Some time ago I created a post where I encouraged readers to ask me questions they thought would be interested to hear answers to. I’d been meaning to finally get a post up doing just that but it kept getting pushed back for various reasons.
Until now that is! Now I get the opportunity to roll out the newest feature here at Galleysmith. For this inaugural posting of Inside the Bloggers Studio I’m going to showcase myself by answering not only the questions posed to me by readers but also some of what will become the regular questions of participants I showcase.
Hold on to your hats! Here we go:
Melanie of Melanie’s Musings asked:
Q: Other than reading, what are some of your favorite hobbies?
M: I love me some television! I’m about as addicted to television as I am to reading. My tastes cover a wide spectrum from Sci-Fi to drama. If you follow me on Twitter you might have heard of a new project that a group of us (@myfriendamy, @beatccr, @skrishna & @awaitinserenity) are working on – a blog about television. I’m super excited about it so keep an eye out for more!
I also enjoy writing tremendously. I tend to write chick-lit best but have recently been contemplating dabbling in the YA genre. I’m still on the fence there though, I think I just need to come up with an original premise that I’d enjoy jumping into.
Kathy of Bermuda Onion’s Weblog asks:
Q: Is there any significance to the name GalleySmith?
M: I don’t know that it is significant in the grand sense but I wanted to create a name that was unique, somewhat relative to the publishing industry, and incorporated my love of reading and writing. We all know what galleys are and the “smith” part is an abbreviation of wordsmithing.
Voila Galleysmith was born!
Nicole of Linus’s Blanket asked:
Q: What’s your favorite meal that you prepare yourself?
M: Oh man…ask anyone who knows me really well and they’ll tell you that I am so**not** a kitchen girl. If by cooking you mean what is my favorite meal to pick up from take-out and bring home then yea, I’m a total master chef! LOL . All joking aside, when forced I do alright with salad, chicken breast and this awesome homemade macaroni and cheese dish my mom taught me how to make.
Lisa of Books on the Brain asked:
Q: What’s under your bed?
M: Dust bunnies! I am actually pretty good about not having loads of stuff under there. Sadly the vacuum only goes so far so I imagine it might be a tad scary under there in sections.
Dawn of She’s Too Fond of Books asks two great questions:
Q1: Why did you start a book blog?
M: This is a great question that has many different answers. I’ve been writing fiction for about 3 years now and I really felt like I was starting to get a tad burnt out but I didn’t want to stop writing entirely. I decided that blogging might give me that creative outlet in a different way. Secondly, I am a **huge** fan of community. I love to gab and connect and hang out with new and interesting people. I thought a book blog would give me that opportunity (and it did in spades!). Lastly, I just love to read. Escaping into a place that doesn’t involve the rush of my everyday life is beyond appealing. Mash it all together and it creates a spark that energizes me.
Q2: Beach vacation or city vacation?
M: A little from column A a little from column B though I think I tend to lean more towards the city. I like the calming effects of the beach and a beach-like community but I’m not a girl who can sit in the sun so I don’t actually go to the beach proper but I like the lifestyle. On the other hand the city is great for the exact opposite reason it moves and shakes and it’s all go, go, go. More times than not there is something to do at any time of the day and a good portion of it may be more culturally inclined. I think ultimately it depends on my mood at the time.
SuziQOregon of Whimpulsive asks:
Q: What are your pet peeves?
M: Oh man, I don’t know that you want me to list it all! haha Only kidding, but I have to admit laziness is not really a favorite of mine. I don’t mean the taking the time to relax kind of laziness but the kind that leaves tasks undone or avoided because a person can’t be bothered. I also have those OCD type of peeves — I always have to have the toilet lid down and get frustrated when someone forgets, I don’t like someone eating in my bed so crumbs get me super annoyed, I get beside myself when people paw at my books without asking first. Things like that.
Rhapsodyinbooks of Rhapsodyinbooks Weblog asked:
Q: With work, blogging, and twittering, when do you get time to read?!!
M: Seriously, I know right? All of us are all over the place aren’t we?
Sadly, if you took a picture of me after work every night it would be the same. Me on the couch with the television remote, the laptop in my lap (Twitter open amongst other things) and a book resting on my chest. I’m a big fan of multi-tasking so I’ll volley back and forth between it all until around 10ish sometimes 11 and then head to bed where I’ll read another chapter or two. Now, don’t tell my boss but sometimes I’ll sneak in a chapter during work too. Oh and I’ll read on my lunch hour if I’m not working through it some times.
In the end, the bulk of my reading happens on the weekends – Friday nights, Saturday and Sunday afternoons into the evening. I try to write early in the morning and afternoon while my motivation levels are higher and my ability to construct coherent thought is more likely.
Trish of Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin’? asked:
Q: What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done?
M: Ok, so I’m going to tell this story and I’ll preface it by saying I was young and stupid and impulsive so don’t hold it against me!
So, when I was 17ish I was dating this boy. LOL, don’t these types of stories always start this way?
No wait, I can’t tell this story here. Incriminating myself in print and all. You’ll have to ask me again in person at the Book Blogger Convention. Just remind me by saying “Hey Michelle tell me about that crazy thing you did to that boy and his car….you know the one where you used your car.” I’ll tell you this right now though…just so you know, I’ve since matured significantly and gained some impulse control.
Now onto the Inside the Blogger’s Studio Questions:
Q: What is your favorite word?
M: Egads! It works in so many different scnearios — surprise, outrage, frustration….it’s so fabulously multifaceted.
Q: What is your least favorite word?
M: As cliched as it may sound I’m not a fan of the word hate. I rarely, if ever, use it. It’s too harsh and other words (you’ll see me use loathe a lot) tend to be more fitting.
Q: What turns you on?
M: Yikes, ummmm isn’t that a little personal? But yea, I’d have to say honesty, loyalty, understanding, compassion….those are pretty big turn ons.
Q: What turns you off?
A: Close mindedness.
Q: What sound or noise do you love?
A: Music — all kinds. With the exception of hard-core metal and gangsta rap I can listen to pretty much anything.
Q: What sound or noise do you hate?
A: Silence
Q: What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
A: Milliondy-billiondy dollar lottery winner! But if that doesn’t work out writer, editor, multi-media expert helping authors (which is the most likely route given my experience).
Q: What profession would you not like to attempt?
A: Anything medical. I’m a **huge** germaphobe and my immune system couldn’t take it.
Q: If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
A: Your family and friends missed you, welcome home.
Q: What is your favorite curse word?
A: I’ve been known to drop the F-bomb on many an occasion.
So there you have it, the very first Inside the Bloggers Studio. I hope you found some of it entertaining.
Next time I’ll be spotlighting Ann-Kat of Today I Read. Ann-Kat holds a special place here at Inside the Bloggers Studio because she is the amazing artist who created the gorgeous banner you see at the top of this post. Make sure you give her some applause she’s done a wonderful job hasn’t she?
Until next time….
It is a tight race between Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen, Arrows of the Queen by Mercedes Lackey or The Eight by Katherine Neville. Any of the three would be safe picks as I’ve had to buy second copies of each because I re-read them so often the originals fell apart.
)
James Lipton I am not….