Armchair BEA: Interview with another blogger!

Right now, BEA (Book Expo America) is going on in New York. There are MANY authors, publishing professionals, and press (including bloggers!) there right now networking, getting new upcoming books, getting to know each other, seeing panels, etc... etc... Armchair BEA was started so that bloggers that couldn't go to BEA could still network if they liked, and participate in giveaways, interviews, and all of that stuff... that's why it's awesome!

Today for Armchair BEA, people that signed up for it, are participating in interviews with other bloggers to post on their blogs so that they can get to know each other and let everyone else get to know them too! I signed up to interview and was matched with Smash from the SmashAttackReads book blog. I browsed around her blog, learned more about her and then sent her interview questions. She was super nice and funny,  so here are her answers, enjoy!:

Where did your blog name come from? Have you ever thought about changing it?  My name is Ashley, and I grew up being called Smashley by my family. My mom shortened it to Smash as I got older. My real-life friend, Brooke at Brooke Reviews (http://www.brookereviews.com/), called me Smash Attack one day, and it just stuck. I love it, and it has truly become my book blogging identity. I will never change it.


There's a quote in your header ("I divide all readers into two classes; those who read to remember and those who read to forget."). Do you think that? If you do, which of those do you consider yourself? I definitely read to forget. I’m a social worker, and if you know anything about what social workers do, you get it. Reading is my escape from the crappy reality that I have to deal with on a daily basis. It's my stress relief.


Do you plan on trying to go to BEA next year?  I would love to go to BEA, but it won’t happen for some years to come. I just graduated with a Masters degree, and my husband is in med school. This equates to lots and lots of loans. I owe the government my soul, and the souls of my 50 closest relatives. LOL. So yea, until hubs starts making some money (because social workers don’t make money), BEA will be nothing more than a pipe dream…

What's your favorite thing about blogging? OTHER BLOGGERS! Seriously. I love receiving books and nurturing relationships with authors and publicists, as well as being able to help authors publicize their work, but other bloggers are my favorite part about blogging. I’ve made some amazing friends, both online and in real life, and I adore them so!


How did you get started blogging?  I’ve been blogging for many, many years. However, I only started my book blog last June because I found myself posting bookish things on my personal blog, and none of my readers were interested. Brooke (Brooke Reviews) has been reviewing and blogging for a few years and I loved interacting on her blog. I really wanted to do it but didn’t think I had the time because of grad school. But last summer I bit the bullet and haven’t looked back.


If you could only take one book with you to a deserted island, what would it be and why?  Oh lawdie. This is tough, but I’m going with The Hunger Games box set. Yes, it’s 3 books but it is one of the most entertaining series ever I’ve read, and the box set can be considered one item. I wrote a series synopsis here: http://www.smashattackreads.com/2010/09/series-spotlight-hungers-games-by.html

What was your favorite childhood book? It’s a tie between Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass and Charlotte's Web. Both are fantastic in their own respect. I adore Wilbur and Charlotte, and found their relationship to be one of loyalty and bravery. And Alice is just full of adventure and imagination. I still love reading re-imaginings of Alice.


Thanks for answering the questions, Smash! Loved your answers! Be sure to stop by her blog! :D