BBAW Interview Swap

As part of the BBAW events I get the opportunity to interview Amy from My Friend Amy. I was rather excited because this week was all her idea and she deserves lots of recognition for such a great idea!

1. As the brains behind Book Blogger Appreciation Week, what has it come to mean to you? Has it changed how you look at the blogging community?

BBAW has always been a labor of love for me. I am genuinely thrilled there's a group of such amazing, intelligent, thoughtful people who take time out of their lives to write about books. I love the way book blogging allows us to create community around books as well as discover new ones. I am still amazed by this.

Yes it has changed the way I view the community in that I realized it's truly a community. Which means that the first year I went into it all naive and honeymoon-ish and was quickly reminded that real flesh and blood individuals write book blogs. And even though I have the best of intentions with BBAW, I will at times hurt people feelings without meaning to or cause them to feel marginalized when that is the opposite of my goal. It's something that I've really had to keep in mind every year. I hope that most bloggers know the very last thing I want to do is make them feel any less than appreciated--which they are--deeply.

2. What are some books that you are particularly interested in buying when they come out?

I really like YA paranormal and dystopian. These are the kinds of books I end up spending more money on than others. I really rely on recommendations for other purchases, or trusted authors.

3. If you had to pick three, what were your favourite reads of the year?

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins was the most powerful read for me.
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
The Sacredness of Questioning Everything by David Dark

4. You get a chance to guest star on one of your favourite tv shows. Which show would it be and what would your character be doing?

Um, I would totally guest star on The Vampire Diaries and I would be seducing Damon naturally! :P

5. Is there a book you have read in the last couple years that you would love to see made into a movie? If so, any thoughts on the casting?

You know, I would really like to see Hate List by Jennifer Brown made into a move-- it felt very cinematic while I was reading it. However, I have no idea on casting, I'm terrible at that!

6. Earlier this year I talked about childhood and books that you feel have influenced you as a result of reading them back then. Do you have a book that you feel influenced who you are today?

You know, I'm puzzling over this question. I think the Little House books framed what I think of as family and survival, the BFG taught me all not all monsters are bad, and the Best Christmas Pageant Ever made me realize that beauty is for everyone. But that's not a great answer is it? These were all books my mom read out loud to me.

7. On Historical Tapestry a few people have been posting about their 'Books of a Lifetime'. If you were to make a list off the top of your head spanning your life so far, what would you choose to include?

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Silence by Shusaku Endo
The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins
The Vampire Diaries by L.J. Smith
The Mark of the Lion series by Francine Rivers
Nothing but Ghosts by Beth Kephart
The Baby-sitters Club by Ann M. Martin
Nancy Drew by Carolyn Keene

8. Have you discovered any new blogs this year that you believe deserve more attention?

I really love Jason Gignac's blog Moored at Sea. He blogs sporadically but he's one of the most insightful writers out there I think. Another blog I really love is Sarah Clarkson's Thoroughly Alive. Sarah has an amazing gift for words and a deep and abiding love for story.

9. If people could know just one thing about you, what would it be?

That I do my best.

10. We have been discussing another buddy review. Any thoughts on what book you want to read for it?

I thought we were going to do The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters! (ha ha ha! Oops! We are! Don't mind me... lol)