Portobello Book Blog

I’m delighted to have another Joanne on the blog today. She blogs at My Chestnut Reading Tree which has been on the go since February this year. Thanks for agreeing to be part of my Blogger in the Spotlight feature Jo. First of all, would you tell me a little about yourself?

Hi I’m Jo and I am married with 3 daughters and 4 grandchildren. I live in Cheshire although I was born in Norfolk and then lived in Scotland for 18 years before settling here. I am a qualified podiatrist but I haven’t practised since I had my girls. I have worked as an estate agent and in customer complaints for a holiday company ( got some fabulously funny stories that I may tell someday!) But I gave up work to look after my grandchildren while their mummy’s go to work. I have read books ever since I’ve been able to and reviewed for a few years but only recently had the confidence to set up my blog My Chestnut Reading Tree and I posted my first review on there in February this year.

What books/authors did you enjoy as a child?

I loved Enid Blyton which is probably what everyone says! My favourite book as a child was one called Carbonell about a witches cat that I have tried to track down a copy of for many years in second hand book shops. I have now managed to buy a brand new copy that was reissued last year along with an old second hand one which had the cover I remember reading. Good old eBay!

What made you want to start blogging?

I was happy just reviewing on Amazon and Goodreads and thought blogging would take up too much time. I am not a very confident person and worry about putting my feelings about books out there in a more public forum! But after a meet up in Leeds, a chance discussion with the lovely Sandra Foy made me think “what the hell, I will give it a go” so I did and I’ve never looked back! Yes it’s busy and takes up large parts of my day but I just love it so much that I miss it even when I’m on my holidays! I can’t switch off!

What do you enjoy most about blogging?

The people! Other bloggers, authors, publishers, readers…..everyone is just so supportive and friendly that I really feel as though I have found my happy place in life! And to know that people will part with their hard earned money to buy books on my recommendation! Although that still panics me a bit if I’m truly honest!

Tell me about your blog – sell yourself!

Okay….my Blog is called My Chestnut Reading Tree and I mainly review psychological thrillers, crime novels and women’s fiction. But truthfully, I will read most things except sci-fi! And as I work in a school part time I’m loving children’s books too. I try to review most days and I share loads over on Twitter and Facebook. My blog is very simple, it’s really just a place to rave about books so I don’t bore my family and friends!! It’s very friendly over there so come and say hello!!

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

This is like trying to choose my favourite child!!! It can change from day to day depending on my mood! It is probably The Swimming Pool by Louise Candlish but I’ve just read and loved Never Alone by Elizabeth Haynes and Valentina by Susie Lynes and they are freshest in my mind so I choose them too!

What are you reading just now? 

I’m a third of the way through What Goes Around by Julie Corbin. She’s a favourite of mine and I like to take my time with her books! (August Bank Holiday weekend 2016)

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

Whenever I get a chance during the day, if I can grab an hour after work and before school pick up time then I will! But mainly I’m one of those “yawn! I’m off to bed I’m so tired” types who goes to bed at 9pm then reads till 2am!! I can read a whole book a night if I’m really into it! And it’s kindle in bed so as not to disturb the snoring Scostman and proper books during the day (yes I can read two different books at the same time!!)

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

I have a Facebook page called (strangely enough) My Chestnut Reading Tree Book Blog which posts my reviews daily. But mainly I’m on my WordPress site or I am ALWAYS on Twitter where I can be followed by searching for @jocatrobertson (long story and nothing to do with cats…)

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

I always wanted to be Cathy in Wuthering Heights when I was younger but now that I’m not a melodramatic teenager anymore it would probably have to be Miss Marple!! I do love to solve a good crime!