Portobello Book Blog

Today it’s the turn of Jo Lambert to be my Blogger in the Spotlight. Jo is a writer as well as a book reviewer and she blogs at http://jolambertwriter.wordpress.com

Thanks for agreeing to be part of my Blogger in the Spotlight feature. First of all, would you tell me a little about yourself?

Thank you for inviting me Joanne. I’m married and live in a village on the eastern side of the beautiful city of Bath. I’ve been writing ever since I can remember and have always loved books. My jobs have always been in senior PA roles or supervisory management. Although a good part of my working life has been within the NHS, I’ve also worked for commercial companies like Volkswagen and Body Shop.  I’m the author of a trilogy and two sequels which have become known as my Little Court Series – the story of four Somerset families spanning forty years. In August I published my sixth novel, Summer Moved On, a contemporary love story set in South Devon. I’ve just begun the sequel Watercolours in the Rain which should be out in 2016.

What books/authors did you enjoy as a child?

Oh there were so many! I had a teacher uncle and every Christmas and birthday a new book would arrive. Of all those I received from him,  I loved the Jungle Books, The Secret Garden, Children of the New Forest, Wind in the Willows and Black Beauty. However, when it came to my own purchases I was so proud of my complete set of Famous Five novels.  I also had Secret Seven titles but there was no one quite like Julian, Dick, Anne and Georgina, and, of course Timmy the dog!

 What made you want to start blogging?

When my first three books, the Behind Blue Eyes trilogy had been published, I realised I needed to have a social media presence beyond Facebook and Twitter. My first efforts were very basic – a section for my books and various posts about what influenced my writing and where I was with my current WIP. However, since then things have moved on and I now have two sites – a dedicated blog and a dedicated book website.

What do you enjoy most about blogging?

I think the best thing about it is it gives me an outlet beyond my fiction writing. Although I have a set time for writing, there are moments when I really feel the need to step away and do something completely different for a while. Blogging fulfils that need; it can be funny, it can be serious. It’s my take on life. And, of course, it’s also a great way to connect with readers and other writers

Tell me about your blog – sell yourself!

I like to think there’s something for everyone in my blog. I have a dedicated interview spot – Tuesday Talk – where I chat to all sorts of different people in the writing world. I also do book promos and when the mood takes me I post my own pieces. This can be anything from writing about a holiday I’ve just returned from to a memory from my past. Some time back I did a piece called ‘Remember the Days of the Old School Yard’ where I talked about school days and some of the teachers I’d known who were real characters. Then a couple of weeks ago out of the blue came a comment from someone I happened to be at school with who added his own thoughts about that time. It was great to link up like that and to see things from his viewpoint.   On my book website I do blog occasionally, mostly to update everyone on how the current WIP is going. And if you want to catch up with my posts as a Tour Host and Reviewer for Brook Cottage Book you can find them there too.

What’s your favourite book you’ve reviewed so far this year? Or favourite three if you really can’t choose.

I’ve absolutely loved Sheryl Browne’s The Rest of My Life and also The Secret of the Pomegranate by Barbara Lamplugh. Two very different stories but ones which I have enjoyed so much I really want to recommend to friends.

Tell me about your reading habits:  book or kindle, bed or bath, morning or evening?

My Kindle is always with me but there is no substitute for a book. From time to time I like to drop into our local Waterstones simply to wander around and look at books. Checking out synopses and reading samples chapters on Amazon is not quite the same as being able to physically pull a book from the shelf and look through it. As for where I do my reading, it’s normally in the lounge in the evening or in bed during the early morning. – my body clock is still telling me I need to get up at six a.m. even though I left work over two years ago!  As for reading in the bath, I think if I attempted that there’s a chance I would probably fall asleep – possibly ending up with a waterlogged Kindle!

How can people follow your blog or connect with you on social media?

You can find me at:

BLOG: http://jolambertwriter.wordpress.com

BOOK WEBSITE: http://jolambertbooks.com

TWITTER: @jolambertwriter

FACEBOOK: Facebook.com/joannalambert