Friday, September 30, 2011

Hey y’all! ;-) My name is Cassie, and I am the genius behind the review blog, Gathering Leaves



Where were you born and where do you call home?
I was born in the small town of Haleyville, Alabama.  We still live in a small town, but we are less than 20 (driving) miles from Huntsville, so we have easy access to the city!

How long have you been blogging?
I have had a personal blog since May of 2009, but I started Gathering Leaves April of 2011 after I did began working with JournalStone publishing.  I’ve always had a love for reading and writing, so this has been perfect for me!

What is the name of the book you most recently blogged about?
My latest review is for The Juliet Spell by Douglas Rees

What did you think about the cover?
I LOVE it!  I love simple covers, and especially ones that just use a photograph.  And, those pink sneakers are too cute 

If you could ask the Author 3 questions what would they be?
--Is Miranda based on anyone real?
--Were you ever in a Shakespeare play?
--How do you know so much about high school?

Can you name one of your favorite chapters?
Actually, I liked the way it ended.  I can’t give it away, but I’ll just say I like it when everything comes full circle and everyone who is meant to be together finds themselves right where they belong.

What was you most favorite character and why?
Drew, because he is super smart.  I have a thing for the nerdy guys.

If this book was part of a series, would you read the next book?
Absolutamente!

Was this a book you were asked to review or did you buy it?
I requested it from NetGalley.

Have you written a book yourself or are you planning to in the future?
I have started a couple things.  I currently have a short story in a contest that is in the judging stage, so fingers crossed on that one!  I think my love for writing has really reemerged and blossomed this year, so I am definitely planning to write more and actually try to get some things out there for public consumption…

What genre is your favorite and why?
Historical Fiction has always been a favorite of mine, but I think Fantasy is right up there too.  Things like Lord of the Rings, Chronicles of Narnia, Harry Potter—my life just wouldn’t be the same without them.  I’m also really digging dystopian…

If you were shipwrecked on a desert island what 3 books would you want with you?
Pride and Prejudice, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, and The Hobbit

Is there an Author that you would really like to meet?
Jane Austen.  Can you set that up???

Do you prefer ebooks, paperbacks or hardcover?
Nothing can replace the feel and smell of a good paperback, but I have a special relationship with my Kindle!  Ebooks are easy, fast, cheap, and convenient…

Where do you prefer to buy your books?
I get most of mine from Amazon and Smashwords these days…

Have you ever read a book more than once?
Pride and Prejudice more times than I can count.   The Twilight saga a few times.  I don’t have time to reread anything anymore…

Is there a particular movie or TV series that you preferred over the book version?
Never.  But, I think True Blood has really moved so far from the books that I consider it two totally different entities, and I enjoy them both very much!

What book are you currently reading and in what format (ebook/paperback/hardcover)?
I am just finishing up an ebook of The Protector  by Marliss Melton.  It is a military romantic suspense novel, and though I don’t read a lot of straight up romance, I am actually enjoying this very much!  There’s a lot more to it than ripping…well, BDUs…

What book are you about to start reading?
I’ll have to consult my to-review list.  I am about to do a couple of proofing/copyediting jobs, so I guess that’s technically what’s next!

What book do you know that you will never read?
I probably will never force myself through War and Peace.

Are there any new Authors that have grasped your interest recently and why?
I have been trying out a lot of children’s books with my kids recently, and I came across a couple super cute little books by Janet Hurst-Nicholson.  They are Leon Chameleon P.I. and the Case of the Missing Canary Eggs and Leon Chameleon P.I. and the Case of the Kidnapped Mouse.  They read a lot like Wind in the Willows to me.  She has another awaiting illustration and publication (which I got to peek at), so everyone go buy a copy of the first two so she can get that one rolling!

Have you read a book that you would like to rewrite the ending of?
I can’t think of one off the top of my head.  I have run into a couple that I think should have been completely rewritten, but I won’t go into further detail. 

What are your thoughts on book trailers?
I love them!  I think they can be a fantastic marketing tool.  They are also another way to get the reader’s attention.  They can sometimes convey things in a way that the words just will not.  Use them!  They work!

Do you have a favorite book cover? Chose up to 3 if you like.
Wither by Lauren DeStefano
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
Fallen by Lauren Kate

Do you ever blog in your PJ’s?
This question should be: do you ever blog in anything besides your PJs?!?  Or, do you ever change out of your PJs?!?!?  Hahaha…  I am primarily a stay-at-home-mom, so PJs are my basic wardrobe.  I have a few other things to wear when I need to look presentable in public. ;-)

Sleep in or get up early?
Sleep in and sleep anytime you can!  I am NOT a morning person, and I am most productive at night when everyone is sleeping and out of my way.

Pet peeves?
Oh man…  I’ll go with an easy one.  Cigarette smoke(rs).  If I wanted to defile my (and my kids’ especially!) lungs with your smoke, I’d go buy a box of menthols for myself…  Smoking should NOT be legal in public.  Sorry…  And parents who smoke in the house and car with their children should have a plastic bag tied over their heads.

What is on your Christmas wish list?
A new laptop, a new pair of cardy Uggs, a Sleep Number mattress, a turtle PillowPet, a sister for our sugar glider, more bookshelves, my hubby to move to day shift, the new Zelda game, maybe snow like last year (without me sliding down the stairs and cracking my tailbone!), lots of fun with my kiddos, and world peace… J  I’ve been a very good girl this year, I promise!

If you could plan the perfect holiday, what would it be?
A month-long, all-expense-paid trip to somewhere beautiful and peaceful and full of culture…where every other day all I had to do was just sit around and relax and read…and the other days I could leisurely take in all the sights!

How often do you blog?
Pretty much every day.  Some days I get busy with other things and then I catch up.  It evens out to about every day J

How many books do you read in a month - roughly?
Including children’s books, short stories, novellas, novels, and manuscripts, I probably go through 25 or more…probably more…

Favorite color?
Green, like fresh spring grass

What are 5 items you never leave home without.
Cell phone, Kindle, lip balm, sunglasses, clean undies (cause you never know) ;-)

What is your most favorite electronic gadget?
I’ll say my Blackberry b/c it can do most of what I can do on my laptop and Kindle, even if it is a bit more inconvenient…

Favorite book character or film character crush. 
Aragorn (Lord of the Rings) – He’s honorable, humble, handsome, strong, stealthy, smart, brave, wise…and a king in a beautiful world!

A character you love to hate.
Draco Malfoy (Harry Potter) – You want to believe that he really has a good heart deep down, but he has just always been such a brat…

Cats or dogs?
Dogs

White wine or red?
Red

Coffee or tea?
Here in Alabama we have our tea SWEET and COLD! J

Favorite food?
Shrimp Tempura Rolls and Grilled Chicken Quesadillas

Vanilla or chocolate icecream?
Vanilla bean with Nesquik chocolate syrup

What is a movie or TV show that you watched recently and really enjoyed?
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows II – So, that’s not really recent, but it is the best movie I have seen in a while.  I still can’t believe it is over… L

Where can we STALK you?
Twitter: @Cassie629 

Thanks Cassie, I really enjoyed reading your answers :) Patti

2 comments:

  1. Thanks so much, Patti! This was super fun! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hey, you can never go wrong with an extra set of undies...or sharpies, you can use them to write clever things on your undies...

    ReplyDelete

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