Welcome to my world :) Today's spotlight feature is something new, something I think is a lot of fun: the opportunity to "get to know" some of our friends out there in blogland a little bit more. You get to spend a few minutes finding out some interesting things you might not already know about my special guests and fellow friends.
When I came up with the idea, and asked for volunteers, I never thought I'd get many responses. But all these wonderful people came through for me - they must love talking about themselves as much as I do LOL. And I'm completely thrilled about it. I can't wait to post each guest spotlight. And please, if you haven't been contacted yet, believe me, I'm working on it. You will all get your chance :) I want you all to be included.
So without further adieu, let's get started. Take it away Marg!
Stacy: Feel free to tell us about yourself: name, background, etc. Are you a reader/blogger/writer?
My name is Marg, and I live in Melbourne, Australia. I am a reader, and have been since I was a young child, and have been blogging for over 4 and a half years. I am single mum who works full time, so reading and blogging is what I do in my ‘me’ time.
Stacy: Do you have a blog? What is the name/link and how would you describe your blog?
I actually am part of a couple of different blogs. As well as my own blog at Adventures of an Intrepid Reader , I am also part of Historical Tapestry which is a blog that focuses on historical fiction, and just recently I just started the Australian Book Blogger Directory. There are a few different aims with that project. The first is to connect Australian bloggers who might have similar tastes in reading, or similar locations. The second aim is to facilitate blogger meetups, maybe with a view to having a national meet up at some point in the future, and the third is to try and connect with Australian publishers.
At my blog you will find a lot of conversation about books, and reading. I tend to read across a variety of genres so you could find talk about romance, historical fiction, YA, fantasy, reading challenges – a bit of everything really. I tend to have moved away from straight reviews, although I do still have some of those. I co-host the weekly meme, Library Loot, which “encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library”. I also have also cohosted the Virtual Advent Tour for the last four years where people share their holiday traditions with others. That’s become a part of my holiday tradition and usually kicks off on 1 December each year!
Phew! I need to have a lay down just looking at all that! [You are one BUSY woman!]
Stacy: What book(s) are you currently reading? Would you recommend it?
At the moment I am reading For the King by Catherine Delors which is about the investigation into an assassination attempt on Napoleon, and also The Shadowy Horses by Susanna Kearsley. The latter is an author I discovered last year, and I just love her books. Within reading the first two pages of the first book I read by her, which was The Winter Sea (also published as Sophia’s Secret), I knew I would love her writing, and I haven’t been disappointed yet! This one is a timeslip novel about an archeologist who goes to Scotland to try to find a lost Roman legion and once again I find myself immersed in the world that Kearsley has created.
Stacy: What is your most anticipated soon to be released book?
At this stage, I would say it is probably Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins which is due out in October. It’s YA dystopia and I can’t wait to read it and see what happens! I am also looking forward to Faithful Place by Tana French (she writes gritty mysteries set in Dublin) and the next Lisa Kleypas novel Love in the Afternoon (despite the fact that I still haven’t read Married by Morning yet).
Stacy: What's playing nonstop on your iPod rotation right now?
At the moment there is a lot of Powderfinger. They came to prominence in Australia in the late 1990s when I lived in the UK, and I never really got the attraction until I recently started listening to them and thought wow, they are good! Of course, I figured that out just as they announced they were breaking up!
The other albums I listened to a lot recently have been Keith Urban (http://www.keithurban.net/) – just love his music. He is one of the few artists I will go and buy the album straight away without waiting for a couple of singles first. [LOVE Keith Urban!]
My most recent obsession is English band Mumford and Sons . I have been listening to their album, Sigh no More, for about six months now and it still feels fresh.
Stacy: What are your favorite places to visit online?
I would be lying to myself if I didn’t say Twitter! (http://twitter.com/MargReads) I resisted joining for so long because I was worried about adding another time suck into my computer time, but I really love it! Lots of good conversations, and getting to know other bloggers better has been awesome.
I also enjoy spending time at Historical Fiction Online although I have been neglecting it for a while now). This is a forum for historical fiction lovers and has a great mix of readers and authors.
Stacy: What are some of your favorite things: beverage? food? t.v. show?
If you want to find your way into my heart then cheesecake or cupcakes are probably the way to go!
Stacy: Which hottie out there is to die for?
Now that’s an easy one! The one, and only, Richard Armitage! I have been obsessing over him for a couple of years now, and I don’t see that abating any time soon! For a little while there I was so obsessed that I only would watch Richard Armitage DVDs on my DVD player, and it broke when I finally tried to play something else. Many of my friends knew of my not so secret obsession, to the point that one of them made this picture for me for Valentine’s Day a couple of years ago. I actually don’t think I have posted this before even on my blog (so you have an exclusive!)
Stacy: Favorite restaurant?
That one where I am with Richard, which I presume is in some small English village somewhere. When I am not living in dream land, I really love seafood, so give me some prawns, or some fish, and I am one happy girl.
My name is Marg, and I live in Melbourne, Australia. I am a reader, and have been since I was a young child, and have been blogging for over 4 and a half years. I am single mum who works full time, so reading and blogging is what I do in my ‘me’ time.
Stacy: Do you have a blog? What is the name/link and how would you describe your blog?
I actually am part of a couple of different blogs. As well as my own blog at Adventures of an Intrepid Reader , I am also part of Historical Tapestry which is a blog that focuses on historical fiction, and just recently I just started the Australian Book Blogger Directory. There are a few different aims with that project. The first is to connect Australian bloggers who might have similar tastes in reading, or similar locations. The second aim is to facilitate blogger meetups, maybe with a view to having a national meet up at some point in the future, and the third is to try and connect with Australian publishers.
At my blog you will find a lot of conversation about books, and reading. I tend to read across a variety of genres so you could find talk about romance, historical fiction, YA, fantasy, reading challenges – a bit of everything really. I tend to have moved away from straight reviews, although I do still have some of those. I co-host the weekly meme, Library Loot, which “encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library”. I also have also cohosted the Virtual Advent Tour for the last four years where people share their holiday traditions with others. That’s become a part of my holiday tradition and usually kicks off on 1 December each year!
Phew! I need to have a lay down just looking at all that! [You are one BUSY woman!]
Stacy: What book(s) are you currently reading? Would you recommend it?
At the moment I am reading For the King by Catherine Delors which is about the investigation into an assassination attempt on Napoleon, and also The Shadowy Horses by Susanna Kearsley. The latter is an author I discovered last year, and I just love her books. Within reading the first two pages of the first book I read by her, which was The Winter Sea (also published as Sophia’s Secret), I knew I would love her writing, and I haven’t been disappointed yet! This one is a timeslip novel about an archeologist who goes to Scotland to try to find a lost Roman legion and once again I find myself immersed in the world that Kearsley has created.
Stacy: What is your most anticipated soon to be released book?
At this stage, I would say it is probably Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins which is due out in October. It’s YA dystopia and I can’t wait to read it and see what happens! I am also looking forward to Faithful Place by Tana French (she writes gritty mysteries set in Dublin) and the next Lisa Kleypas novel Love in the Afternoon (despite the fact that I still haven’t read Married by Morning yet).
Stacy: What's playing nonstop on your iPod rotation right now?
At the moment there is a lot of Powderfinger. They came to prominence in Australia in the late 1990s when I lived in the UK, and I never really got the attraction until I recently started listening to them and thought wow, they are good! Of course, I figured that out just as they announced they were breaking up!
The other albums I listened to a lot recently have been Keith Urban (http://www.keithurban.net/) – just love his music. He is one of the few artists I will go and buy the album straight away without waiting for a couple of singles first. [LOVE Keith Urban!]
My most recent obsession is English band Mumford and Sons . I have been listening to their album, Sigh no More, for about six months now and it still feels fresh.
Stacy: What are your favorite places to visit online?
I would be lying to myself if I didn’t say Twitter! (http://twitter.com/MargReads) I resisted joining for so long because I was worried about adding another time suck into my computer time, but I really love it! Lots of good conversations, and getting to know other bloggers better has been awesome.
I also enjoy spending time at Historical Fiction Online although I have been neglecting it for a while now). This is a forum for historical fiction lovers and has a great mix of readers and authors.
Stacy: What are some of your favorite things: beverage? food? t.v. show?
If you want to find your way into my heart then cheesecake or cupcakes are probably the way to go!
Stacy: Which hottie out there is to die for?
Now that’s an easy one! The one, and only, Richard Armitage! I have been obsessing over him for a couple of years now, and I don’t see that abating any time soon! For a little while there I was so obsessed that I only would watch Richard Armitage DVDs on my DVD player, and it broke when I finally tried to play something else. Many of my friends knew of my not so secret obsession, to the point that one of them made this picture for me for Valentine’s Day a couple of years ago. I actually don’t think I have posted this before even on my blog (so you have an exclusive!)
Stacy: Favorite restaurant?
That one where I am with Richard, which I presume is in some small English village somewhere. When I am not living in dream land, I really love seafood, so give me some prawns, or some fish, and I am one happy girl.
Stacy: What is your idea of a romantic gesture from your sweetie?
I haven’t had a sweetie for a very long time now, so right now, just coming home to someone at night and getting a hug, or holding hands sound romantic right about now.
Stacy: What would people be surprised to learn about you?
Once upon a time I was quite adventurous. I loved the thrill rides at theme parks, went bungee jumping and white water rafting in New Zealand, and traveled around Europe by myself, before settling in the UK for five years.
These days I am much more boring and sensible and do things like pay the mortgage and constantly hand out money for my son so I have to do my traveling armchair style, and live vicariously through others.
One of the legacies of living in the UK is an appreciation for soccer, so I got up at 4.30am during the World Cup to watch Australia play. We won’t talk about the results though!
Thanks for inviting me to do this Stacy. Now, I think I will go and watch something with RA in it!
Thank YOU, Marg! It's been a real pleasure. And I'm glad I got to know a bit more about you too :) And yes, I think we all should go watch something with Richard Armitage in it ;)
Labels: guest blogger, online friends
posted by Stacy~ at 6/15/2010 07:31:00 AM
Excellent feature Stacy and wonderful getting to know Marg!
byWow, I'm so impressed with her reading interests and blogging activities.
Great to find another new to me blogger who lives on the other side of the world!
Great feature Stacy :) You've been traveling through Europe?! Oh wow, that does sound very adventurous. Have you been to many countries before settling in the UK for all those years?
byOh go figure, Richard took me to the exact same restaurant ;)
byNice new feature Stacy.
Great feature, Stacy!
byIt's great to know you better, Marg :)
This is a cool new feature! Nice to get to know other bloggers :)
byGreat interview and awesome picture of you and Richard.
byThanks for letting me be your first guest!
byIt's always good to find new bloggers Lea and Maija!
Leontine, I've been a bit over the place! We'll have to discuss at some point on Twitter! lol
What. Richard wouldn't two time with you, Blodeuedd and definitely not at the same restaurant. That's our special place! ;-)
Thanks Lori and Katiebabs!
Great interview Stacy & Marg!
byLove the picture of you and Richard.
That was fun!
byLove the pic! It was great getting to know a bit more about Marg.
by--Anna
Great feature Stacy and a wonderful post Marg!
byI have to say that Keith Urban's "Raining on Sunday" is one of my favorite country songs and its one of those songs that can (and does) get stuck in my head for days. I love it.
It's been great getting to know more about you and the blogs you post on.
:o)
MsM
Great feature and lovely to get to know you Marg! And commiserations on the football. Was rapt at the result of the first game we (NZ) played, but we're playing Italy next (the World Champions)...
byWhat a lovely spotlight, Stacy, and Marg, it was fun getting to know the real you just a bit.
byLove your humor!
That picture is hilarious! Marg, you are too cute.
byI've been reading Marg's blog now for just about as long as she's been posting in it. Isn't that crazy?
Great interview, Stacy!
I’ve lately began a blog, the data you provide on this site has helped me tremendously. Thank you for your whole time & work.
by