Category: Book Stuff

Here is… me

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)18 Comments

I just over visiting Jamie at Revenge of The book Nerds and she is requesting that we book bloggers offer up a picture of what we look like.  Since I am currently working on my In My Mailbox post (which usually takes me a bit of time) and I am a bit bummed that I have not yet posted today due to life craziness that seems to surround me… I thought – why not?

So here is me….  If you want to help Jamie with her quest, check out her blog, Revenge of The Book Nerds and link to her post.

me and AlThis is actually me and my super hero (non fiction) Al.  This was taken at my cousins home yesterday afternoon in their photo booth.  They had a photo booth at their wedding last year and thought it was so cool they bought it and now it sits in their home.

the fanastic fourThis is last month, the end of July in Duluth Minnesota.  From left to right:  Sara, Heidi, me, and Cindy

Bran Hambric by Kaleb Nation: Blog Tour Coming Soon!

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)9 Comments

I am so excited to be a part of this blog tour! This book has such a Harry Potter vibe to it (I haven’t read it yet, but I feel it!) that I can not wait to dive in! I am up for review of this book and the author, Kaleb Nation, on September 10. Mark your calendars – I have a feeling this is going to be good!

Bran Hambric was found locked in a bank vault at six years old, with no memory of his past. For years, he has lived with one of the bankers, wondering why he was left behind — until one night, when he is fourteen, he is suddenly confronted by a maddened creature, speaking of Bran’s true past and trying to kidnap him.

Bran finds that he is at the center of a plot which started years before he was even born: the plot of a deadly curse his mother created…and one that her former masters are hunting for him to complete.

Haunted by the spirit of his mother’s master and living in a city where magic is illegal, Bran must undo the crimes of his past…before it is too late.

Forsaken by Vanessa Miller: Blog Tour coming soon!

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)2 Comments

I recently signed up to be a part of this upcoming Blog Tour.  Look for my review the first part of October 2009

Pastor Jerome Tyler “JT” Thomas is charismatic behind the pulpit, charming to all he comes in contact with, and lethal to those who linger too long. Since the age of twenty-two, when he prayed for God to keep him out of prison, JT knew he would preach the gospel. Bishop Turner makes it possible; but there are strings attached, and now JT isn’t sure he can stay tied down.

Cutting loose causes more problems than JT anticipated. When an old friend from his days on the streets resurfaces and his extra curricular activity comes knocking on his front door, JT’s life and the lives of those close to him spiral out of control. Now he will need divine intervention to make things right. But how much help can a man hope to receive when he feels he’s been forsaken by God?

Blog Tour: The SweetGum Ladies Knit For Love by Beth Pattillo

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)11 Comments

Back-to-School Fiction Blog Tour

Summary for The Sweetgum Ladies Knit for Love

sweet

Blog Tour
Blog Tour

Once a month, the six women of the Sweetgum Knit Lit Society gather to discuss books and share their knitting projects. Inspired by her recently-wedded bliss, group leader Eugenie chooses “Great Love Stories in Literature” as the theme for the year’s reading list–a risky selection for a group whose members span the spectrum of age and relationship status.

As the Knit Lit ladies read and discus classic romances like Romeo and Juliet, Wuthering Heights, and Pride and Prejudice, each member is confronted with her own perception about love. Camille’s unexpected reunion with an old crush forces her to confront conflicting desires. Newly widowed Esther finds her role in Sweetgum changing and is surprised by two unlikely friends. Hannah isn’t sure she’s ready for the trials of first love. Newcomer Maria finds her life turned upside-down by increasing family obligations and a handsome, arrogant lawyer, and Eugenie and Merry are both asked to make sacrifices for their husbands that challenge their principles.

Even in a sleepy, southern town like Sweetgum, Tennessee, love isn’t easy. The Knit Lit ladies learn they can find strength and guidance in the novels they read, the love of their family, their community–and especially in each other.

I love books about books.  About reading groups, about book discussions…. I am a bookie through and through.  Beth Pattillo did not disappoint with a group of women who gathered to knit and share their love of books.  I enjoyed the books personalities from the “judges” to the laid back… the personalities popped and I was pleased with Beth Pattillo’s character development.  I liked them.  I wanted to hang out with them, and I dont even knit! With an easy flow to this read it was just fun to meet the likeable women of Sweetgum, Tennessee.

Author Info: RITA Award-winning Beth Patillo combines her love of knitting and books in her engaging Sweetgum series. Pattillo served churches in Missouri and Tennessee before founding Faith Leader, a spiritual leadership development program.

** Watch for this book as well as other delightful reads come up for giveaway during BBAW, September 14 – 18**

This book was a review copy sent to me by Ashley Boyer of Multnomah Books, Random House

This book is rated G

Morning Meanderings…

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)13 Comments

I don’t think I have done a morning meandering all week.  I miss it!  I like my posts that are just me… a big improvementearly morning, usually just out of bed and only capable of stumbling blurring eyed to the coffee pot, saying “Hello hot stuff” to my coffee cup… and making my way to the laptop that awaits for me at the kitchen table.

It’s like Sheila… unplugged.

Todays meandering is yet another confession….  yesterday afternoon I was hopping around the blogesphere and I landed at another wonderful new blog to me and noticed that I was a blog she linked to on her sidebar.  So here is the confession… I love it when I find blogs that link to One Persons Journey Through a World of Books.  I think I am still new enough where that is exciting to think that someone actually likes what I am writing enough to link to me… I am not sure if I will ever grow out of that.  I truly find that exciting.  Its like making the deans list…. its like a free scoop of ice cream along side of great pie… it’s like… well, its very Sally Field”esk”.

Anyway – there it is.

Fellow book bloggers, do you feel this way too?  If you do – does it eventually become no big deal after you have blogged long term?  (I cant imagine that as I think I will always get giddy….. )

Later this afternoon I have a triple book tour to post with giveaway…I will be posting through the weekend as well as I have much going on over here and a few book reviews I need to complete AND Freebie Friday will end later today too!  Dont miss it!  )

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend! ♥

Word verification Balderdash (The Thursday Thing)

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)24 Comments

This is the weekly meme where I encourage anyone who wishes to play along to take those crazy word balderdashverifications they have had over the past week and apply a fake definition to them (much like how you play the board game Balderdash).  This is all in fun and makes commenting on blogs a bit more interesting when the verification may just give you the best definition of the week!  See original post here

Even with the crazy busy week that I had… I think I came across some fun word verifications.  Here are mine:

vellmen: men who enjoy all things velcro.

nomed: when you have worked in your garden for so many long hours you feel as though you may be a permanent fixture there, much like a garden gnome.

magrabb: The incredible inner knowledge a mom has when her child is about to do something dangerous.  They do not even have to be looking at the child when the mothers arm juts out and grabs them before they step off the curb into the street, before they fall off the swing, fall down the steps, etc… it is such a quick movement you rarely see the actual grab until the child is back to safety.

prophy: Trophies that are only given out to professionals.  Very snooty.  Very coveted.

bugons: A bug (usually found when you are camping, or in some sort of woodsy environment) that latches on to your clothing and will not let go.  Sometimes they are mistaken for an actual part of your clothing.

I would love to see what you come up with!  To do your own, simply grab the picture meme and add it to your own post.  Link back to this post and leave a comment here letting my know you have and I will add your blog post to this one so people may see other participants.  Let the fun begin!  🙂

Here are the other players and their great words:

This Girls Ever Expanding Library

Wordsmithonia

Alexia’s Books and Such

He Followed Me Home

Reading At The Beach

The Betty and Boo Chronicles

My Own Little Corner Of The World

My World

Thats a Novel Idea



It’s Monday… what are you reading?

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)6 Comments

Monday what are you reading

I am going with J Kayes meme this morning and while I don’t have a lot of time to go over what I read last week (leaving town for two days for Leadership Training.  You can however see what I read last week in my last post, In My Mailbox.

What I did want to share this morning is the books that are traveling with me in hopes of getting some down time to read as I will not have internet service as I will be 15 miles up the Gunflint Trail in Grand Marais, MN.

The books that will take this journey with me are:

Alvor by Laura Bingham – I have waited so long to read this!!  This is the first on my list!  🙂

Pike Point by Greg Suhonen (he is a Minnesota author and his book is about the north shore area so I think this is appropriate.

I am taking a couple others as well but I always bring too many books so cant imagine I would get to them, but bringing them just in case.  😉

Award Presentation

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)43 Comments

I am embarrassed by how behind I am on these.  Wonderful bloggers out there have passed on awards to me that for two weeks I have not had the time to pass on…  I am correcting that today!  🙂

Bear with me – I have quite a few awards to pass here and there are so many blogs I love to read and love the communication we have back and forth it is always hard to choose when I just want to give it to everyone of you that come visit and leave your kind words with me.

However – I have learned that there are always great new awards in the Book Blog World,  and I will have opportunities to continue to pass them on to all of you great and wonderful bloggers.  I so appreciate each and every one of you.  🙂

LemonadeawardThis morning I posted about this lovely award.  (See the below post)

The Lemonade Award is a feel good award that shows great attitude or gratitude. Here are the rules  for accepting this award:

  • Put the Lemonade Award logo on your blog or post.
  • Nominate blogs that show great attitude or gratitude.
  • Link your nominees within your post.
  • Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
  • Share the love and link to the person from whom you received the award

I have recently passed on this award, however today I do have two more I would like to send this on to:

At Home With Books :  I love this blog!  Alyce always has something wonderful to say and I just love checking in to see what that is.  Great reviews and always a positive outlook!

Bookin with Bingo:  Her blog is like going to a fair!  I can almost smell the cotton candy!   The overall attitude of the blog is so positive with great giveaways and fun reviews.

you_dont_say_awardThe Super Comments Award is so much fun and I have seen it for the first time when it came my way (see post below).  I love this award as I think most of us agree, the comments that people leave really are a big piece of book blogging.  I look forward each morning (uhh…. and afternoon, and evening…) to popping in and seeing who has visited and what they had to say!  🙂

If you are a visitor who stops by but does not leave comments, I encourage you to do so!  I try to visit everyone who visits me and as I can I comment back on your comments.

I pass this award on to a few that come to mind that are wonderful commentators here (I know I am not capturing all of you and I love all comments and will more than likely add more soon to this award!)

J Kaye’s Blog:  Always one to stop and say some encouraging words.  I love to read her comments that come my way!

Bermudaonion:  Kathy is an incredible commenter and I amazed at how often I comment on someones post and see she has been there.  Her comments are appreciated and I know there are so many others out there who would agree.

Nicola’s Book Blog:  I have really enjoyed the comments left frequently and look forward to reading each and every one of them!

Creations by Laurel: I can always count on Laurel to laugh at posts I write that I think are funny…  (they may not be) but Laurel will laugh, or will make me laugh by what she has to say!

Rhapsodyinbooks: A great frequent commenter who I look forward to hearing from time and again!

zombie_chicken_awardOk… this award cracks me up.  I mean really, how trendy and cool to get the Zombie Chicken Award.  This award was sent to me a couple weeks ago (see post here)

The blogger who receives this award believes in the Tao of the zombie chicken – excellence, grace and persistence in all situations, even in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. These amazing bloggers regularly produce content so remarkable that their readers would brave a raving pack of zombie chickens just to be able to read their inspiring words. As a recipient of this world-renowned award, you now have the task of passing it on to other worthy bloggers.

I pass this award to:

Miss Remer’s Reviews:  Not only does Regan consistently crank out wonderful reviews, but I love that she works hard to create a blog atmosphere that encourages YA to read!

Diary of An Eccentric: An enjoyable blog to read, Anna has up to date reviews and giveaways happening all the time.  You dont want to miss out on what she has to say.

True Crime Book Reviews:  Yvette really has her finger on the pulse of the true crime reads and while I dont get to read them as often as I used to due to time and so many books, I enjoy reading her blog and seeing what is up and coming in the genre!

That’s a Novel Idea:  Always great happenings at this blog… frequent postings and many fun memes.  I enjoy stopping by and seeing what she has going on!

You 2.0:  If you are a YA reader, or hoping to be a YA author, Kay’s blog is not to be missed.  She has something going on every day and posts great advice on how to develop characters, create a plot, etc… A fun blog!

proxawardThis award was sent my way a couple weeks ago (see post here)

Being a recipient of this award affirms that this blog invests and believes in the Proximity – nearness in space, time and relationships.

This blog receives this great award as a further way  to re iterate that it is exceedingly charming, and aims to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement! Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers!

I pass this award to:

My Own Little Corner of The World:  Not only are her reviews well written, she also has author interviews and other book tidbits that are enjoyable to read.

Bending Book Shelf: A great review blog and blog tours… I love how the book pictures on her blog are usually what I think is her copy.  So it is like the book in action, either on a table or in her hands.  That’s pretty cool!

The Book Inn: Natalie is a great writer of reviews, but I like that she puts her life into her blog as well.  You not only get book reviews and book topics, you get to see a part of her life too with kid pics and new additions to the family!

lets be freinds awardThis is such a great award.  The Lets be Friends award was also given to me a couple weeks ago (see post here).  This is a wonderful award because to me, these are bloggers that I can email if I have a blogging question, or they have emailed me to let me know how to do something or send great offers my way.  I like that.

“Blogs that receive the Let’s Be Friends Award are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers.”


 I pass this award to:

J Kaye’s Book Blog: J Kaye has been wonderful to email me and send information my way that has been helpful in my blogging.  Thanks to her generosity, I in turn have been able to help others.

Enchanted by Josephine: Quick to comment, and helpful at bookblogs.com, I can always count on a pick me up from this great blogger!

Sharon’s Garden of Book Reviews: A lovely blog, a lovely blogger.  I met Sharon first through Bookblogs.com but we have continued to visit back and forth through our blog posts.

Nikola’s Book Blog:  As I had stated under the Super Commenter award, this blogger always has something nice to say.  I enjoy posting comments on this blog as well and hope to continue to visit back and forth.

My Book Buddies:  This is one of my earliest commenter that has stayed right with me as I have learned and hopefully improved on my postings, giveaways, or whatever I am doing.  I am always happy to see they have visited.

Humanity AwardThe Humane award was the first award I had ever received on my blog.  This award will always hold special meaning to me.  I received it again two weeks ago (see post here).

The Humane Award is to honor certain bloggers that I feel are kindhearted individuals. They regularly take part in my blog and always leave the sweetest comments. If it wasn’t for them, my site would just be an ordinary book review blog. Their blogs are also amazing and are tastefully done on a daily basis. I thank them and look forward to our growing friendships through the blog world.

This award I pass on to:

Okbo Lover:  Always a great commenter and a frequent visitor. I enjoy her comments and her enthusiasm.  When she writes a comment you can tell she is writing with joy.

Good Books and Good Wine: April is a wonderful blogger and stops by often with fun comments that I look forward to.  I appreciate how she welcomes new bloggers.

Nan’s Corner of The Web:  I always enjoy it when Nan stops by.   She is always so kind with her words and almost always encourages a response to her comment out of me.

Reading At The Beach:  I so enjoy her input into my blog and love to read whatever she writes.  Whenever I visit her blog my husband has to ask “what is that sound”?  Go to her blog and listen for yourself!

Wordsmithonia: Ryan and I met through Bookblogs.com and it has been fun to watch his blog grow.  he is a wonderful commenter and active on Twitter as well.  He is easy to chat with and very kindhearted.

your+blog+rocksWhat a super fun award and I get a real 80’s vibe from it!  (Maybe that’s just me…LOL)  This award speaks for itself and I was so honored to receive it a cople weeks ago (see post here).

This award I pass on to:

KyusiReader:  Peter writes about all things bookish.  Reviews and articles, his book shelf posts are wonderful and I along with many others have sent him the pictures of where we keep our valued treasure of books.

Heidenkind’s Hideaway: I frequent this blog spot because I so enjoy her reviews and other book related topics.  I have picked up a few “must haves” by reading her wonderful posts.

The Lateiner Gang Book Review Spot:  I recently had the opportunity to interview this amazing family of bloggers.  I love that!  This is just a blog that I feel is really going to take off.

Trisha’s Book Blog:  Trisha writes wonderful reviews – she is an active blogger and has many posts that I have had to add a book (again!) to my must have list.

The Story Siren: I have enjoyed Kristi’s blog from the first time I seen it.  She posts frequently and I love her “In My Mailbox” meme and I watch it weekly.  Kristi is quick to share advice and information on how to get great books for active bloggers.

Alexia’s Books and Such: A great blogger and a wonderful blog.  She has frequent postings and lots going on!

heartfelt aawardThe Heartfelt award is such a nice award and it really does cause me to envision sitting across a table at a coffee shop chatting with these bloggers.  The conversations I have had with them, really makes me feel that way!  This is another award that was sent my way two weeks ago (see post here)

Do you reach for a cup of cocoa or tea when you’re relaxing, seeking comfort, sharing a plate of cookies with family & friends?
You know that feeling you get when you drink a yummy cup of cocoa, tea or a hot toddy?
That is what the Heartfelt award is all about: feeling warm inside! Probably right now you may be grabbing for some ice-cream or a slice of pie. Anything cool to forget the heat of the summer. How about a rice crispie square-they always make me feel good inside.

I pass this award to:

Chocolate and Croissants: The name alone makes you want to go hang out!  Always with a yummy post, when I go to her blog she has wonderful reviews and I usually joke with her that I always leave hungry (you seriously have to look at her blog and you will know what I mean!)

Rhapsodyinbooks: As I mentioned above with the Super Commenter award, this blogger does leave great comments.  But I also pass this award as well as I just enjoy commenting back and forth and it does indeed feel like we are just chatting over a great book at a coffee shop.

A Few Minutes With Michael: Michael has been a great commenter and frequent visitor since we met in the blogesphere.  I appreciate his feedback and his comments are always so appreciated.  I truly enjoy visiting his blog as well.

Never Not Reading: I enjoy this bloggers comments and visits and I love to visit their blog as well.  This is one of my early commenters and I have enjoyed visiting with them ever since.

Bookworming in the 21st Century: If I am blogging or on Twitter, this wonderful blogger always has kind things to say.  I really enjoy chatting back and forth with her and love all the different pieces of her blog.

I think that is all of them and it feels soooo goooood to be current!  🙂  Thank you everyone – seriously, everyone who stops by and reads what I write.  This really feeds the writer in me.  I hope that if you are a visitor that you do comment, even if it is just to say hi!  🙂

I hope I never get this behind again….  LOL




Morning Meanderings…

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)11 Comments

This morning Coffee Cup and I are still working on waking up.  I have a couple commitments today but for the most a big improvementpart I am hoping just to relax at home before I have to take off for two days of training in Grand Marais Monday morning.

As I checked my emails and comments last night I found that I had received a few awards and I am honored by the great blogs who selected me.

you_dont_say_awardThe Super Comments Award is for those who you can always count on for a comment.  This cute award came from two sources…. the Super Comments Awardwas given to me by Alexia at Alexia’s Books and Such (she has such a wonderful blog – I love to pop in many times a week!) and I also received this from Ryan at Wordsmithonia (I love Ryans blog as well, he is fun to read and always has something going on).

LemonadeawardThen over at My Own Little Corner of The World, I received the Lemonade Award.You can always count on this blog to have a new giveaway or review up and it is always fun to read!

The Lemonade Award is a feel good award that shows great attitude or gratitude. Here are the rules  for accepting this award:

  • Put the Lemonade Award logo on your blog or post.
  • Nominate at least 10 blogs that show great attitude or gratitude.
  • Link your nominees within your post.
  • Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
  • Share the love and link to the person from whom you received the award.

I am so thankful for these awards.  I will pass them on later today.  I have a couple errands to run this morning and then back home to prep for my days away.  I encourage you to check out the wonderful blogs who selected me for these awards, you will be glad you did!  🙂

I leave you now with a few pics of the 50 mile bike tour I did with my cousin Jarrod yesterday and his friend and mine, Brian.  Beautiful weather!

Introducing a Family of Bloggers: The Lateiner Gang Book Review Spot

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)12 Comments

Recently I have had the pleasure of chatting with Dave Lateiner about his book blog.  What makes Lateiner gangDave’s blog so interesting – is that not only does Dave write book reviews, but so does his wife Mara and their two daughters Lauryn and Sami.  How super fun is that?

So tonight, I am pleased to offer you this interview I have completed with the Lateiner Gang to see how book blogging became a part of their lives.  Please help me welcome them.  While Dave is the one responding to my questions, the whole family has had input in the responses.

Welcome Dave, Mara, Lauryn, and Sami!  I just love the idea of your whole family blogging about books!  Please tell me a little bit about how this came to be.

Dave:  We have been reading books for a very long time.  My wife and I 33, have been reading since we were little kids.  Our daughters Lauryn and Sami, 11 and 9, have been reading or read to since they were infants.  By 1 years old, they were each able to read.  Lauryn’s favorite  to read was “Just like Ernie” from Sesame Street.  Believe it or not, at 1, she was able to read the whole book by memory! Sami’s favorite was book was “Pat the Bunny”, which she could also recite by memory.  We usually read about 2 hours minimum a night each.  I (dad) had started using the website a year or so ago to go to blogs and read reviews, get recommendations, and share how I felt about books I read.  Soon after, the rest of the Lateiner Gang had found themselves doing the same thing.

A few months back, we received an ARC for Suzanne Colllins “Catching Fire”, the sequel to “The Hunger Games”.  As part of the deal of getting it, Lauryn was required to write a review for Scholastic of what she thought of the book.  She LOVED writing the review.  It dawned upon us then that this would not only be a great family project, but a way to give back to the all the authors, bloggers, publishers, and most importantly, fellow readers.  So that is how The Lateiner Gang Book Review Spot was born.  The idea was that with a gazillion other blog sites out there, ours would stand out as there are 4 of us, typically who read different genres and kinds of books, therefore able to give 4 sets f opinion rather than the standard 1.

How long have you been blogging?

Dave:  We have been going on blogs for well over a year and reading reviews, adding our comments and getting suggestions from other readers. After doing this for some time, we just decided to open our own site and see where it goes from there.  We have been “live for a few months but posted our first tactual review on July 26th on James Dashner’s “The Maze Runner”.  From there, we started off slowly, but are quickly picking up the pace.  Our idea was to really review books and interview authors that were our favorites.  Posting about every single book is ok for some people, but the one thing our readers know is that if they see a book on our site review or an author interviewed, then we love them. so in about a 6 weeks of “actual” content, we have had appx 1500 hits and just under 30 followers.  Of course, having a semi- background in marketing, myself and my wife have taught the children as well as us doing it ourselves, how and where to market our site.  The other thing we do is try to CONSTANTLY give away books as contacts.  And not usually any book, GREAT books that are usually signed ARC’s and occasionally an already published book that we loved.  We have already formed some relationships with some authors as well as Publishers.

Wow!  You have really put a lot of work into your blogging!  Are you all naturally avid readers?

Dave:   It depends on what your definition if an “Avid” reader is…the kids and wife usually spend about 2 hours a day minimum reading and then more time on the computer doing research or posting our link anywhere an everywhere they can to spread the word.  Me, I usually spend about 3 hours  night reading (more if there is a book i just CAN NOT put down, then I read until it is finished. I also spend plenty of time advertising for our site and coming up with good ideas…That reminds me, I will post about this, but I recently learned how to change the background and add a 3rd column to our site, so real soon (possibly over the weekend) , look for the site to look soooo much better!

Do each of you have certain genres that you like to read?

Dave:  Mara tries to read biographies or books written about people for example, “Candy Land ” buy Candy Spelling and her daughter’s book ,” Mommywood” by Tori Spelling as well as Chelsea Handler’s book.  She will also read something like “The Accidental Millionaires” about the 2 guys who started up facebook.  Occasionally, Mara will stray and pick something up that I have to twist her arm until she reads it and then loves it.

Lauryn is a Twilight buff for sure.  (irrelevant, but one of my clients is a photographer for celebrities and has personalized pics of Robert Patterson that we will post when he passes them on to me.  She probably is the one who reads closest to my style.  She can also be found reading books like, “I’m So Crashing Your Bat-Mitzvah” and “The Hunger Games”.

Sami, our youngest, loves books that are mostly appropriate for her age like “The Artemis Fowl Series” and “The 39 Clues series”.  Sami is not a fan of “Dark” books and for now, those I have mentioned are her comfort zone.

David, Ah, me  :O)   Well, I have to admit that I am mostly a YA/Fantasy/Fiction.  I love almost any book that fits into those categories.  I will read everything from “Catching Fire” to “Septimus Heap”, to “The Tomorrow Code”, “Thornspell”, “Flashforward”, “Alvor”, “The 13th reality series, “Maze Runner” and a bunch more….As long as it fits the Genre, I will probably read it.  I do have an author totally out of my comfort zone who is probably one of my favorite authors of all time, James Rollins.  Totally not my style, but boy, can he write!

Do you write your reviews alone or is there family input?

Dave:  For the most part, we do our own reviews.  The one thing we do is when someone finishes a review or interview, we all sit down, listen to that persons piece, and decide if we think it needs to be changed or if it is good.  What we feel makes us successful, besides having the 4 of us to write is our thought process.  We put ourselves in the mindset of someone who could possibly be reading something we post.  If we read the review or interview, and feel that we are psyched to read that book, or hear about that author, we know (or hope) we have material ready to be posted.  Essentially, we are the one reading the post, what would we NEED to hear to get us excited about it.  Once we get excited, it’s time to post it!

What does a typical evening at your home look like?

Dave:  I would suppose the same as any other household, come home from work, have some dinner, read, watch a bit of Television (only our favorite shows) and then either back to reading or working on our site, either posting, reading emails, or doing research as to how to improve.  We are always looking at ways to improve.  Always.  Oh, and we typically take a walk many nights in the week.  We live close to the center of our town, so we try to walk in there and just hang out for a little while, maybe pick up some Starbucks or hang out with other families we know.  It’s that type of town w live in.  Shhhh, don’t tell my family, but I wait for them all to go to sleep, then I crack open a book for another hour or so until I just can’t read anymore.  I ALWAYS carry a book with me wherever I go.

LOL… your secret is safe with me!   What are you trying to accomplish through your blogging?

Dave:  Our main goal is really to be a part of a community.  We feel like we owe these wonderful authors and all of those who have inspired us to start a blog, as well as readers.  We want to give back to them what they have given to us, happiness, referrals on books, and opinions.  We have read so many books that have been suggested online.  As a matter of fact, many times when we post, we ask that if you are going to write a post, please include a favorite book you recently read or a book you plan to read in the near future.  We get such a rush from writing a review, or interviewing an author.  It’s crazy, we get so excited at every single follow up comment that someone leaves.  It’s a feeling almost when an actor on stage finishes a performance, he gets an ovation.  Well, we get that same feeling when people write how much they enjoyed our review, or now because of our review they are going to pick up a book they didn’t even know about or were on the fence on.  We also get so psyched about giving away books.  We are currently running 2 contests for AMAZING books, James Dashner’s “The Maze Runner” and new author, Laura Bingham’s “Alvor”.  Our goal is to constantly be running contests of the best books we can get our hands on.  Next is “FIre”, the prequel to the best selling book “Graceling” by Kristin Cashore.

As fairly new reviewers, do you have any questions you would like to put out there to the more experienced bloggers?

Dave:  WE would love to know how to form relationships with publishers, authors, etc. to be able to get books to review and give away.  So far, we have just been spending time on the phone and email and it seems to be working, but there has to be an easier way.  Also, since I am a numbers guy, I was curious what sort of numbers were average, or above average…For example, how many followers do you expect over a certain amount of time?  How many hits on your site can you expect over a certain amount of time?  Besides this interview ;O)   where and how are the best ways to advertise our site.  Anything else you want to share with us, please feel free as we always keep our eyes and ears open for good ideas!

Thank you Dave and the rest of the Lateiner Gang for stopping by One Persons Journey Through a World of Books and sharing with us!  Readers, I encourage you to stop by their blog at The Lateiner Gang Book Review Spot and give them a warm welcome.

Dave:  Thank you so much for the opportunity to do this interview.


Best Wishes!
The Lateiener gang
or for short, T.L.G.B.R.S.