Today is BBAW’s day for the Blogger Interview Swap and we’ve been partnered with Stacy over at Stacy’s Books. Head on over there to read my interview with Stacy…
I’ve really enjoyed exploring her blog - she has some great book quizzes, as well as reviews and discussions. She has worked as a librarian herself and her Aunt Betty, who is also a librarian in an elementary school, has contributed reviews of children’s books… Stacy has a great author-interview series called “9 in ‘09″ so I thought I’d follow her rubric and ask her 9 questions too - here’s what she had to say:
PaperTigers: How long have you been blogging and what got you started?
Stacy: I started in January 2008 after an article in Writer’s Digest suggested it. I knew what a blog was, but didn’t read any regularly, so it has been a fun process of trying new things - some work and some don’t.
PaperTigers: What do you like best about blogging about books?
Stacy: The obvious answer is the wonderful community of book bloggers. I have met so many great women (and a few men lately) and everyone is so supportive. I have online friends and before I started blogging I wouldn’t have thought that was possible. And my wish list grows longer by the day. I’m addicted!
PaperTigers: What genres of books do you most enjoy?
Stacy: I prefer fiction, but do read a non-fiction book or two a month. I like fiction, classics, romances, mysteries, and thrillers best, but read an occasional sci-fi or horror novel.
PaperTigers: what were some of your favorite books as a child?
Stacy: I loved the Little House series and I think I read every Trixie Belden and Hardy Boys book back in the day. And then I transitioned into the Sweet Valley High series. I’m so glad my tastes have changed a bit.
PaperTigers: Can you recommend any books which raise cultural awareness and diversity issues?
Stacy: I’ll be honest, I need to do better about reading books that challenge me culturally. Until I started blogging I didn’t realize how narrow my reading choices had been. My goal for this year was to read more women than men, which I didn’t even come close to last year. In this next year I need to make diversity more of a goal. A few that come to mind are classics like Native Son by Richard Wright and To Kill A Mockingbird. Recently I read a book about the homeless that was moving, Children of Eve by Kevin Casey; and The Executioner’s Song by Norman Mailer made me really think about the our prison system and the death penalty.
PaperTigers: Have you always been an avid reader? What memories do you have of reading as a child?
Stacy: I have always been an avid reader. As an only child I think books became my at home companions and friends. My dad used to give me a little money for books most paydays and I loved walking to the bookstore to browse and make my weekly selections. My mom was also good about taking me to the library. As a teen I read romances almost exclusively. I am happy that was just a phase and now they are just one part of my reading.
PaperTigers: How big is your To Be Read pile and what do you think it would take to get to the bottom of it?
Stacy: I think a picture is worth a few hundred words, at least. Here is a photo of my TBR taken in May. Since then I have read 17 and given away 3 from these stacks. But I have acquired many more. I have given up the hope of ever reaching the bottom, but I would like very much to get it to under 100 within the next few years. I can always hope! 
PaperTigers: Where is your favorite place to read?
Stacy: I will read anywhere, but I do love reading on our deck or curled up on our sofa.
PaperTigers: You allude to possibly writing your own book in the future – can you give any more details about that?
Stacy: I could talk about it but then I would have to abandon it. Talking about it ruins it for me, much to by husband’s consternation. I can say that I’m working on a mystery set in Washington DC.
Thank you, Stacy - I loved your pictures of your To Be Read pile! Good luck with your writing!
Head on over to BBAW to find links to all the other blog interviews that have been posted today… and for great posts from all corners of the book-world, plus giveaways..