Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Ask the Book Bloggers - Wendell from Bookwraiths

Today's guest is Wendell from Bookwraiths.

What made you want to be a book blogger?
Initially, I was drawn to the idea of being able to connect with other people who loved the same novels as I did. While Goodreads provided some sense of giving my opinion on the books I "liked" or "disliked", I wanted my own "space" where I could write whatever was on my mind about the genre of books that I love and get some feedback from others.

What have been your best book blogging experiences?
Honestly, there have been a lot, stretching from people actually discovering and reading my blog to making friends with other book bloggers to connecting with a group of spectacular authors. Each of those firsts were really memorable and spectacular in their own unique way.

What has been your worst book blogging experience?
Two really stand out to me.
One was a bad author experience I had when I first started blogging. Unfortunately, it was with a favorite author of mine from my teenage years, and while I should have foreseen the problems with trying to connect with this writer, it still hit me hard and destroyed the final remnant of any fanboy-hood that remained in my forty year old heart.

Two was the first really negative reaction I received to one of my reviews. In this case, a fan of a certain series took personal offense to my criticism of their favorite story and unloaded on me. Yet again, the extreme outrage at my honest opinion surprised me.

How many books do you own?
Close to a thousand, I believe. However, I do not really keep track anymore. In fact, I took it upon myself -- with a little encouragement from my wife, of course -- to go through my book collection this year and only keep those that I intended to re-read multiple times. Those books which did not fit that description found their way to my local used bookstore.

Who is your favorite author?
Like every book lover, I have lots of favorites, but J.R.R. Tolkien was my first love, so I suppose he will always be the author against whom I compare all others. Glen Cook, author of The Black Company, is a close second, however.

What is your favorite book of all time?
The Lord of the Rings is the fantasy classic that embodies all that I expect an epic fantasy novel to be.

What are your thoughts on ebooks?
Initially, I hated ebooks and refused to use an ereader. I eventually surrendered to the ebook revolution and now find that I really enjoy the convenience of them. I still buy hardcover editions of my favorite novels, however.

What are your thoughts on self-publishing?
Doesn't bother me at all. Sure, my friends who complain that self-publishing allows a lot of really bad books to see the light of day are right, but in my opinion, the few excellent authors and stories that have been discovered only due to self-publishing makes it all worth it.

Any literary aspirations?
When I was a lot younger, I dreamed of becoming a writer, but after years of procrastinating actually writing anything, I am starting to believe the "aspirations" were more wishful thinking. I do have an idea for a fantasy series that I would love to write one day, but who knows if I will ever find the time -- or the talent -- to put it down into words that others might appreciate.

What's your favorite joke of all time? 
In real life, I am an attorney, so I have people tell me lawyer jokes all the time, but my favorite is a really simple one: How do you get a lawyer out of a tree? Answer: cut the rope. I love telling that one to new attorneys, so I can see their faces go pale, as it becomes clear to them that they are now some of the most hated people in society.

Ask the Bloggers - Kelly from 52 Book Minimum

Today's guest is Kelly from 52 Book Minimum.

What made you want to be a book blogger?
It was a means to an end. About four times a year I was finding myself about 100 pages into a book I had already read and didn’t really like that well the first go-round. Blogging was a way to save me from my own brain and its frequent failures.

What have been your best book blogging experiences?
Having people who aren’t related to me actually visit my blog at all.

What has been your worst book blogging experience?
Being trolled on by authors and their minions for having the nerve to say I didn’t like the product they put out.

How many books do you own?
Not enough. NEVER ENOUGH!!!!!

Who is your favorite author?
Now THAT is a question you don’t ask a bibliophile. It changes all the time. Right now I’m kind of in a “dick lit” (copyright 2014 – The Book Boar) phase and loving on Jonathan Tropper, Nick Hornby, Carl Hiassen and Elmore Leonard.

What is your favorite book of all time?
East of Eden (‘cause I’m a classy mothafucka). But seriously, it actually is East of Eden. I read it back in high school and have re-read it a dozen times since.

What are your thoughts on ebooks?
I prefer paper, but I do own a Kindle. (It’s harder for people to figure out you are reading porn at your kids’ school functions when you’re using an eReader.)

What are your thoughts on self-publishing?
WARNING: UNPOPULAR OPINION TIME. I’m not a fan. I think if you have the talent to write a book (that people will actually want to pay for and read), then a publishing house will pick it up.

Any literary aspirations?
God no. I already use gifs to fill in my lack of talent when I review books. The world really doesn’t need to see any more of my writing inability.

What's your favorite joke of all time? 
The Aristrocrats. I’ll let you Google and choose your favorite delivery (mine is Gilbert Gottfried at the Friars Club Roast of Hugh Heffner).