Sunshine Blogger Awards

The Sunshine Blogger Award is an award given by fellow bloggers to those who are creative, positive, and inspiring while spreading sunshine to the blogging community. 

I actually cannot believe that I was nominated by not one but two of my fellow bloggers for this! It's not something I associate with myself at all but I'm flattered that some people do! 

I was nominated by Sarah at All The Book Blog Names Were Taken and Stephanie at Stephanie Jane / Literary Flits so massive thank yous to them!

This is a longish post because I'm not only answering Sarah's questions but Stephanie's too in the same post.

I should also probably apologise for the fact I was nominated months ago but am hopeless at keeping on top of things and responding promptly! 😆

The Rules of the Sunshine Blogger Awards are:

1. Thank the blogger(s) who nominated you in a post and link back to their blog

2. Answer 11 questions the blogger asked you

3. Nominate 11 blogs to receive the award and write for them 11 new questions

4. List the rules and display the sunshine blogger award in your post and/or on your blog

I'm being a rebel and breaking the rules though. I'm not nominating nor am I writing new questions. 

I feel like it's been too long and the season of the award has passed so there's no point. 

Know that I value all the blogs I regularly visit. If I didn't, I wouldn't visit you. You all bring a little bit of sunshine into my day with your love for books and support and I hope you all continue doing so!

🌻

Sarah's Questions

1. What genres do you prefer? Why?

Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Contemporary Romance.

Interesting worlds, interesting stories, plenty of action, fascinating characters and stories full of heart.

Not to mention the fact that I'm in love with love and adore a happy ending.

2. What genres do you refuse to read? Why?

Crime/Mystery/Thrillers/Horror.

I basically refuse to read books that will give me nightmares and make me paranoid about walking in the dark and being by myself and make me feel scared or unsure of my own or my family's safety.

3. What is the easiest thing about blogging for you? The hardest?

The easiest thing about blogging for me is marching along to the beat of my own drum and not worrying about being one of the cool kids.

The hardest is finding the time and motivation to write posts or read & visit other bloggers posts when I'm tired all the time or busy.

4. If you could become a character in any book, which book and why?

I would love to choose someone like Kate Daniels, someone kick ass, brave, powerful and with a guy who loves her more than anything else... But alas, I'd be exhausted after the first battle and be desperate for a warm bath and cozy bed rather than ready to jump into the next battle.
So maybe someone from a contemporary romance... I dunno. Pass.

5. If you could travel to any period in history, which would it be, and why?

Probably Tudor. 

It's an interesting period what with the antics of the monarchs, political tensions in Europe, religious upheaval, the discovery of the 'new world' etc etc. 

6. Do you ever DNF books? What makes you DNF?

Yes, I DNF. 

I can put up with a lot of drivel in a book if it's amusing me in some manner or another (for good or evil) but when it becomes boring to the point I just can't bear to go near it anymore then I call it quits. 

7. Who are your favourite authors?

Favourite author is a hard one. I have favourites of the moment but an enduring favourite?
Only one would fit the bill and that would be Ilona Andrews... But right now, I probably could list about 6 authors who I'm loving.
*shrugs*

8. How important is book cover quality to you? Why?

Very important. I am a complete cover whore. If a cover is ugly, I'm unlikely to give the book any time of day at all. The blurb could be awesome but I probably won't even read it if the cover is hideous or offensive to me in some way. That's how important a cover is to me. It's what sets a book apart and pulls me in. 

9. Name a character that you would want to be best friends with, and why.

Tori from Guild Codex: Spellbound.
She's fun, she's supportive, she's loyal and she's an ordinary human living an extraordinary life.

10. Name a character who would become your mortal enemy, should you ever cross paths in real life.

I have no idea. None spring to mind. 

11. Which authors would you invite to a dinner party? (never mind silly things like death)

I don't think I'd want to invite any authors to a dinner party. It'd stress me out. 

🌻

Stephanie's Questions

1. If you read about characters eating a tempting new food do you then buy/cook it for yourself?

No, not really. I can't think of a single example where this has happened.

2. Have you ever visited somewhere purely because it sounded great in a book?

Erm... Not that I can think of! 

3. Or chosen a book because it was set somewhere you love?

Again, nope.

4. Have you ever felt obliged to read something because 'everyone else' had? If so, what? And was it worth it?

Yes, I guess so. The Cruel Prince, for example. I'm positive it would have made its way onto my radar on its own eventually (it's the kind of book I like) but all the blog hype had me buying it long before I was ready to read it so it sat on my kindle, neglected, for a very long time.

I can finally say that I've read it though! (And I loved it.)

5. Which author(s) inspire(s) you?

I don't think I'm inspired by any particular author but I'm in awe of so many! Mostly fantasy authors for not just creating brilliant characters and interesting stories but for creating whole new worlds that I'd love to live in!

6. How does the size of your TBR affect your reading choices?

It doesn't. I honestly don't care about the size of my TBR as I can easily ignore it. It's stored on GoodReads and I'm very good at not paying attention unless I'm looking at it for a particular purpose.

What stresses me out is my NetGalley TBR! That I can't ignore as easily and obviously have an obligation to complete.

7. How do you keep track of other bloggers' recommendations? And do you ever get round to reading those books?

I stick them on my GoodReads TBR for future reference and - if I'm super interested - I'll add it to an Amazon Wishlist which I check regularly to see what's on sale, track price changes and review to see if I'm still interested or if the impulse has passed when the hype dies.

I often read books recommended by other bloggers but I always wish I could read more!

8. Do you like using libraries, Little Libraries, or book exchanges?

I'm a member of my local library and I do use it occasionally but unfortunately, a lot of the books I want to read are not available in British libraries so I mostly used the library for books for the kiddo and even he's outgrowing what is typically available.

The audiobook selections are also hideously lacking... I'm so envious when I hear of what's available to US bloggers from their libraries. *sigh*

9. What strategies do you have to drag yourself out of a reading slump?

I re-read favourites or busy myself with TV, movies and other things until I want to read again. I don't try to force it or else it gets worse. 

10. Are your nearest and dearest as bookish as you are?

Yes and no. 

My son always has a book on the go. Actually, he usually has several on the go. He always has an audiobook he's listening to and a physical book he's reading (a requirement for school) pretty much at all times. Even though he only gets through two or three books a month I'd describe him as bookish... I mean, he's not yet nine! And this doesn't include his comics of which he reads several a week.

I'd say that the little dude is more bookish than I was at his age.

Plus, more important than the number of books a person reads is their enthusiasm for the topic and the little dude is a serious fanboy for books. You can have awesome book conversations with him and he can't pass a bookstore without going in.

My husband reads a lot of journals and spends a lot of time reading online but probably only reads one or two books a year so I wouldn't call him bookish at all.

My mum is a reader and always has a book in progress but she's a lot slower at reading than I am and only reads a couple a month usually. I wouldn't describe her as bookish but she's definitely a reader...

11. If we were all Icelandic, what book(s) would you be hoping to get for Jolabokaflod?

I don't think I'd care what book I was given as long as the rest of the tradition was honoured and I was left alone to read it - while eating my chocolate - for the evening!