BBAW Week Interview - Amber Stults

Happy Tuesday, all!

This week is Book Blogger Appreciation Week. You can go to this website and vote for some really great blogs. As part of the festivities, I signed up for an interview swap and was assigned the fantastic Amber Stults. Amber is a writer, but also a book reviewer (whis is so intriguing to me!)

Welcome, Amber! I had such fun poking around your blog. Tell me, what started you blogging about books?

Initially I thought it would be a good way to provide content for my blog in between my posts about writing. As it turns out, it’s a good way for me to better remember the books I read.


Is it true that some of your book reviews have been published? Can you share a little bit of that process with us?

Yes, it’s true! I’m assigned a book to review or given a choice between a few titles. Then I read the book, write the review and send it to the editor. At that point it can be published or come back to me with revision requests. Usually the revisions are small ones to make things clearer to the reader.


How do you choose which books to review on your blog? Or which authors to interview?

For nearly a year I reviewed every book I read. I read faster than I can write a review though and it takes the focus off my writing. Now I review about half of what I read. I still write partial reviews for the other half to keep in reserve for when I’m on vacation or sick.

The author interviews are fun to do – you never know what kind of answer you'll get to a question. I interview authors that are on blog tours.

Now, I understand you are also a writer. What do you like to write?

I like writing drabbles (flash fiction exactly 100 words in length) and novels the best. Some are fantasy and others are more realistic. It doesn't seem like I've found my niche like you.

Oh, multi talented, then :)

Many of my blogging friends are also writers and we love learning about process. Can you share your favorite part of the writing process with us? How about the most difficult?

My favorite part is when I reread something I wrote with no recollection of writing it and I can't believe the words came from me. That usually happens when I'm writing in the zone.

The most difficult part for me is the revising. If it's been in a drawer for months I usually hate the piece and can't believe I wrote so poorly. It took me a long time to allow myself to write bad first drafts that are good for recycling or starting a fire. I find it's easier for me to revise if I set something aside for a few weeks. It still holds my interest and I can tweak it a little bit at a time. Unfortunately, it's a slow process.

Thanks so much for doing this swap with me, Amber. It's been fun getting to know you.

Thanks for letting me visit with you, Tess. It's been a lot of fun!

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If you want, you can pop over to Amber's site to see her interview of me.

HAPPY BOOK BLOGGER APPRECIATION WEEK! And, even though my blogging buddies (incl me) aren't up for the awards, I want to say how much I sincerely appreciate each one of you. How much I enjoy your comments and conversation. How fantastic your blogs are. Thanks for being a friend. You teach, inspire and help me every day.

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