{"id":243,"date":"2008-09-16T00:01:14","date_gmt":"2008-09-16T04:01:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.amberstults.com\/?p=243"},"modified":"2011-09-11T12:06:55","modified_gmt":"2011-09-11T16:06:55","slug":"meet-book-blogger-jen-forbus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.amberstults.com\/?p=243","title":{"rendered":"Meet Book Blogger – Jen Forbus"},"content":{"rendered":"

I’m pleased to introduce you to Jen Forbus of Jen’s Book Thoughts<\/a>.\u00c2\u00a0 Her blog is on the shortlist for Best Thriller\/Mystery\/Suspense Blog for this year’s Book Blogger Appreciation Week Awards.\u00c2\u00a0 (On Thursday we’ll find out if she won!)\u00c2\u00a0 I had the opportunity to interview\u00c2\u00a0Jen as part of the week’s festivities.\u00c2\u00a0 Jen lives in Ohio and is pictured here with author Michael Koryta<\/a>.\u00c2\u00a0 This was a fun interview and I hope you enjoy it!<\/p>\n

\"Jen<\/a>
Jen and author Michael Koryta<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

Amber: Do you have any reading quirks?\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>(For example, once I find an author I like I find it difficult to read their books out of order.)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Jen Forbus:<\/strong> If I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m reading in a series, I definitely have to read it in order.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>There have been a couple series I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve tried to read out of order because I couldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t get access to the books in order.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>It just isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t the same.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I NEVER read the last page until I actually get there.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Amber: Do you have any reading quirks?\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>(For example, once I find an author I like I find it difficult to read their books out of order.)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Jen Forbus:<\/strong> If I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m reading in a series, I definitely have to read it in order.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>There have been a couple series I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve tried to read out of order because I couldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t get access to the books in order.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>It just isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t the same.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I NEVER read the last page until I actually get there.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I have a tendency to mark in pencil passages that really stand out to me for one reason or another.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>Obviously I can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t do that when I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m reading a loaner book, but I will use post-it notes for those!\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>This helps a lot for reviewing, too.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I only have one physical book going at a time.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>I won\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t start another one until I finish the first.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>I will, however, have an audio book in my car and one on my mp3 player.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Amber: Where is your favorite place to read?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Jen Forbus:<\/strong> Anyplace I can open my book and read without distraction is wonderful.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>I always have a book with me.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In the summer I love to read out on my porch swing.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m also fond of curling up on my sofa with my books.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Amber: Who was your first favorite author, and why? Do you still consider him or her among your favorites?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Jen Forbus:<\/strong> Beverly Cleary was definitely one of my first favorites.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>I loved Ramona and Ralph and Henry.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>I guess I would still consider her among my favorites; definitely still a sentimental favorite.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>I now read her books with my seven-year-old niece.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Amber: Have you noticed your favorite books are more plot driven or character driven?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Jen Forbus:<\/strong> Definitely character driven.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>No doubt about that.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>Almost every review I do will highlight character strengths.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s rare for a book to have strong characters and then have the plot fall flat.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>When there are great characters, they dictate a great plot.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>Tim Hallinan wrote a blog post about his writing resolutions.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>One of those resolutions said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Follow my characters rather than trying to push them around like chess pieces. Remember that plot is what characters do, not a box to jam them into.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>Books that follow that mantra are the ones I enjoy the most.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Amber: Do you now or have you ever belonged to a book club?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Jen Forbus:<\/strong> Not exactly.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>I have an account on Goodreads, and through Goodreads I met a woman who leads a mystery book group in <\/span>California<\/span>.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>They have \u00e2\u20ac\u0153remote members.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>We all get the list of books for each month and can send our comments about them in.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t, however, get the joy of attending the meetings.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been on the lookout for such a group in my area, but haven\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t had much luck finding one.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>The local libraries have some book discussion groups, but they aren\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t specialized \u00e2\u20ac\u201c the books are a sampling of all genres.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Amber: How big is your TBR pile?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Jen Forbus:<\/strong> My TBR pile is absolutely absurd.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>I actually recently posted about it and the process I use to determine what I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m going to read next.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>I said that I had three large boxes, plus overflow, plus a list of books I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t own personally.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>Turned out, I underestimated what I have; I have FOUR large boxes, overflow, and a list of books I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t own personally.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s well in excess of 200 books, probably closer to 300.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>And with blogging, I receive so many great recommendations that it keeps growing every day.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>I can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t read as fast as it grows.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Amber: Do you review every book you read?\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>If not, does a book need to meet certain criteria?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Jen Forbus:<\/strong> I try to review every book I read now.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>I didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t before I started blogging.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>I looked back on some of my early entries in Goodreads and couldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t believe the comments I put in.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>I thought, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Really, this is all I wrote about this book?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>The only reason I wouldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t review a book now is if I didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t have time right after I read the book, and by the time I got to, I didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t feel I remembered it detailed enough to review it.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Amber: What is the best feedback or comment you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve received on a book review?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Jen Forbus:<\/strong> The best thing a reader can say to me (for my ego) is, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m going to go read this book.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>That is the greatest joy for me as a book blogger.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>The reason I blog about books is to share my excitement about them.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>So when others get as excited as me about a book, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m over the moon.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Constructively, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve had several readers and some authors tell me they enjoyed the excerpts I pulled out in my reviews.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Whatever I do, I try to support my conclusions.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>I won\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t just say, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153these are great characters\u00e2\u20ac\u009d or \u00e2\u20ac\u0153this is a strong plot.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>I illustrate why I thought they were great characters or outline what made the plot strong. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Amber: What do you enjoy most about book blogging?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Jen Forbus:<\/strong> I guess I answered this a little in #8.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>I love books.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>And I love discussing books with other people.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>I taught high school English for several years and was discussing books in my job.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>Of course the discussion participants were forced to be there.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>Blogging about books fills that void that leaving the classroom created; plus, the folks that come to read WANT to be there.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve met a number of great people through the blog who share my book interests.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>I wouldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t have had a chance to know them otherwise.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Amber: In addition to writing book reviews you also conduct author interviews.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>What do you find most rewarding about author interviews?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Jen Forbus:<\/strong> This summer was my foray into author interviews.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>I wanted to do something different on my blog, so I reached out to some of my favorite writers.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>I discovered that mystery\/suspense\/crime fiction writers are some of the nicest, most generous people around.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>I sent out seven invitations, had six writers agree to interviews and picked up a seventh volunteer.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For me it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a great experience to learn a bit more about the writers I admire.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve even built a couple new friendships along the way.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>But, in addition, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve received a lot of great feedback from readers through comment posts and e-mails.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>My readers really enjoy the opportunity to know these writers better as well.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>And of course, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s most rewarding when a reader says he\/she\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s going to read one of the author\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s books because of the interview.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Amber: Which five books do you recommend to everyone you know?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Jen Forbus:<\/strong> I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t really have five that I recommend to everyone.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>I do feel every American should read The Audacity of Hope<\/em> given that Barack Obama is running for president.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>I think everyone should hear him through his own words, written prior to his pursuit of the White House.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>But\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m talking to a mystery\/suspense reader, I definitely recommend Michael Koryta\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s four novels.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>I recommend Tim Hallinan\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s The Fourth Watcher<\/em>, Thomas <\/span>Holland<\/span>\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s two novels (One Drop of Blood, K.I.A.<\/em>), and anything by Alafair Burke, Lisa Unger, or Craig Johnson. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Outside of the mystery\/suspense genre, A Prayer for Owen Meany<\/em> is one of my favorites, as is most anything by Pat Conroy.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>With my English lit background, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m also a fan of a lot of classics:\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>Pride and Prejudice, Huck Finn, A Tale of Two Cities, To Kill a Mockingbird, Great Gatsby<\/em>, any of Shakespeare\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s plays, One Flew Over the Cuckoo\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Nest<\/em>\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6you get the idea.\u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

But, it’s all dependent on the reader I’m recommending to.\u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I’m pleased to introduce you to Jen Forbus of Jen’s Book Thoughts.\u00c2\u00a0 Her blog is on the shortlist for Best Thriller\/Mystery\/Suspense Blog for this year’s Book Blogger Appreciation Week Awards.\u00c2\u00a0 (On Thursday we’ll find out if she won!)\u00c2\u00a0 I had the opportunity to interview\u00c2\u00a0Jen as part of the week’s festivities.\u00c2\u00a0 Jen lives in Ohio and… Continue reading Meet Book Blogger – Jen Forbus<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[32,86],"class_list":["post-243","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-event","tag-book-blogger-appreciation-week","tag-interview","entry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t