Quick Questions with a Cannonballer: BlackRaven

How many times have you participated in CBR? Has it changed the way you read?

This is my first CBR. A friend (who has participated in the past) recommended you to me. The change in my reading is I found a few books I never would have read on my own. I may or may not have liked them, but I did enjoy the experience. I also want to read more so I can recommend LOTS more books (as books are a passion of mine…. it’s my only real addiction. And chocolate. And cake. And alligator wrestling).

All the young adult and children’s books, and your bio says you’re a “fun & crazy kid.” Inquiring minds want to know…are you really 12? Two tiny readers in a trench coat disguise, both furiously typing away?

Physically or mentally 12? ‘Cause mentally I’m probably actually 12.5 (gotta remember that half….) But age is just a number and mine is unlisted. I passed twelve about three decades ago but never grew up. I spent years working in a children’s department at the independent bookstore in my town (my specialty was middle and teen reads). I have nephews/nieces/cousins who keep me young. Besides life is too short to wear matching socks or not read something “not traditional” for my “physical age” range. Besides, I always liked acting my shoe size and not my age. Plus I have always felt that if you get a child to become a reader, you’ll have an adult reader later. And you need to promote fun books, not just the classics or what won an award. And even though I no longer work on the sales floor, children’s/young adult books just fascinate me. There are subjects never even thought of when I was growing up, so I like seeing the transformation of books.

458 reviews! Are you going to take a break next year and go for a half Cannonball, or sign up for a googolplex of Cannonballs?

I never meant to get that far! I expected a Cannonball and that would be it. But I didn’t realize how much fun this was going to be. I was born with a book in hand (my mother was very uncomfortable) and I haven’t stopped reading since. I might slow down next year. This years goal was to see how many books I could read and how many reviews I could do. Just a personal challenge that Frankensteined on me

What’s your least favorite book-to-movie adaptation?

How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell was my least favorite BTM (book-to-movie). The book is a delicious treat and a fond reading memory of my childhood. But the movie was in bad taste and left me craving more. Next time writers want to cook up a BTM, they really need to talk to us fans. We know what spices up a good BTM.

What’s the first book you recommend to new friends?

Once we turn to books my bookseller kicks in. I usually either find out what they like or will say what the last one I read was. However, most likely right now I’m going to recommend Button Poetry books or Helene Tursten’s An Elderly Lady Is Up to No Good, or Heather L. Montgomery’s Something Rotten: A Fresh Look at Roadkill. People look at me like I have five heads (I’m sure there is only two, but I was an English major for a reason, I might have miscounted) when I tell them there is a funny book about roadkill.

How do you choose what you read next?

Usually whatever book is calling my name nicely is the one I pick up next.

Eggnog or pumpkin spice lattes?

Actually neither…..I’m a hot chocolate kinda of girl. But if you have a pumpkin whoopie pie, I’ll be your best friend.