Book Blogger Appreciation Week – Interview with Jess of "From Me to You Video, Photography and Book Reviews"

This is my first year participating in the interview swap for Book Blogger Appreciation Week. I’ve always enjoyed reading them but I’ve never signed up. I took the plunge this year and today I’ll be sharing my interview with Jess of From Me to You Video, Photography and Book Reviews.

It was fun to be matched up for an interview with the writer of a new to me blog. I hadn’t seen Jess’s blog before but I had fun exploring it and getting go to know her a bit from both her blog and our interviews. So let’s get on with the interview.

1. Your blog includes video, photography and book reviews. Tell me about how you got started in blogging and how you ended up with this mix.

Well, when I originally started my blog in 2008 it was supposed to be a part of a Video & Photography side-business that I was opening. However, since I didn’t put much time or energy into it the video, photography, & the blogging, they went back to being a hobbies of mine. During this time, around 2009, I was also getting into reading books, more so then I ever read them before, and I felt that I wanted an outlet to share my views of the books I was reading. Therefore, I changed the title of my blog to what it is now ... ‘From Me to You ... Video, Photography, & Book Reviews’ ... and have used it for all three of my hobbies ever since. Lately it’s mostly for promoting books or my book reviews more then anything else, yet I like still listing it the way I do since I feel it gives me more options. *shrug*

Technically, I’ve been a blogger ever since I was in high school, then even more so when I was in college using my LiveJournal acct that I haven’t now used in years. But I like to think those years as a nice starting point for my current blog.

Photography is something that I have done throughout my life. My grandfather was a professional photographer; my mother took after him so I taught myself by their examples. However, I will never call myself a professional since I don’t have the patience to really fine-tune my skills.

Videoing I have dabbled with since 2003 -- when I put together a video high school graduation gift for my best friends and I. From there I have created videos on and off since then. What I most enjoy about creating videos is it feels like documenting a moment in time or a part of someone's life, and I feel honored to do it for people.

Becoming a book reviewer came on gradually over the years. And if you told my high school self (or younger) that I would enjoy reading books and then reviewing them I would have laughed so very hard, since I was definitely not a read growing up. However, ever since I started reviewing books on my blog I love how the reviews have progressed. I love my rating system (5 stars = Idolizing In to 1 star = What was I thinking?). My biggest goal is that even it I may not like the novel or give it the best review then I try to still promote the novel as much as possible. This way it gives those looking for info on the novel an idea of what they’ll see. As well as, give them a chance to make their own decision if they would want to read the book or not.

2. One book you have read this year that made you want to hand copies to strangers and say "Read this. Trust me!"

Oh my goodness this is such a hard decision ... well there are quite a few books that I have loved already this year, already up to 10 books that have received 5 stars which is surprising for me, so it’s very hard for me to choose. Yet if I’m forced to choose then it would be a toss up between “Almost a Scandal” [The Reckless Brides Series, Book 1] by Elizabeth Essex & “Feral Sins” [The Phoenix Pack Series, Book 1] by Suzanne Wright.

3. Two favorite genres that you read and review and what do you like about them.

• Romance -- Okay. Who doesn’t love romance? I know that it’s probably typical for a woman to be a fan of this genre but I cannot get enough of it! Basically, what it comes down to is even though I love my life, living vicariously through someone else’s more romantic life is fun for me. =0)

• Paranormal -- I love this genre because of all of the freedom it has as well as a fun way to think of the world, since I like the idea that there are romantic werewolves and/or shape-shifters out there. As long as they are looking for their one true mate and not trying to kill me then I’m all for it.

4. Three favorite places to read.

- My couch ... since all the other furniture in our living room is usually taken by either family or animals.
- My Jeep ... because between work and home it’s usually the only place I can get away for a little while.
- My rocking chair ... when I’m reading my daughter her books before bed.

5. Four books on your TBR that have remained unread for far too long.

“Red Heart Tattoo” by Lurlene McDaniel
“Where You Are” [Between the Lines Series, Book 2] by Tammara Webber
“Hunt the Moon” [Cassandra Palmer Series, Book 5] by Karen Chance
“Amplified” [Amplified Series, Book 1] by Tara Kelly

6. Five literary characters (or authors) that you'd want to have at a dinner party and why.

- Kit – from “Twilight Guardian” [Children of the Goddess Series, Book 3] by R. G. Alexander – He just seems so sweet! Plus, I want to see how tall he actually is in his “true” form.

- Cordelia (Posey) – from “Until There Was You” by Kristan Higgins – She seems so nice and I think we would get along great! Plus, I’d love to hear about her latest find and see if she has any suggestions on how to improve my house.

- Puck – from the The Iron Fey Series by Julie Kagawa – He seems like a rascal that would be fun to have around for a while. =0)

- Clay – from “All Summer Long” [Fool’s Gold Series, Book 9] by Susan Mallery – I know this would be rude to do to any guest but I really want to see what the fuss is all about when it comes to his butt. Since Clay use to be a male model and was a butt double in movies, I just would love to check it out ... and get to know him of course. *hehee*

- Okay I know this isn’t what you asked but I’d love to have Merit & Ethan from the Chicagoland Vampires Series by Chloe Neill give me a tour of the Cadogan House so I could meet them, see the house, and be a part of their world if only for a little while.

My thanks to Jess for letting me get to know her. This is her first year participating in Book Blogger Appreciation Week so please take some time to check out her blog and get to know her a bit better yourself.

Jess had some good questions for me and I had fun answering them. Pop on over to Jess's blog to read her interview with me.

Check out posts from other Book Blogger Appreciation Week participants at the main BBAW site.