Jaime B blogs as Bookmagnet- her blog is pretty fabulous- or better yet, AWESOME. Bookmagnet gets the best interviews- her posts are something else.

Jaime @ Bookmagnet- Bloggers Made of AWESOME

Jaime- when did you begin blogging?

I had to go look at my archives to answer this question! I actually began blogging about books in 2009. I can’t believe it’s been that long. The way I read, review books, and blog has changed since then. It’s much more serious and in-depth now. When I first started, I don’t think many people even know what blogging was. It was so new.

 

 

How did you come up with the name Bookmagnet?

I do remember this! I joined Twitter in 2009 and was trying to figure out a cute and interesting user name. Since I love the beach, I tried to get something like aquatic like agua or beach girl, but everything I came up with was already taken. Then, suddenly, I had an epiphany: I’ll talk about books. What would a good name be for that? It hit me—bookmagnet. And it was available, to my delight.

 

 

What are your thoughts on blogging today in an ever-changing book-ish world? Are blogs helping other readers connect with good books?

I think bloggers today wear many hats, and that’s a good thing. We’re not only bloggers and reviewers but we let fellow readers know what to read. We tell them what’s bad, what’s good, and what’s great. We get the word out. We’re big promoters. What’s more—publishers and authors are noticing. Think about how many novels come out every week? It’s inevitable a few worthy books fly under the radar. We have to recognize those novels that are still gems; they just may have escaped notice.

 

 

When you are not blogging (or reading!)- what do you like to do?

I love going to the beach, I love swimming, I love my dogs. I collect signed books, old postcards, vintage perfume bottles, and art.

 

Do you have any #literaryconfessions?

Okay, here’s a shocker. I read all of the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy.

 

Do you have a #literarycrush? 

Jay Gatsby, without a second thought.

 

What books are you looking forward to reading in 2013?

I’m looking forward to Margaret Atwood’s third book in her MaddAddam trilogy titled MaddAddam, Amy Tan’s The Valley of Amazement, Janice Clark’s The Rathbones, James McBride’s The Good Lord Bird and a whole slew of others. So many of the year’s biggest books are released in the fall.

 

In your opinion, what book has been the best book you have read (so far!) in 2013?

The one that managed to capture my heart and not let it go has been Julie Wu’s The Third Son.

 

You have a beach vacation planned. What are the 3 books that you must bring?

Beatriz Williams’ A Hundred Summers; Karen Brown’s The Longings of Wayward Girls, and Liza Klaussmann’s Tigers in Red Weather

 

 

Are you an e-book or tree book lover? Or does it not matter?

I read a lot of galleys on my Kindle, but I also read hard copies. If I read a galley of a book or if I purchase a book on my Kindle and end up loving it, I purchase a signed copy at my favorite indie bookstores—Lemuria Books in Jackson, MS; Book Passage in Corte Madera, CA; and Politics and Prose in Washington, D.C.

 

You are a member of She Reads- an organization that helps women find great books. What is the experience like- helping authors get the word out about books and connecting women with great books?

I love She Reads. To be part of a wonderful community of female bloggers, all of whom are intelligent and driven and bookish, is simply amazing. Men authors tend to get more press and praise for their“serious” fiction, and I think that’s a tragedy. Women are writing important stories, too, and She Reads helps showcase that. And bravo to them!

 

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