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.

On book accidents and ruining books:

I can’t remember accidents caused while reading and walking. I guess I don’t do that a lot. However, I was walking up the stairs in Jr. High and tripped, dropped my textbook, and it slipped under the railing and hit an upperclassman on the head on its way to the lower level. I was just a little 7th grader and so embarrassed. That is the only notable book accident I’ve caused.

My boy has destroyed board books. He’s ripped the spines apart on them and it is hard to tape those back together. He also ripped up this expensive play a sound Thomas book I bought him. He loved it, but I don’t know why he repeatedly ripped it up. Even after I used packing tape to tape together pages, he would rip them up again. He was determined to ruin that one. It just breaks your heart doesn’t it?

On the perfect day off:

If I could do anything on my day off, no limitations, I would take a flight to a secluded beach on Hawaii, sit on a comfy chair reading a book and pigging out on goodies. Of course, I wouldn’t gain any weight or get sunburned, because that would not be in accordance with a perfect day off.

On what is beautiful:

I am a mom, and I have felt that moving away feeling twice now. The first time was when I first moved to a small town away from all my family and friends. That is where I started out as a mother, and it seemed very lonely at first. Fortunately, I found some really terrific friends down there. After 4 years there, we moved back home. Now I am reconnecting with my best friend from High School, which is great, but I miss my group of friends from Beaver so much.

Sometimes I wish I could be both places at once. I often feel lonely up here among my family. That sounds strange doesn’t it?Sometimes I look at pictures from High School and College and think I looked pretty good back then. It is quite funny, because I know at the time I probably thought I was not good looking enough or thin enough. Boy, I should have appreciated it more back then. I guess the lesson in all is just to appreciate how you look, because you really can’t do too much to improve in that way. What you can improve is your attitude and how you treat others.

Maw Books:  So Amy, tell us about yourself!  What do you want us to know?

Amy: I’m a stay at home mom. I lead a very exciting life of temper tantrums, roughhousing, fighting and driving kids to and from pre-school. I usually lose every battle of course. I have one little boy who just turned 4. I also watch my sister’s kids ages 5 and 4. I do have a bachelor’s degree in English. I don’t have a clue what I’ll ever use it for, but I am proud to have it. My husband is a high school music teacher. He teaches band, orchestra and guitar. He’s a pretty busy guy, and is trying to get into school for his Masters right now.

My favorite hobbies are watching movies, playing games with the family and reading. I also enjoy cross-stitch when I get the time, and hiking. My favorite place to hike is Bryce Canyon, because I love the view. I have also hiked to the top of Mt. Timpanogos, and that was quite the climb.

Maw Books:  I lead that exciting life of kids as well.  It’s hard stuff!  Especially when they are literally jumping off the walls.  It looks like you have a lot of experience with that!  What is your earliest reading memory?  And what were you like as a young reader?

Amy: We had a book called On Cherry Street by Odile Ousley and David H. Russell. It was my mom’s book, and I wish I knew if she still had it. It is a collectible now. I remember reading that and also Cat on the Mat, and Fun with Dick and Jane by Scott Foresman. I can’t find the version of Cat on the Mat that we had. I think the author is Alison Fenton. It had a blue cover. Has anyone else read that one? I believe I have always loved reading. I remember reading The Babysitter’s Club books over and over until they fell apart.

Maw Books:  Oh yes.  I was a Babysitter’s Club fan as well.  I felt so cool reading those books.  What do you enjoy about reading?  What is it that keeps you reaching for that next book?

Amy: I guess I just love getting to know characters and wondering what it would be like to be in that world or situation. I especially love fantasy and romance. I guess there is that part of me that wishes I could be a witch at Hogwarts, or a Dragon Rider, or Mr. Darcy’s true love. What keeps me reaching for the next book? – there’s always another adventure to go on.

Maw Books:  You are a Twilight enthusiast.  Tell us about what turned you on to Stephenie Meyer and what do you enjoy about her books?

Amy: A good friend told me I had to read it, so of course I did. From the moment I opened the book I couldn’t put it down until I had finished it. The story just sucked me right in and refuses to let me go. I guess I can relate myself to Bella. She has that “every girl” quality. Stephenie just has a way of telling a good story. I hope she continues writing.

Maw Books:  What’s your reaction to the Midnight Sun draft being posted online?

Amy: I felt really bad for Stephenie. Then I was mad at the person who spoiled it, because that was the point Stephenie put the whole thing on hold. I wasn’t going to read the draft at all, but after quite some time I caved. I am just weak. If Stephenie hadn’t given the go ahead I wouldn’t have read it.

Maw Books:  And who do you like better – Edward or Jacob?

Amy: I love Edward 99% and Jacob 1%. I don’t like being cold, so being with a werewolf would be tempting, but I guess I could just become a vampire and it wouldn’t matter. I really am crazy right?

Maw Books:  I despise the cold, I’m with you there.  You are really active on Goodreads.  How long have you been on Goodreads and what do you like the most about it?

Amy: I have been on Goodreads since April 2008. I like to keep track of books I’ve read. It is also a handy place to jot down the books I want to read. Recently I found out you can enter to win books. Publishers give out ARC’s in hopes readers will post reviews. I won a book already. I was really excited!

Maw Books:  What are the genres that you enjoy reading and why?

Amy: I’ve said romance and fantasy. I also enjoy historical fiction. I find those pretty fascinating, because I can learn some history in a fun way. I always struggled in my history classes. I’ve also been reading more classics lately. My personal goal was to read one classic a month. I love 19th and 20th century British lit. They are usually good stories with clean content.

Maw Books:  What’s the last book you read, the book you are reading now and the book that you are going to read next?

Amy: I just finished My Brother, the Robot by Bonny Becker (your suggestion). I am currently reading What to Read When by Pam Allyn. It is a reading guide for children’s books from birth to age 10. That is the book I won from Goodreads. Next up is The Bright Side of Disaster by Katherine Center (also your suggestion – you have a lot of influence on my life).

Maw Books: Ahhh.  And I must admit, I need to post these interviews faster, because you’ve already moved on to more books!  Do you have a favorite author who you rush out to buy their newest book?

Amy: If Rowling or Meyer write more I will definitely buy those. I also love Shannon Hale, and I’m so excited for her upcoming adult novel. I’ll probably buy that one.

Maw Books:  I’m going to read Hale’s new one as well.  Where are the ARC’s when need them?!  So, where is your favorite place to read?

Amy: I like to be anywhere warm. My favorite places are in bed or in the tub. Outside in the summertime is another choice – if the kids aren’t fighting for my attention.

Maw Books:  Man, with this weather, it feels like it’s never going to get warm.  Do you have any favorite snacks to munch on while you read?  Care to share the recipe?

Amy: I like to eat chocolate and junk food for sure. I’m not big on baking, but these cookies are really good. They are high fiber, but you can’t taste a difference.

Pumkin Oatmeal Cookies
3 Cups (20 oz can) cooked pumpkin, mashed
3 Cups brown sugar
3/4 Cup butter, softened
3/4 Cup canola oil
4 Cups whole-wheat flour
4 Cups rolled oats
1 Tbs. baking powder
1 Tbs. baking soda
1 Tbs. ground cinnamon
3/4 tsp. salt
2 Cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Mix pumpkin, sugar, butter, and oil well. Add dry ingredients an chocolate chips. Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes. Makes 11 dozen 2 inch cookies.

Maw Books:  Would you believe I still have a pumpkin sitting in the garage from the fall?  What are your favorite books to read with your little boy?  And do you have any reading traditions to keep him excited about reading?

Amy: I will read any book he gets excited about. Recently we’ve been reading Hey Mr. Choo-Choo Where are you Going? by Susan Wickberg and Yumi Heo, and Jon Scieszka’s Trucktown Smash! Crash! The kids have me reading those over and over. They also love Leslie Petricelli’s Quiet Loud and No No Yes Yes.

I’ve been working hard to read to the kids every day. My son likes to read in my bed with me.

Maw Books:  No No Yes Yes is what my little boy got in his Easter basket last year!  I love her! You write book reviews at a collaborative review blog called The Joy of Reading.  How long have you been writing reviews there and what do you enjoy about it?

Amy: I’ve only been on that blog for a few months now. I enjoy it, because I am just a contributor and not in charge of the whole enchilada. Also, I am hoping for increased readership since there are so many contributors.

Maw Books:  What’s your favorite review that you’ve written?

Amy: I think my favorite so far is my review of North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell.

Maw Books:  How long have you been blogging at Amy’s Haiku Haven?  And when did you start writing haiku’s and what do you enjoy about them?

Amy: It looks like February 2008 was my first post. The funny thing is I started that blog as a way to mess with html code. If I messed with that blog until I figured it out, I could change the code on my private blog. So I guess I just decided to keep the haiku blog. I am pretty lazy with it though. I don’t think that many people read it anyway so it is mostly for me. I like haiku’s, because they are short. They can also be challenging though. Trying to fit your thoughts into a set amount of syllables is pretty tough sometimes. Mine tend to match my mood of the day.

Maw Books:  You also enjoy writing poetry.  Would you mind sharing one of your favorite poems you’ve written with us?

Amy: Oh no, I am really embarrassed about those. I don’t think I’m a very good poet. I actually have most of my poems in a folder, but I’ve searched everywhere and can’t find them. There are two boxes of folders buried under a mountain of baby stuff in the back room. They are probably in there. I’ve got a few on my haiku page though.

Maw Books:  Ha, ha!  I did find the couple on your haiku blog.  Can we say Star Wars?  You played in the marching band in high school and also play the piano.  Tell us more about your musical talents.

Amy:  Yes, I did 4 years of marching band in H.S. and 4 years at the University of Utah. That is where I met my husband. I know I’m such a band geek! I play the Baritone/Euphonium (that’s a mini sized tuba for you non-band geeks). I played the Trombone a little too, but I wasn’t that great at it. I am also proficient on the Kazoo. It’s got such a lovely sound. I play piano in church from time to time.

Maw Books:  If you had a free day with no responsibilities with unlimited funds and means and your only charge was to enjoy yourself, what would you do?

Amy: My first thought was to go to an amusement park like Six Flags, but only if I didn’t have to wait in line. I also thought about having dinner with Hugh Jackman. Maybe I’ll do both. If I had an entire week I’d go on a Hawaiian cruise.

Maw Books:  All excellent choices!  I do love my amusement parks.  You desperately wish you knew how to…

Amy: There are too many things I wish I could do. I’m going to say see the future. Yeah, I’d be like Alice Cullen or something.

Maw Books:  What’s the one thing that you wish people knew about you but you don’t brag about.

Amy: I just feel so dreadfully ordinary. Sometimes I can be really silly; my friends don’t know what to think of me. Most people don’t know that about me, because I’m generally shy and quiet. Once I get to know people better I am more relaxed.

Maw Books:  I’m the exact same way.

Go visit Amy at Amy’s Haiku Haven! I feel like she’s a hidden gem.  I’m thrilled that she’s such a long time commenter.  Thanks Amy for being in the spotlight today!

On ruining books (this totally had me laughing so hard!):

I’m terrible with books. I frequently eat while reading (I’m frequently eating period!), so I often get little food stains. The worst, though, was last summer when I was reading A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and I had the bright idea to jump on the raft in the lake and read. I threw the book on the raft first and then jumped from the dock onto the raft. I don’t know why I didn’t realize that the book would bounce right off. I was drying pages with a blow dryer also…my book is now twice the size!

On starting to read the Twilight books:

I have to laugh at your opening statement because my best friend did exactly that with Twilight–shoved the book into my reluctant hands and gave me a month to read it. She knows I’ve been resistant, that I don’t really want to read or like the series. I’m about 350 pages into the book and completely hooked. Sheesh.

On scary books:

I used to read scary books when I was younger–a lot of Christopher Pike and RL Stine, but when I couldn’t get to sleep at night after reading, I realized I had to stop. I’ve never gone back to scary!

On how she organizes her books:

Right now I have my books more or less organized by “read” and “unread.” The “unread” ones are sort of alpha, but one of my bookshelves has shallow shelves, so my hardbacks are all together. And then there are the boxes that I have stacked next to the bookshelves full of books. And the stacks on my desk and the double stacks on the actual shelves.

On a great Christmas tradition:

I actually thought of a kind of book tradition that we have for Christmas. My grandmother collected all of these christmas stories and poems and put them together in an album (so it is a big giant story book). She cut up her christmas cards from over the years to decorate–really a lovely book–all the “married” grandkids have our own. Every year we get together and read the stories out of the book. By now we have our favorites–some that we laugh at, some that make us cry every year. If you could include some shorter stories for the kids, I think they would really grow to love the tradition as well.

On confidence:

It’s interesting what you say about photography–and I think we all have those little obstacles (ok, maybe not ALL of us). I don’t always have the highest confidence, but I’ve been told *several* times that I exude confidence (which I didn’t really notice until people kept telling me that). I think a lot of it is about the attitude we take.

On remembering books:

I haven’t read anything without remembering whether I’ve already done so. I keep a pretty detailed list of my books and which ones I’ve read. I do have a very difficult time remembering plots and characters names for books that I’ve read. Even books that I’ve read recently!! It has gotten better since blogging (which is part of the reason why I write my thoughts down). Kind of embarrassing actually. I couldn’t tell you the lead character’s name in Water for Elephants and I read it maybe 2 months ago…

So with that all said, let’s get to know Trish more!

Maw Books:  So tell us about yourself!  What do you want us to know?

Trish: I’m 27, happy married (3 years in May), and a bibliophile.  I live in North Dallas with my husband Scott, dog (Lexi), and cat (Maggie).  I grew up close to where we are living now, but I was born in Utah and lived for a few years in Toronto before moving down to Texas.  I spent my freshman year of college at Ricks (now BYU-Idaho) as a pre-medicine major, but transferred to A&M where I finished my degree in English.  After coming home from college and not knowing what I wanted to do, I worked for a few years at a small town fire department before moving to Lubbock to get my second degree in English and be with Scott (we met as next-door-neighbors in College Station).  Now I work in insurance and read a whole heck of a lot.

Maw Books:  Seriously, the next time you come up to Utah to visit family, you better let me know about it!  What do you enjoy about reading?  What is it that keeps you reaching for that next book?

Trish: I enjoy so many different aspects of reading, but most of all I am thirsty for knowledge and have a desire to be transported to different times and places.  Reading for me is a mental escape-it is a way to discover different cultures and experience worlds I could have never imagined.

Maw Books:  What type of books/genre do you enjoy reading?

Trish: I read a wide variety of books, but I tend to grab for books that will challenge the way that I think or teach me things.  I love reaching out of my comfort zone (as much as I sometimes whine), and while general fiction, literature and classics will always be my genres of choice, I have loved discovering different genres lately such as non-fiction (not as boring as everyone thinks), fantasy (so rich and explorative), graphic novels (emotion on a completely different level).

Maw Books:  All of the non-fiction I’ve read lately, is anything but boring!  So, what is your earliest reading memory?  And what were you like as a young reader?

Trish: I have always been a voracious reader.  Even before I could read the words on the page, I would pretend to read books-making up the stories to match the pictures.  On vacations and play days, I was most likely to be the one in the family reading a book.  This hasn’t really changed a whole lot-I’m still the one with her nose in a book.

Maw Books:  Seriously, the cutest picture ever!  Why did you start a book blog in the first place and how long have you been blogging?  Tell us about your blog, your focus, and why it’s important to you.

Trish: I first discovered book blogging when I joined a few Yahoo book clubs almost 2 years ago.  I was living a small town at the time, had just graduated from graduate school (MA in English), and desperately needed a booktalk outlet.  Once I discovered book blogging, I quickly abandoned the book clubs and focused more on reading challenges.

I don’t have a particular focus on my blog-I mainly just post what I read about.  And since I read a little bit of everything, my blog posts tend to be all over the place!  Blogging is important to me for so many different reasons.  My initial reason for blogging was to keep a written record of the books I had read.  I have a terrible memory, so keeping a few notes on what I thought of a book has long been a goal of mine.  Unfortunately I’m even more terrible at keeping a journal, so blogging became the perfect outlet.

Now that I have fallen into the routine of regularly blogging about my reading, blogging has become more about community.  I love that there are so many other bloggers who share my passion for books.  This is something that I haven’t really experienced in “real” life until now.  Sure I have friends and family who enjoy reading, but they mostly look at me like I’m a little crazy when they find out just how passionate (or obsessive) I am.

Maw Books:  If you could go back and talk to yourself when you first began your blog, what advice would you offer?

Trish: I wish people would give ME advice now!    I was very lucky to quickly find some great bloggers who were willing to answer my copious questions about blogging.  I’m not sure what has changed that I could tell myself back then.  Just to make sure blogging is fun, not a chore.

Maw Books:  Agree!  While at times blogging does stress me a little bit, it’s always fun!  What is your favorite thing about the community of book bloggers and how do you find the time to be so consistent in leaving comments on other blogs?

Trish: LOL-I think I used to be much better about commenting than I am now-and even then it never seemed like enough for me.  I still try to frequently visit my favorite bloggers and take the time to discover new bloggers, but the community is growing so fast!  There are so many aspects of the community that I wish I had more time to contribute to, but at the end of the week, it’s sometimes a battle just to be able to get my one or two posts published about what I read without all of the extra fun stuff.

What I love about the blogging community is how loving and supportive everyone is.  I have met such wonderful people in the past year and a half and experienced so many wonderful things.  I live for the 24-hour read-a-thon, and the reading challenges have broadened my horizons tremendously.  I never thought when I first started blogging that I would be hosting challenges of my own-challenges that people join!!  And of course, just being in the company of others who love books and the written word as much as I do: It’s hard to beat.

(image from Trish’s Reading Nook)

Maw Books:  I *think* I’ll be able to do the 24 Hour Read-a-thon for the first time this year!  You are going to have to show me the ropes.  So what do you do outside the world of books?

Trish: Haha!  Yes, I do have a small life outside of books.  Family is really important to me, so I spend a fair amount of time just hanging out with them.  I’m lucky to have my parents both living 20 minutes away, so I try to see them each once a week.  My husband and I love movies-either renting them or catching the latest release at the theater.  Working out is something that is really important to me.  While I’m not always in the habit, I love the feeling of being fit.  Camping is something that is new but also fun.  I love being outdoors.  Travel and cooking, but we’ll get to that.  And lately I’ve been dabbling in a little bit of quilting.  Hopefully soon I’ll start scrapbooking-although I’ve been saying that for years!

Maw Books:    My parents own a craft/scrapbooking store in Austin.  I’ve been saying that same thing my whole life!  What do you do for your full time job?

Trish: Despite my two degrees in English, I followed my husband into the Insurance profession.  I work for a small insurance company who does primarily workers compensation for construction companies.  I work in an internal department-lots of research and compliance-something I DID learn from my English degrees.  It isn’t something I ever expected doing, but I love it and am challenged every day.  Being constantly challenged is incredibly important to me.

Maw Books:  I know you love to travel.  What’s your favorite vacation that you’ve ever taken?  And also what is your dream vacation.  Who would you take with you?

I think my love of travel is sparked by the fact that we have always lived far away from extended family.  I grew up in Toronto, so we took frequent trips to California and Utah where my mom’s family lives.  In addition to those family get-togethers, my parents were always great about taking us to new and different places.  One of my favorite pre-Scott trips was when my mom took me and my two sisters to Europe for 2 weeks.

My dream vacation would be to go back to Europe.  Who would I take with me?  Are you kidding?  Scott is definitely my favorite travel buddy-plus he’s never been overseas. We’ve been lucky enough to take some amazing trips in the past 4 year-The Caribbean, a two week roadtrip through the West, Alaskan cruise, Taos, Tahoe, San Francisco, New England, Toronto-and a few weeks ago Hawaii!

Maw Books:  Oh my.  I might be a bit jealous!  Food.  Do you have a favorite food?  I’d love to include a recipe.  Do you have a family favorite you’d like to share?

Trish: I.Love.Food.  Food and reading. Reading about food.    I don’t necessarily have a favorite food, although I love comfort foods.  And lately, foods that are easy to cook.  One of my favorites is pork tenderloin-incredibly simple and a sure crowd pleaser.  My family jokes that every time they come over they eat pork tenderloin.

1 package Hormel teriyaki-flavored Pork Tenderloin (1-1.5 lbs)
1 tsp Olive Oil
1 Clove of Garlic, minced
½ tsp Rosemary
½ tsp Salt
¼ tsp Pepper

Preheat oven to 450.  Spray shallow roasting pan.

In small bowl, mix olive oil, garlic, rosemary, salt, and pepper until paste forms.  Place pork tenderloin in shallow roasting pan and spread mixture evenly on top of the tenderloin.

Cook uncovered for 25-30 minutes until barely pink when cut in the center or until center is 155 degrees when measured with meat thermometer.  Remove from oven and place aluminum foil loosely over the pan (in tent fashion).  Let stand for 10-15 minutes until temperature rises to 160 degrees.  Slice into medallions and serve.

Serves 3-4 people. I also discovered a Raspberry Chipotle Sauce from Costco that is amazing with the pork-very simple and very fancy.  J  Who doesn’t like that?

Maw Books:  The Raspberry Chipotle sauce sound fantastic!  We have something similar that we pour on top of cream cheese and eat with crackers.  If you had a free day with no responsibilities and your only charge was to enjoy yourself, what would you do?

Trish: No responsibility?  You mean the laundry has been done and the bathrooms are clean?    I’d probably brew a pot of coffee and spend a little bit of time on the blogosphere catching up with blogs while drinking a cup of coffee, read for a bit, grab lunch with some friends or family, read some more, eat a nice dinner with hubby, and relax on the couch with a nice glass of wine while either reading or watching a great movie.  I’m a pretty simple person.

Maw Books:  You desperately wish you knew how to…

Trish: Change the green background of my blog without doing a complete template change.  Ha!  I wish I were more creative.  My sister got the creative genes while I got the more practical/logical genes.  With creativity I’d probably spend more time doing crafty things like scrapbooking and sewing.  I also wish I knew how to mountain climb!

Maw Books:  Well, I’m not on blogger, but I bet there are some folks here that will tell you how to change the color. What’s your biggest pet peeve?

Trish: [Laughs] I’m a very particular person with what others would probably consider to be neuroses or idiosyncrasies.  My pet peeves are probably completely unfounded.    Except traffic.  I’m not sure why people feel SO compelled to stare at an accident on the highway.

Maw Books:  What’s the one thing that you wish people knew about you but you don’t brag about?

Trish: I won the Salt Lake Baby Beauty Pageant when I was 2 years old.  Haha!  In all honesty, I’m a pretty ordinary gal and lucky to be in the company of such great bloggers.

Maw Books:  Ahhh!  I bet you were the cutest baby!  Thank you so much for being in the spotlight today.  It was awesome!

So go forth and visit Trish at Trish’s Reading Nook. Subscribe, visit often, and comment!  She’s amazing. And thanks Trish for stopping by here so regularly.  I always get excited when I see a comment from you!

In response to Sara Zarr’s Sweethearts:

Our family moved around a few times when I was in elementary school and I would reinvent myself every time (I used to be painfully shy). Once I finally reached middle school, we stayed put but I continued to be someone new or at the very least, hang out with a different clique every few years. I was still a librarian’s/ teacher’s pet and a bookworm but I had acquired an outgoing personality and was generally well liked. No more bullies and teasing though! I think I even made a few non-readers pick up a book

In response to As If Being 12 3/4 Isn’t Bad Enough My Mother Is Running for President by Donna Gephart:

Ugh, can you imagine trying to grow up and just be normal while you’re being put under a microscope like that because of something your mother is doing? Sounds like a great story though… looking forward to the lemon square recipe. Wonder how it compares to mine…..

I mention that one because I’ve made the lemon squares and hope to post them sometime this month!

On her and her husband watching the Twilight movie together:

I loved Twilight! There was some differences from the book but none of it bothered me too much. It even converted my mostly non-reading husband! He picked up the first book (the only one I have) when we came home. We went fairly early and there were equal guy to girl ratios too… of course as we were leaving there was a HUGE line of mostly teenaged girls so go early! I’m seriously thinking about seeing it again.

So, let’s learn more about Jen!

Maw Books:  Take a moment and introduce yourself.

Jen: Hello! My name is Jen aka Ladytink_534. I’m 22, married with an adorable black fur-baby. Originally from Georgia, Darren and I moved to Mississippi the day after I graduated high school (nearly four years ago now) to live near his family where he grew up. Since his mother and my family still live in Georgia, we do go up to visit a couple of times every year though! Well as you could guess from my blogs  Up Close and Personal With LadyTink , The Movieholic & Bibliophile, and Ladytink’s Neverland) I love to read and I love to watch movies- especially older movies that so many people have forgotten and animated or family friendly ones. I do have a bit of an obsessive personality where I have to do things in order such as read book series, write reviews, etc.

Maw Books: What is your earliest reading memory?  And what were you like as a young reader?

Jen: My earliest reading memory was probably having my Meme (great-grandmother) read me a collection of Disney stories that had belonged to my mother (which I still have). I’ve been reading for about as long as I can remember and I’ve been told that I learned when I was about 3 years old. I’ve also been told I used to ask anyone who would sit still long enough to read to me! When I was younger I would read anything and since my Meme was the only person who was a reader in my family, I didn’t have a whole lot to pick and choose from! Unless a teacher or a librarian recommended me something, I usually just stuck to whatever I could find -which is how I got addicted to R.L. Stein’s Fear Street books. It’s also why I read many “classics” (Gone With the Wind, The Wizard of Oz, Robin Hood, Alice in Wonderland, Heidi, Big Red, The Call of the Wild, Where the Red Fern Grows, etc.) before I had even entered high school (some before middle school too)!

Maw Books: I’m impressed you have read Gone With the Wind!  That’s a chunkster that intimidates me!  And what a wonderful Meme! What type of books/genre do you enjoy reading?

Jen: There are just so many genres out there that I’ve never been able to narrow it down to just one in particular. I adore fantasy, paranormals, YA and children’s fiction, the classics, mysteries, romance, and just about anything else… except sci-fi. That’s a genre I’ve never been able to enjoy.

Maw Books: Do you mostly buy books, check them out from the library, or a mixture of both?

Jen: Libraries are such wonderful places! For a couple of years I avoided the library but I always do seem to go back to it. I actually used to volunteer at my middle school library! Now I’m mostly a library user and I go at least once every week. I tend to only buy books when they’re either by my favorite authors and when I already have several (or all) in the series or when its something too new for my library to get in.

Maw Books: Do you read whatever you want or do you rely on recommendations from others?

Jen: Recommendations is one of the main reasons I visit so many different reader blogs! I discover so many new books that I probably wouldn’t have found on my own but I also tend to read whatever strikes my fancy too. I tend to browse my library’s online catalog occasionally!

Maw Books:  What inspired you to begin blogging, how long have you been blogging and would you share what your three blogs are about?

Jen: Last year I answered this question on my blog and I really can’t improve my answer any so:

I’ve been blogging on various sites for a few years now but I started blogging on Blogger for two reasons. 1) I couldn’t post photos on my Yahoo Movies reviews and 2) I wanted a sort of interactive experience where I could watch videos, listen to music, and visit links that have to do with the movies… and then I decided to add book reviews too. Now I had never done a book review before and had just started keeping up with what I read but I had been in a few online book groups for a couple of years by then so I at least knew how to talk about why I liked something. So my “reviews” (if you can call them that, I try to avoid it) are a little different from what you would normally find and they can be a pain to put together… but it’s still fun for me or I wouldn’t be doing it.

I have three blogs on Blogger that I post frequently on. I started off with my Ladytink’s Neverland Blog (originally titled Ladytink’s Happy Place lol) on June 17, 2007 and almost immediately started receiving comments. I had never had comments from strangers before on any of my previous blogs like on MySpace or Xanga. I went to school with or was related to all of those commenter’s but here was something completely new to me. So then, I started my main (and personal favorite blog) The Movieholic & Bibliophile’s Blog (originally entitled The Movieholic, Bibliophile, & Music Junkie’s Blog) on June 22, 2007. My third blog is Up Close and Personal With LadyTink and was created on November 21, 2007. I post everything that isn’t a book or movie review like meme’s, challenges, what I’m doing, photos of my bookshelves, etc.

Maw Books:  You do an amazing job with them!  Does blogging about books or movies change the way you read/watch them?  Are you more analytical?

Jen: The only good answer to that is sometimes. Sometimes I just sit back and enjoy the book or movie but there are other times when I’ll stop and start talking out loud to myself about the book/ movie and then I try to write down my “discussions” to look at when I write the review for it. The reviews I’m most proud of are done this way actually. It’s also a pain to have to do so I’ve been thinking of investing in one of those little handheld tape-recorders that reporters use!

Maw Books:  LOL.  Not a bad idea actually.  What is your favorite post/series/concept/etc about your blog(s)?

Jen: I guess my favorite thing about both of my review blogs is that I’m collecting just about everything I can find (interviews and videos) about that particular movie or book into one place. Also the pictures I use help me remember the books better long after I’ve read them. I plan on having these blogs for years to come and instead of having to re-read something to help me remember I can just go back to my review. The “interactive experience” can sometimes be a pain to collect together but I do love it when its done!

Maw Books:  Favorite book?

Jen: Nope, I don’t do favorites. Never have, never will. However, I have read Stephen King’s The Stand, Lewis Caroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, and Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women three times each.

Maw Books:  Favorite author?

Jen: Here are a few I love enough to collect almost all their books: Stephen King, Laurell K. Hamilton, Kim Harrison, Kelley Armstrong, Anne Rice, Charlaine Harris, Carrie Vaughn, Joanne Fluke, Brenda Joyce, Mary Kay Andrews, Jennifer Crusie and many, many more!

Maw Books:  This is what I love about reading!  Our tastes our so different (I’m putting myself out there and saying I’m not familiar with hardly any of those authors!) but the love of reading came bring any two readers together, regardless of their preferred genre.  Okay, favorite movie?

Jen: Um… Well, anything Disney before 2000, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Interview with the Vampire, My Fair Lady, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir… I could do this all day lol!

Maw Books:  Favorite actor/actress?

Jen: Rex Harrison, Cary Grant, Morgan Freeman, Robin Williams, Johnny Depp, Jason Dohring, Orlando Bloom, Julie Andrews, Julia Roberts, Audrey Hepburn, Katharine Hepburn, +more!

Maw Books:  Johnny Depp – my husbands favorite.  How many movies do you think you watched last year?

Jen: A little over 60 I think.

Maw Books:  So what is it with you and Walt Disney anyways?

Jen: Lol. I’m not entirely sure but I’ve always been fascinated by the movies, even more so when I could grasp the fact that for a number of years all the animation was hand-drawn. I have no reason really to love it all (I actually listen to the music soundtracks all the time by the way) but I do and I find almost all of it utterly charming. You wouldn’t guess that I’ve never been to any of the Disney theme parks would you? Still, when it comes to Disney movies I’m utterly addicted.

Maw Books:  What does your husband have to say about your obsessions.  Does he encourage it or does he roll his eyes (mine is the rolling eyes type!)?

Jen: Well a bit of both actually but he encourages it more than anything. I knew he was a keeper when he bought me a stuffed Tigger on our first date! After I discovered ebay for the first time he bought me a collection of children’s books that I never knew existed as a surprise (I had one from the set that my Meme had bought for me as a baby somewhere), oh and he always does something special on anniversary’s and birthday’s too. Last year he bought me the entire 7 seasons of Buffy and a couple of books I had been wanting too.

Maw Books:  He sounds like a keeper!  You say you are a Georgia girl at heart.  What brought you to Mississippi?  What do you love about both places?

Jen: Truly the only thing keeping me in Mississippi is that my husband has a really great job here and that 90% of his family lives down here too. It was a bit of a shock moving here for a girl who had never seen any body of water bigger than a lake until she was around 13! The best thing about Georgia is my family and the fact that I grew up there so I know the area but that’s also what’s great about Mississippi, my in-laws (whom I actually adore) and exploring all these new places. The casinos in Biloxi are interesting even though I don’t really enjoy gambling.

Maw Books:  What do you do outside the world of reading books or watching movies?

Jen: Nothing much. I’m a stay-at-home wife so I tend to have a bit of free time on my hands a lot.

Maw Books:  Where would you go on your dream vacation?  And what would you eat while you were there?

Jen: Disneyland because I’d like to go to something Walt Disney built even though I’m much closer to Disney World and I’ve heard that there are different kinds of food from all over the world served there. I also wouldn’t mind visiting Ireland and England for the history and the landscape. Although it might be a little strange, I’d also like to try the local traditional foods there too.

Maw Books:  Speaking of eating, do you have a favorite snack that you munch on while your reading books or watching movies?  Would you care to share the recipe?

Jen: I snack on whatever is available and I can’t cook to save my soul (good thing hubby is such a picky eater huh?) but I do enjoy baking every once in awhile but I tend to get my recipes out of books.

Here is my favorite cookie recipe. It’s from Joanne Fluke’s Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder and it’s called Chocolate Chip Crunch Cookies:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F, rack in the middle position

Ingredients
1 cup of butter (2 sticks, melted)
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 beaten eggs (you can beat them up with a fork)
2 ½ cups flour (not sifted)
2 cups crushed corn flakes (just crush them with your hands)
1-2 cup chocolate chips

Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes. Cool on cookie sheet for 2 minutes, then remove to a wire rack until they?re completely cool. (The rack is important – it makes them crisp.)

Maw Books:  What’s the one thing that you wish people knew about you but you don’t brag about?

Jen: Can’t really think of anything off the top of my head. Well, I’m seriously good at trivia… especially Disney trivia lol!

Maw Books:  I seriously wouldn’t want to go head to head with you on Disney Trivial Pursuit!  Thanks Jen for being in the spotlight today!

Jen: Thanks so much for the interview!  It was a ton of fun!

Pretty amazing, huh?!  I love learning about my commenters and different reading preferences, influences, styles, etc.  Don’t forget to visit Jen at Up Close and Personal With LadyTink , The Movieholic & Bibliophile Blog. Check out the past reader spotlights and make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss any future spotlights

I love Jeanette’s comments and thought I’d start off by sharing a few of my favorites:

About library sales:

I remember going to the library sale in Portland, OR when I lived out there. This was pre-kids so I dragged my hubby out of bed early and we took the train downtown. We got there early and there was a line snaking down several city blocks. We finally got it and oh what fun! So many great books at such great prices! The hardest part was getting them all home on the train! We were loaded down! There also used to be a great book sale every year at Pioneer Square in Portland. Again, I would take the train down and heft all the books back home. I love book sales!

About Holocaust books:

I don’t think you are weird for reading so many Holocaust books. When I was in jr high and high school I read pretty much anything I could get my hands on that was about the Holocaust. I wrote several papers and did several projects on the subject. My friends all thought I was morbid but it was not like that at all. I even had one of my teachers ask if she could read my notes and if I would do a presentation for the class because I knew so much about the subject. When I got to college my focus shifted to different and more varied topics but I still have files and files of information and a good list of books on the subject. I have not read many books on the subject on the last 10 years and really should start reading the newer books.  With all that said…I have read this book and its sequel. One of my roommates in college had to read it for a class and I ended up reading it when I saw it sitting around the apartment. It is beautifully written and I too really liked what she said in the intro.

About my bookshelves:

Natasha, I loved this post! I just love seeing bookshelves full of books and yours are so nicely organized. I love the shelves in your front room. One of the things I don’t like about my house is that it is very open-now normally I would love that but there are not enough walls for bookshelves! We don’t use our dining room as a dining room so I am thinking I want to turn it into my library.
I have one question. How do you keep your kids, especially your youngest, from eating and ripping your books on the bottom shelves? I had to move all the books off the bottom two shelves on most of my book shelves and right now I just have them stacked on the dining room table in order to keep them away from baby hands and mouths.

If Jen and I could talk about it, so could Jeanette!

Yeah-My boobs will never be the same after nursing two babies. Oh well. My friend use to tell me I had mosquito bites. Ha! What would she think now?  Judy Blume. Really, I think it is a good thing my mom did not take time to monitor what I read as a young girl. She would not have been too pleased. I remember reading Forever but I don’t think I really got what I was reading.I was flipping through it a number of years after I read it and could not believe I had read that when I was so young.  Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret was a good one though. I remember the whole anxiety about when I was going to start my period etc. And then I was scared when I did. Oh, the memories.

On Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark:

Oh! The one with the trucker flashing his high beams always got me. To this day I check my back seat before I get in the car because of that story! Seriously.  Did the story about the girl who had a spider lay eggs in her face come from ones of these books? That story also freaked me out.

Okay, okay.  I could go on and on.  But I love sharing these comments, because we really do learn a lot from them.  Especially when Jeanette takes the time to leave such wonderful comments!  So let’s learn more shall we?  Welcome Jeanette who’s in the spotlight today . . .

Maw Books:  So tell us about yourself!  What do you want us to know?

Jeanette: I am a wife, mother and homemaker. I have been married for 8 years and we have a three year old boy we call Red and an 18 month old girl we call Little Miss. Our third baby will be born later this year.  I will also be celebrating the 1st anniversary of my 29th birthday this year.  I grew up in Ohio but have also lived in Rexburg, Idaho, Portland, Oregon and Seattle Washington.  My husband is in graduate school right now and once he is done we are hoping to put down roots in the Ashville, North Carolina area or Knoxville, Tennessee area.  We love that part of the country and long to be closer to the mountains.

Maw Books:  Eeek!  A baby!  Congratulations!  How wonderful!  Okay, okay.  After that excitement . . . what do you enjoy about reading?  What is it that keeps you reaching for that next book?

Jeanette: Beyond just loving to read for the pure pleasure, I love learning new things. I have an independent nature and instead of asking about something I don’t have the answers or knowledge for I turn to books.  Books are the tools to learning and knowledge.  While I try to read a fair amount of non-fiction even fiction teaches me new things and is a great starting point for making new discoveries. I have generated several lists of topics I want to explore further.  The only problem is that I read so much that I can’t seem to find the time to delve into all my “topics for further reading.”

I also think reading is in my genes, if you will.  My grandmother was a big reader and she always sent me books.  Since we lived so far away and I never met her until I was a teenager I loved reading the books she sent me.  Some of my favorite books like Good Night Mister Tom by Michelle Magorian and The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher came from my grandmother.  She usually sent a short letter along with the books and I still have them tucked inside the cover of the books.

Maw Books:  That is so wonderful to share that with your grandmother!  Who are some of your favorite authors?  And a few books that you think nobody should miss?

Jeanette: That is always a difficult question to answer.  I am a pretty eclectic reader and it is hard to narrow it down to favorites.  I do love Willa Cather.  Her novels are just beautifully written and give such a great sense of time and place.  Her novel One of Ours is one of my top ten favorite books. I want to start reading some of the books that have been awarded the Willa award, named after Willa Cather.

I also love Vera Brittain’s Testament of Youth and her diary and letters from WWI.  A very moving and true account of WWI.  I really enjoy books set around the turn of the 20th century and around WWI.

I know it is almost starting to sound like a cliche to say Jane Austen is your favorite author but she really is one of my favorites.  I try to re-read all six of her major novels every year.

Last year I discovered Persephone Books and I am trying to read through as much of their catalog as I can.  They reprint neglected novels, most of them by women and most dating from the mid-twentieth century.  They have some really wonderful titles.

Maw Books:   Oh wow.  I love how specific you are with your tastes.  And Jane Austen every year?  So cool.  What is your earliest reading memory?  And what were you like as a young reader?

Jeanette: I had a book called Are You My Mother? but it was not the Eastman book with the baby bird.  This one had a little chick and she was on a farm looking for her mother.  I really wish I still had it or could track down a copy of it because that is the first book I remember from my childhood.

It is funny, but I was not a very good reader when I was young. I loved books but struggled with actually reading them.  The library was very close to my home growing up and I used to ride my bike down there and just hang out in the children’s section reading and playing. If it was a hot day and we were tired of riding our bikes my friends and I would stop at the library and play with the puppets and puzzles and look at books.  I think because I surrounded myself with books and kept reading, I just got more proficient over time.  I was never really one of those kids who always had her nose in a book, that would come later.

Maw Books:  I just searched for Are You My Mother? and came up empty handed.    Do you have any reading traditions with your children that you’d like to share?

Jeanette: I don’t think we have many traditions. I just read to my children all the time.  All the time! I read to them at meal times, at nap time and whenever else they bring me a book.  I think it is so cute the way my 18 month old will pick up a book and shove it in my face and say “reat, reat.” Ok, so it is not so cute when I am trying to get some work done or trying to read my own books, but I am trying to encourage the love of reading so I always try to read to them when they ask me to.  The only time I don’t read to them is bed time, that is my husband’s chance to read to them.

We do have a weekly library day that my son will never let me get away with skipping.

Maw Books:  I don’t do bed time either.  My husband is gone all day.  He does baths, pajamas, and books.  So, why did you start a book blog in the first place and how long have you been blogging?  Tell us about your blog, your focus, and why it’s important to you.

Jeanette: I have been blogging for just under a year.  I was reading a blog one night when I noticed a link to the blog writers book blog.  I clicked over and discovered there was this whole community of people blogging about books and they had reading challenges too. How fun! I stayed up way too late that night just clicking around to different book blogs and thinking I had to start one too. So I kinda started my blog, A Comfy Chair and a Good Book, on a whim so that I could participate in some reading challenges.

Years ago I had a spreadsheet that I used to track my reading but had stopped using it and so I also thought a blog would be a great way to start tracking the books I read again.  I just started my blog for fun and am trying to keep it that way.  I don’t get a ton of traffic but I do have my regular readers and I am pleased with that.  Not that I wouldn’t love to have more people come by and leave me comments! I actually think a great deal of my traffic comes from non book bloggers and even though they don’t leave a lot of comments I hope they are finding some enjoyable books to read.

The books I feature on my blog are the books that caught my attention for whatever reason. I read a lot of middle grade because I really think that is where you find some of the best stories and characters.  So you will find a lot of middle grade fiction and a  little young adult  but also non-fiction and “grown-up” books as well.  As I’ve said, I’ve got pretty eclectic reading tastes and I think my blog reflects that.
I have occasionally blogged about the books my children are enjoying and would like to start doing that more frequently.  I’ve also got plans to highlight my 3 year old a little.  He loves to “read” to his little sister and I am thinking I need to get some of it on video and share it.

Maw Books:  I’d love to see videos of your kids.  That would be a cool feature!  What’s your favorite book review or post that you’ve written?

Jeanette: I could easily point out my least favorite but I don’t know about favorite.  There are a few I would like to go back and rewrite, that is for sure.  It is hard to pick a favorite.  I am really trying to hone my review writing skills and hope things are getting better. Sometimes I can be a bit long winded and sometimes I let myself get carried away with the emotions of how much I loved or hated a book.

If I am reading my stats right, my most popular post is my review of Austenland by Shannon Hale.  I’ll admit that kinda makes me cringe because that is not my favorite review but what can you do? Another popular post is my review of Cinderella, and I like that one much better myself.

Maw Books:  Challenges!  You are signed up for a lot of reading challenges.  What do you enjoy about them and how do you organize yourself to complete them all?

Jeanette: Well, as I mentioned, challenges are what first brought me into the book blogging world.  I signed up for three last year but have increased that to about 16 this year.  I just think it adds a fun dimension to things.  I did not intend to sign up for that many but there you have it.  Since I read such a variety of books it is pretty easy to look at my TBR list and find books that fit the challenges.  I made myself some spreadsheets to track my progress (have I mentioned that I will make a spreadsheet for just about anything? Spreadsheets keep me sane!)  I think I probably can finish all the challenges I’ve signed up for as long as I don’t add too many more books to my list of books to read. Ha! We will see how that goes…

Maw Books:  16!  Good luck!  So what do you do outside the world of books?

Jeanette: My kids keep me pretty busy but aside from them and books I enjoy cooking and trying new recipes. I am always subjecting my family to something new to try but the results are usually pretty good.

I’ve also been trying to turn my thumb a better shade of green.  I am looking forward to Spring so I can get back outside and working in my yard. We might be going in with some friends to rent a small plot of land and grow a bunch of vegetables and then preserve them.  I am really excited about this and hope it works out.

I spend a fair amount of time working on genealogy.  Not as much time as I did before we had kids but I try to do devote a little bit of time to it each week.

As a family we love to go geocaching.  During the summer we will spend most of our Saturdays and evenings out tramping around looking for caches.

Maw Books:  I had to Google geocaching, I’ve never heard of it.  That is really interesting!  Where would you go on your dream vacation?  And what would you eat while you were there?

Jeanette: I really want to visit Cornwall, England and Wales.  And I would have to try any foods that are local to those areas while I was there. My mom’s family comes from Wales and I don’t know why by Cornwall has always appealed to me.

Maw Books:  You studied culinary arts in college?  How was that?  Would you like to share any secret tips or a favorite recipe with everybody?

Jeanette: I did spend a few semesters as a culinary arts major, the rest were as a history major, so similar, right?

My favorite class was candy making.  I love making truffles. I also love making breads and right now I am trying to find a really good sour dough starter.  I just read that one key is to use grapes! I am going to try it later this week. One of our favorite family meals is Ham and Jack Cheese sandwiches which I serve with seasoned steak fries and rootbeer floats. The sandwich is amazing!

Grilled Ham and Jack Cheese Sandwich

Butter
8 slices Texas toast
4 slices sharp cheddar cheese
16 thin slices deli ham
4 slices red onion
4 tablespoons ranch salad dressing
4 slices pepper Jack cheese

Butter one side of each slice of Texas toast. On the unbuttered sides of four slices, layer cheddar cheese, half the ham, onion, and remaining ham; spread with ranch dressing. Top with pepper Jack cheese and remaining toast, butter side up.
Cook sandwiches on a hot griddle for 3-4 minutes on each side or until toast is browned and cheese is melted.

Maw Books:  Oh my.  Ranch dressing on grilled cheese.  That photo is AMAZING.  Yum.  I may have to keep this a secret from my husband!    If you had a free day with no responsibilities and your only charge was to enjoy yourself, what would you do?

Jeanette: That is easy.  I would pack a backpack and go hiking, preferably in the mountains, and find a quiet and secluded spot to do what else but sit and read?  I love reading outside and some of my most memorable reading experiences happened while I was outside.  Reading Jane Eyre laying in the grass in the back yard or finishing the final pages of Anne Frank’s diary while sitting on a fallen tree in the woods.  The outdoors and reading, my two favorite things, would make the perfect day.

Maw Books:  Oh, how wonderful!  Now I want that to be my favorite things!  My hammock outside is my favorite reading place.  I can’t wait until it warms up.  Okay, so you desperately wish you knew how to…

Jeanette: Sew! I am the least crafty person there is.  Do you know why I can’t sew? Because it is really difficult to teach yourself to sew by reading a book. I think I am going to have to break down and take a class or something.

Maw Books:  Me too!  I’m about to pay someone to sew some curtains for me.  I figure go where the talent is!  What’s the one thing that you wish people knew about you but you don’t brag about?

Jeanette: Even though I have both a book blog and a personal/family blog, I am a pretty private person. I think people who read my blogs probably know more about me than some of the people I associate with in real life.  For some reason I am just more comfortable revealing things about myself in writing.  Believe it or not, most people who know me don’t know how much time I spend reading.  I recently started attending a book club with a group of women I’ve known since I moved here almost 2 years ago.  They were really surprised by how much I read and I think a few of them think I am a little odd now.  (Note to self: don’t reveal to others that you often have your library cards maxed out on the number of items you are allowed to check out.)

That doesn’t really answer your question though does it?  Let’s see…what can I brag about? Oh! I know.  I never lose my kid’s socks.  I do not have a basket or box of unmatched socks.  My secret?  I use those mesh lingerie bags. When the socks come off they go in the bag and they are washed and dryed in the bag so they never go missing.

Maw Books:  Good tip!  Anything else that you are dying to share with us?!

Jeanette: Well, lets see, I already revealed that I am expecting my third baby.  I have not even posted about it yet on my blog so I guess you get the scoop! .

Maw Books:  I see that you now put a ticker on your blog!  Really, really super excited that you announced it!  Especially here!  Yay!!

So there you have it folks!  Isn’t she wonderful?!   Wonderful AND expecting!   Now go forth and visit! And let Jeanette know in the comments here how great her interview was.  Because I think she did great!  Thanks again Jeanette for being in the spotlight today!

Check out the past reader spotlights and make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss any future spotlights.  I’ve got another one ready to go in the wings!

Today, we are celebrating Becky - who in my opinion is one of the coolest readers out there!  I remember the first time Becky ever left a comment on my blog.  I honestly felt like she was a celebrity.  I was giddy.  I’d been lurking her blog, Becky’s Book Reviews, for awhile and then finally left a comment myself.  Becky is hands down,  not only one of my most favorite bloggers but one of my most favorite readers as well.  The passion that she has for literacy is amazing.

Personally, I have read so many books this last year based solely on Becky’s recommendation.  And what’s great is that she takes the time to give me those recommendations.  As an example, I went through my comments here on my blog and this is just a smattering of those recommendations:

On the Patron Saint of Butterflies:

I liked this one as well. Have you read Sister Wife? It’s a great read and I think it will interest you as well.

On books about the aftermath of disaster:

I think Aftershocks and Into the Firestorm might be good choices. Aftershocks is YA and Into the Firestorm is middle grade.

For hurricanes, you might try Hurricane Song or Ruby’s Imagine. I can’t remember if you’d read Two Bobbies or not. I seem to remember that you have.

Of course, my favorite is the all-too-fictional (thank goodness!!!) novel Life As We Knew It!

On Journey to Topaz:

Have you read Dear Miss Breed by Joanne Oppenheim??? Seriously one of the best, best books ever.

On a Thousand Never Evers by Shauna Burg:

I enjoyed this one. Just out of curiosity have you read White Lilacs by Carolyn Meyer? I think you’d enjoy.

On asking for U authors:

U Authors…I kept you in mind when I went to the library. (Though I admit that U author and X title are the only two I’m missing from the challenge.)

Yoshiko Uchida is a children’s author. Journey to Topaz is set during World War II. You might want to take a look at that one. She’s got several other novels out as well.

I also checked out the Montmorency series by Eleanor Updale. There are four in this YA series.

On A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck:

Have you read The Teacher’s Funeral? I loved, loved, loved that book. We’re talking serious love here. And Here Lies the Librarian is great too.

On I Have Lived a Thousand Years:

Have you read In My Hands yet by Irene Gut Opdyke? What about The Cage by Ruth Minsky Sender? I loved that one. It was so powerful. And did you know that there are two more books, I believe, in this series of memoirs? Livia Bitton-Jackson continues her life-stories. I definitely recommend going forward with them.

Isn’t Becky amazing?  So let’s find out more, shall we . . .

Maw Books:  Introduce yourself.  What would you like us to know about you?

Becky: My name is Becky. I’m an addict as you might have gathered. Books. Blogs. Challenges. I guess you could say I’ve always tended toward the obsessive side of things. What I love, I tend to really love. I’m a passionate person who tends to do things heart and soul. I’m daughter, sister, friend–also cousin, niece, granddaughter. I live in Texas. I come from a long line of Texans–as in over a hundred and fifty years. I live with my mom and dad. And our house is the ‘family farm’ if you will–it was built by my great-grandparents in the 1950s.

Maw Books:  Oh wow.  I didn’t realize you came from such a long line of Texans.  I lived in Austin for four years as a middle schooler.  My parents and brother live in Austin!  So, why reading and not something else?  What is it that keeps you reaching for that next book?

Becky: I’ve always loved reading. It’s in my genes, almost. I guess I love that lost-in-a-book feeling that satisfies like nothing else. It’s not that all I read is escapist in nature, some is quite serious and thought-provoking, but I love settling in with a book and becoming absorbed–whether it’s my heart, soul, or mind that it’s engaging the most. As to what keeps me reaching, it’s all desire. Reading makes me happy.

Maw Books:  What is your earliest reading memory?  And what were you like as a young reader?

Becky: I’ve got a few mostly involving my mom reading to me. Mom has a cassette tape of her reading to me. On this one cassette, there are multiple stories–picture books. One is Umbrella by Taro Yashima, a wonderful, wonderful book. Anyway, on the tape you can hear my toddler-self joining in on the reading. Especially during Umbrella with the bon polos. (The sound of the rain falling on the sidewalks.) I can’t *remember* that exactly. I *wish* I had a picture to go with this next memory. There is a picture, somewhere, but that’s another story. I suppose I was about four. I remember settling into the recliner (burnt orange as it was!) and pulling book after book after book off the shelf. They were childcraft encyclopedias. And I pulled each and every one of them off the shelf. I had a happy little stack by me. I remember thinking to myself, Do I want to read this one? or that one? Oh, that one looks fun. And the pile grew and grew. What ended up happening is that I fell asleep surrounded by books. I suppose Dad discovered me all curled up with books and a big smile on my face and captured it on film. I tend to still do stacks.

I learned to read in kindergarten mostly with phonics and sight words. So my first reading memories where I’m doing the work are for things like Matt the Rat and Pig in a Wig and The Mean Goat.

As a kid, surprisingly enough, my sister read more than I did. I was much more interested in playing–especially playing Barbies.

I did read books. But not all day, every day. Summer days were made for playing. Outside. Inside. Didn’t matter where. I didn’t become obsessed with books really until I got my own room (I shared a room with my sister until I was thirteen.) and got my own lamp. Then the night became my own.

Maw Books:  We had those awesome childcraft encyclopedias as well.  You are going to have to find that photo.  So sweet!  What inspired you to start a book blog?  How many blogs do you have?  How long have you been blogging?  And how do you find time to post so often?

Becky: I had been looking to do something online for quite a while. The first attempt that I’ll admit to was a tripod page called Miss Becky’s Book Reviews. It was okay. Not pretty by any means. It was something I’d update every other week or so during the school year. But it wasn’t easy to update, very inconvenient in a way. In late July of 2006, my professor started a blog called Poetry for Children. I saw that it was a blogger/blogspot hosted blog. I started clicking away trying to find out about this service…and the rest is history. I started my first blog in August of 2006.

Too many to count. I have Becky’s Book Reviews. I have Young Readers. I have Operation Actually Read Bible. Those are my main blogs, the ones where I try to post regularly and create a readership. I also have Becky’s Challenges on Wordpress. This is my behind-the-scenes blog where I keep track of all my challenges. I don’t know what others could gain from it other than noting my descent into madness. I have a few challenge blogs that exist only because of challenges.

I have time to post because I treat blogging like a full-time job.  A typical day goes something like this:

9:00-10:00 Wake up. Eat Breakfast.
–12:00 When breakfast is over and done, I check email, check my blog reader, catch up on reading blog posts, think about what I want to post on each blog. Sometimes I know which book I want to write a review of that day. Sometimes I have a stack to choose from.
12:00-1:00 Think about and actually eat lunch.
–3:30 Back to checking email, writing blog posts, reading other blogs, general surfing of the internet. Sometimes I do box shuffling in the afternoon. Often I do data entry–maintaining my book database: entering new books, entering review links to the books I’ve read, etc. Rarely I read a book.
3:30-4:30 Think about and actually eat supper. I typically watch movies fragmented over lunch and dinner.
4:30-6:00 Back to the computer.
6:00-6:40 Sometimes I’m on the phone with my sister; sometimes I’m napping; sometimes still on the computer; sometimes I read a chapter or two in a book.
7:00-10:00 Family time. Eating of bedtime snack. Watching TV and/or movies. Sometimes chatting on the internet.
10:00-1:00ish I do almost all my reading at night between the hours of 10PM and 2AM.

Of course that isn’t each and every day, but most days go something like that.

Maw Books:  You really do have my dream job.  Sigh . . . What is your favorite post/series/concept/etc about your book blog?

Becky: For Young Readers, I just love, love, love my baby reviewers. The little guy starring in my baby reviews–of the moment–is Snugglebug. That’s him on the header. He reviews board books and a few picture books. His mama, Ladybug, is going to be writing his reviews for him, of course, and they’ll be featured every first and third Friday. His past contributions can be found here. He’s the third and most prolific of my baby reviewers.

On Operation Actually Read Bible, I’m having a lot of fun with my Question of the Week feature.

On Becky’s Book Reviews, I have a Travel the World feature on most Wednesdays that highlight international titles–books that were first published in another country outside the U.S.

I also really love hosting challenges. Sometimes this means starting a new blog. But often, I’ll just host at Becky’s Book Reviews.

I love doing author interviews too though this isn’t a regular feature on the blog. Sometimes I get distracted and forget that I need to actively be booking authors to do interviews and lining them up and scheduling them.

Maw Books:  What is it about blogging that has surprised you the most?

Becky: How incredible the community is. How welcoming. How diverse. How supportive. How fun! Meeting people. Finding kindred spirits. Yes, there can be some haters out there. But for the most part, it’s been so positive a experience. I just love it

Maw Books:  I’m sure that I’m not the only one who is in sheer amazement over the amount of books that you read.  Are you a speed reader?  And where do you get time to read so many books?

Becky: I’ve always been a ‘good’ reader. A fast reader. By the time I was starting seventh grade, I was testing post-high-school in reading on achievement tests. Sadly, my strengths reading didn’t carry over into math and science and mechanics. I’m incredibly poor in that area. I couldn’t explain electricity if my life depended on it. My dad has always been a builder-and-a-fixer. He can take almost anything apart, fix it, reconstruct it good as new. And he’s great at drawing. Mom loved science–especially chemistry. Me? My only strengths are reading, writing, and sometimes spelling.

As for how ‘fast’ I can read. It really depends on the level of difficulty. I can read a book like Moxy Maxwell or Ramona Quimby Aged 8 in about twenty minutes…maybe twenty-five. But typically speaking, I can do 100 to 110 pages an hour. I’m not sacrificing comprehension for speed. I get swept away by the story and it has my complete attention. But if the book is complex–like a good many classics are–my pacing is slowed, probably cut in half.

Maw Books:  I have been dying to know the answer to that question.  Now my mind can rest!  How did you become a Cybils Young Adult panelist and what was that experience like?

Becky: I saw the call for Cybils judges and applied for the job. I am so lucky to have been chosen both years I’ve applied. Any kid-or-YA-book-related blogger can apply. I can’t remember if it’s mid to late August or very early September when they start looking for volunteers, but I start paying close attention around then.

It’s great fun. It really is. Reading, reading, always reading. It’s not enough then to just read a book a day; no, you’ve really got to go all-out and read two to three books a day. You’ve got to make reading your top priority for two months essentially. The last week of reading is always going to be the week of Christmas, so you have to be prepared to sacrifice for the greater cause at times. The big-discussion-day is super-fun but extremely draining. Narrowing down over 130 books to a mere seven. It can be stressful and exhausting, afterwards you just want to crash and sleep for a day or two. But it’s fun too.

At the same time, I’ve got Librarian’s Choices going. Librarians Choices is a project led by two professors, Dr. Sylvia Vardell and Dr. Janet Hilbun at Texas Woman’s University. A team/committee/group of twelve to fifteen book-minded people (teachers, librarians, library-students, etc.) meet seven to eight times throughout the year. We collectively read as many books as we can. We meet and discuss books. Nominate titles.

Our goal? To name the 100 best books of the year written for children and young adults. Each of our 100 gets a review, activity suggestions, and related books list. These are published into a book. So I’m an extremely busy person in November and December. That’s why I like the freedom that January brings. You can view past lists here. (Of course, I post the lists on my blog too.)

Maw Books:  Who is your favorite author that you’ve interviewed?  And why?

Becky: That’s a hard question! Probably Kathi Appelt. As to why, I’m not sure. I think all the authors I’ve interviewed are wonderful. I appreciate their time and am grateful that they were willing to spend some time answering questions for me. That being said, I worked really hard preparing for the Kathi Appelt interview. And I think Appelt’s genuineness (and all around awesomeness) shone through.

Maw Books:  And yay, she just one a Newbery Honor!!  That was a great interview!  Who is the one author that you would love to interview but haven’t yet?

Becky: Sarah Dessen, maybe. Orson Scott Card. Shannon Hale. Carolyn Meyer.

Maw Books:  I know I couldn’t ask you to name just a few favorite books that you’ve read in your lifetime or even in just the last year, but what is the one book that you reread over and over again?

Becky: Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. I have reread it every year since first discovering it in the fall of 2000. I have also reread Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer every year since reading it in the fall of 2006.

Maw Books:  *hangs my head in shame* I haven’t read either of those books.  And *gasp* I haven’t read a single Orson Scott Card book.  What book are you most looking forward to reading in 2009?

Becky: The one I can’t get my hands on…at the moment. I look forward to so many books. So many books call to me…and I’m happy to oblige. But there are always a few that play hard to get. But to give you a real, tangible answer I’ll say I’m looking forward to Sarah Dessen’s new book, Along for the Ride which is being released in June. Margaret Peterson Haddix’s Sent which is being released in August. Jessica Day George’s Dragon Spear which is being released in May. Elizabeth Scott’s Love You, Hate You, Miss You which is a May release.

Maw Books:  If you could have dinner with five authors – dead or alive – who would they be?

Becky: Andrew Peterson. Orson Scott Card. Jane Austen. Margaret Mitchell. Laura Ingalls Wilder.

Maw Books:  Ohhh – good call on Laura Ingalls Wilder.  What do you do for work?

Becky: My work is all play. I don’t have a paying job. I just blog full-time. Which is probably why I’m able to maintain three blogs.

Maw Books:  What do you do outside the world of books?

Becky: I love many things. I love listening to music. I love making my own compilations. I spent most of my life wanting to grow up to be one of the people that make ‘best-of’ cds. You know the Time-Life music collection infomercials and the like. I wanted to do that for a living. I guess part of me still does. I love all types of music.

Maw Books:  Favorite TV show and movie?

Becky: Stargate SG-1 is my favorite TV show. I wrote about it for a weekly geeks post. My favorite episode? Without a doubt it’d be Window of Opportunity. Plus, I’ve got to adore Upgrades and Divide and Conquer for all the Sam/Jack drama. I also love the sequence There But for The Grace of God, Within the Serpent’s Grasp, and The Serpent’s Lair. And 1969. There are really too many to list. And I also love Star Trek The Next Generation. (Though I like Star Trek The Original Series too. Though I don’t like it as much. One of my favorite episodes is Friday’s Child. I love Dr. McCoy’s line: I’m a doctor, not an escalator.)

My favorite current TV show (not a reality show) is Life On Mars. I do have a weakness for some reality TV: Biggest Loser, Dancing with the Stars, American Idol.

And I have a weakness for Masterpiece Theatre. I love to watch classics become movies…if for no other reason than to see if I ‘like’ what the directors/writers have chosen to do with it.

Movies. That’s a hard one to pin down. Right now, I’m loving Mamma Mia. If you’d asked me last spring, it would have been Enchanted. If you’d asked me before I suffered through the third movie, I’d have answered Pirates of the Caribbean. I love a variety of movies. I love 13 Going On 30, Never Been Kissed, Strictly Ballroom, Moulin Rouge, etc. But I love, love, love musicals: Sound of Music, My Fair Lady, High Society, The King and I, South Pacific, Singin’ in the Rain, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, etc. I love some Disney as well: Beauty and the Beast, Robin Hood, Little Mermaid, Aladdin, 101 Dalmations.

Maw Books:  Well, you know my thing with recipes, so do you have a favorite recipe that you would like to share?

Becky:  Dr. Pepper Cake

For the cake

1 white or yellow cake mix (A cake mix without pudding. Cheap kind is fine. You’ll have to trust me on that.)

1 cup Dr. Pepper (1 measuring cup of Dr. Pepper. Which leaves just enough of your 12 oz. can to have some while you’re working.)

1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce

For the topping:

1/3 cup brown sugar

1/3 cup chopped nuts (pecan or walnut)

Baking directions:

1) Follow the directions on the box of your cake mix. EXCEPT that instead of adding their amount of liquid/water (oil, etc.) you substitute 1 cup Dr. Pepper and 1/3 cup of unsweetened applesauce.

2) Pour the batter into your cake pan. (It does also work as cupcakes if you prefer.)

3) For the topping, mix your brown sugar and nuts together well. Mixed Well being the key words if you don’t like eating clumps of brown sugar. Brown sugar is clumpy and lumpy for the most part.

4) Sprinkle the topping mixture on top of your cake batter.

5) Bake it according to the temperature and time given on the cake mix.

Option: If you’re the kind of person that likes cake and ice cream…this cake goes VERY VERY good with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. (Might I suggest Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla.) Both Blue Bell and Dr. Pepper are Texas originals.

Maw Books:  Blue Bell!  I remember that ice cream.  If you had a free day with no responsibilities and your only charge was to enjoy yourself, what would you do?

Becky: My perfect day would include a balance of things: hanging out with family and friends–good conversation and perhaps a good movie, enjoying a good meal or two, and settling in with a book or two. With family and friends it isn’t so much what you do as to how you do it. For example, when I get a chance to spend time with my sister, it doesn’t matter what we do–we could spend the whole afternoon cooking, cleaning, and making a grocery list–but it’s the fact that we’re together. As to good food, I’m definitely opinionated!!! I am extremely passionate about one place which I have lovingly dubbed Kill-A-Cow, it’s the DENTON COUNTY INDEPENDENT HAMBURGER COMPANY. Any ‘perfect’ day would have to include a cheeseburger dinner there. That’s because I think it’s a heaven-on-earth. Is it wrong to love a hamburger that much? Probably? Maybe? I don’t care.

Maw Books:  Wow.  If I’m ever in the area, you’ll have to take me.  Do you have any funny quirks or something totally random about you?

Becky: I am OCD with scrambled eggs. Seriously OCD. To the point I make other people nervous if they watch me. First, I’m extremely particular about my scrambled eggs. (You’ll NEVER in a million years catch me eating them out at a restaurant.) They must be soft. Softer than soft. Second, for as long as I can remember (probably twenty-five years or so) I’ve been “having” to cut my eggs into rice size pieces. And yes, I literally mean the size of a grain of rice. I don’t cut a bite and eat it. I cut them all at once. And it’s not until the final piece has been cut that I can take my first bite. Rationally, I know that my mind most have issues going on somewhere. But I can’t force myself out of the ritual. The thought of not doing it makes me sick. Mother thought for a while that if she cut (or mashed my eggs with a masher) that it would end the ritual. But no, even if they come to me pre-cut or pre-mashed, I still have to be the one to do it. My mind won’t let eat them otherwise.

The good news? While I’m really really weird with scrambled eggs. This weirdness doesn’t translate to any other foods. I’m not exactly like that with any other food. So if I’ve got time in the mornings, I might scramble an egg. Otherwise, I like them fried. I’m not OCD with fried eggs

One of my major quirks–almost right up there with the scrambled eggs–is that I am super-terrified of escalators. If a person is foolish enough to grab and drag me onto one (something that usually doesn’t happen more than once) then I will yell and scream in terror the entire time. My brother-in-law learned this the hard way. I guess I hadn’t vocalized this fear of mine in the beginning so he was clueless the first time we three went to the mall together. It was probably just as terrifying for him–speaking of embarrassment–as it was for me. I screamed the entire time and gripped onto my sister like she was a life preserver. Me? I wasn’t embarrassed. I was too busy being afraid for my life.

Maw Books:  So funny!  Both of them.  Wow. How do you do in elevators?  What’s the one thing that you wish people knew about you but you don’t brag about?

Becky: I can’t think of a thing, really. I just read and talk about it.

Maw Books:  Anything else you wanted to mention but I didn’t cover?

Becky: I just want to thank you for this opportunity! I love your blog and it’s been a real treat.

Maw Books:  What a fantastic interview!!!!  Thank you so much!

Let Becky know what you enjoyed most and don’t forget to visit her over at Becky’s Book Reviews.  But be forewarned, you’ll end up with a lot of books in your TBR piles because of it!  Thanks Becky for being in the spotlight today!

Welcome Jenn M. who takes the hot seat in the first Maw Books Reader Spotlight!

From what I can tell, Jenn’s first comment on my blog was when she was entering my awesome Stephenie Meyer contest back in June and I’ve been fortunate to have her be a loyal commenter ever since.  Sadly, she didn’t win that set of books but when I ran an additional contest for another set of Stephenie Meyer books, she did win! See what happens when you stick around?!  At the end of this interview I have a couple of my favorite comments from Jenn.  Jenn is awesome.  I loved getting to know her and I hope you do as well.

Maw Books:  So what do you want us to know about you?  Tell us all!

Jenn M.: Everything you ever (maybe never) wanted to know about me, Jenn M.  Well…hmmm…Where to start.  I live in Rocklin, California, just outside of Sacramento.  I have two daughters, Kaylee age 7, going on 17, and Lauren age 5.  Oh yeah…I have a husband too.  He’s pretty good most of the time.  Even when he makes me watch Hellboy II.

I used to teach Kindergarten and now I run my own in-home daycare.  Sadly, I make more money staying at home than I did as a teacher.  I love being able to be at home with my kids before and after school.  Although some days I want to pull my hair out and laugh at my van when I watch 7 kids pile out of it like a clown car, I really love my job now and I am finally happy.  Haha…after typing that I had to go clean up a peepee accident and convince a three year old boy that my daughter’s pants were not girl pants.

Let’s see, what else, I have 2 horses, a mother and son, 2 dogs, a german shorthair pointer named Fleck and a cavalier king charles spaniel named Edward.  They are my extra babies.  I think that’s about it…I love to read (obviously), walk outdoors, and spend time with my family.

Maw Books:  Okay.  Edward is to cute for words.  He totally reminds me of why I’m a dog person and not a cat person.  I want to give him a smooch!  Heart palpation’s.  So what do you do outside the world of books?

Jenn M.: What?!? There is a world outside of books????  I think I answered most of this in question 1.  If I am not at home, I am usually driving my children to their various extra-curricular activities.  Lauren takes TaeKwonDo, ballet, tap, and hip hop.  Kaylee takes TaeKwonDo, ballet, tap, hip hop, and jazz.  She is also involved with an American Doll Book Club through her school.  So I guess, short answer is: I am super-mommy.

Maw Books: Your girls are beautiful!!  Oh man.  They are going to be heartbreakers! What is your earliest reading memory?  And what were you like as a young reader?

Jenn M.: I remember my mom reading James and the Giant Peach to me every night before bed.  I still have that copy.  I also remember her reading from my bible.  My first ‘reading on my own memories’ are of reading Charlotte’s Web and crying, Bridge to Terabithia and crying.  I remember loving Anne of Green Gables.  I regularly got my allowance and went to the bookstore and bought a book on Friday and finished reading it by Sunday.

Maw Books: I know that you read with your two daughters.   How do you instill a love of reading in them and keep them excited about reading?

Jenn M.: My daughters seem to have a natural love of reading.  I think the biggest thing is giving them choice.  If I or any adult is telling them what to read and when to read it, they don’t enjoy it as much.  I know I didn’t as a kid.  Our weekly library trips are greeted with as much excitement as a visit to the park.  I read at least 1 book to my youngest nightly, at least 1 chapter of a book to my oldest daughter, and she reads anywhere from a few pages to a whole chapter to me (sometimes we are just too short on time to get too much reading in!)

Maw Books:  I know that you are reading through the Newberys with your daughter.  Care to share with us what that experience is like for both you and your daughter?

Jenn M.: We LOVE it.  I give Kaylee the list and sometimes we look up what the book is about and she makes her choice for our next read.  Right now she tends to lean towards books that have movie adaptations and she likes to compare.  She is actually a pretty funny little 7 year old.  It’s fantastic for me getting to re-read some of my old favorites.  We tend to share in the reading, for example, the two most recent books we read were Shiloh and Misty of Chincoteague both of which have heavy accented dialect.  I read the dialect and she read everything else.  The thing that is so fantastic is that it creates a desire for more learning.  She wanted to know where Chincoteague was, and why young children were allowed to shoot beebee guns at animals in South Carolina.

Maw Books:  What are some of your favorite books that you’ve read this last year?

Jenn M.: I loved Madapple, which was one of your reads/reviews.  I also read the whole Twilight series this year and The Host.  Hard to put my finger on what was the best.  I also enjoyed The Mysterious Benedict Society.  Oh yeah!  Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows came out this last year!  Excluding the epilogue, it was a good book.

Maw Books:  Who are some of your favorite authors?

Jenn M.: J.K. Rowling, Shannon Hale, Dianna Wynne Jones, Marguerite Henry, Jane Austen, Roald Dahl…So many I could list….

Maw Books:  Where are your favorite places to go online to get book recommendations, share your love of reading, etc?  And yes, that would be besides here!

Jenn M.: I like www.goodreads.com just to keep track of my own TBR list.  I do get a lot of my recommendations from you.  I also am a silent observer on several other blogs you visit as well.  I love my library website to find books as well.

Maw Books:  Where would you go on your dream vacation?  And what would you eat while you were there?

Jenn M.: Haha…you and food.  I’m surprised you didn’t ask me for a recipe.  My husband and I have several dream vacations we have planned.  He is British and has seen most of Europe and doesn’t want to go there…I told you he was a spoilsport!  I would like to go to Australia, but I think my dream vacation would be somewhere in the Caribbean.  I am can be adventurous with some foods….but I refuse to eat organs or things still alive.  (Long story…I refuse to eat or make steak and kidney pie…kidneys are a filtering organ.  They get bad stuff out, why would you want to eat that?)  I think I would like to eat food that I don’t have to cook.

Maw Books:  Oh my gosh!  A recipe!  Of course, I do this for authors, but this would be a great addition to this series.  Yes, please share a recipe!

Jenn M.: Super yummy and easy to make.

French Market Soup

1 Bag of 16/15 bean soup mix (16 oz)
1 large onion
2 cloves of garlic, chopped
2 16 oz cans of chopped, diced tomatoes (you can use fresh, but you have to poach them first)
½-1 fresh diced Jalapeno (depending upon how spicy you like it)
2 Ham Shanks or Ham Hocks, your preference (I like the shanks…more meaty)
½ c Lemon juice

Soak beans overnight. Drain and rinse beans, add to a large stock pot with 4 quarts of water, add ham shanks, packet of seasoning that usually comes with the soup mix and salt and pepper.  The packet tends to be a bit salty, so be careful not to add too much salt.

Bring to a boil then cover and allow to simmer for 1 ½ hours or until beans are tender. Add the rest of the ingredients. Simmer 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Remove shanks, cut off meat and add back into the soup.  This soup tastes best the longer it cooks.  I usually start it in the morning for a late afternoon, early dinner.  I usually remove the seeds from the jalapeno and use half.  If I add more my kids wont eat it.  The soup will become really thick.  Tastes great with buttered French bread.I have served this to people who claim to not like beans and they still like it.

Maw Books:  Sounds delicious.  Thank you!  You desperately wish you knew how to…

Jenn M: Dance.  Well…I used to be able to.  I did ballet for years.  But I seem to have lost my rhythm.  I think I am afraid of looking like a fool.

Maw Books:  If you had a free day with no responsibilities and your only charge was to enjoy yourself, what would you do?

Jenn M.: I would spend a morning at the beach (someone would have to zap me there because it would be too long of a drive) then ooooh maybe have a spa day.  I’ve never had one before.  Massages, facials, pedicures.  I want to be pampered.

Maw Books:  I had my first ever massage this past month.  It was fun to finally know what the fuss was all about!  Tell your husband you want couple massages for your next anniversary.  I know you are super busy raising your family, running a day care, and that you do write reviews on that site, but do you think you’ll ever start a blog?  Because really.  I would be your first commenter if you did.

Jenn M.: Well, I have actually tried, and failed.  I’m not sure where to start.  I wanted to set up a blog to link to my website, but I’m just lost.  Funny because I designed my whole website myself and I took so many computer classes in college as fillers.  I think my honest answer is that I am too lazy/busy/tired to figure out where to start.  I’d love to have feedback on my thoughts on books.  I have a lot of reviews up.  But you can only get my opinion.    You don’t get to have one.

Maw Books:  He, he.  If you would like any help just let me know.  I’m a WordPress girl though, can’t help you with blogger that much, although I try.  What’s the one thing that you wish people knew about you but you don’t brag about?

Jenn M.: Well if I told you, that would be bragging about it wouldn’t it?  Let’s see…I am a really good cook, but I think my reasons for not bragging are not innocent.  If I told everyone then I’d end up cooking way more than I already do.  Don’t get me wrong, I love to do it, but I cook every Easter, Christmas, Thanksgiving, birthday party, social get-together.  Now my family just shows up.  Whipping up a whole meal for 12-16 people isn’t as enjoyable as doing a small family meal. Wow.  That’s a lot about me.  I’m pretty boring in general.  I’m adding some pictures.  You have to see my cute kids and pets.  I might have gone a bit overboard with the pictures….but aren’t they cute?!?

Maw Books:  I love, love the photos!  A great addition.  I’m so happy that you included them. Thank you for being in the spotlight!

I love Jenn’s comments, she’s always brings a smile to my face.  I’ve picked out a couple that stand out:

Jenn’s thought’s about the Twilight movie before it came out:

I know that the movie will never be able to be EXACTLY like the book, but I think, so far from what I have seen it isn’t too far off. I am looking forward to it and enjoy all of the little snippets I get. I think the actor playing James (Cam something isn’t it?) is cast perfectly. He makes a good bad guy. My hopes for this movie are high. I just hope, hope, hope that it isn’t another one where I can’t help but comment, “that’s not how it happened in the book” and totally annoy my husband. After all he said he would quit watching movies with me if I kept comparing them to the books. I just hope I don’t feel cheated.

And Jenn’s thoughts about the movie after it came out:

I liked it overall. I was terrified that they were going to ruin it completely…but it stuck mostly to the book. I’m sure they will make New Moon, and this movie will be pretty successful. I thought that there were parts, that if you hadn’t read the book, you wouldn’t get. It was exciting to get out of the house and hang out with the girls to see a movie I was really looking forward too! . . . I think my favorite overall in this movie was a tie between James and Charlie. James played his role very well, and Charlie was just the way I pictured him. I was surprised the most by Bella, or rather Kristen Stewart’s portrayal of Bella. From some of the interviews I had seen before the movie I wasn’t excited about her. I was pleasantly surprised. I also think that Robert Pattinson got the half-smile that Edward has in the book perfectly. I am NOT excited about Jacob in the next movie UNLESS they recast him. I loved the character development of Jacob in New Moon and how he grows to be actual competition for Edward. I’m not seeing that happen with current casting.

On awful character names:

Here is a short list of the ones who come to mind; 1. Brick (of course he had red-hair as well) 2. JoJo (Is he destined to become a clown) 3. Damion (You are just asking for problems) 4. Berry (c’mon…seriously) 5. Blayse (Pronounced Blaze…a name for a horse) 6. Daria (maybe I watched to much Beavis and Butthead in HS) 7. Braxton (just makes me think of contractions) I’m sure if I sat here I’d think of more….but Maxie is pretty bad too.

On movies:

I’d like to nominate one for the worst movie of all time “The Perfect Storm”. I waited and waited through all that crap of almost dying and almost sinking and then….what happens….THEY SINK ANYWAYS AND ALL DIE! My husband disagrees with me and thinks it wasn’t that bad…but it will always rank HIGH on my list of worst movies ever.

And Jenn is super, super nice. If you need a self-esteem boost, she’s the perfect remedy:

If no one else has told you this…you are amazing, for being a mommy, a reader and a blogger, a person who gets behind something and is truly passionate about it!

On big boobs:

Natasha you are not alone. Mine shrunk a cup size after each child. However, i was kind of glad. I started out a 34DD went to a 36G whilst nursing both and nearly cried at the sight of myself. I actually had to special order bras. Then after my first child was born and I was done nursing I went down to a 34D. Then after I was through nursing my second child I can now wear either a 34C or a 32D. Much more manageable! I too remember reading this book and all those awkward feelings of adolescence. In 6th grade I was 5?5? and wore a B cup. I was that freak show with the boobs Not to mention I was a foot taller than ALL of the boys. And I agree with Chris….big boobs are overrated.

On donating for Darfur:

My daughter decided to donate her piggy bank savings of $10.98 and I told her I would match it (I wish I could do more…no job=poor) We decided we are going to donate to The International Rescue Committe, Donae for Darfur. . . . Her $10.98 makes my heart melt. I think I am raising a little humanitarian…she is only 7! I credit her school which is VERY actively teaching about the world.

Short and sweet:

HA! HA! HA! Nether regions! Haven’t read this one.

On meeting her husband:

He was here on vacation and we met by chance. He was with friends and I was with friends and we just went around to a few places around town. He was an electrician working on Starbucks installations in England and was learning some of it here. We were just friends. He went back to England and I was here. I was at a bad point in my life. I had a 3 month old baby I was raising on my own and wasn’t looking for a relationship. Just so happens, my baby who didn’t sleep all night, kept me to England time, so he and I spent a lot of time on the phone and chatting online. Silly, but we were really good friends. Then finally we decided maybe there was something more to it, and he came out here for the sole purpose of visiting us. We connected immediately and it was truly like having my best friend as my boyfriend. This went on for a while, back and forth where I would go there and he would come here and then one day he proposed in San Francisco and here we are married with 2 kids, and a very trusting relationship. There is Jennifer’s life saga wrapped up into a short summary.

Whew!  I should have cut those qoutes down but I loved them.  I get excited every time  a comment comes in from Jenn because I know it’s going to be something interesting. I also enjoy how Jenn interacts with the other commenters, so make sure you say hi when you see her around.

Check out Jenn’s book reviews at the book corner at the Knowledge Tree website.  And I’m sure Jenn would be happy to chat in the comments here! 

Thanks Jenn!