Blogger Interview with Mickey from I'm a Book Shark

Merry Christmas Everyone! Today I have a very special guest on my blog, Mickey from I’m a Book Shark. This is one of the many very helpful bloggers I consider experienced. She has helped me with my blog, answered questions and given me advice. We have even talked about books. This is a blogger you should get to know if you haven’t yet. She is friendly, funny and helpful.

I go to her blog a lot as an example for how to make my blog better. To other new bloggers out there it is ok to ask for advice and use other blogs to set yours up but do not plagiarize or mimic the blog you are looking at. That is not ok and I have heard a lot of stories of new bloggers doing this. I know from personal experience these bloggers work hard and put in a lot of time and effort. Stealing their hard work is not ok and will only make you look bad.

Without further wait, please welcome this amazing blogger and find out more about her in this interview.

Christie: Welcome Mickey, thank you for taking the time to do my first blogger interview with me. Tell me a little about yourself.

Mickey: Hello! Thanks for having me! My name is Michelle, but you can call me Mickey. I live in Arizona, and I have a house full of animals! I love to bake and I wish I could sing Nicki Minaj songs like that little girl on YouTube. :o)

Christie:  You do have a lot of animals. I saw that in your photos; I’m very afraid of that huge spider eeek!

Christie: How long have you been blogging and what made you start?

Mickey: I have been blogging since March/April, and I started my blog when I came across other awesome book blogs. I was actually looking into writing reviews for magazines or newspapers when I found book blogs. I thought it would at least be a good place to start. I've never looked back!

Christie: I love the name of your blog. How did you come up with the name I’m a Book Shark?

Mickey: I really wish I had a better story, but I honestly don't. This is how it happened: I decided to make a new Twitter account a while back, and I wanted it to be about my favorite hobby: reading! I also wanted it to demonstrate that I read a LOT. Since we're animal people in this house (see About Me for all my pets), I thought I'd include one of those. For whatever reason, sharks came to mind. Perhaps it's because they have large mouths and can eat a lot at one time. Who knows. Also, I thought of card sharks, but they aren't the same as booksharks. Anyway, a bookshark was born! 

Christie: exciting story or not it is a great name and I find it very creative.

Christie: As an experienced blogger do you have any advice for a new blogger like me?

Mickey: First of all, I am flattered by the experienced blogger status ;o) Either way, I do have some advice: I would suggest taking part in the weekly memes, such as Top Ten Tuesday, Waiting on Wednesday, and TGIF. These gain followers and provide you with links to other blogs as well. I've come across some fantastic people and blogs this way! I also suggest trying to do giveaways. They at least get people to check out your blog and see what you're about. When you do giveaways, I don't suggest mandatory entries. Those turn people off. Lastly, participate in the whole social media thing. Get a Facebook page, Twitter account, Google+ page, etc, for your blog! 

Christie: Thank you for the advice! I have all the social accounts and am hosting a giveaway but I didn’t know that the mandatory entries were a turn off. Most of the giveaways I have seen have had them. Thank you. I will also have to check out TGIF!

Christie: What are your all time favorite 5 books and why?

Mickey: Wow. This is really tough. These may not really be in order, but here they are: #1 - Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Why? It's a classic! It's a great romance with humor and class. Love it. #2 - Summer Sisters by Judy Blume. Why? This book takes me back to high school. I loved the story then, and I want to reread it to relive the feel of this novel. Check it out. #3 - Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult. Why? This one deals with a heated but favorite topic: same-sex marriage. Great story. #4 - Succubus series by Richelle Mead. Why? It's amazing. It's full of so much emotion. Georgina seriously became one of my girls. Fabulous series. #5 - PS I Love You by Cecelia Ahern. Why? Um, I cried throughout the whole freaking thing. This girl was in her very early 20s when she wrote this, and she certainly knows what deep love is. So moving. To throw a YA novel in the mix here, we'll say perhaps The DUFF or Catching Jordan. Great YA reading! I'd like to include in this list: In Cold Blood by Truman Capote, Something series by Emily Giffin, The Help by Kathryn Stockett, and Beauty Queens by Libba Bray. Super awesome novels, you guys! Wow that was long.. lol.

Christie:  I have not read any of those :O. I will have to get on that.

Christie: Is there a book that stands out in your mind that you absolutely hated? Were you able to finish it?

Mickey: Yes. Unfortunately it's Wicked Lovely. I know a lot of people like this series, but I really didn't like the first one at all. Funny anecdote about this: I finished this book the day before the Smart Chicks tour hit Scottsdale. I met Melissa Marr during the meet and greet/signing, and she signed my nook cover with, "There are always choices." I should have chose to stop reading it ;o) 

Christie: haha that made me laugh.

Christie: What is your favorite Feature/Meme that you participate in?

Mickey: I participate in the three I mentioned above (Top Ten Tuesday, WoW, and TGIF). I love participating in all three of them! 

Christie: What authors have you met and what one did you like meeting the most?

Mickey: Here's the list: Alyson Noel, Aprilynne Pike, Brendan Reichs, Kathy Reichs, Diana Gabaldon, Ellen Schreiber, Holly Black, JA Jance, Josephine Angelini, Kelley Armstrong, Kimberly Derting, Melissa Marr, Sarah Rees Brennan, Sharon Kay Penman, and Veronica Roth. I'm lucky here in Phoenix in that a lot of authors come for signings to our local bookstores! Which one did I like meeting the most? It's hard to say. I've read a LOT of Kathy Reichs novels, but Diana Gabaldon is a super funny lady. Not sure! I loved meeting them all, that's certainly true.

Christie:  wow I’m so jealous! I have met Ellen Schreibner also, she was so adorable. I love the TV show Bones based off of Kathy Reichs’ novels. I haven’t read any yet but I need to. Great author list, I’m sure you will have many more to add to that list in the future.

Christie: What book are you highly anticipating to be released?

Mickey: I'm very much anticipating the release of Fever, the sequel to Wither! I loved Wither and can't wait to see what happens next!! 

Christie: You have a lot of followers on your blog, how did you reach so many people?

Mickey: Participating in Follow Friday (hosted by Parajunkee) helped a lot. I got a lot of followers when I was the feature one Friday. Other than that, I've had a lot of unique content (like giveaways and author interviews) that draws followers.

Christie:  Thank you, that is very helpful to know. I hope to someday be in your realm of the blogging world.

Christie: I recently changed my blog a lot, what do you think of the change?

Mickey: I think it looks fabulous!! I love the dark theme to it :o)

Christie: Thank you. I wanted it to have a sense of adventure. I love getting lost in the fantasy world.

Christie: Do you have any advice for my blog? Anything I should work on or change?

Mickey: I see that you're participating in WoW now, so that's great! The only thing I would change would be to add a search function for your blog. I always like that on a blog when I'm trying to find something specific.

Christie:  Thank you, I have now added that feature. I appreciate the feedback.

Christie: Thank you so much for taking the time to talk with me. Is there anything else you would like to add?

Mickey: Thanks so much for having me on the blog today!! It's been a pleasure. I'd just like to say that my virtual door is always open. I'm ready and willing to help with any blogger with whatever they need :o) I hope I can help!! 

Christie: Thank you Mickey! I greatly appreciate that and I’m sure other bloggers do also.

Bio:

Mickey is the blogger behind I’m A Book Shark. She really wishes there was a better explanation for why she’s a book shark. A new twitter name was needed, and it had to be about her favorite hobby: reading! For whatever reason, sharks also came to mind and a book shark was born. Besides reading, Mickey is a natural reddish-headed, mid-twenties, tattooed entertainment-of-all-kinds lover, girlfriend of boyfriend, mother of reptiles (and a cat and two puppies, all spoiled), and addict of dessert. Anything chocolate is a welcomed gift in her life. Oh yeah, and she likes to blog. 

Stalk this awesome shark:

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Giveaways:

Mickey also has some great Giveaways going on and coming up!

ARC Review/ Giveaway: Megg Jensen-Sleepers [ends 12/28/2011]

Author Interview/ Giveaway: Vik Rubenfeld- Conquest [ends 12/31/11]

Wrapping up 2011 Readathon: Each day you will find a picture that is a literal representation of a book title I've read this year. Put your brains to work for one of three swag packs!! Have a little fun trying to figure out these book titles while reading your little hearts out. [new post each day, ends January 1, 2012]

There will also be two special giveaways on Mickey's blog. One on Christmas and one of New Years Eve. Stalk Mickey's blog on those days to find out about those special giveaways and enter to win.