Thank you to Ellie Holmes for another great interview in the latest RNA blog series.
I am
delighted to welcome Julie Boon to the RNA Blog’s new monthly series where we
speak to book bloggers and get an insight into their world. Welcome Julie, tell
us a little bit about yourself and Boon’s Bookcase.
My name
is Julie Boon and I have been blogging as Boon’s Bookcase for 2 years now. Reading
is
I have
a wonderful husband, who I have been married to for 28 years (but have been
together for 34). My Son Adam is 22 and has just graduated from university with
a first class honours degree in Scenic Art. He is off to Australia in October
for a big adventure (lucky him!). My daughter Emily is 17 and studying A levels
in Music, Media and Art & Design – I have no idea where my kids get their
artistic side from, it certainly isn’t me!! Oh and I also have a Jack Russell
called Lola who is 8 years old and doesn’t like Postmen very much.
I work
full time in a GP surgery as a Medical Secretary and have worked within the NHS
for the past 15 years. Before that I worked near London Bridge for 18 years, so
did my fair share of commuting.
I have
always been a reader since I can remember and was always called a “bookworm” at
school. The main genres I like to read are Women’s Fiction, Psychological
Thrillers, Family/Wartime Sagas with a bit of History thrown in. Asking who is
my favourite author is like asking which of my children I like the best, but a
few of my favourites are:- Carole Matthews, Carol Rivers, Jane Costello, Kate
Rhodes, Victoria Hislop – to name a few.
I would
love you to take a look at Boon’s Bookcase, so why don’t you pop over and take
a peek, you’ll be more than welcome.
What
made you start to review/blog?
I had been reviewing books that I had read on
Amazon and Goodreads for a while and when I joined Twitter I began asking
publishers for books to review. The first question they would ask me was if I
had a blog. I mentioned this to my son (who is a whizz with technology) and he
said “Well why don’t you start one?” and the rest is history.
He’s proud of me as I don't ask him questions
anymore and he’s impressed with the amount of people who have viewed the blog.
I still feel like a bit of a newbie, even though
on 2nd February this year sees my 2 year blogaversary, but I have
been overwhelmed by the number of people that have viewed my blog and the
positive comments I have had. I am still experimenting with it and learning
from it, but I think that is an on-going thing with bloggers in general to make
their blog the best it can be.
What do you expect from
a writer when they appear on your blog?
I have done a couple of Q&A’s with authors who have
given some great answers and many blog tours (some with pieces from the author)
and all in all, the authors have been very supportive and have re-tweeted my
tweets and some have left lovely comments on the blog and on my Facebook page.
It’s very helpful to get a good response from authors generally.
How important is social
media to you and your blogging team?
Social media is crucial to my blog. I would never have had
as many views without authors/publishers/bloggers re-tweeting my tweets and
people visiting my Facebook page. I am hugely grateful to my friend Julie
Williams, who guest reviews on my blog, especially now as I am studying, as she
reads and reviews more than I do sometimes. I am so grateful when my tweets are
re-tweeted, as this gets more people to look at the blog and that is so helpful
in getting your name out there in the world of publishing.
What are your interests
when not blogging?
When I am not blogging, my main interest is still reading. I
am also passionate about music and musical theatre and when time and money
allows, I love going to the theatre and concerts. I listen to anything from
Barry Manilow to Take That. I also love nothing more than sitting at home with my
family and Jack Russell Lola, watching rubbish TV with a glass or two of red
wine.
We often ask agents and
publishers what they consider to be the next “big thing” – what do you hope to
see in 2017?
Personally, I would like to see more London/Family/Wartime
sagas being published. They’re not everyone’s cup of tea but they really are my
guilty pleasure. I come from South East London and now live on the outskirts of
London in Kent and have a passion for reading books like this as I love a bit
of London history as well.
Thank
you so much to Ellie and everyone at the RNA for hosting me today. It’s been a
pleasure to be a part of your blogger event and I hope you haven’t fallen
asleep reading about me and Boon’s Bookcase.
Far
from it, Julie! Thank you for giving us a glimpse into your world. I am
impressed that you still find the time to review as much as you do, given the
other commitments on your time. Congratulations on your two year blogaversary
and good luck with the apprenticeship. Ellie x
Check out Julie’s blog and her social
media links below.
Twitter:
@JulieBoon
Facebook:
Boon’s
Bookcase
Ellie Holmes:
Ellie Holmes writes commercial women’s fiction with her heart in
the town and her soul in the country. Ellie’s debut release was The Flower
Seller. A member of the RNA and the Alliance of Independent Authors, Ellie’s
latest book The Tregelian Hoard, set in Cornwall, is the first novella in her
Jonquil Jones Mystery Series:
Links:
Thank you Julie and Ellie for a most informative blog
interview.
If you are a book reviewer and would like to be interviewed
for this popular series please contact the blog team on elaineeverest@aol.com
1 comment:
Thank you Julie and also Ellie!
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