Welcome Amy!! An interview with my new co-blogger (✿◠‿◠)

Guys, I'm super excited about this, but after years of sneaking in a rare guest review from my BFF, I have finally sucked her into becoming an official co-blogger here at Stories & Sweeties!! Wheeeeee! ;D

So officially----meet Amy!!

Here's us!! (left to right: me, her 😉)

This gal has been my bestie partner-in-crime for 18 years. (Wow, has it been that long? LOL). We're the perfect balance to each other---we both love books, but sometimes have wildly different tastes, I'm the ultimate procrastinator, Amy jumps right in and gets things done, I'm probably one of the shyest people you will meet while Amy loves to chat away with perfect strangers---like I said, perfect balance. And through everything, we always bring out the very best in each other. ♥♥♥

So I thought it would be fun to not just introduce her to you, but to do a fun interview! 
So here we go!

From Amy:

Hello everyone! I can’t tell you how excited I am to be part of the Stories and Sweeties team. I remember when this blog was an idea talked about in car rides and over cups of tea, and have been a supporter ever since. I finally feel that I am home and among literary lovers of all ages.

~You're no newbie to book reviewing---tell us about your bookish history.

I have been a book lover my whole life, but for my professional bookish history I am the Book Review & Special events Editor for the weekly syndicated newspaper column- For the Love of Books for over five years now. I was also a feature writer and reviewer for the International horror magazine, Dark Discoveries, and I review for San Francisco Book Review and their affiliates.

~What got you started reading YA?

I have always been an avid reader, but as I got older I looked for the “adult” books that I was supposed to be reading, but they never really called to me. So, I would find myself sneaking Christopher Pike’s YA horror books, as my guilty pleasure read. It wasn’t until my best friend (yes, Becky) sent me a copy of Stargirl and attached a note saying “read what you love.” I picked up the book and never looked back.

~What fun things do you get up to when you’re not reading and reviewing?

I am a military wife, so I spend a lot of time at military functions or exploring the new areas we move to ( I am usually looking for amazing libraries or old places with a good ghost story attached). I also love spending my time with crafting, sewing and photography.    

~Where's your favorite place to read?

I’m not picky where I read at all. I’ll read on the couch, on my bed, outside or even in the car.

~What was your favorite book series as a kid?

Wow, that’s a hard one. The series that I read so many times the pages were worn was the Anne of Green Gables/ Anne of Avonlea series. However, as any good child of the 80’s I owned every Sweet Valley High book there was. As a teenager, horror books were banned in my house, so I hid The Flower in the Attic Series and Stephen King in-between my mattresses, but that is still a secret.

~What are some of your favorite classics? 

Well, my two childhood reads could now be considered classics, hahaha. But if you go true classic I would have to say Persuasion by Jane Austen.

~What's your favorite genre to read now?

Young adult horror and paranormal, always.

~Top 5 books of all time?

That’s like choosing your favorite child (Ok harder than choosing your favorite child, since I only have one)

I decided that I am making my first two a series, since they are impossible to choose one from.

1.Harry Potter (of course and not to sound cliché) I loved this book from the very moment I picked up a copy in 1999, and have reread the series more times than I can count.

2. The Selection Series by Kiera Cass. This one took me by surprise. I originally picked up The Selection because of the gorgeous cover, and the fact that it was getting bad reviews, and I instantly fell head over heels in love. It made me laugh out loud, cry and even throw the book down.

3. Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

4.The Hollow by Jessica Verday ( I  pretty much love any Sleepy Hollow retelling)

5. My ultimate favorite little girl read- Dollhouse Murders by Betty Ren Wright. My writing idol and the woman who paved the way for ghosts to be on every little girl’s library shelf, and most likely the reason I love a good ghost story.

~If you could live in (or visit) one literary world, which would it be?

This question took a lot of thought, while there are many amazing literary worlds, there always seems to be its many setbacks as well. I am too old to want to take a tumble down the rabbit hole, or fight for my life in Panem. So, if I had my choice, I would accept an invitation to Hogwarts. I would be in a world I recognize, but I would have the power of magic, fast travel by floo powder, I would finally be able to fly, and I would be surrounded by everyone who talks in a British accent.

~book or movie?

Book

~coffee or tea?

tea

~cupcake or pie? 

Cupcake – of course

~What book are you currently anticipating the absolute MOST in 2018?

The Lantern’s Ember by Colleen Houck

Among many other talents, Amy is also a wonderful photographer (anyone remember when I posted my daughter's bookish senior pics? Yea, that was her handywork!) I recently talked Amy into trying her hand at bookstagram and the girl is rockin' it!! Take a look and give her a follow!

    

     

SO to really kick off the joy of having Amy join me, we're giving away a few of the fab books featured here in her Feb reads pic! Two winners, two prize packs, one contemp, one fantasy! 
Enter below!
•must be 13 or older
• US addresses only please
•ends March 2nd, 2018

a Rafflecopter giveaway