Sharon – Blogger in the Spotlight

Today we meet Sharon from Jera’s Jamboree and learn more about her as she answers the Blogger in the Spotlight Questions. You can visit Sharon’s blog here: Jera’s Jamboree

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

Firstly Joanne, thank you for inviting me to take part in your feature.

Married for 26 years, my two sons have their own lives now and although still important to my mental and emotional well-being (we never stop being parents do we!) I have more time for the things that I enjoy. You spend so many years putting your children’s welfare before your own that it’s been great finding out who I am again and what I need.

I work full time as an Inclusion Lead in a local primary school (which I love) and reading is my way of de-stressing (it’s the last thing I do before I go to sleep) … as well as walking and being in nature – whether that’s in the woods or along the coast.

Like most people I’m a contradiction. For example I love to plan things, however, I like to go with the flow as well. It’s a balance of what is needed at the time J I think as the years have gone by I’ve become much more laid back and don’t feel the need to have so much control.

What books/authors did you enjoy as a child?

As well as Mallory Towers (well, anything by Enid Blyton really!) I also used to love reading my dad’s The Adventures of Asterix. Although comics, they were in book format (A5) and I loved the adventures. Gaul seemed a world away from Dorset. And I loved that they had been my dad’s too.

What made you want to start blogging?

I was looking for a new project having spent a few years researching the family trees in my spare time. I originally thought I would blog about family history but then when I was researching blogs, stumbled across a book blog. Did people really blog about the books they read? I was so excited and thought why not blog about the books I was reading as a record (the amount of times I’ve bought a book twice) and it would be like having an online library.

What do you enjoy most about blogging?

The community! The friendships – both online and in real time, have enriched my life. It’s great sharing with others who have a similar passion

Tell me about your blog – sell yourself!

Jera’s Jamboree has been through many transformations. From those early days in 2011 of reviews (I read a wide range of genres although I have less time for reading now than when I began), JJ expanded to host all sorts of things related to the bookish world. Blogging became such a passion for me and an integral part of my life. The highlight for me was being shortlisted and then winning the Romance Blogger of the Year in 2013 (The Festival of Romance).

This year has seen changes with merging my lifestyle blog (The Rose Petals) with JJ. Still mostly bookish posts but you’ll also find me blogging about the things that interest me. I love taking photographs and join in the My Sunday Photo linky hosted by Darren at OneDad3Girls. It’s a great community and I love to browse what other bloggers have linked up.

I’ve also recently started a linky of my own called Talk of the Town. It’s for bloggers and authors to link up bookish posts. Bloggers and authors in my social networks have different reading/writing interests so I’m hoping that each week it will be a virtual library with different posts to not only entertain but also to inform.

I’m not sure where the future will lead me as regards to blogging but I do know that there will always be a tweak here or there as I find out new things myself. It will always change and grow.

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

I do have more than one but I’m going to share with you The Hourglass Factory by Lucy Ribchester. Unbelievable that this is a debut. If you haven’t read it I do urge you to check it out.

What are you reading just now?

Dark Perfume : Tales of Light and Shadow by Joanna Gawn and Ron C Dickerson. It’s 33 short stories and as well as the writing style (love figurative language) I’m enjoying the magic, emotions and the unknown.

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

Prefer paperback but do use my Kindle; not a bath person for reading – I never spend much time in the bath!; definitely evening.

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

Twitter @shazjera https://twitter.com/shazjera

Facebook blog page https://www.facebook.com/Jeras-Jamboree-161363743930312/

Bloglovin https://www.bloglovin.com/blogs/jeras-jamboree-14309107

Instagram https://instagram.com/jerasjamboree/

Google+ https://plus.google.com/113726212256173084651/posts

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/pub/shaz-goodwin/71/92/253/

And finally, if you could be a character in any book you have read, who would it be and why?

Agnieska in Uprooted. Having started off ‘innocent’ she comes into her own power and doesn’t let authority dictate. She’s quick to jump in when there’s a crises despite knowing she’s going to get hurt. She’s unique and fearless. She accepts who she is and doesn’t compromise for anyone.