I’ve been an avid reader since, well, according to
my
parents around three years of age. I’ve
been a critic almost as long. “Mom, why
did they kill Bambi’s mommy, this book is bad!”
My favorite genres are science fiction, fantasy, horror,
and
mystery/thriller, but I will read almost anything that isn’t nailed
down from
non-fiction to contemporary romance.
The
only genre I just can’t get into is historical romance.
Life
as a bibliophile can be trying at times, when you
can’t
find any of the copies of the one book you want to read next out of the
thousands in your library, but I’d be lost without my books.
I’ve carried some of them around, unread,
since college.
Eighteen months working
at the flagship Half Price Books was one of the most exciting and
fulfilling
jobs I’ve ever held.
As far as reviewing is
concerned, I submitted my first
review for public consumption to Amazon.com in 1997.
I wrote up a few after that, but only started
seriously considering myself a reviewer in 2005.
I
was a juror for Elle Magazine in March
2006, and I’ve had a couple appear for Harper Collins First Look.
I was delighted when offered a staff reviewer
position on Front Street Reviews.
When I’m not reading, I find myself computer gaming,
knitting, cross-stitching or gardening.
My husband and I bought our dream house in the country last
year, and we
enjoy spending time fixing it up to be “our perfect home.” Sarra can
also be found at her web site
Wildly
Crafty.
Michelle
Boucher-Ladd
Michelle Boucher-Ladd is a former librarian living on a
small Maine farm with her two vivacious children and her super sexy
husband. While reading and writing are her passions she also enjoys
gardening, knitting, and spending time in the outdoors with her family.
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.
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
Diane
Kasperski
I remember when I was 5 or 6 years old sitting on
our back step while Mom was hanging laundry on the clothesline. I
was reading my very first book - what else - The Cat in the Hat.
When I came to a word I didn't know I would yell the letters out to my
Mom and she would tell me what they were. From that point I moved
on to Nancy Drew mysteries (I come by my love of mysteries at an early
age) and I still love my mysteries the "sicker" the better. I
also read historical fiction, nonfiction, and general fiction - sorry
no romance.
I live in MO with my 7 dogs who are the loves of my life and in the
next year hope to be opening a dog obedience training and boarding
facility with a partner. Until we get this off the ground I work
as a medical secretary to support my dogs.
Amy
Lignor
Dear Readers:
I worked as the editor-in-chief of a publishing company in Connecticut,
but have made my way down to the Land of Enchantment. (Love the
sunshine!) I am an author of two books (The
Heart of a Legend and Mind Made. I
love all kinds of books. My mother is a career librarian so we read
EVERYTHING growing up. (No TV - but there's never any thing good on
anyway J) I live with my beautiful daughter, Shelby, and our favorite
furry companion, our dog Reuben. Writing is the hardest most satisfying
career in the world. I commend you all and I'm honored to read your
work.
Read Amy's interview with
Front Street's
Jenny Salyers. For more, updated information on Amy's work check
out
Amy's Page.
Amy's web site
Janelle
Martin
Based in
Waterloo, Ontario
(
Canada),
Janelle Martin reads extensively in a wide variety of genres and is a
reviewer
for Front Street Reviews, Armchair Interviews, Curled Up with a Good
Book,
ReadySteadyBook and Alternatives Journal.
In her free time, Janelle can be found working for
not-for-profits helping them raise money and learn more about
e-Marketing.
Janelle is thrilled to be a staff reviewer for Front Street
Reviews.
You can keep up with Janelle
through her
blog.
Janelle's articles
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
Karen
Morse
Books have been a lifelong passion for reviewer Karen Morse: she
frequented the public library as a child, studied comparative
literature as an undergraduate, and worked as an apprentice to a rare
book conservator while she was in graduate school. She currently lives
in Buffalo, NY with husband Russell and two literary cats. When she's
not at the university, where she works as an archivist in the library's
special collections department, she enjoys cycling (especially to raise
money for cancer research), traveling (she's been to Canada, Denmark,
England, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, India, Ireland,
Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden, and at least
half of the 50 states), knitting, and (obviously) reading. Check out
her
blog to find out
what books have crossed her path lately.
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
Terry
Studer
I absolutely love to read and even though I consider myself an avid
reader, I'm not a speed reader. I tune everything else out and submurge
myself into whatever I'm reading to the point that I actually feel I'm
a character in it. I hate television and don't care much for movies as
I can't get myself into them like I can a book. Guess I'm what you call
a true bookworm.
I love gardening to the point of considering it real therphy. Just
sticking my hands in the dirt makes such a connection with Mother Earth
that the stress just flows out of me. Yes I am one of those nutty
people that talk to my plants too. They know what I'm saying or they
wouldn't grow so darn good. LOL! Must be why I have a great sense of
humor also.
Check out my blog to see what I am reading at
Terra's Book Blog.
You can also find me at my other blog bringing the world of romance
writters and readers together. Just go to
Yankee Romance
Reviewers.
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