Hello everyone! :) This is a little mini-quiz that was put together to help y'all get to know us a little better. Our old blog linked to these, but since I'm not sure when (or if) this new blog will ever do that, I'm going to post mine here. Keep an eye out for more from our other blog authors in the future. Here goes nothing...
When did you first start to read teen books?
The first teen book I remember reading was probably in the 4th or 5th grade; it was called Haunted, and was part of R.L. Stine’s Fear Street series. I was immediately hooked. After that I branched into Christopher Pike and Richie Tankersley Cusick pretty quickly. Later, probably in junior high, my best friend introduced me to Tamora Pierce’s books and since then I’ve continued to read all kinds of teen fiction. I even re-read some of my old Christopher Pike books every once-in-awhile.
What other things do you enjoy?
Hmm, lots of things actually. I enjoy creating & working with my hands, so I really like to do artsy stuff like drawing, ceramics, photography, etc; I even have a gallery on DeviantART - just do a search for purpledragon42. I’m also a huge anime fan and until the site recently went down I was a moderator/manga reviewer for an online anime forum called ListerX. I still write reviews when I have the time which I post on my personal blog.
If you weren't working in a library, what would you be doing?
Well, I’d probably be working at a museum, one with lots of different stuff in it, like the Smithsonian. I’m really eclectic when it comes to the stuff I’m interested in, so a museum with lots to offer would be the perfect choice outside of a library position. Either way, it would have to be something I enjoyed doing because that’s what a job is all about for me.
What are your personal goals in life?
Well, I have to be honest, I’ve never prescribed much to creating personal goals but I guess you could say mine are to have fun, not stress out too much, and look out for the people I care about.
What book would your friends be surprised you own?
I think the more appropriate question would be “What book would your friends be surprised you DON’T own?“ LOL! I have a miniature library in my home (nearly 6000 books and growing) so nothing really surprises my friends anymore. However, if I had to pick one it’d probably be The Wakefields of Sweet Valley, a Sweet Valley High Saga, which follows Jessica and Elizabeth’s maternal ancestor’s down through America’s various eras. I also own the other two in the series, The Wakefield Legacy and The Patmans of Sweet Valley. Ironically enough, I NEVER read any of the other Sweet Valley book series (I was more into the Babysitters' Club.) I think what appealed to me about this specific series were all the different historical eras.
Do you have any rituals or things you do when you read?
If there’s anyone else moving around in the house I usually like to read in my room, but if no one else is around to distract me, I’ll read just about anywhere. It’s easy for me to get so engrossed in a book that I don’t pay attention to my surroundings for hours at a time.
Favorite male author for teens?
Probably Avi, although he does lots of juvenile stuff, too. I’ve just always been so impressed at his ability to move past his reading disorder, dysgraphia, to become the proliferate author that he is. Another thing that impresses me is his ability to write across the genres. I’ve never seen an author explore so many different types of writing, but he does them all with such ease. A couple of other favorites are Garth Nix and William Sleator; their books really blew me away when I first read them and they still do.
Favorite female author for teens?
Without a doubt, Vivian Vande Velde, Tamora Pierce and Patricia C. Wrede. Granted, they’re all fantasy authors, but, I’m sure if they were to write anything else, I’d enjoy them just as much. All three of these women just have a way of writing that immerses you completely in the story, and I absolutely LOVE that feeling.
Favorite series for teens?
1) The Keys to the Kingdom by Garth Nix
2) The Song of the Lioness by Tamora Pierce
3) Bleach by Tite Kubo
Favorite type of book to read?
I absolutely LOVE graphic novels, be they American, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, or anything else. It’s a format which incorporates my two all-time favorite things – reading and art. For me, it just can’t get any better than that. :-D
Favorite book of all time?
*whimpers* I don’t want to choose! Here’s a list of favorites: Bella at Midnight, The Black Swan, Castle Waiting, Death of the Necromancer, Ella Enchanted, Green Rider, Howl's Moving Castle, Jurassic Park, Marvel: 1602, The Neverending Story, The Thief, The Dark is Rising, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, On a Pale Horse, Sabriel.
What are you reading right now? (Or What book is on your nightstand at home?)
I’ve been SO very busy lately that the most I can manage is a manga or two every once-in-awhile, since they only take me about 45 minute a piece. However, I’m very close to finishing Rosemary Clement-Moore’s first book, Prom Dates from Hell. It’s a funny, light-hearted urban fantasy about a teenage girl who must use her blossoming extra-sensory powers to uncover the truth behind a series of mysterious happenings at school. As for my nightstand, it’s piled high with manga, craft books, art history books, and an odd variety of other things.
What is your definition of a good book?
Well, I think I may have mentioned this earlier, but a good book is one that immerses me completely in the story – one where, once I’m finished, I want to know even more about the characters and their lives and the world they live in.
What would people be surprised to learn about you?
Well, most people learn really fast not to be surprised by anything when it comes to me, but I suppose my weirdest quirk is that I enjoy walking through and photographing old cemeteries. I guess you could call it a hobby. I’ve got pictures from Cemetery No. 1 in New Orleans; Staglieno in Genova, Italy; Graceland in Chicago, and many others from all over Texas (and a few other states.) For me graveyards are an amazing, physical link to the past. Documenting and exploring them helps me to connect with that link in a way that I couldn’t otherwise. I recently set-up an account on Flickr, where I’m slowly, but steadily uploading my photo collection. Some things were already digital, so they’re getting uploaded pretty quickly, but other, older images are obviously going to take me a lot longer because I have to scan & edit them before they can be uploaded.
How has reading changed your life?
To me, reading is an all-encompassing thing, one which has been with me throughout my entire life. Both of my parents have always been huge readers, and I followed my mom’s footsteps and became a librarian; she’s a school librarian in HEB ISD. Reading continuously affects every aspect of who I am and the life I live. In other words, I can’t imagine life without being able to read.
What are your favorite TV shows?
My all-time favorite at the moment is Heroes, but I also watch Crossing Jordan, Chuck, Dexter, Eureka, Ghost Hunters, Ghost Whisperer, Journeyman, Lost, Mythbusters, Numb3rs, Pushing Daisies, Reaper, Robot Chicken, Ugly Betty, The Venture Brothers, Star Trek, and Supernatural Older favorites include Gargoyles, Samurai Jack, Quantum Leap, and Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. I’m also a wee bit of a Trekker. LOL! Okay, okay, I’m more like a HUGE Trekker! ;-)
What are your favorite movies?
Anastasia, Elizabeth, Emperor's New Groove, Ever After, Fellowship of the Rings, The Fifth Element, Galaxy Quest, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Hoodwinked, House on Haunted Hill, Howl's Moving Castle, Labyrinth, The Last Unicorn, Legend, Metropolis, Mulan, National Treasure, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, Shrek, Sliding Doors, Spirited Away, Titan A.E., A Walk in the Clouds
Favorite music artists?
Hmm, well, in no particular order Deine Lakaien, E Nomine, Era, Melissa Etheridge, Fuel, Linkin Park, Loreena McKennitt, Matchbox 20, NIN, They Might Be Giants, Vast, Malice Mizer, Barenaked Ladies, Evanescence, Yoko Kanno, Yuki Kajiura, Broadway Soundtracks, Anime Soundtracks & all Wizard Rock
Well, I think that's it for me. However, if you can think of any questions you want to see added to this little quiz, please feel free to comment below and let us know what you want to know. :-)
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