Introducing... READING ROCKS

Reading Rocks
Ariel and Elise

Reading Rocks is.....

Since Reading Rocks is co-hosted by Ariel and Elise, I was able to interview both of them, which is pretty sweet. So the answers in blue are Ariel's while Elise's are in green.





What drew you into the book blogging world?
Elise's friend Jill (Reading is Bliss) originally inspired her to start her own blog. I joined in after a few months, at first just helping out and then becoming a full-time administrator. I was hooked immediately on the book blogging world. It's such a wonderful community, full of the kind of people that I can really connect with on a special level. :-)
Thanks, Jill!

What's your favorite part about book blogging?
Book blogging seems to be made for me! I love everything about it! Deciding to join Reading Rocks was the best decision I have ever made. Though it's a huge responsibility, it gives me many opportunities that have changed my life. It's given me contacts in the publishing world, personal relationships with authors, experience in the professional world, a new respect for other bookaholics across the globe, and the chance to write about and share what I most love. Who could ask for a better pastime?
I agree with Ariel 100% on all of that. Book blogging is a fantastic experience.

Who's your favorite author?
Wow, that's a tough one. I have several. Shannon Hale, Libba Bray, Maria V. Snyder, J. K. Rowling, and Kristin Cashore are just a few of my author heroes. :-)
In addition to Ariel's, I also love Suzanne Collins and Lisa Ann Sandell.

What kind of fiction are you into? or are you a nonfiction reader?
I like a variety of fiction. Since becoming a book blogger, my range of genres has definitely increased. My horizons have broadened. Before, I was most likely to be reading a fantasy novel or gothic romance, but now I can often be found reading sci-fi, historical fiction, modern fiction, and paranormal romance. While the fantasy genre is still very close to my heart, some of my favorite books have come from other, more surprising directions.
Usually, my favorite books are those that don't take place in the modern world. I like to escape when I read... travel to another place and time. But now I have learned that in all genres, there are those special books that dig into my skin and find a special place in my heart.

If you could change your name what would you go by?
Hmmm... What an interesting question! I have always had a fascination with names. I'm not sure I could choose just one. I think, though, that it would have to be Alice.
I'm going to pull names from my old buddy, William Shakespeare... I'd very much like to be named Ophelia, or Isabella, perhaps even Miranda. They all sound so elegant, simple but pretty.

IF you could have an AWESOME super power what would it be?
The ability to stop time and go into any book world I chose. Is that a super power? :-)
The ability to stop/pause time and, in adittion, go into any book world I choose. (Do you hear an echo?)
Don't you mean great minds think alike?

What is your guilty pleasure?
Chocolate. Always chocolate.
Other than reading books when there are more important things I need to be doing? Coffee... and chocolate. (British chocolate, to be precise. Cadbury's carmel chocolate bars... yum...), oh, and there's also cookies...

Why should I visit your blog?
Reading Rocks is a very professional establishment. Elise and I see it as our job as well as our hobby. We strive to post regularly, review in an honest, unbiased way, and keep our site and our reviews as user-friendly as possible. Our goal is not to gather as large of a following as possible, but to reach out to readers and provide a dependable source of information about what we all have in common -- books, books, and more books! So if you want to share in our passion, that's a good enough reason as any to visit our blog.
Reading rocks our world and hopefully... our blog will rock yours.

Is it difficult having to share your blog? How did you guys decide to co-op it? Was it difficult or did you guys know what you were getting yourselves into?
Elise and I are both very busy people. We are in AP classes, dedicated theatre folks, and are constantly bogged down with endless homework and projects and family duties. Early on in Reading Rocks, Elise realized how impossible it was to upkeep a blog AND do everything else. She had two options: get help or give up. So....I came to the rescue! : ) As soon as we both started working on it full-time, we realized how much easier it was. We were able to divide the work and post double what we would have been able to otherwise. With each of us constantly reading, twice the number of reviews go up. We are also able to do more housekeeping, proofreading, and contacting authors and publishers. I don't think I would be able to do this without Elise. Sharing Reading Rocks with her is definitely the other best decision of my life. We obviously had very little idea of the scope of what we were doing, but it worked out beautifully. I cannot imagine what it would be like to take on alone. I admire the courage and the tenacity of all those lovely bloggers out there who manage it!
Yep! Ariel has summed it up.
I wish I had a friend to share in the fun and responsibility.

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Don't forget to visit Ariel and Elise at their blog!

If you're interested in being feature on Introducing...YOU email me or leave a comment with you're email and I'll get you set up