Connect
Sponsors
Currently Reading
-
Terms
The Book Lady's Blog is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
Reviews and articles posted here are property of The Book Lady's Blog and are not to be posted elsewhere without permission. Please contact me if you wish to post any of my work, or any excerpt thereof, in any other location or format.
Miscellaneous
Meet Bookrageous!
Technical Stuff
Design Credits
Sep
15
BBAW Day 2: An Interview with Michelle of GalleySmith
2009 at 9am Posted by Rebecca Joines Schinsky
So, a while back, I signed up to interview another blogger for BBAW, and I was stoked when I found out that Michelle of the fabulous GalleySmith blog was going to be my partner. In lieu of doing a straight-up interview, we signed on to Google chat last night for the first ever BBAW chatterview. (Chat + interview = chatterview. It’s innovative. I know.)
Now, I love BBAW, and I love meeting other book bloggers, but I am SO NOT CREATIVE when it comes to thinking up questions for interviews like this. Michelle eased all my worries by stating right up front that she’s not good at it, either, so the pressure was off.
Welcome to the most decidedly unexciting (but still very fun) interview you’re going to read today 
Michelle is new to the blogging scene this year, and I’ve been really impressed with how she just jumped right in and got involved. I love her blog and am so excited to share more about her with you today.
We started off chatting about our dogs. And we were having such a great time that we considered making them the focus. We didn’t, but we thought about it. Seriously.
And if you’re wondering who and what the Literazzi are, then you better watch out. Because we’re bringing you the book blogger version of Liz Smith/TMZ/Gossip Girl.
After we finished noodling around and talking about our dogs, we got down to business.
The Warm-Up
Rebecca: So, bookish talk?
Michelle: Bookish talk (and I’ll preface this by saying I stink at the whole making up questions thing)
Rebecca: Oh, thank god. Me too!
Michelle: HA. Think people would hate us if we talked dogs? Because right now I’m thinking it might be better than what are your five favorite books of all time.
Rebecca: There’d probably be a whole lot of “Well, I thought Rebecca and Michelle were pretty cool until that whole weird BBAW interview thing.”
Michelle: “what were they thinking when they spent an hour talking about bassets and cocker spaniels? How does that relate to BBAW?”
Rebecca: “Did they even read books about dogs?” Then we could nominate ourselves for best BBAW interview next year...
The Day Job
Rebecca: Anyway, what do you do?
Michelle: I work for a local University constructing training materials for human resources training. It’s not remotely glamourous and not particularly exciting but it pays the bills really well and gives me the ability to support my really horrifying book addiction.
Michelle: Are you at an indie book store or a major chain?
Rebecca: At a major chain. And it’s not like I’m making the big bucks, either, but the other benefits make it SO worth it.
Okay, now we’re getting bookish!
Rebecca: You seem to have really eclectic taste. Do you have any rules about what you absolutely won’t read?
Michelle:I don’t have rules per se but I struggle with non fiction. The biggest part of reading for me is being able to have that escape. I adore characterization and plotting and just everything about that imaginary world. I tend also to stay away from horror and explicit sex/violence.
Rebecca: So on the scale of reading straight for plot vs. reading for symbolism/deeper meaning, where do you fall?
Michelle: Hmmmm, that is hard. I think I’d likely go 60/40 leaning more towards the frivolity of plot, though I am reading Hate List by Jennifer Brown right now and it is phenomenal.
Rebecca: Haven’t heard of that one…
Michelle: If you’re going to foray into YA for a few hours pick this one up. Its wonderful and I’m only 150 pages into the 400.
[insert the part where Michelle asks me about my favorite characters. You'll have to visit her to get the answers!]
On Favorite Characters:
Rebecca: What about you? Favorite characters?
Michelle: UGH you’re right such a difficult question. That requires the use of my memory (which is soooo bad). But I’d say I’d of recent reads I’d like to revisit Taylor from Marchetta’s Jellicoe Road. She was quite dynamic and had great potential for further development. If I’m thinking classics I love Wharton’s The Buccaneers.
Rebecca: How about this: which 5 literary figures (characters, authors, or any combo thereof) would you want to have over for dinner?
Michelle:Ahhh dinner party with the Hunger Games crew, definitely. Suzanne Collins herself then Katniss, Peeta, Gale and Haymitch would be a hoot. Having a few brews with him would definitely provide endless chuckles.
Rebecca: Good choice! I didn’t even think about them…maybe you could get Katniss drunk and make her choose a team.
Michelle: LOL! Oh I’d totally get her loaded and set her up for some alone time with Peeta. I’d take one for the team and hook up with Gale.
Rebecca: New t-shirt: “Katniss’s Wingwoman!”
Michelle: HA! I love it. Perhaps we could use it as part of our forthcoming project of stalkerazi-dom, which sounds very Dan Brown doesn’t it? The Literazi
Rebecca: OMG, Dan Brown’s next book should be about book blogger conspiracy. Sometimes, it’s so secret that you don’t even know you’re a part of it!
On becoming a reader:
Rebecca: Do you have a bookish background?
Michelle: I actually don’t. I’ve got more degrees than you can shake a stick at (BS in politics, AA in interactive design, MA in teaching and just short of a doctorate in education) but as you can see none of it is literary. I’d totally go back and go English to MFA in creative writing. I’m actually contemplating going back for a library degree now.
Rebecca: So you have those creative skills I lack! What inspired you to start blogging?
Michelle: I don’t know about that but I’ve loved writing since I was a child. Blogging seemed like a natural fit for me. I’d been writing for some time and felt a bit burnt out but didn’t want to get totally out of the habit. So I switched gears from writing fiction to reading more of it and reporting about it.
Rebecca: Tyler Breed suggested [on Twitter] that I ask you to name a book that spurred your obsession with books…so?
Michelle:Is it sad that I was never really obsessed with books until recently? I was a very reluctant reader as a child. I wrote more than read.
Rebecca: That’s very interesting…how did you come to be a reader?
Michelle: About a year ago I got really sick and didn’t have the energy to do anything but read and watch tv. I read three of Kristin Harmel’s books (chick lit) and that got me back into the swing, then I started my blog not long after that and was introduced to The Hunger Games, and it was all over. I was IN for the duration I got excited for books again.
The part where we geek out about The Hunger Games
Rebecca: The Hunger Games = gateway drug
Michelle: Total heroin. But I’m glad for it because it opened me up to a genre of books that I’d never contemplated reading before.
Rebecca: Agreed. I wouldn’t have read those if not for the raving about them in the blogosphere.
Michelle: Me either! I’d not have a clue if it weren’t for Twitter and bloggers.
Break it down for me!
Rebecca: Okay, be honest. You’re sitting in the airport and looking around and what other people are reading….do you judge them based on their selections?
Michelle: YES! Of course I do. I’m not going to play it off like “I would never do that.” We all do. I suspect people do the same to me. I wouldn’t begin to presume that all people like what I like anymore that I would expect to like what they do.
Rebecca: What’s on your list of 5 Books Everyone Should Read (or, Required Reading for Life, as I think of it)?
Michelle: Oh gosh I always feel so frivolous with these questions because I feel like I should focus on the classics like Austen and Wharton and such.
Rebecca: Be frivolous! Do it!
Michelle: But then I think of all the great literature I’ve read recently and my judgement is totally clouded by that goodness. I was actually quite surprised by The Screwed Up Life of Charlie the Second. I read it for the Nerds Heart YA tournament, and it was quite a poignant story of a young gay boy in high school. It’s not my typical read but I really enjoyed it.
Rebecca: There aren’t many of those, especially that are well-done.
Michelle: I would encourage anyone to read it. I’m excited to get to the end of Hate List — it’s about a school shooting. So far it’s delving into the mind of a survivor who we’ve yet to determine either was or wasn’t involved in the plot. Very dynamic.
The Home Stretch
Rebecca: Okay, 2 last questions. 1) If we traded jobs for a day, what book would you be most enthusiastic about handselling to customers? 2) What’s the best part of your BBAW experience so far?
Michelle: If I were hand selling a book I think I’d sell Kristin Harmel’s latest. It’s chicklit but light on the romance. It really was about a journey to self discovery and improvement (though in a lighter tone). I enjoyed it.
[For BBAW] I’ve enjoyed being able to work on a project that really does strive to bring the community closer together. It’s sole purpose in being is to celebrate books and the people who love them. Being able to be part of that at any level is enjoyable but the fact that I got to sit in and participate from an organizational perspective was an honor.
Rebecca: Agreed. Being part of the planning committee really gave it additional weight. For me, the best part (besides the overwhelming love I received today and this delightful quality time with you) has been reflecting on how the community has grown since this time last year and realizing what amazing potential we have to promote the love of reading.
Michelle: That is amazing isn’t it? Long Live BBAW!
I had a fabulous time interviewing Michelle and getting to know her outside the 140-character confines of Twitter. Stop by and visit her today to learn more than you ever wanted to know about me and ask her those burning questions I might have left out.
No related posts.
The pleasure was totally mine! What a great opportunity to gab about all things bookish and the real world!
Keep an eye out for the Literazi DC is crawling with them, haha.
What a great way to conduct the interview! You both are a hoot! Love your creative questions and answers!
That was fun! I really liked it.
I really appreciate the format of this interview. This, on a day where there is nothing but interviews to read. It’s nice to see something different.
I still thought it was fun! I love the conversational aspect. I’m very glad you got back into reading, Michelle!
You two are so much fun! I hope you’re both at BEA and the blogger get together next year!
Great interview and done in such a fun way
What a hoot!! Great interview — and I too hope you’re both at BEA next year.
I had trouble coming up with interview questios as well, and wish I’d thought of your solution!
I can see I’m going to have to read The Hunger Games at some point. I’m glad to see that Michelle enjoyed On the Jellicoe Road, as I loved it and would reccomend it and Melina Marchetta’s other YA books to everyone.
I loved that, great interview. Although you could have geeked out much longer over The Hunger Games
You guys win the award for most unique interview. Basically it sounds like you were chatting over a glass of wine.
Aw! That’s what we forgot! The wine! Next time….
I don’t know what you two were worried about…you’re naturals!
Great interview and I like the chat format. I am already a fan of Michelle’s blog. How can I not enjoy the tastes of a Hunger Games and Italian For Beginners fan?
[...] BBAW Day 2: An Interview with Michelle of GalleySmith [...]
Great interview, and I thought the google chat format worked really well!
What a fantastic interview! You covered a lot of topics and I feel like I got to know both of you a bit.
Refreshing and fun interview!
I love how you two did this! Such a great idea. I loved getting to know Michelle and yourself better. I don’t know how this community survived without her!
a Chatterview – such fun! You should patent the name
Michelle has jumped right in; she’s enthusiastic and energetic … and it’s contagious!
Thanks, Rebecca and Michelle.