Reader Spotlight, The BBAW Edition: Meet Issa aka Austenfan from Reality Bites . . . Fiction Does it Better
Book Bloggers Appreciation Week (BBAW) is an annual celebration to recognize the hard work and contribution of book bloggers to the promotion and preservation of a literate culture actively engaged in discussing books, authors, and a lifestyle of reading. BBAW is happening right now! To fully participate in BBAW visit the official blog.
Today is a special edition of my long forgotten Reader Spotlight feature. Today bloggers participating in BBAW are exchanging interviews and it’s my pleasure to introduce you and myself (as this is the beauty of BBAW, I’ve just discovered Issa myself) to Issa (aka Austenfan) from Reality Bites . . . Fiction Does it Better. Issa is a college student located in the Philippines. Issa should be spotlighting an interview with myself over at her blog as well today if you are so inclined to check it out.
Maw Books: You have been blogging since May, why did you start a book blog in the first place?
Issa: Before I started a book blog, I was already maintaining a personal blog. One time, while I was randomly blog hopping, I stumbled upon this blog where the owner blogs about the books that she’s recently read. Being a book lover myself, I really enjoyed her blog and would occasionally drop some comments here and there. Later on, I began seeing more and more book blogs, and I started thinking how cool it would be talk about the books that I love and to know if other people loved them too. So I decided to create this blog.
Maw Books: What do you love about being a book blogger?
Issa: I really love reading comments on the book reviews that I make. One time, someone commented that my blog got convinced her to start reading more books again. After I read that, well, you can just imagine how ecstatic I was about it! Also, I love how fellow book bloggers are always friendly and eager to help. 
Maw Books: What has surprised you the most about book blogging?
Issa: Honestly, I thought book blogging would be really easy. I mean, just type in your thoughts about a particular book and tada!, you have your review. But it’s actually kind of hard to convey your thoughts in a kind of orderly manner. And reviewing the book from an objective point of view is hard too, especially when you get so affected by what went on with the book. LOL. I’m also amazed with the dedication of most of the book bloggers out there. Not that I’m not dedicated to my blog, just that I don’t get to regularly post reviews since I’m a bit busy with school. So kudos to all the book bloggers who have all these amazing reviews, interviews, and giveaways!
Maw Books: What’s the best piece of blogging advice you’ve received?
Issa: I read from somewhere (I think it was from The Story Siren) to never start a blog just to get free books. Of course, getting ARCs and books for review is pretty much impossible for me (since I leave from a faraway land. LOL. – here in the Philippines) but similarly, I guess what it really means is just to blog because you like/love blogging. As simple as that.
Maw Books: And what’s the best piece of blogging advice you would give?
Issa: My blog’s not that popular so I’m not sure if I should be giving advice (haha), but I guess it would be to not be shy about promoting your blog. When I first started my blog, my reviews never seem to get any comments. That’s because those who knew of my blog are the ones I referred from my other blog. Then I joined the Book Blogs ning group and started posting about my reviews there, and yay! I got my first commenter. So yeah, just spread the word about your blog (on book blog groups, twitter or facebook) so that more people would get to know about it.
Maw Books: Where would you like your blog to be or look like a year from now?
Issa: What I’d LIKE it to be, not EXPECT it to be, right? LOL. I would love my blog to have a hundred hits per day, hundreds of followers, have tons of reviews, author interviews and giveaways. That would be awesome! Haha.
Maw Books: What’s your favorite post/review that you’ve written?
Issa: Hmm. Probably my review of The Time Traveler’s Wife. I really enjoyed that book and I had to publish that review for my school organization publication so I really checked if my writing was just right (content and grammar-wise).
Maw Books: What type of books do you read?
Issa: A lot, actually. I enjoy classics, romance, general fiction, thrillers, YA, chick lit. Sci-fi’s okay but nothing too sci-fi for me. And horror is a no-no! 
Nonfiction’s okay too, depending on the theme. Currently though, I’m in love w/ YA.
Maw Books: What are some of the upcoming releases that you are excited about?
Issa: I enjoyed Audrey Niffenegger’s first novel so I’m excited for her next book, Her Fearful Symmetry. The other books I’m excited about are mostly YA, namely Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick (heard it’s really good) and two other books w/c are the next installments in their series: Shadowland by Alyson Noel and The Van Alen Legacy by Melissa de la Cruz.
Maw Books: What is the last book that you read, the book you are reading now and the book you plan to read next?
Issa: The last book I read is Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy by Ally Carter. It’s the second book the Gallagher Girls series (they’re teenage spy students) which was really fun! I’m not reading anything right now cause I have lots of exams and papers to pass for this coming week! 
But after that, I plan to read Between Me and The River by Carrie Host. It’s a living beyond cancer memoir of the author, which promises to be a very emotional and inspirational read.
Maw Books: Who are some of your favorite authors?
Issa: I guess it’s pretty obvious since I use the username ‘austenfan’ that I love Jane Austen! I also like James Patterson. I love how he can write thriller then go on to write romance or even YA (Maximum Ride). I like a lot of YA authors too, though I haven’t read much of their other books to consider them favorites.
Maw Books: What is your earliest reading memory?
Issa: I guess that would be me in grade school reading the Archie comics. Then, I moved on to the ever-popular Sweet Valley series.
Maw Books: Oh my gosh. I was addicted to the Archie comics. How you do you organize the books you own? Do you buy books, borrow from the library or give away when done?
Issa: I put them on shelves and try to organize them by author. I buy books either from book stores or from second hand bookshops. I don’t usually give them away (I’m selfish when it comes to books. LOL.) but sometimes I forget to get them back when someone borrows it so… hmp! Haha.
Maw Books: What’s the worst damage you have done to a book? How did it happen?
Issa: I’m very careful with my books so I guess the worst damage would be a fold in the front or back cover of a paperback copy whenever I accidentally sit or lie on it. Afterwards, I berate myself endlessly for being so careless about it!
Maw Books: Ah, so tame! What do you enjoy about reading? What is it that keeps you reaching for that next book?
Issa: Reading is a kind of stress reliever for me. When I start reading, whooosh!, all my other anxieties just seem to fly past. Also, I love the world that fiction always present, where anything and everything’s possible and all that.
Maw Books: The best book that you’ve read this year?
Issa: I’m gonna go w/ what almost everyone’s saying and say… The Hunger Games! It really is an amazing book! And I only read it just weeks ago! I know, where have I been?! :p
Maw Books: What do you do outside the world of books and blogging?
Issa: I’m currently a college student, so I’m trying to get good grades and hopefully be able to graduate next year!
Maw Books: You are a Chemical engineering student – how do you find time to read and blog with your classes?
Issa: Usually, whenever it’s hell week (or when we have so many requirements and exams), I don’t get to blog and read at all. Which is really sad, cause as I said before reading’s kind of like a stress reliever for me. But whenever school stuff isn’t so heavy, I try to squeeze in time to read and blog whenever I can.
Maw Books: What’s the one thing that you wish people knew about you but you don’t brag about?
Issa: Hmm, I’m not sure about that but most of my peers in school don’t really know how much I like to write, so that would be one thing (don’t I don’t claim to good at writing. LOL.)
Maw Books: You desperately wish you knew how to . . .
Issa: Draw! As in draw beautiful portraits and landscapes. Yes, that would be really great.
Maw Books: I always ask everybody that I interview to share a favorite recipe. Do you have a favorite that you’d share?
Issa: Aww… I don’t know how to cook! So I don’t think I can help you w/ that one.
Maw Books: Ah, darn. Thanks for being here today Issa!
Visit Issa at Reality Bites . . . Fiction Does it Better. Visit the BBAW blog for links to more blogger interviews. Yesterday, I posted about BBAW favorite book blogs, but did so very late in the day so many of you may have missed it. Do check it out and give those bloggers some love.
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Category: Features, Reader Spotlights, The Community
Tags: BBAW
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Hi Natasha!
I’ve just put up my interview here:
on September 15th, 2009 at 2:05 amhttp://fictiondoesitbetter.blogspot.com/2009/09/bbaw-interview-swap-w-natasha-of-maw.html
I’m glad you manage to read and review even though you’re in college, Issa! I had so many friends who just didn’t read at all, although I managed. Silly people. I also wish I could draw! Anyway, great interview! =)
on September 15th, 2009 at 3:39 amThat was a great post! I’ve not visited Issa’s blog before – just found out about it through this interview.
I understand what she meant by trying to squeeze in reading time between classes and assignments. With a number of homework to do, reading seems like a luxurious activity.
I’ve been hearing of Hunger Games everywhere! Haven’t bought the book yet. Will buy it when I’ve reduced by TBR.
on September 15th, 2009 at 4:57 amI love her attitude. She seems so enthusiastic. Great job!
on September 15th, 2009 at 5:47 amNice interview. I totally understand what she means by squeezing in reading between classes and everything; that’s what I do myself. At this moment, I’m actually supposed to study, but I couldn’t resist taking a sneak peek at BBAW.
on September 15th, 2009 at 6:30 amFun interview. It’s hard for me to imagine blogging like I do while being in school — I was sleep-deprived for most of college anyway, without trying to keep up with blogging!
on September 15th, 2009 at 7:26 amWow, she is one dedicated blogger – in college! (And the Philipines? How cool is that?)
on September 15th, 2009 at 8:27 amGreat interview! I was a huge fan of Archie comics too when I was younger.
on September 15th, 2009 at 9:23 amLove the interview! Issa is awesome.
on September 15th, 2009 at 9:24 amI cannot imagine blogging with school. Issa, you are amazing! And ahhh, the memories of “Sweet Valley High.” I loved those books.
Thanks for the interview, Natasha!
on September 15th, 2009 at 10:07 amGreat interview. And I too am amazed you can go to college and still have time to read and blog. So glad to have gotten to know you.
on September 15th, 2009 at 10:38 amI don’t think I could have done book reviews while in college – in fact, unless it was assigned I don’t remember reading much.
on September 15th, 2009 at 11:15 amWow! Fantastic interview – great questions and lovley, enthusiastic responses! Thank you.
on September 15th, 2009 at 4:10 pmI can’t cook either (unless microwaving counts?) Great interview, and now I need to pick up The Hunger Games. I keep reading raves about it!
on September 15th, 2009 at 6:16 pmThanks Natasha for the interview! And HI to everyone who dropped by!
on September 16th, 2009 at 12:53 amGreat interview questions… and answers!
on September 16th, 2009 at 11:07 amCongrats on your two BBAW wins (so far)!
on September 16th, 2009 at 12:23 pmFun interview. What an amazing thing — to be a college student, and do all that extra reading and blogging, too. Very impressive!
on September 16th, 2009 at 3:16 pmAnd THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for mentioning that my book, The Only True Genius in the Family, was one of your favorites (on Issa’s blog.) I’m so thrilled !
Issa’s blog is new to me, too, and I’m another one who’s impressed that’s both a student and a reader. (And a science student and a reader, at that! All those labs!)
on September 16th, 2009 at 6:02 pmI had to laugh at the fact that Issa doesn’t cook…she foiled your plans!
on September 16th, 2009 at 9:15 pm