Sunday 16 September 2012

Book Blogger Spotlight: Great Imaginations


Great Imaginations


When and why did you become a book blogger?

I started my blog in March of 2011. But before that, I reviewed books on Goodreads for about 6 months (please don't go looking for these early reviews, my writing skills were terrible!). I'm not exactly sure why I decided to start a book blog, but I remember seeing other book blogs and envying what they were doing and wondering whether or not I could do it myself. The problem for me was wondering if I could blog and remain antisocial. I know this sounds weird but I don't really like people and I truly wanted to blog for me and let the chips fall where they may. In real life I am a bit of a loner and I hang with my animal more than people. All I wanted was to be able to continue that lifestyle into my blog and have it be an extension of who I am. Sometimes I am still trying to find that balance, but I am getting to the point where I am mostly satisfied.

How did you come up with the name of your blog?

Tough questions! I honestly don't know. It just came to me on a whim and I truly only thought about a blog name for about 5 minutes before deciding. I am truly lucky that nobody else had a similar name because I did not look beforehand. O_o  I am not known for being a creative person.

What is your favorite thing about blogging?

My favorite thing about blogging is all the wonderful people I have met. I know I just said up above that I am antisocial, and I am, but there are a lot of great bloggers that I have became friends with that totally get my personality and know why I am the way I am. It's wonderful when you can be yourself around people and no one judges you for it.

What do you find the hardest about blogging?

For me, it's reading fast enough to maintain content on my blog. I envy other readers who can read a book or more a day. I don't know how they do it. That's the hardest for me and why I don't post daily. I have been battling with depression for years, and doing things on a daily schedule just does not work for me because I lack motivation. So I am lucky if I can post 3-4 times a week, and usually that's what I try to aim for.  But that's definitely the hardest. Finding motivation to read and write fast enough.

Does your blog participate in any weekly features and if so which is your favorite?

I participate in Stacking the Shelves when I have books to show my readers. That's the only meme I am currently participating in, though I am thinking about getting into Top Ten Tuesday. I really want to start growing my blog where discussion posts are concerned and I think that meme is a good way to get the juices flowing and provide me with writing prompts.

What has been your favorite moment since you became a book blogger? Which review, interview or giveaway have you been most proud of?

There have been so many! Reaching 3000 followers on Twitter, starting my editing page, posting my husband's Fifty Shades of Grey review, reaching my one year anniversary, being able to talk to so many fantastic authors...I could never just pick one. It's all been a highlight in my life.

Let's do it this way. I will give you a negative review I am most proud of, and a positive review I am most proud of. The negative review would be Wrecked by Anna Davies, and the positive review I am most proud of is Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff.

What kind of genres do you enjoy reading and reviewing the most?

I like reading young adult fiction and cultural fiction the best, especially if there is an Asian setting.

What is your favorite individual book or series? What makes you love it so much?

My favorite book is Memoirs of a Geisha and it probably always will be. That is the book that started my adult obsession with reading and it also started my fascination with Japan. I love the writing, the atmosphere, the setting, the characters, etc.  For me, it is the perfect book.

Who is your favorite fictional male character, why and from what book or series are they from?

Uncle Tully from The Dark Unwinding by Sharon Cameron, at least for now. This is always changing, but Uncle Tully really resonated with me. I absolutely adore him. He's not a male character that you swoon over because I normally don't get all googly eyed over fictional characters.

Who is your favorite fictional female character, why and from what book or series are they from?

Again, I am going to go with Sayuri/Chiyo from Memoirs of a Geisha. I really fell for that girl and her story and everything she went through. I really believed it was real. But aside from that, I also really like Katniss from the Hunger Games series.

Who are your favorite three authors and why?

Maria V. Snyder, Jay Kristoff, and Charlie Higson. You are making me pick, so I choose those. But I'm more of a fan of individual books than I am authors. But If I have a go-to author, it's Maria V. Snyder.

If you could turn one book or series into films, what would you pick and who would you cast as the main characters?

Actually, I'm going to go with The Maze Runner series by James Dashner, and lucky for me, they are already turning that into a movie!

What are you reading right now?

Because it is my Blood by Gabrielle Zevin, and then after that it is Magisterium by Jeff Hirsch.

Paper books or ebooks?

I will always prefer paper books.

Which would be your favorite place to read? Curled up on a cold day in front of a fireplace, in front of a window on a lovely overcast rainy day or outside on a hammock on a warm summer’s day?

Can I say neither and choose a screened-in porch during a thunderstorm? But if I have to choose, I say hammock. I'm a warm weather girl.

Milk chocolate, white chocolate or dark chocolate?

Milk chocolate all the way.

Coffee or hot tea?

Coffee every morning, hot tea when I'm sick.

Would you like to give any other details about yourself? How can others find you around the web? Such as Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, etc...

Blog: http://www.great-imaginations.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Kara_Malinczak
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4470942-kara

8 comments:

  1. Excellent post! I agree with you about bloggers who post everyday. Before Kat and I started blogging together, I posted maybe 3 times a week. I'm so impressed with solo bloggers that manage to post everyday! And your Wrecked review is one of my favorites from you! :)

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    1. Thanks, Steph! I don't know how they do it. As much as I would love to post every day, that could never be me. You and Kat work very well together and I am envious of that. I wish I could co-blog with someone but I am worried that since I am such a control freak, it would not work.

      I LOVE my Wrecked review. LOL.

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  2. I usually post every day, but I've been bad about the weekends. It's all about the memes and scheduling posts in advance. When I get a good chunk of time to work on it, I try to get ahead. But it's hard! And exhausting. I'd love to only post 3-4 times a week, but it's just not in me now that' I've established a precedent.

    OMG, this isn't about me. Kara, you're the bomb!! I love you and your blog so just keep on rockin'! Nice interview! <3

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    1. Thanks, Mickey! That's awesome that you post every day and that most of all, you are motivated to do so. I wish I could be like that.

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  3. Oh I learned a few new things about you Kara. I do not suffer from depression but my husband has since he was 16, well I believe 8 but they can't diagnose it specifically when they are that young. While I don't know the feeling personally I have learned that motivation and long term goals seem to be hard from him. I give you props for managing 3-4 posts a week. It can be a challenge.

    Yay Team Snyder! I love Poison Study as well. I have been waiting to get my hands on the next in the healer series. *shakes with anticipation*

    I love thunderstorms too. We have a tin roof and I love opening the windows and listening to it rain. That is when I get the best sleep.

    Congrats on the Spotlight Lady!

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    1. Thanks, Amanda! I will admit that my depression has gotten better, but it's still an uphill battle. I don't leave the house much because I can't find motivation to do so and I REALLY don't like to be out of my comfort zone. I think that's part of why I love escaping into books so much.

      Yes, Snyder is the best. I haven't loved the Healer series as much as her previous books, but I still am anticipating the next one.

      Thunderstorms are my love. Thanks for commenting!!

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  4. Nice interview :)
    It takes me a few days to read a book too. I could probably get through the books faster if I didn't read them so thoroughly but then I wouldnt enjoy it as much and what would be the point of doing it right? And you should do Top Ten Tuesday if you want to... its fun!

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    1. Absolutely. I am a completely thorough reader. No skipping over sections for me. World-building is so important to me. I totally am going to do Top Ten Tuesday. I already did one but I don't love the topic this week. Picking ten bookish people sounds a lot like favoritism to me and I don't want to leave anyone out.

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I would love to hear what you have to say! I read and try to respond to every single comment I receive. Knowing there are people out there reading is what makes this all worth it... : )