Guys, this is my first time participating in the LoveAThon hosted by the lovely Alexa @ Alexa Loves Books and Kate @ Kates Tales of Books and Bands. I'm so excited to be a part of it this year, especially since I get to showcase one of my favorite bloggers. Katie @ Worn Down Glories is such an amazing person and awesome friend, I'm so glad that I have gotten to know her over the last year. She's really become one of my favorite people to talk about all things bookish, with. Seriously, if you're not following her blog, go do it now! So, I was like ecstatic over-the-moon thrilled when I got the email telling me that she was going to be my LoveAThon partner! I thought, "YES!" Because, I couldn't have been given a better person to hammer questions at and believe me, I didn't hesitate to fire away! lol. There are fifteen of these bad boys. ;)
So, grab a cuppa whatever, sit back and get comfy, while we talk about ALL THE THINGS! (Also, now I have to read Magics Pawn by Mercedes Lackey, because of that quote!)
So, grab a cuppa whatever, sit back and get comfy, while we talk about ALL THE THINGS! (Also, now I have to read Magics Pawn by Mercedes Lackey, because of that quote!)
the bestest friend/blogger ever!
Me: Author's are some pretty amazing people with incredible talent and imagination that inspires readers, who are some of your favorite author's that have inspired you and how?
Katie: This is HARD! There are so many authors that have inspired me over the last couple of years, but the first one that really comes to mind is Jessi Kirby. I read IN HONOR right around the time I started blogging and the story hit home and I took a few steps back to think about what had happened in my life and what I could do to honor the memory of loved ones I had lost. Jessi has always been so incredibly kind, sweet and encouraging.
Emily Murdoch has become someone really special to me over the last year and she has only been supportive, encouraging and someone I can talk to no matter what is going on. IF YOU FIND ME was the hardest book I've read in a long time, but it healed me in so many ways and forced me to work through a lot of things. Emily has always cheered me on and encouraged me through it.
Me: If you were given a chance to slip between the pages of your favorite book or series and experience the world the characters live in, which book or series would it be and why?
Katie: A lot of the worlds the characters live in are ones that I wouldn't want to experience their world because it's just a mess and depressing. I'd have to pick going back into the 90s during TIME BETWEEN US and TIME AFTER TIME by Tamara Ireland Stone because I grew up in the 90s and would love to re-experience those years.
Me: What or who inspired you to create your book blog?
Katie: My girlfriend, Molli! Not only did she get me back into reading again, but she really inspired me to get into blogging and not just about books - I'm slowly finding my voice and having fun posting about books, my life and whatever adventures I find myself on.
Me: Is there a favorite book or quote from a book that has inspired you in some way? If so, what is it?
Katie: Hands down, it will ALWAYS be this quote from MAGIC'S PAWN by Mercedes Lackey:
“The great love is gone. There are still little loves - friend to friend, brother to sister, student to teacher. Will you deny yourself comfort at the hearthfire of a cottage because you may no longer sit by the fireplace of a palace? Will you deny yourself to those who reach out to you in hopes of warming themselves at your hearthfire?”
(Me: Okay, now I really HAVE TO read this book! That quote...guh!)
It still makes me tear up when I think about it, but this quote changed me in many ways. I read this at point in life where I was depressed and was too scared to open up to anyone, but I realized that in order to let anyone in and get close to someone, I had to open up - no matter what losses I had faced before.
Me: What are some of your favorite tunes these days?
Katie: Everything on my ipod! I've been listening to a lot of Taylor Swift, Rascal Flatts, Lady Antebellum lately. My girlfriend made me a couple of sweet mixes that I listen to at the end of the day when I'm settling down for bed.
Me: Have you ever met an author or attended a book event? If so, who did you get to meet and what was your experience like at the book event you attended?
Katie: 2013 was the year for book signings/events for me. It was so much fun! In the span of six months I had gone to three different events in various places in the Bay Area and met Tamara Ireland Stone with my girlfriend on the way to the coast. All of the events were a blast and I LOVED being able to interact with the authors (and other book lovers!) at each event. Everyone I have met has been so kind.
Over the last few months I've been lucky enough to meet - Tamara Ireland Stone, Gayle Forman, Jessi Kirby, Morgan Matson, Sarah Ockler, Kimberly Derting, Ransom Riggs, Suzanne Young, Tahereh Mafi and Shannon Messenger. Everyone has been SO kind and you can really tell how much they love meeting their fans. I'm hoping 2014 will be another great year for book events!
Me: Is there any specific thing that would turn you off of a particular author or book/series? What would it be and why?
Katie:Ummm, I really had to sit and think about this one. While I've had mostly positive experiences in books there is one that is my biggest issue and that's going to be interacting/reacting negatively towards readers.
Me: Do you have any other hobbies besides reading and/or listening to music?
Katie: Hanging out with friends, exploring NorCal (oceans, beaches, San Francisco!), blogging for a The Hob (a Hunger Games fansite), photography (I'm not that great at it, but oh well).
Me: What is your favorite genre of books to read?
Katie: I mostly read YA - I'll read most subgenres - contemporary, romance, dystopian, fantasy, etc. I'm trying to challenge myself a bit and read some mystery and horror, but I get scared so easily so.... that's a big challenge, lol!
Me: Could you ever see yourself branching out and reading other genre's or age demographic books and series?
Katie: I used to read A LOT of adult paranormal romance, but I found myself losing interest and getting behind on a couple series I used to enjoy, so I'd love to go back to those one day. I'd also love to get back into adult fantasy if I can find the right series to drag me in.
Me: What is the next book that you are currently reading and what are you planning on reading next?
Katie: I have a whole stack of books I want to read in the next few weeks, but I'm currently getting ready to start THESE BROKEN STARS! I think everything after that for a couple weeks may be contemporary YA. :)
I'm reading an ARC of my girlfriends debut - AS YOU TURN AWAY! I'm so excited to read this because from the snippets I've seen while she's worked on this, I've been amazed at how beautiful and amazing it is. I cannot WAIT to read this!
Me: What kinds of books inspire you? Can you name a few of them?
Katie: IN HONOR by Jessi Kirby, MAGICS PAWN by Mercedes Lackey, TIME BETWEEN US by Tamara Ireland Stone, IF YOU FIND ME by EMILY MURDOCH.
Me: What turns you off when it comes to reading YA books?
Katie: Instalove. Yeah, no. I can't handle it, it doesn't make sense or work for me.
Me: If you could spend a day with a character from one of your favorite books, which character would it be, what would you do, and why would you choose this character?
Katie: There are so many, and I honestly cannot just pick one. This is the hardest question EVER! I honestly don't know - whoever I'd pick, I'd love to just sit and talk to them and have a relaxing day together. I'm low key and laid back, so I probably would be fine having a relaxing day where we could just talk and share stories.</p>
Katie: This is HARD! There are so many authors that have inspired me over the last couple of years, but the first one that really comes to mind is Jessi Kirby. I read IN HONOR right around the time I started blogging and the story hit home and I took a few steps back to think about what had happened in my life and what I could do to honor the memory of loved ones I had lost. Jessi has always been so incredibly kind, sweet and encouraging.
Emily Murdoch has become someone really special to me over the last year and she has only been supportive, encouraging and someone I can talk to no matter what is going on. IF YOU FIND ME was the hardest book I've read in a long time, but it healed me in so many ways and forced me to work through a lot of things. Emily has always cheered me on and encouraged me through it.
Me: If you were given a chance to slip between the pages of your favorite book or series and experience the world the characters live in, which book or series would it be and why?
Katie: A lot of the worlds the characters live in are ones that I wouldn't want to experience their world because it's just a mess and depressing. I'd have to pick going back into the 90s during TIME BETWEEN US and TIME AFTER TIME by Tamara Ireland Stone because I grew up in the 90s and would love to re-experience those years.
Me: What or who inspired you to create your book blog?
Katie: My girlfriend, Molli! Not only did she get me back into reading again, but she really inspired me to get into blogging and not just about books - I'm slowly finding my voice and having fun posting about books, my life and whatever adventures I find myself on.
Me: Is there a favorite book or quote from a book that has inspired you in some way? If so, what is it?
Katie: Hands down, it will ALWAYS be this quote from MAGIC'S PAWN by Mercedes Lackey:
“The great love is gone. There are still little loves - friend to friend, brother to sister, student to teacher. Will you deny yourself comfort at the hearthfire of a cottage because you may no longer sit by the fireplace of a palace? Will you deny yourself to those who reach out to you in hopes of warming themselves at your hearthfire?”
(Me: Okay, now I really HAVE TO read this book! That quote...guh!)
It still makes me tear up when I think about it, but this quote changed me in many ways. I read this at point in life where I was depressed and was too scared to open up to anyone, but I realized that in order to let anyone in and get close to someone, I had to open up - no matter what losses I had faced before.
Me: What are some of your favorite tunes these days?
Katie: Everything on my ipod! I've been listening to a lot of Taylor Swift, Rascal Flatts, Lady Antebellum lately. My girlfriend made me a couple of sweet mixes that I listen to at the end of the day when I'm settling down for bed.
Me: Have you ever met an author or attended a book event? If so, who did you get to meet and what was your experience like at the book event you attended?
Katie: 2013 was the year for book signings/events for me. It was so much fun! In the span of six months I had gone to three different events in various places in the Bay Area and met Tamara Ireland Stone with my girlfriend on the way to the coast. All of the events were a blast and I LOVED being able to interact with the authors (and other book lovers!) at each event. Everyone I have met has been so kind.
Over the last few months I've been lucky enough to meet - Tamara Ireland Stone, Gayle Forman, Jessi Kirby, Morgan Matson, Sarah Ockler, Kimberly Derting, Ransom Riggs, Suzanne Young, Tahereh Mafi and Shannon Messenger. Everyone has been SO kind and you can really tell how much they love meeting their fans. I'm hoping 2014 will be another great year for book events!
Me: Is there any specific thing that would turn you off of a particular author or book/series? What would it be and why?
Katie:Ummm, I really had to sit and think about this one. While I've had mostly positive experiences in books there is one that is my biggest issue and that's going to be interacting/reacting negatively towards readers.
Me: Do you have any other hobbies besides reading and/or listening to music?
Katie: Hanging out with friends, exploring NorCal (oceans, beaches, San Francisco!), blogging for a The Hob (a Hunger Games fansite), photography (I'm not that great at it, but oh well).
Me: What is your favorite genre of books to read?
Katie: I mostly read YA - I'll read most subgenres - contemporary, romance, dystopian, fantasy, etc. I'm trying to challenge myself a bit and read some mystery and horror, but I get scared so easily so.... that's a big challenge, lol!
Me: Could you ever see yourself branching out and reading other genre's or age demographic books and series?
Katie: I used to read A LOT of adult paranormal romance, but I found myself losing interest and getting behind on a couple series I used to enjoy, so I'd love to go back to those one day. I'd also love to get back into adult fantasy if I can find the right series to drag me in.
Me: What is the next book that you are currently reading and what are you planning on reading next?
Katie: I have a whole stack of books I want to read in the next few weeks, but I'm currently getting ready to start THESE BROKEN STARS! I think everything after that for a couple weeks may be contemporary YA. :)
I'm reading an ARC of my girlfriends debut - AS YOU TURN AWAY! I'm so excited to read this because from the snippets I've seen while she's worked on this, I've been amazed at how beautiful and amazing it is. I cannot WAIT to read this!
Me: What kinds of books inspire you? Can you name a few of them?
Katie: IN HONOR by Jessi Kirby, MAGICS PAWN by Mercedes Lackey, TIME BETWEEN US by Tamara Ireland Stone, IF YOU FIND ME by EMILY MURDOCH.
Me: What turns you off when it comes to reading YA books?
Katie: Instalove. Yeah, no. I can't handle it, it doesn't make sense or work for me.
Me: If you could spend a day with a character from one of your favorite books, which character would it be, what would you do, and why would you choose this character?
Katie: There are so many, and I honestly cannot just pick one. This is the hardest question EVER! I honestly don't know - whoever I'd pick, I'd love to just sit and talk to them and have a relaxing day together. I'm low key and laid back, so I probably would be fine having a relaxing day where we could just talk and share stories.</p>
GO & GIVE HER SOME LOVE TODAY!
SHE'S THE BOMB-DIGGITY!
Katie, I loved reading your interview! It's awesome to see how much books and authors really do affect our lives. Tamara Ireland Stone's books are on my TBR and I can't wait to read them! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDelete-NicoleLynn
Great interview! It was a lot of fun getting to know more about Katie - and you asked really great questions!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely loved getting to know you a little bit more, Katie! I too am a big Jessi Kirby fan, and also a Tamara Ireland Stone fan. Love that you've been listening to a lot of Taylor Swift, Rascal Flatts and Lady Antebellum -- some of my favorites too! :D
ReplyDeleteI love your music selection Katie! I loved hearing that you write about books and some of your other interests. Many bloggers have been recommending to branch out from just blogging about one topic all the time and to throw in a couple of randoms. I may have to think about this for my blog! xx
ReplyDeleteI completely agree about instalove. They see each other and BANG! - You are the love of my life.
ReplyDeleteI've heard so much about If You Find Me--clearly, I need to pick it up from the library soon!
ReplyDeleteThat quote from Magic's Pawn instantly makes me want to read that book without knowing anything about it!
YAY These Broken Stars!
Lovely interview! (I promise I didn't mean to end every sentence with an exclamation point. . . but hey, these things happen).
So many great questions! I love the first couple especially I can tell you worked hard on them Suz! So fun that you got to interview a blogger you know so well!
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