Welcome to the second week of Around The World! Every Thursday I feature a Blogger, Author or Publisher and ask questions about the country or state they are from and what it is like to be a member of the book world there! If you are interested in being featured please sign up here.
This week I have Hannah from The Girl In The Cafe here on the Blog!
Hannah is currently celebrating her Blog Re-Design and having a fabulous Giveaway so make sure to check it out!
Interview
Where are you from?
I’m from Western Australia, and I live in one of the world’s most isolated cities, Perth! I’ve also lived in Edinburgh, Scotland, and it’s like a second home to me so I can also say I’m from Scotland :-)
What is the best and worst thing about living in the AU/UK?
The best thing about living in Australia? The consistency in the temperature. I like knowing that if I wear shorts one day, about 99% of the time, the weather’s going to be the same the next day. That’s what I didn’t like about the UK – I sucked at predicting the weather! The worst thing about Australia is the heat – I’m not a summer person, which was why I think I loved Scotland so much. Rain and snow for me any day!
What is the biggest challenge of being a book blogger there? Are you able to go to book signings, launches, or industry events?
For me personally, it’s not having the opportunity to be so directly involved in events that go on. Because of the distance from the States, we don’t get a lot of authors that come and visit, and when they do, it’s mainly on the East Coast in places such as Melbourne and Sydney, so us West Aussies don’t really get a chance *sad face* That’s not to say we don’t have events like they do in the States. A group of fantastic people from Perth YA Fans Unite organised for Melina Marchetta to come out to Perth and do a talk/signing, which was fantastic, and most recently Harlequin Australia held a Blogger Summit in Sydney, which was so much fun! I’ve been to a couple of launches as well for local young adult authors, which are always a great time!
Are Publishers willing to work with you were you live? Is it hard to find Industry Professionals?
I love the publishers here in Australia! Every one of them is extremely friendly and so nice, it’s not hard to love them just a bit! I was so nervous when I decided to query publishers for review copies, but looking back, I don’t know why I was so scared. I think because as well, we have a small blogging community here in Australia, as opposed to the larger scale that is the US blogging network, that makes everything a bit more intimate!
I’m from Western Australia, and I live in one of the world’s most isolated cities, Perth! I’ve also lived in Edinburgh, Scotland, and it’s like a second home to me so I can also say I’m from Scotland :-)
What is the best and worst thing about living in the AU/UK?
The best thing about living in Australia? The consistency in the temperature. I like knowing that if I wear shorts one day, about 99% of the time, the weather’s going to be the same the next day. That’s what I didn’t like about the UK – I sucked at predicting the weather! The worst thing about Australia is the heat – I’m not a summer person, which was why I think I loved Scotland so much. Rain and snow for me any day!
What is the biggest challenge of being a book blogger there? Are you able to go to book signings, launches, or industry events?
For me personally, it’s not having the opportunity to be so directly involved in events that go on. Because of the distance from the States, we don’t get a lot of authors that come and visit, and when they do, it’s mainly on the East Coast in places such as Melbourne and Sydney, so us West Aussies don’t really get a chance *sad face* That’s not to say we don’t have events like they do in the States. A group of fantastic people from Perth YA Fans Unite organised for Melina Marchetta to come out to Perth and do a talk/signing, which was fantastic, and most recently Harlequin Australia held a Blogger Summit in Sydney, which was so much fun! I’ve been to a couple of launches as well for local young adult authors, which are always a great time!
Are Publishers willing to work with you were you live? Is it hard to find Industry Professionals?
I love the publishers here in Australia! Every one of them is extremely friendly and so nice, it’s not hard to love them just a bit! I was so nervous when I decided to query publishers for review copies, but looking back, I don’t know why I was so scared. I think because as well, we have a small blogging community here in Australia, as opposed to the larger scale that is the US blogging network, that makes everything a bit more intimate!
Do you have any favorite books set in the UK/AU or written by UK/AU authors?
I have a lot! Here’s a few I’ll share with you:
You can’t go wrong with John Marsden. One of the first ‘dystopian/apocalyptic novels I read was Tomorrow, When The War Began and I loved it completely. There’s seven books in the series, and I guarantee at least 3 of them will make you cry. Letters from the Inside as well was another of my favourites growing up. It was so beautifully done.
CJ Duggan’s debut The Boys of Summer was also one of my favourite reads from last year. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good mature YA contemporary!
Emily: I also really enjoyed this book! I can't wait for the second one =D
Anything by Melina Marchetta is good! I remember reading Looking for Alibrandi when I was 13, and I adored it. Saving Francesca as well is amazing, but I’m yet to read any of her fantasy work or On The Jellicoe Road, despite it sitting on my shelf for ages!
You can never go wrong with Marcus Zusak’s The Book Thief . I adored it, it really is amazing, and so are his other books, especially I Am The Messenger.
Teri Terry (a Brit!) Slated is probably one of my favourite dystopian reads, aside from Claire Merle’s (another Brit!) The Glimpse. Two really, really talented authors that will blow your socks off!
A Few Of My Favorite Things Section
Favorite Book (overall): I love North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell. It’s so beautifully written, and it’s a book I can read over and over again and never get bored of the story.
Favorite Book Recent Release: The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead. I’ve just re-read it, and it was amazing. I will never get tired of reading about Adrian!
Author: I have too many favourite authors! I can’t really pick and choose. But the ones who chat to you on twitter, they are the amazeball ones.
Social Media: I couldn’t live without Pinterest! I am officially addicted. Even my friends are getting sick of me, because I tend to begin every second sentence with “I saw the most amazing thing on Pinterest...”
International Food: I looooove Pad Thai! It’s the most amazing dish. I make the best one too!
You can’t go wrong with John Marsden. One of the first ‘dystopian/apocalyptic novels I read was Tomorrow, When The War Began and I loved it completely. There’s seven books in the series, and I guarantee at least 3 of them will make you cry. Letters from the Inside as well was another of my favourites growing up. It was so beautifully done.
CJ Duggan’s debut The Boys of Summer was also one of my favourite reads from last year. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good mature YA contemporary!
Emily: I also really enjoyed this book! I can't wait for the second one =D
Anything by Melina Marchetta is good! I remember reading Looking for Alibrandi when I was 13, and I adored it. Saving Francesca as well is amazing, but I’m yet to read any of her fantasy work or On The Jellicoe Road, despite it sitting on my shelf for ages!
You can never go wrong with Marcus Zusak’s The Book Thief . I adored it, it really is amazing, and so are his other books, especially I Am The Messenger.
Teri Terry (a Brit!) Slated is probably one of my favourite dystopian reads, aside from Claire Merle’s (another Brit!) The Glimpse. Two really, really talented authors that will blow your socks off!
A Few Of My Favorite Things Section
Favorite Book (overall): I love North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell. It’s so beautifully written, and it’s a book I can read over and over again and never get bored of the story.
Favorite Book Recent Release: The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead. I’ve just re-read it, and it was amazing. I will never get tired of reading about Adrian!
Author: I have too many favourite authors! I can’t really pick and choose. But the ones who chat to you on twitter, they are the amazeball ones.
Social Media: I couldn’t live without Pinterest! I am officially addicted. Even my friends are getting sick of me, because I tend to begin every second sentence with “I saw the most amazing thing on Pinterest...”
International Food: I looooove Pad Thai! It’s the most amazing dish. I make the best one too!
Emily: Thank you so much for stopping by today Hannah! It was great chatting with you and I can't wait to check out some of your favorite Aussie/UK authors and their books!
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