Today I welcome Ronnie Turner to the blog to talk about her love of book blogging. It’s a great Q&A and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Ronnie is an author, reviewer and lover of the written word. She lives in beautiful sunny Cornwall with my dog. She’s in the midst of writing her second novel which she’s hoping to send out to agents and publishers very soon. Any time she’s not writing or reading, she loves to do conservation work, litter pick on her local beaches, take long walks and learn new languages. Some of her favourite authors are Stephen King, Kate Atkinson, Sarah Waters, Zadie Smith, Agatha Christie, Daphne Du Maurier, Bill Bryson and Jane Austen.
Welcome to the blog, thanks for stepping away from yours for a few minutes to answer some questions about book blogging.
We’ll start with the easy questions and then see where we go from there!
How long have you been book blogging and what prompted you to start?
I started my blog in December last year so I haven’t been going very long but I’m enjoying it very much! What prompted me to start was my gargantuan love for books! I christened my blog Ad Astra, which is the Latin phrase for ‘To the stars’ because I genuinely think books have profound power in the way that they can transport us to different places – they can drop us in London or Cornwall or even send us up in a rocket ‘to the stars!
Tell us a little bit about your blog, what will blog readers find there?
Well, I review everything from women’s fiction to gritty psychological thrillers, so quite a mix! My reviews encompass quite a lot of genres so there’s something for everyone! I’m also planning to start a weekly feature soon – something I hope everyone will enjoy!
What’s your favourite part about book blogging?
Reading so many wonderful books! I also love, love, love chatting/discussing books with other bookish folk! Some really lovely people in the community!
What has been your highlight since you’ve started?
Ooooh I think my trip ‘up country’ to London for the Pub quiz at Penguin HQ! That was just amazing! But I have to say, my first book post was a phenomenal experience. It was a proof of an unpublished book – amazing!
If you could carry on blogging but could stop doing one thing (that’s maybe a necessary part of the process now) what would it be?
I love all of it! Don’t want to stop doing anything!
What advice would you give to anyone who is considering starting a book blog?
Follow the other bloggers’ leads! They are amazing at what they do – very dedicated and passionate, not to mention supportive! And also, be careful that you don’t take on too many review requests – before I started blogging, I didn’t think anyone could actually drown in books but they can! And make sure you have fun – after all, books are meant to be enjoyed. Read and enjoy!
How much time does it take up?
Good question! It does take up quite a lot of time but I have to restrict myself a little bit because I’m in the process of writing my 2nd novel. If I didn’t I wouldn’t get any work done!
What are your reading habits like?
I read a little bit at night, in the morning, in the car, on the beach, everywhere I can. Wherever I go, a book goes!
What state is your TBR (To Be Read) pile in?
It’s big! A big pile of bookish beautifulness.
What do you drink while reading?
A nice cup of tea with a digestive!
Where’s your favourite place to read?
Easy! The beach! Best place!
What book would you recommend, that gets little attention, that you haven’t really seen talked about? And why, what is it about this book that you love?
I think House on the Strand by Daphne Du Maurier. It’s just as brilliant as Rebecca or Jamaica Inn or My Cousin Rachel but I don’t think you hear about it anywhere near as much. I’m a gargantuan fan of Du Maurier’s!
Thanks so much for taking the time to answer these. It’s been a pleasure having you.
Thanks so much for including me on your Befriend a Book Blogger series!! x
You can find Ronnie on her Blog | Twitter | Facebook
Marina Sofia says
It’s been lovely interacting with Ronnie on our respective blogs and I love her enthusiasm. Wishing her lots of luck with the 2nd novel too. Hard to find time to balance everything.
Margot Kinberg says
A book blogger/author combination – fascinating!! And I love the idea of blogging about a very wide range of books. Great interview, for which thanks, both!
Alex J. Cavanaugh says
Holding that first book is amazing. Ronnie, I hope you don’t have to stop doing anything.