Portobello Book Blog

Today I welcome Sandra as my Blogger in the Spotlight. Sandra blogs as Reading Writes (which I think is a great name by the way!) and you can have a look through her blog here: Reading Writes

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 so much for having me on your blog Joanne.  I’m Sandra and I’m addicted to books.  I am a little bit obsessed with cricket and I also like football, but being a Bolton Wanderers fan it’s not something I shout about at the moment.  I am a wife, and mother to one son who is 14 going on 40. I was born near Bolton then lived about 8 years in London before moving back up North and now living in South Manchester.

What books/authors did you enjoy as a child?

I loved Enid Blyton and in particular The Secret Seven.  I got the kids in the neighbourhood together to create our own Secret Seven. We had meetings, badges, passwords and even managed to find ourselves some trouble!  Those books gave me a love of mystery that endures to this day.

What made you want to start blogging?

I never really had anyone to talk to about books. Most of my friends are not bookworms and those that are don’t really want to dissect books the way that I do. So I used to jot my thoughts down in notebooks, until one day I decided to start the blog and share my thoughts.

What do you enjoy most about blogging?

Definitely all the like-minded people that I have met on the different social media platforms, both bloggers and authors. It has just been a revelation, and everyone is so friendly and helpful. Also it has meant that I have come across many talented authors that I otherwise wouldn’t have and if I have helped them in any small way that makes me happy.

Tell me about your blog – sell yourself!

I am rubbish at selling myself. My blog, readingwrites, has been going now for 22 months. I review lots of different genres and will try anything that takes my fancy or that others recommend, except for Sci-fi; I just can’t get on my that genre I’m afraid. I do review books that I haven’t enjoyed but I always try to be fair and  look for the positives and say what it was about the book that I didn’t enjoy.

What’s your favourite book you’ve reviewed in the past year? Or favourite three if you really can’t choose.

This is so difficult.

The Mistake I Made by Paula Daly.

Police by Jo Nesbo

Billy And The Devil by Dean Lilleyman.

I can’t believe I have left Sharon Bolton out of the top three.

What are you reading just now?

The Gap Of Time by Jeanette Winterson (30/10/15)

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

Absolutely all of the above. 🙂 The only time that I don’t read is when I am walking down the street and that’s only because I am far too clumsy.

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

You can find my blog at: http://readingwrites.wordpress.com

I’m on Twitter: @monkbythesea and I also have a facebook page: Readingwrites Book Blog

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

That would have to be Heidi. That book had such an effect on me as a child that I went to work in Switzerland for 2 seasons.