first thing they'd notice?

Beryl and Audrey: If someone were to borrow a book from us, they wouldn't really notice anything. The only thing that we do to books is wrap them so, I don't know. Maybe they'd notice that?

Kimi: They'd notice how nice the book is and how Much I take care of my books so they'd get scared of ruining it or folding the covers or something.

Do you prefer an e-reader, paperback, or hardcover?

Definitely paperback! E-reader can easily strain our eyes plus you can't smell and feel the pages. For hardcover, it's more expensive than a paperback and it's even bulkier so we think paperback is the best.

Favorite book swag:

We haven't actually received a lot of book swags from authors BUT our favorite is the one we got from Marie Landry, few months ago.

The popularity of social media has made interacting with authors easier than ever for readers/fans. In previous Reader Interviews, both Nikki and Matt said they prefer Twitter over other social media platforms. Do you agree? Why or why not?

Twitter has definitely helped us reach out to authors and different bloggers, so yes we agree but Audrey still does not have twitter because she's too lazy. Although, she also agrees with us.

Tell us your favorite book cover of all time.

Audrey: I like the cover of Fangirl. It is adorable!! SUPER adorable, like if it's a person, I'd pinch its cheeks. Yeahhh.

Kimi: I love love love the cover of Landline! It's beautiful!

Beryl: I love the cover of The Museum of Intangible Things by Wendy Wunder! It's super cute, fun and easy on the eyes. 

Thanks so much for being here, ladies! :) 

For more about Audrey, Kimi, and Beryl, check this out!

August's Reader Interview, Part Two

Welcome to part two of this month's Reader Interview! Nikki W. from Fiction Freak is August's reader. If you missed yesterday's post, go here.

Welcome back, Nikki! :)

You’ve been a plethora of author signings. (I may or may not be jealous about this.) Which event was your favorite, and what made it so memorable?

Soooo...Teen Author Carnival was my first ever, but while I met a lot of my favorite authors there, it wasn't my favorite. Because I had NO IDEA WHAT THE HECK AN AUTHOR SIGNING WAS AND DID NOT BRING ANY BOOKS AND BARELY GRABBED SWAG BECAUSE I WAS JUST LIKE WHAT IS FREE STUFF.

Ahem. Sorry a bit angry at my little eleven year old self (40 authors. 40.)

But Teen Book Con definitely! It's annual and there are always at least 10 authors I'm dying to meet who are there. The first time I went, about 3 authors recognized me (whether because I tweeted them to the point of annoyance in excitement or because they were my friend isn't important, is it?) and I remember feeling absolutely SQUEALFUL.

Name an author who might not be as widely known, but whose work you truly enjoy.

Okay, so truth be told I've really only read about one book from the following authors but I'll pretty much read anything from them: Jennifer McGowan, Leila Sales, and Leslye Walton.

Is there a book you would love to see adapted into a movie that is not yet currently in the works? What element would you look forward to seeing most, and why?  

Throne of Glass! The Bone Season! How to Lead a Life of Crime! (If it's not a gorgeously vivid world...that they better get right, then a school for criminals sounds pretty promising, no?)

Name a book you didn’t think you would like, but ended up being pleasantly surprised by.

Keeper of the Lost Cities! It's a Middle Grade by Shannon Messenger and I'm not a huge MG fan, but HOLY CRAP I loved it. (Also Finnickin of the Rock because all the hype surrounding it and my not-so-much-love for Jellicoe Road.)

I just have to break in here and agree with Finnikin of the Rock because, FINNIKIN. (And even though I loved Jellicoe Road, I get why it wasn't for you. Now back to Finnikin... Ahem. Just kidding.)

If I recall, you used to save your favorite book quotes and hang them up (or was this someone else?). Do you have a favorite quote you would like to share? (If so, please tell us what book it is from and state the author.)

THAT WAS INDEED ME. (But I have since switched rooms so I should really start a quote wall again. Soon.)

But anyways. There are a ton of books that have gorgeous quotes. The Fault in Our Stars, The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender, The Storyteller, Impossible Knife of Memory. (ANYTHING BY LAUREN OLIVER OR TAHEREH MAFI .) But here's one (credited to William Shakespeare, but it turns out, not ): "When I saw you, I fell in love, and you smiled because you knew."

Worst ever cliffhanger (can be a series you have or have not yet finished):

Crown of Midnight, Heir of Fire (SARAH J MAAS IS KILLER), Stolen (Okay so technically this is a standalone BUT I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.) and Mark of Athena. (We've verified that Rick Riordan is indeed evil.)

Last question: Are there any books not yet released that you’re looking forward to this year?

Hmm. You don't want me to answer this question, do you? Because I have a list of 88 2015 books I need to buy. 

Thanks for being here, Nikki! Feel free to check out Nikki's blog, Fiction Freak, or talk to Nikki on Twitter!

About Nikki:

I’m a 14 year old Pisces who adores books and the blogosphere. My dream is to study abroad at either France or London and I’ve been self teaching myself French since I was 13, although I’m not very consistent about it lol. I’m a pretty crazy and insane person who sometimes gets philosophical. I get impulses at about 1 AM in the morning and act on them, though they usually die out. I’m a attempted YA writer who never really sticks to one project, so you can say I have a short attention span (although I always come back to the same project!) I’m obsessed with immortalizing my childhood memories and you could say I’m artsy and creative–although the creative part may be stretching it! And in the mean time, as I wait to become a psychologist or editor or whatever, I totally want to work in an indie bookstore! I SHALL WORK IN ONE ONE DAY!

May's Reader Interview with Matt, Part Two

Welcome to day two of Reader Interviews, a monthly feature here at Let Me Tell You a Story! Matt is an all-around great guy who loves to read, write and blog YA. (If you missed part one of Matt's Reader Interview, click HERE.)

Matt with Stephenie Meyer

Continuing where we left off... What is your favorite book cover of all time, and why? 

I KNEW THERE WOULD BE HARD QUESTIONS. As an artist, this one's a toughie. So I'm going to cheat and give more than one answer...

I'm gonna go with The Clockwork Princess, because it's BEAUTIFUL!!! It reflects the Victorian era in which the series takes place and it displays the mystic beauty of Tessa. And the cover is STROKABLE. Plus, if you open it up, there's a family tree of shadowhunters on the inside. Mind=blown. Just kidding, I had one answer after all. (But I'm also in love with the Grisha trilogy covers).

How about favorite title?

I hate picking favorites because I feel like I'm betraying my other precious lovelies. But ALL of Tom Clancy's books have epic titles! If you look them up, you'll feel satisfied just reading them all off.

I know you also love to write. If you could ask your favorite author one question regarding the writing process, what would it be?

WILL YOU WRITE A BOOK WITH ME??? And when I say 'with me' I really mean sit back and watch you work your magic while I stand in awe, contributing a few cool sounding words here and there.

Most recent book that made you laugh:

I actually read over something in my novel, and I laughed hysterically. Does that count??

Name one character you would never want to be stranded with on a desert island.

President Snow. Because he'd irritate me to the point of murdering him. Then I'd feel bad for killing an old man. (First thing that came to mind).

What merits a book making its way onto your personal favorites list?

If it's well-written, if I can relate to the characters, if the characters are believable and real, if the plot pulls me in, if it makes me feel satisfied at the end, if I get emotionally attached to characters, if it makes me want to advertise it to the world.

I like to say I "initiate" all of my books into the family by spilling coffee, chocolate on them, or both. Is there anything that you enjoy eating or drinking while you read? 

Chips and salsa. But I always get salt between the pages...

E-reader, paperback, or hardcover?

I prefer owning hardbacks, but paperbacks are more comfortable to read. I tolerate E-readers in desperate situations.

Have you read any books recently with low expectations that ended up rocking your socks?

The Fault in Our Stars!!! I thought it would be a cute love story but WOW!! So much depth. Also Across the Universe by Beth Revis! I started reading it before I went to bed (big mistake) and I literally stayed up ‘til 4:30am devouring every page. It was spectacular and I wanted more when I finished. (READ IT FOLKS.)

If someone borrowed your books, what would be the first thing they'd notice?

They're in perfect condition. Okay, that's a total lie. They have signs of love and lots of reading on them.

Have you ever read a character so entertaining, you actually wished you had a friend like that in real life?

URIAH (from Divergent). He is 100% me, and I've always wanted a friend like me. My twin brother is nothing like me.

A lot of readers save their favorite quotes (my middle daughter has tabs stuck throughout a lot of our books). Do you have one you'd like to share?

"We accept the love we think we deserve." -- The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

It's profound. And it's a flaw we all possess.

Dystopian, sci-fi, or contemporary?

Dystopian. I own more dystopians than anything else. (Plus, I kind of wrote one).

Last, is there a book-to-movie adaptation not yet in the works that you would love to see happen? If so, why?

Across the Universe by Beth Revis. HANDS DOWN. But it would have to be EXACTLY LIKE THE BOOK. Because it's perfect the way it is. That is all.

Thanks so much for being here today, Matt, and letting us pick your brain! :D 

But wait... Matt isn't finished yet... he added HIS OWN question! ;D And here it is...

What is your favorite novel of all time and why?

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Patterson. It has adventure and discovery, love and friendship, magic and imagination, brilliance and depth. I read it when I feel sad. I've practically memorized it. It's precious to me. Everyone should read it AT LEAST once.

Matt with Neal Shusterman

About Matt: Book Blogger, Reader, Friend, Aspiring Author! Jesus, Books, Sports, Friends, Food, Blogs, Awesome! 
Find Matt at That Crazy Fanboy or on Instagram: crazy_cato | Twitter: MattCrazy_ http://coffeelvnmom.blogspot.com/2014/05/mays-reader-interview-with-matt-part-one.html