Portobello Book Blog

I’m delighted to be joined by Sharon from Chapter in my Life today. I met Sharon for the first time recently at Noir at the Bar in Edinburgh and it was lovely to be able to finally say hello in real life.

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

Hi Joanne! I’m Sharon and I stay just outside of Glasgow, I’m a Bookaholic and I’m proud of it! I’ve not long entered my 50s and through blogging I’ve found a new lease of life and a tribe of likeminded people I am proud to call my friends! Besides reading, I work as a manager of an Independent Advocacy Service in the third sector; I have 2 grown up kids and an adorable golden Labrador called Cooper. I am an avid fan of crime fiction/psychological thrillers and in particular Scottish Crime Fiction. My spare time is spent attending Book Festivals and launches and I’ve recently been lucky enough to have been asked to moderate and chair some book panels. Books really are a huge part of my life! Oh, and I also like to dress up as a crime scene in my spare time 😉

 

What books/authors did you enjoy as a child?

Enid Blyton books, like many my age, were my staple diet as a child but as soon as I was able to blag access to the adult library then I devoured Agatha Christie, Stephen King and Dean R Koontz books; murder and horror have always played a huge part in my life!

What do you enjoy most about blogging?

Is ‘everything’ a wide enough answer? Seriously I love everything about blogging from the brilliant people I’ve met through my hobby, readers, bloggers, authors, publishers – I’ve created a whole new world for myself and it is amazing! Reading so many great books and access to proof copies; seeing my quote on a book or an advert for a book is jaw droppingly awesome! Taking part in blog tours and being able to share the book love with others and most of all when someone says they have gone on to buy and read a book based on my review. WOW! Oh, and how can I forget, through blogging I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to be a “Bookseller for a Day” with Blackwell in Edinburgh and fulfilled a lifelong ambition to be a bookseller. What a brilliant day I had, I loved every minute of it!

Tell me about your blog – sell yourself!

My blog is called Chapterinmylife; I review Crime Fiction and Psychological Thrillers and in particular support Scottish Crime Fiction; I do sometimes tip toe outside of my reading comfort zone and review other genres so it isn’t all crime (but it is mostly!) I also cover book events with blog posts about the sessions. Each year I also run a week long feature to coincide with Book Week Scotland and feature guest posts from Scottish authors. My reviews, I hope, are down to earth and appealing to the everyday reader, no fancy dan, high falutin language from me. I talk about what works for me in a book, how the characters engage with me, the sense of place and how a book makes me feel.  I never give spoilers! Come over and have a wee look!

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

OMG, that’s like asking me to choose my favourite child! No can do! But I will narrow it down to 3 just for you! 1. Hydra by Matt Wesolowski; Mother from S.E Lynes and the Huntress series for Alexandra Sokoloff (ok I know, I cheated with that last one but the whole series needs to be read!)

 

                   

What are you reading just now? 

I’m currently reading “Anything You Do Say” from Gillian McAllister (Jan 2018) and seriously folks, you want a good read, gripping and intelligent – then buy this one now!

If you were on Desert Island Discs, what one book would you take with you?

One book, you are kidding right? Can I cheat and say that I’d take my kindle! If I can’t say that then today I’m plumping for The Reaper from Steven Dunne, absolute TOP series and author that does not get the credit he deserves.

Is there a book you’d like to see made into a film? Who would be in your dream cast?

I’d love to see Alexandra Sokoloff’s Huntress series and Steph  Broadribb’s Lori Anderson series made into films. I am hopeless at film stars though so no idea who would be casted!

                               

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

You can follow my blog over on https://chapterinmylife.wordpress.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sharonlovesbooks/

Twitter: @sbairden

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

I think right now, today, I’d want to be Cara Lindstrom from the Alexandra Sokoloff series. I know she has had a tough life and things are not that great for her but she is an icon for women who have been abused and boy would I have fun being a serial killer!