The Blogger Behind the Book {16}

Ever wonder who that person is over there, creating that fabulous book blog you're looking at?! I know I do! That is why I have started this feature, "The Blogger Behind the Book". There are tons of bloggers out there who love books & deserve to be noticed!

*If you would like to be featured please email me. You don't have to be a book reviewer, just a book lover with a blog!

Meet the Blogger Behind the Book:

Jen from Lost in the Library

What was the first book you can remember reading & falling in love with?

It’s impossible to name just one as there are a few that stand out in my mind. I went to the library once a week, every week as a kid and borrowed a stack of books each time. I read constantly, my mom was a single parent who worked hard all day and was exhausted by the time dinner was made and cleaned up. I think reading was my company. My mom fostered the love of reading in me though, and she gave me a wonderful gift in that. My earliest memory of her is a time when she was reading to me.

Okay - so first book I remember falling in love with: Judy Blumes’ Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great. She was feisty and quirky and Judy Blume was my favourite author. A close second was a book called Goodbye Pink Pig by C.S. Adler. It’s the story of a girl who has a small glass pig figurine that takes her to magical places. Really lovely story.

What part of the world do you call home?

I live in a smallish town in Ontario Canada. We have the 2nd biggest Oktoberfest Festival in the world - where we drink lots of beer, do something called the “bird dance”, & we also polka. It’s the only time all year that you’ll catch me doing any of the above activities.

What is your favorite thing to do as a family?

We love travel. My husband (Kevin) and I have been blessed with a son who loves to see the world- he has an adventurous spirit and is also easy to take with us anywhere. Our favourite trip so far has been our visit to New York City last summer. We loved it and I know we’d all go back in a heartbeat.

Next on our list of hopeful destinations:
• Vancouver British Columbia
• England
• Washington DC
• Disney
• Houston Texas (hint hint)
Travelling isn’t always possible, so you can often find us at the movie theatre as we are big movie goers as well.

If you had the opportunity to attend any book event in the world, which would you choose?

I love attending anything book related….OLA, ALA, BEA (is high on my list) but I think if I could choose anything it would be the Edinburgh International Book Festival. Their lineup of authors is always amazing, they offer great Q & A opportunities and it’s overseas- in Scotland!!! Any publisher wishing to sponsor my attendance is welcome to contact me. :) (HA)

I know you're a Vampire Diaries fan, what other tv shows get you sucked in?

Wait, there’s something else on TV other than Vampire Diaries? I LOVE Vampire Diaries… (Damon makes my heart beat a bit faster-as I’m sure he does for many)

Other shows-
• I love Big Bang Theory but mostly watch reruns of the first and second seasons-they were the best I love Sheldon –obviously not for the same reasons I love Damon.
• The Office- see above-reruns for this one too
• Buffy The Vampire Slayer (on DVD)
• True Blood –but we don’t get HBO so I’m always a season behind.
• My son is 10 so we watch a lot of the Family Channel – hate the cheesy laugh reel on most of the shows, but often they are cute and have good messages.

What unwinds you after a long day?

I find reading relaxing (surprise!!)

One thing that really helps after a long day is a tradition my husband and I started years ago. We have “front porch” dates, every night at the same time after Andrew is in bed we meet on the front porch and have tea. We talk; sometimes we just sit and enjoy the quiet together. It’s a moment in my day that I always look forward to. I’m pretty lucky that I married my best friend.

How many actual books are currently in your "to be read" pile?

Essh, my to-read pile makes me feel terribly guilty. On good reads it’s listed as 322- but for books that I actually currently have in my possession it’s more like 125.

I try not to pressure myself about it. Reading is supposed to be for enjoyment. But I see that glaring number and wonder if it will ever be possible to read everything I want to!

Best moment about book blogging so far?

I don’t really have one particular moment- Blogging has become a wonderful outlet for me, and I love the social networking part of it-I’ve met some truly wonderful people who I now think of as friends. It is amazing to be a part of such a great community who shares the same passion as I do. I’m hoping to add a bit more library programming to the blog in the future. That was a big goal when I set out to start blogging and I’ve lagged in that department a bit. MY hope is that Lost in the Library will become a resource for others.

Thanks so much Ginger for having me visit at GREADS!

You're welcome Jen & thank YOU for wanting to be featured :-) I loved the bit about "front porch dates" - doesn't that make every one want to marry their best friend & have the same kind of dates?! So special & sweet.  Be sure to check out Jen's blog.  She always has fabulous reviews & incorporates her life as a librarian!  Jen also sent me pics of her family behind their favorite books that I just had to share!!!