FUNKY FRIDAY - with Reviewer Kim (the Bookworm) Nash

Sorry for last week's FUNKY FRIDAY hiccup but I'm delighted to report that all is now back on track for the final few weeks of this feature.  Today I'd like you to give a warm welcome to my friend Kim Nash.  Kim has been a massive support to me over the years and it is with great pleasure that I chat to her here.

So Kim, what made you decide to start a book review blog?

When I was young, I always imagined myself having my own book publishing company where I got to read books all day, and say which ones were good enough to publish. If only it was that easy!

I read a book called Spring Affair by the wonderful Milly Johnson, I wrote to Milly and told her how fabulous, motivating and inspirational I found it. It was all about clutter clearing and made me immediately go and clear out my cupboards then look at different aspects of my life.  I suppose that moment was the instigating moment that made me decide to do this blog. I was doing a lot of things I wasn’t enjoying and losing myself in books was my escape.  Milly wrote back to me within an hour to thank me for my comments and I kept in touch with her a few times and suggested my idea to her and she told me to go for it.  She also recommended me to a couple of other authors so I was incredibly lucky to have her support.

Four years on, I have recently given up my job in sales and marketing and have set up on my own providing a marketing and publicity service to authors.  I never thought that this would be possible! I can honestly say that I am finally doing the job I was born to do!

For that, I am eternally grateful to Milly. She is a fabulous author and a wonderful lady and I’ll never be able to thank her enough for her kind words and encouragement.

What type of book keeps you turning the pages and up all night?

A book with a great storyline that I tend to lose myself in.  A book that is written well, where you can relate to the characters and quickly imagine the scenes.  There are so many of this type of book out there.  I am so very lucky to have been introduced to some authors that self-publish and some that are published by famous publishing housing.  There are so many incredible authors in the world and I’m so lucky that my hobby allows me to access to them.

As an avid reader and reviewer, would you ever put pen to paper yourself?

Not admitted this to many people but I absolutely would love to.  I did write something not long after I lost my mom.  My emotions were so raw at the time and I felt that I needed to write it down.  I keep threatening to drag out my old computer and find it and read it again, and maybe send it out to a few people to see what they think, although I know it will bring all those emotions out again.  Maybe one of these days ……

What type of books make you want to chuck them at the wall?

The only type of book that makes me want to throw it at a wall is when I get really frustrated by a storyline and find myself wanting to shout at the characters! I just get too involved.

How do you tactfully say you hated a book? Or do you say it as it is?

I have not yet (fortunately) had this happen! I think I would handle it by saying that it wasn’t the right type of book for me, so I’d rather not write a review.  Some people seem to think that they can read a book, then slag off the author and say they hated it.  Why they would go to that trouble I will never understand.  If they don’t like the book, then why don’t they move on.  Whether they like it or not, that author has put their heart and soul into their “baby” and they deserve respect from their readers.  Some people just need to get over themselves.  I don’t think there has ever been a book since I’ve been reviewing that I’ve never finished!

Is there one book you could read over and over again?

Noooooooooo! I could never read a book again because I’d know the ending! I can’t understand these people who read the end of a book before the beginning. I suppose the only type of book I’d read again would be a self-help that I would refer back to.

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See Kim's reviews on her blog or check out her Twitter or Facebook pages.

* * * NEWSFLASH * * *

This week sees the re-release of my friend Jamie Dougan's steamy football novel, 'Offside!' - it's currently #59 in the Sports section on Amazon for Kindle but don't let that put you off, ladies, it's a saucy romance set in the world of football - go on, give it a go.

The edit of my June release is well under way and I'm itching to get to the joint edit.  I have a stunning cover ready to be worked on and I'm getting just a tad excited.  Details of publication date to follow soon.