Today, I am pleased to welcome Cliona from Bookster Reviews for a Book Blogger Month Interview! Cliona is one of my favourite bloggers and her blog is really wonderful so make sure you pop over once you've read her brilliant answers to the questions...
Hi Beverley! It's great to be here :)
When and why did you decide to set up a blog?
I set up Bookster Reviews in November 2010. I had been re-reading all of my books, and was getting restless, and I wanted to get some book recommendations. So I went on the website of Threads by Sophia Bennett. I saw a link to The Mile Long Bookshelf, a great blog which I still love, and I went it. At the time, I had no idea what a blog was, but after reading TMLB for about a month, I figured it out and decided to set up my own! Thanks to Amber from TMLB who explained it all to me!
For anyone who still hasn’t visited your blog (although I can tell them they’re missing out!), describe Bookster Reviews in five words...
Awww thanks! Hmmm... book reviews for book lovers!
I participate in two memes at the moment, on/off! They are In My Mailbox (hosted by The Story Siren) and Top Ten Tuesday (hosted by The Broke and the Bookish). I love both of these, but if I had to pick it would be IMM. Not only do I love to post it, I look forward to Sundays because I love to see all the fabulous books other bloggers get!
Have you interviewed any authors or bloggers?
Yes, I have interviewed three authors, Sophia Bennett, Luisa Plaja, and Ellie Daines, who all had brilliant answers to my questions!
You took a break from blogging because it didn't seem as fun as it was when you first started, what advice would you give to someone who finds themselves in the same situation?
Definitely take a break. It really helped me. I was really busy at the time, as well as being a bit bored with blogging, and it was nice to have a break and read some of my own books, with no stress of ' Oh I have to review this! What will I say?'. But now I'm back and I LOVE writing reviews again! I think it's good just to take a short break every once in a while, and get on a bit with real life!
What do you have in store for readers of your blog in the coming year?
I plan to make Bookster Reviews better than ever, posting more reviews, hopefully at least 4 a month. I also want to do more varied posts, like more interviews with authors and bloggers, and discussion posts.
Definitely take a break. It really helped me. I was really busy at the time, as well as being a bit bored with blogging, and it was nice to have a break and read some of my own books, with no stress of ' Oh I have to review this! What will I say?'. But now I'm back and I LOVE writing reviews again! I think it's good just to take a short break every once in a while, and get on a bit with real life!
What do you have in store for readers of your blog in the coming year?
I plan to make Bookster Reviews better than ever, posting more reviews, hopefully at least 4 a month. I also want to do more varied posts, like more interviews with authors and bloggers, and discussion posts.
Oooh there are so many! Luisa Plaja, J.K. Rowling, Darren Shan, Sophia Bennett, Sarah Webb, Robert Muchamore, Lauren Oliver, and Sara Shepard are a few! My favourite books are all of the books by the authors I mentioned, as well as Girl, Missing by Sophie McKenzie, Forgive My Fins and Fins Are Forever by Tera Lynn Childs, the Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead, Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen #1 and #2, and my all-time favourite book is The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson. Amazing stuff! And loads more.
If you had the chance to meet a fictional character, who would it be?
Probably Hermione from Harry Potter. I think I' m quite like her and we would get on really well! I would especially love to be her actually - and go on all the exciting Harry Potter adventures!
Are there any books you are looking forward to read in 2012?
Tons! I'll narrow it down to 6 because otherwise we'd be here all day :) The Future of Us, The Statistical Probability of Love At First Sight, Insurgent, Pandemonium and Brothers To the Death, and the one I'm probably looking forward to the most, Zom-B, Darren Shan's new series! Also, I've heard J.K. Rowling is publishing a new book! *OMG moment* It's for adults, but I'll definitely read it anyway! I'm not sure if it's released this year though or in 2013. And I want to read a lot of my own books, clear off my shelves a bit, to make room for new books!!!
What would you like to be when you are older?
I would love to do something in publishing! Like an editor, or the person who decided what books should be published, or advertising the book would all be great! Or maybe a journalist, because I love writing, just not fiction... :) Unlike most readers actually! I wouldn't mind being a nurse, doctor or a policewoman either. A doctor or nurse would be great because biology is really interesting and you could save lives! And, c'mon, a policewoman would be AWESOME. Fighting crime, saving lives - it sounds like something out of my favourite books! Actually, you know what else would be cool? An FBI agent, or a secret spy or a detective! Like in Criminal Minds! Sorry, I watch too much TV :) And clearly have no idea what direction my life is going in!
And finally, do you like to read and daydream?
All the time! But not at the same time! Because then I wouldn't be able to concentrate on my books, and we couldn't have that happening now, could we? :)
Book or e-book: Book
Cats or dogs: Dogs
Cathy Cassidy or Cathy Hopkins: Cathy...eh...oh I can't pick!
Sophia Bennett or Sophie McKenzie: Sophia Bennett
Threads or The Look: They're both amazing, but probably Threads!
Reading or writing: Reading
Thanks so much for having me at A Reading Daydreamer, Beverley!
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Thanks again to Cliona for participating in Book Blogger Month and I hope you enjoyed reading this interview :) Now, I'll count to three and you can go over to Bookster Reviews - one... two... three...













Great interview! Good luck with your goals for posting, as well as reading all those books on your wishlist. Yay, a fellow dog-lover!
ReplyDeleteGreat interview. Cliona is a great blogger with a fab blog so, like you Beverley, I encourage everyone to go and check out her blog! :D
ReplyDeleteI love IMM too -- isn't Kristi the biggest genius for coming up with it?? ;)
ReplyDeleteAnd I felt the exact same way about blogging for a while! It's just so much work and stress, and at times it gets really frustrating to have to think about writing a review for a book instead of just enjoying it. But I found that, after taking a brief break, I kind of missed the blogosphere and all of the amazing people in it, so it feels so good to be back! :)
Awesome interview, you two! <3 It's nice to meet you, Cliona!