Book Blogger Spotlight: Ink and Page

Name: Audrey Dorn Wilkerson
From: Dallas, Texas

When and why did you become a book blogger?

I became a book blogger in January 2012. I had started my blog in 2005 as a place to blow off steam, but I didn't do much with it. Last year, I gutted it, saving only one or two of the original posts. I had been on a readin hiatus for many years, reading only sporadically after being a huge reader for a long time and being in a book club. Once I had a child, it was hard to keep up with anything other than Goodnight Moon or Moo, Baa, La La La. I had started to read regularly again and wanted to let people know about books I liked.

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

I don't remember exactly. I had thought of having a grammar police blog, since most of my pet peeves are about bad grammar, but then decided to do a book blog. I checked to see what was available as a web address, and once I'd decided on Ink and Page, I found that there was a stationery company that had reserved it. That is not their name, but they bought InkandPage.com because it was close to their name. That's why I am InkandPage.me.

What is your favorite thing about blogging?

Shelling out my opinions, of course. That and getting comments! That means people are actually reading my posts!

What do you find the hardest about blogging?

Shelling out my opinions. I am very careful (at least I think I am) about not attacking an author if I don't like what they've written. After all, it isn't my place to decide whether they should be writing; I am just giving MY opinion of the finished product. I am keenly aware that not everyone (or anyone) will agree with me, and that's fine. When I do my full-blown reviews, I always include links to two other blogs or newspaper reviews so people can get other perspectives.

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

Yes. The ones I regularly do are The Sunday Post that is sponsored by The Caffeinated Book Reviewer (a rehash of my past week with links to my posts; what I hope to accomplish the next week and any news, new books I received, etc.). The second one is Top Ten Tuesday that is put on by The Broke and the Bookish. They have a different topic each week (Top Ten Series, Top Ten Villains, etc.). I love that they post the topics ahead of time on their blog! The last one is called Feature and Follow Friday. This one is sponsored by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read. They feature two blogs and everyone can answer a weekly question. This is designed for blogs to get more followers.

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, really, from meeting authors online and in person, authors retweeting me and thanking me for reviews. That is always so super cool. Getting free books is pretty awesome, too. And a couple of my posts are on the front page of Google, so whenever anyone searches for the publishing date of Emerald Green by Kirsten Gier, there I am. I get so many hits off of those posts that I am going to suffer mightily when that book finally comes out. I am pretty proud of my interview with Trish Dollar, too.

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

I concentrate on Young/New Adult, but I do have some reviews of Middle Grades and Adult books as well. I love reading all different kinds of books, though.

I don't remember there being such a huge Young Adult genre when I was a young adult, and I really love those books. I am not a prude or have a problem with profanity, but it always seemed like when you don't have a lot of that going on, there's so much more time to tell a great story. Not that there aren't plenty of Adult books that fall under that description, but I think I also like the "growing up" aspect and the experiencing life and having to make adult decisions, too. I really hope that the New Adult genre starts to focus more on than just sex and talks about more issues/problems specific to them. First jobs, going to grad school, living on your own for the first time, having to make more mature decisions - it's all there, waiting to be told.

I do have a soft spot for Chick Lit and my fav Adult books are The Charley Davidson series by Darynda Jones (oh Reyes...)

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

Harry Potter has to be my favorite. Not only is the series meticulously and fabulously written, to be able to come up with all those different characters, monsters, etc., is wonderful. They are timeless in the way they are written, so I doubt they will ever sound dated. I also absolutely love Cassandra Clare, Trish Dollar. Ally Carter, Jane Austen, too. There are too many individual books for me to list!

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

I have a love of snarky, brash, funny guys, so, naturally, I love Jace Wayland and Will Herondale from Cassandra Clare's The Mortal Instruments series and The Inferal Devices series. These guys are usually hiding some big hurt or secret, too.

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

I am smart-alecky but not particularly athletic. I love the females who not only are smart, but push themselves like crazy. Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter series was all brains at first, because she thought that was all she needed to have to succeed. She certainly grew and changed and became one kick-ass heroine.


Tris from Divergent is great, too, especially since I know I could never do the things she did to survive.

Who are your favorite three authors and why?

I am smart-alecky but not particularly athletic. I love the females who not only are smart, but push themselves like crazy. Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter series was all brains at first, because she thought that was all she needed to have to succeed. She certainly grew and changed and became one kick-ass heroine.

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

 It's amazing the number of YA books that have been optioned for movies and TV series. I know that Stephenie Meyer has started a production company and is already working on something. That is so super cool! I think Lauren Oliver's Before I Fall would make a great movie. Also Lauren Myracle's Shine. And who wouldn't want to see St. Clair in the flesh in Anna and the French Kiss? As for series, what about The Wolves of Mercy Falls series or the Hereafter series? Also, my indie pal Angel Lawson wrote a romance/suspense story called Serial Summer and a fun story called FanGirl that would be perfect on the big screen.

As far as stars? Anything with Alex Pettyfer would be fine with me. Jennifer Lawrence, Selena Gomez, Greg Sulkin, Deborah Ann Woll, Ryan Kwanten, Kit Haringon, Maisie Williams, Isaac Hempstead Wright, Beau Mirchoff, Dylan O'Brien...I think I only know people from existing movies and the Disney Channel!

What has been your favorite book of 2013? Why did you love it?

Published in 2013? Hmmm...so far, I would have to say Splintered by A.G. Howard. Or Geek Girl by Holly Smale. Or Scarlet by Marissa Meyer. Or Dare You To by Katie McGarry. Or Being Henry David by Cal Armistead.

What books are you most looking forward to in 2013?

Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins
Where the Stars Still Shine by Trish Dollar
Emerald Green by Kerstin Gier

Paper books or ebooks?

I prefer real books, but I read a lot of eBooks, too. I like seeing the books on my shelves and holding them in my hands. For some reason, being able to see how much I have left to read is important to me.

Where is your favorite place to read?

On the couch, in my bed, in the car on a road trip.

Milk chocolate, white chocolate or dark chocolate?

Milk chocolate, followed closely by white chocolate. I am not a fan of dark chocolate.

Coffee, hot tea or hot chocolate?

Depends on the time of day. Coffee in the morning (or a Non-fat, two Splenda latte if it's available) and hot tea the rest of the day. Best tea is Fortnum and Mason's Royal Blend. You can get it here in the states at Williams Sonoma.

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

I am everywhere.

Blog: http://inkandpage.me
Twitter: https://twitter.com/inkandpage
Instagram: http://instagram.com/inkandpage
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InkAndPage
Tumblr: http://inkandpage.tumblr.com
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5657058-audrey
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/AZXNB4Q5QCO2P?ie=UTF8&ref_=sv_ys_4
IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/user/ur34962863/watchlist (my list of books being made into movies/TV series)
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/114648221310178388754/114648221310178388754/posts
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/inkandpage
Linked In: http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=3366502&trk=tab_pro