Blogger Spotlight! – INTERVIEW

So it is finally time to share with you all Brodie’s interview!

Tell us a little something about yourself!
I always fail at ‘describe yourself’ type of questions! But okay, I’ll try. My name is Brodie (I have girl parts, not boy parts), I’m 21 years old (reverse those numbers and you have my brain’s real age) and I live in the most awesome country in the world. Don’t stare blankly, you know it’s Australia!! I’m a peace-loving, tree-hugging vegan. I am crazy in love with the Harry potter series and often refer to the characters in real life as if they’re real. Because they obviously are. My current tv obsessions are The Vampire Diaries, Nikita and Once Upon A Time. If you’re watch them too, I love you, let’s get married! I love staring for hours at the night sky and reading about Greek mythology. And really, I have no idea what else to say. My minions refer to me as Evil Overlord, so I guess I could do a whole villain bio, but the most successful of super villains keep their secrets close to heart.

How long have you had your blog?
I started it on December 30th 2010. So just over a year! :)

Do you enjoy running your blog?
Of course not. It’s my own personal Hell and every hour I endure on it puts a new crack in my soul *weeps* I KID. I KID. I’M A TERRIBLE LIAR. It’s been the most incredible ride! I love waking up in the morning to discover new comments or see that I have a new follower. I love being able to gush about the books I read. It’s the greatest feeling to know you’ve encouraged another person to try out a book they may have otherwise passed by!

When you started, did you ever think that it would end up the way it has?
NOT AT ALL! I think one of my ‘new year blogger goals’ when I first started was to reach 100 followers by the end of the year and it blows my mind that I managed to surpass that by a great deal. I spent over a year stalking and commenting on other blogs, but whenever people told me I should make my own, I just didn’t think I’d do a good job at maintaining it and actually writing halfway decent reviews. But I am SO glad I took the chance (thanks to the amazing Precious at Fragments of Life for encouraging me!) because the amazing friendships I’ve made are priceless. Every reader, blogger, author and publicist I’ve met have been such a joy to chat to. No words can express my love for you all!!

Is there an interesting background story to the name of your blog, if there is, tell us!
I tried for ages to find the perfect name for my blog, but nothing fit until I thought of the Eleusinian Mysteries, a festival that was held annually by the ancient Greeks in honour of Demeter and Persephone. The central part of the ceremonies are still a mystery today, because none of the initiates ever spoke about what happened. But we do know it was a deeply spiritual and moving experience for the initiates, s like reading for us. We go through a life time of emotions and experiences within just a few hundred pages – love, death, hope, tragedy, attraction, hate – and like the Eleusinian Mysteries, reading is sometimes a journey that changes us. So I figured the name was a good fit :)

As we’ve got this far without mentioning it, why not tell us a little something about your blog, what you post, how it runs, who you cater to, etc.
YA! YA! YA! Young Adult is really all I read these days. Once upon a time in high school, I mainly read adult books (and Harry Potter 456 times over), but after discovering my love of YA, that’s all that ever makes it onto my wishlist. So everything I post is YA related. I usually post two reviews a week – Tuesday and Friday. I regularly take part in IMM and WoW (except this month, since I’ve been co-hosting a Valentine’s event). I sometimes do a weekly recap of any news in the YA blogosphere – from blogger events, cover reveals, book deals, movie news, etc.

Do you participate or host and blog memes? If you do, which is your favourite?
I usually only take part in In My Mailbox and Waiting on Wednesday – both of which I love equally! I have a orgasmic love of seeing pictures from IMM posts. Those lustworthy titles stacked together or lined beside one another *froths at the mouth* Is there anything more beautiful to look at? Sigh. I love seeing which titles people get each week and also discovering new books to add to my ever growing wishlist with WoW!

What about blog tours and blog hops? Have you ever or do you ever want to participate in them?
I’ve had the opportunity to participate in blog tours for Becca Fitzpatrick, Sarah Alderson, Christi Daugherty, Bryony Pearce, J.B Thomas, Scott Tracey and Emma Mills. Which have all been so much fun to post and I would love to do more! I’m also participating in an upcoming one for Andrea Cremer <3

What is the best book you read in 2011?
AHSADKSLFJ. WHAT KIND OF A QUESTION IS THIS? *sob* There are SO many I want to name! Probably a tie between Divergent by Veronica Roth and Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor. Both books BLEW. ME. AWAY. If you haven’t read them, please LEAVE THE HOUSE AND STEAL COPIES NOW.

What about in 2012?
Oh my god. REALLY?! *pulls at hair* I refuse to answer with just one. Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi and Storm by Brigid Kemmerer. I love love love these!!

Has there ever been a book that you haven’t been able to finish? If so, what was it? And why couldn’t you finish?
Erm… a few off the top of my head. If by the 100 or so page mark I’m really annoyed by a book, constantly rolling my eyes or else just not FEELING it, then I stop. I don’t want reading to be a chore. I read for enjoyment (and yes, sometimes my idea of ‘enjoyment’ translates to a book stabbing me in the heart repeatedly). I stopped reading Halo by Alexandra Adonetto within the first 1/4 because her writing and characters drove me nuts. Also Clockwork Angel… I’m just not destined to be a Cassie Clare fan! I read the first three TMI books and… I can see the appeal to everyone else, but I just couldn’t love them. Same goes for CA. I admit I was kind of liking that at first, but then it got to the point where I was reading for the purpose of finishing… and not in the “rush through because I’m so invested” kind of way. But I’m clearly in the minority, because the fanbase is huge! And I am actually intrigued to see what they do with the movies.

What is your favourite book genre?
YA!! Anthing within YA. Dystopian, fantasy, paranormal, contemporary, thriller, you name it. But I suppose my favourite would be dystopian.

Quick Fire Round

ebook or hardcopy? Hardcopy!
ya or adult? YA!
vampires or werewolves? Ooooh. I’ll have to go werewolves. I love reading when they’re in wolf form and the dynamic and affections between the pack <3
chocolate or vanilla? I LOVE the smell of vanilla. I could get high off the scent and the taste is also delightful. But I’m a chocolate girl through an though :)
harry potter or twilight? You seriously need to ask?! Accio, Faye’s brain! HARRY POTTER!
four or peeta? BUT… UH… GAH… THUH…. I absolutely adore Peeta, but FOUR. You just want to pull him apart layer by layer to discover everything about him. He’s deep and his heart is in the right place and he’s sexy and fascinating and a little intimidating and I want one, please?
series or single? Series! I am greedy and want more more more.
blogger or wordpress? Blogger. I tried wordpress once, but I’m more at ease with blogger.

And finally, Is there anything else you would like to say about you or your blog?
My blog loves your blog and wants to make babies. But that’s probably too personal and steps right into weird territory, so I’ll just say – thanks so much for having me here today!! <3

If you’re not already following Brodie, why not?? Go Follow her NOW!! Eleusinian Mysteries!!