Welcome to Aside from Writing, Emily, we’re really excited to be talking with you today about your book blog Confessions of a Bookaholic and the Goodreads group your run: Books, Blogs, Authors and More, which has quickly become one of our favourites 🙂 

 So…can you tell us a little about yourself and the blog/group?

Well my name is Emily (as you already know) and I am a self professed bookaholic. There’s never a time when I don’t have a book on the go.

My blog, Confessions Of A Bookaholic is a place where I express my views on books I have read and share news that excites me. I also have author interviews and guest reviews although ive only had one person send me a review.

My group; Books, Blogs, Authors and More is very new. In fact I only set it up a few days ago. I made it because people needed a place to promote their blogs and books that focuses primarily on just that.

What prompted you to start writing the blog in the beginning?

Well I was searching the web and I came across a review blog and I was very bored that day so I decided to make one too. Since then it has become a kind of obsession of mine, my friends are probably sick of me constantly  telling them how many followers I have. But they put up with me 🙂

What about the Goodreads group? Was there anything particular you want the group to achieve?

Ah the group, well it was my second group that I had made on good reads and I really wanted more followers without the hassle of searching through all the groups to find one where I can submit my link. So I just made a group to save me and others the fuss. As its only been open a few days I hope to get many more members and see many other people’s blogs.

What’s been the best part of running the group? Any particular highlights for you?

I like it when I get positive comments or when I get a new follower then see they came from my group. I also love getting tips on how to make it better because then I know people like it enough to want to improve it.

You’re right – followers are one of the best parts of running a blog – it’s nice seeing that people like what you’re doing. If that’s the nice side, what are the hardest parts of being a moderator?

Hmmm… The hardest part has to be keeping the group interesting and active because at some point we all run out of ideas, yes even me.

What’s an ideal day for you – and how do you fit your writing, reading and blog work into that?

An ideal day for me… That would probably be a day when I don’t have any work to do so I can just relax. Usually I blog on a morning and read on a nighttime. I don’t know why it just always seems to work out that way. I am also attempting to write a story but I only usually do that on a weekend when I have the whole day.

So – blogging, moderating, reviewing AND a writer in the making too…you’re as crazy as us! 🙂 You must meet a lot of authors through the group and blog – what do you like best about the engagement you get with them?

I like it when a writer actually writes to me and says they are a fan of my blog instead of me telling them I’m a fan. I also love it when I write to an author and they write back even though they are really busy. An example of this is the interview I had with Daniel waters who was the only one of the fifteen authors to reply and agree to an interview.

And what’s the best bit about connecting with fellow readers?

I love it when they comment on my posts because I know someone is actually listening to what I have to say and not just following my blog for the sake of it. I have 57 followers but I doubt most of them have read my blog, the ones who do though I am thankful.

What genres/authors do you love to read?  

My favourite genres are Paranormal Romance, YA, Dystopia and Urban Fantasy. As most are written for my age I find it easier to become engrossed in than lets say horror (which I do like but it’s harder to get into). My favourite authors wow that’s a hard one. Probably Richelle Mead,  Rachel Caine, Suzanne Collins, Cassandra Clare, Jeaniene Frost and Malorie Blackman. They are all VERY talented authors.

Any ‘must have’ books that you want to get hold of in 2012? Or good ones to recommend so far?

There’s loads, the ones I’m looking forward too most are The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead, Black Dawn by Rachel Caine and Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare.

Books I would recommend are Bloodlines and Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead, The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare, Morganville by Rachel Caine and The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.

Random Questions:

 If you could be a character from any book – who would it be and why?

Oh that’s difficult, maybe Sydney from Bloodlines then I could have Adrian. Or Katniss from the Hunger Games.

Favourite fictional world – where would you live?

I think I would want to live the Vampire Academy/Bloodlines setting with the constant excitement or perhaps Morganville because Myrnin is there and he is just plain awesome.

Best super-evil baddie?

Avery from Vampire Academy, she was evil but really clever. What every good baddie should be. Also Dimitri while he was Strigoi, he became so much more exciting and badass. Rixon from Crescendo also, a charismatic bad guy.

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Thank-you for taking time to talk to us today Emily and good luck with the new group. 

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Want to get in touch? 

My Goodreads profile: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/6810492-emily

Books, Blogs, Authors and More: http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/62777.Books_Blogs_Authors_and_More

The other group I moderate: http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/58144

My blog: http://emily-confessionsofabookaholic.blogspot.com/

Email me at: confessionsofabookaholic@LIVE.CO.UK