Tina Avon
I am a fortysomething Canadian who has loved to read since I was
6. I started reading French books and then progressed, at the age
of
10, to reading English books - which, of course,
offered me a whole
new world to discover. My mother always tells this story of my love
of reading. When
I was 10, my mother would watch me walk back from school, constantly
worried that I would get hit by a car or a bus, because I would be
reading and walking at the same time - and NOTHING could distract me
from the printed page . and.....20 years
later.... When I was 30, my mother would watch me (sometimes)
walk back from
work, constantly worried that I would get hit by a car or a bus,
because I would be reading and walking at the same time - and NOTHING
could distract me from the printed page.... So, reading is in my
blood! which is odd since neither of my parents
are readers.
I use to read only fiction, but in the last 5 to 9 years, I have
discovered how great non fiction can be and have read quite alot of the
genre. My personal passion still remains chick lit, but I also
love a
great thriller, as well as books on addiction and recovery, YA,
cookbooks, personal finance books and memoirs. The only genres I
really do not enjoy are: westerns, sci-fi and fantasy.
Mary
Aycock
Many people have a specific time in their memories, can
pinpoint when
and where they learned to read. I don’t have a specific time or place
in my history that said “This is the moment” since I cannot remember
NOT reading. When I was in Elementary School I begged my older brother,
who was in Junior High School at the time, to check out books for me to
read since I felt I had read anything of interest in grade school. He
used to get razzed for checking out some of the books that his friends
thought were “kinda girly.” He has long since forgiven me.
I am a transplanted Arkansan, by way of California, but originally
from Colorado. Having spent over 61 years in the world, I still feel
that there are not enough hours in the day to read all the books I want
to read! Maybe if I didn’t have to WORK I would have more time to read!
Think I can really get away with something like that? Nah, I didn’t
think so either! So, I will just continue on as I have been…reading
every chance I get and loving every minute of it!
Carianne
Carleo-Evangelist
Carianne Carleo-Evangelist is a 2001 graduate of Nazareth College in
Rochester, New York where she majored in Economics and International
Studies with concentrations in Spanish and History. A traveller from a
young age, she took her first overseas trip to Spain in 1996 and
followed that love of travel once she graduated, living in Japan twice,
Australia and Spain. In addition to the extended overseas trips, she
has also enjoyed shorter times in Fiji, the Czech Republic, Austria,
Canada and England. She is now studying for her Masters of Science in
Tourism and Travel Management with a concentration in Tourism
Development at NYU.
This love of travel has spurred a keen interest in travelogues and
cultural non-fiction, whether they be of the author's experiences in
his or her home country or written by someone who has travelled and
wants to share the experience. Recently, she has uncovered a passion
for reading books by those who are seeing the United States through a
foreigner's eyes. There is just something special about seeing a
country, whether it be one you know intimately or one you've never even
thought of, through the eyes of someone else.
Apart from this primary interest, Carianne also enjoys getting lost in
good historical books, memoirs, mysteries or good fluffy fiction,
though school takes up far too much of her reading time. In addition
to her loves of travel and reading, Carianne also has a passion for
languages, computers, photography, writing and her beloved New York
Yankees. For more info on her travels both literary and gobally
go to
her site.
Betty Gelean
I was born in 1940 in Vancouver B.C. as a 5th generation in British
Columbia, the first one of my B.C. ancestors arrived the same year that
British Columbia existed, 1858. Although I was raised in Vancouver, I
am a small-town girl at heart, and now retired, my husband and I live
in northern B.C. and love it. I have been a reader as long as I can
remember; I read to 3 of my 4 younger brothers, my children, and my
grandchildren. I worked at the University of British Columbia for the
last 15 years before I retired as an division assistant to some 20+
professors. My interests are varied from reading and reviewing,
wildlife, fishing (salt water & ice-fishing), music, museums,
travel by car. I’m a "wannabe" writer without a story, so I find
reviewing books a way of dealing with that hunger. I have 3 children
and 4 grandchildren.
My particular interest is mysteries of almost all genres, but also read
a great variety of books both fiction and non-fiction. I even enjoy
young adult and children’s stories. I'm fascinated by forensics,
archaeology/anthropology, medical, and some humour in my books, mystery
or otherwise; in fact about the only ones I don’t really read for
pleasure are modern romance stories.
Many of my reviews are posted on my blog
R&B:
Read & Blog
Suasan
Helene Gottfried
Susan Helene Gottfried began reading at an early age, and fell in love
with rock and roll shortly after. As a way to meld the two, she writes
fiction about rock stars and the people who help make it all possible:
roadies, radio people, promoters. She is currently shopping her first
novel, Trevor's Song, and can be found online at
http://www.westofmars.com or, for
a more interactive experience, at her blog,
http://westofmars.blogspot.com
(We even have a great interview with Susan
here!)
Charity R.
Bartley Howard
I’ve always had the dream of becoming an author someday,
particularly for children and youth, and reading has been another
interest.
I’ve written poems and stories from the time I learned to read and
write. I knew a career dealing with these elements was the only choice
for me. I started at my high school newspaper, moved to college
publications and then local newspapers becoming a Lifestyles Editor.
I’ve written human interest and feature stories as well as a variety of
reviews from books to musicals.
I enjoy a variety of genres but, children’s-themes, fantasy,
mystery/thriller and spiritual would be my top favorites.
As a Hoosier (Indiana native and resident), I enjoy the outdoors and I
am a family-oriented person. I am happy to still live near my immediate
family and now have a family of my own with a preschooler son and an
infant son.
A.E.
Jaskiewicz
Children’s
Literature is my one true passion in life. I love reading it,
writing it, and reviewing it.
I have a Media Communications degree from Webster University, and I
graduated from The Institute For Children’s Literature, where I studied
under award winning author Kirby Larson. I live in Missouri,
which is also where I was born and raised. My favorite types of
books are picture books, and middle grade or young adult books that are
either funny or scary. When not reading or writing, I will most
likely be exercising, shopping or spending time with my family and
friends.
I have had one middle grade novel, Hickory and the Big Clock,
published. If you're interested in checking it out, you can find
it at
bn.com
Araminta Star Matthews
Araminta holds both Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Creative
Writing. She currently teaches creative, professional, and
college writing for the Maine Community College System, and women's
studies for Central Maine College of Nursing. In addition to
educating, she is a freelance writer for various creative and
professional publications and, oddly enough, various catering
companies. In her spare time, she produces non-profit, social
justice theater to raise money and awareness about climate changes and
catastrophes, domestic and sexual violence, and gender identity.
She lives in warm and fuzzy Maine with her overly plump cat, Pandora,
and her life partner, Abner.
James
P. Melcher
Jim Melcher is
Associate
Professor of Political Science at the University of Maine at Farmington
in
Farmington, Maine, where he has taught since 1999.
A native of Madison, Wisconsin, he is a
graduate of the University of Wisconsin and the University of
Minnesota, where
he received his Ph.D. in 1995. He has won six teaching awards,
including two at
UMF. His book reviews appear in several scholarly journals, and include
reviews
of The Anarchist: A Novel, American Elites and
The
Strange Deaths of President Harding.
He has also published his own writing in such journals as PS:
Political Science and Politics, Journal of Economics and
Politics, American
Review of Politics and The Southern Maine Review. He has
been listed
in Who’s Who in America and is an active member of the
Bookcrossing
community. He and his wife, Nancy Finnegan, live in Augusta, Maine.
Ashley
(Denis) Merrill
Ashley A. Merrill (maiden name is Denis)
I’ve been considered the “odd” child my whole life. In every
picture you will ever see of me, from when I am the age of two, until
now, I
have a book in my hand. I carry one in my purse everywhere I go just in
case
I’ll have time to read a page or two! Odd, I know. I figure if I
haven’t broken
that habit now at the age of 22, I my as well come to peace with it and
push
ahead!
I am a recent graduate of the
University
of Maine at
Farmington
with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. I am currently employed
as a residential crisis worker. I
work in the adult crisis houses in
Waterville
and
Augusta, as well as
the kid’s
crisis unit in Winslow.
I am interested in every genre of books, except
political
and religious; I leave those subjects up to my husband to deal with! I
also
love to write, so being a reviewer just plain fits!
Catch up with me on my blog-
Ashley's Booktopia.
Jenny Salyers
She has been reading as
long as she can remember. She was the older kid that read the younger
kids their library books on the bus while going to school. She is
currently a perpetual student with the goal of some day being able to
introduce the joy of literature to young children as they learn to read.
Jenny Reviews for Front Street Reviews, Armchair Interviews and
occasionally for the HarperCollins FirstLook program. You can see what
sorts of books she has been reading on her blog, Confessions of a Literary
Persuasion.
Mary Lydon
Simonsen
I grew up in North Jersey
before they
paved it and had access to all of New York City’s
great attractions. When I married 30+
years ago, I unknowingly agreed to crisscrossing the country with my
husband,
Paul: New Jersey,
Texas, Maryland,
and Arizona, which is
where I
plan to stay because our two daughters and granddaughter live here.
I have a few years of college, but I am largely
self-educated.
I go from reading about
the Air War in
Europe in World War II to Pride
and
Prejudice to mysteries.
For four months,
I came close to not reading anything at all because I decided, at the
age of
50, that I needed to take an algebra course.
Before children, I worked as a legal secretary; after children,
I worked
as Special Education assistant before retiring to write the Great
American/British/Irish novel.
In 2007, I published my first novel,
Pemberley
Remembered.
During the winter, I
worked on the book in
the Valley of the Sun.
When the
temperatures hit the triple digits, I loaded up the thumb drive with
the latest
draft and headed to the High Country near
Flagstaff
where we have a summer home.
At present,
I am writing a sequel.
Stay tuned.
www.pemberleyremembered.com
Sabrina
Williams
I'm a full-time retail manager, full-time homeschooling mother,
full-time wife, and full-time student. Most importantly, I'm a
full-time reader! My passion for reading has led me to the review
world. I've written for Amazon and First Look previously. My mother
inspired a book addiction in me, and I've never been able to control
it. I love sharing good literature with my family and I love the hunt
to find good literature. I'm a bit of a nonfiction nerd, but nothing
is off-limits around me. The scarier and more controversial, the
better!
More reviews can be found at
Breeni Books too!
Past Reviewers