Blogger Spotlight Interview; Michelle from Tales of Yesterday
Hi Guys,
Today I have the wonderful Michelle on the blog with a very lovely interview. Hope that you enjoy and get to know a little bit more about her.
Tell us a little something about yourself!
Okay… *takes big breath*…..Hi, I’m Chelle and I run Talesofyesterday.co.uk . I am helpdesk / resource planner team leader for a service company by day and an avid book reader / book blogger / serial tweeter by night and on weekends! I describe myself as a little bit clumsy and a little loopy! I am always laughing at something or another and have a bit of a chuckle laugh (one of my managers calls me chuckles). I live with my husband, Kevin, who I have known since I was 4 and I have a 10 Year Old son, Corey, who is as much of a book lover as me! I also have 3 cats, Skittles, Patch and Louis and they enjoy clawing at my curtains! I am a book loving (obsessed), theatre loving, slasher horror film loving csi geek! I’m often seen on twitter embarrassing myself and tweeting about books a lot using @chelletoy.
How long have you had your blog?
Tales has only been up and running since November 2014 so it’s fairly new and I love the way the whole book blogging community has welcomed me with open arms with one big huge hug! It’s really been so lovely….like ordering a hot chocolate and being given lots of gooey marshmallows on top….so warm and sweet
*I really hope you carry on reading this especially after that comparison – does nervous laugh*
Do you enjoy running your blog?
I ADORE it! I can’t believe people actually read ANYTHING I write! I tend to babble on a bit (you never would have guessed right?). I like having fun with my reviews and passion and I just love reading and typing away and seeing what comes out especially after a hard days work in the office as it’s nice to have a hobby I enjoy. I really hope my enjoyment and passion for books comes over in my reviews and posts so people enjoy them too.
When you started, did you ever think it would end up the way it has?
No not at all! I really am overwhelmed by all the support I have had from everyone. It has blown my tiny mind! Even seeing my name on the UKYA Blogger Awards and your awards Faye is just unbelievable ….so much so I think people have may have made a mistake so I keep checking and then my stomach flips again in excitement!
I have also met some lovely bloggers and authors through running my blog and chatting on twitter who are just so lovely and I am forever grateful as I really feel that I will make some life long friends through my love of books and blogging. You are all fab!
*Hand everyone a cherry bakewell to show my love*
Is there an interesting background story to the name of your blog?
There is! Well is may not be THAT interesting, but I wanted something that I could use my surname of TOY and I couldn’t really think of anything bookish that didn’t sound like a toy shop etc (funny story – my husband surname is obviously Toy and he used to work in a Toy shop….this is no joke I promise! And is often the subject of my amusement and story telling lol). Anyway one night, in the middle of the night I suddenly woke up! Shouting at the top of my voice TOY! Tales Of Yesterday! With my husband jumping out of bed thinking we were being burgled I felt completely humble that I had found my blog name that linked to my surname – kind of – and went calmly back to sleep! My husband on the other hand was awake for the rest of the night as I had woke him up with a start and was probably plotting his revenge! *gulps*
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
I basically blog about books – book reviews etc. I love featuring guest posts and question and answers with authors. I love putting the question and answers together and seeing what comes back. Recently I have done a couple of character interviews with authors with characters from their books and they have been super fun!
I really try to review a book after I have read it…I feel I am quite organised like that as I like to get my feelings down straight away. I love being on blog tours! I really enjoy reading everyone’s posts on the tours and linking up to them where I can.
I have also done some posts on bookshops, anti-bullying week and music influences in books which have been fun. So a wide range of blogging goes on at Tales. I just love it!
I tend to be reading more YA and MG at the moment so there are plenty of ramblings on there about these books and very few adult books.. I love them so much!
I’ve also taken on the responsibility from the UKYA author James Dawson of #pointhorrobookclub starting on 13 February *gulps*. Not sure if anyone remembers these from the 90’s but James started a re-read of these books and it’s all kinds of nostalgic fun and the discussions never fail to make me chuckle. I love it!
I’ve also recently been cyberman-upgraded to moderator over on bookishpeeps.com run by the lovely @thatjessebloke – its just all kinds of bookish awesomeness and everyone needs to check it out so there are links on my blog for the forum too.
Do you participate or host blog memes? If you do, which is your favourite?
I don’t at the moment which is so awful of me! I really want to start getting involved in top 10 Tuesday and I say every week…right come on Chelle, but then time runs away with me *hangs head in shame*
I often join in on chats on twitter – #UKYAchat and #MGchat and I love Jim @YAYeahYeah quizzes!
What about blog tours? Have you ever or do you ever participate in them?
I LOVE blog tours. I love the way they showcase fab books and authors and I think they are a wonderful idea for book promotion! I have been on a few now including Jessica Cole Model Spy Fashion Assassin by Sarah Sky, The Hobson & Choi series by Nick Bryan, the new Steampunk Pirate Series by Gareth P Jones and I am involved in the #UKYAextravaganza big blog tour which is awesome! I love reading everyone’s posts and highlights fab bloggers that I should be following!
What is the best book you read in 2014?
This is a hard one for me! I think everyone may guess my favourite read of 2014 even though it wasn’t released in 2014 was Cruel Summer by James Dawson! I will forever love this book! Forever and ever! It blew me away and I just love James Dawson’s writing so much. I push this book on everyone who is not fed up of hearing me push it on them (I actually wonder if James may think I am a bit stalkery! THAT’S how much I talk about this book!). Much love for James Dawson!
If I was to pick a release from 2014 as my favourite, again it would be a YA book, and it would be between We Were Liars by E Lockhart (I cannot talk about this book without crying) and Trouble by Non Pratt which I just loved!
I knew I wouldn’t be able to pick just one! Sorry *guilty look*
What about so far in 2015?
This is so hard again! In January I read some fab books! Can I just rant about them all!?!
I adored The Art Of Being Normal by Lisa Williamson, 7 Days by Eve Ainsworth, The Dreamsnatcher by Abi Elphinstone, Frozen Charlotte by Alex Bell, The Hobson & Choi books by Nick Bryan and Code Red Lipstick by Sarah Sky!
If I had to pick an absolute fave…… it would be between The Art Of Being Normal and 7 Days so far for 2015!
These questions are tough Faye ! ;-) My excuse is I’m a Libra and cannot make descisons!
Has there ever been a book that haven’t been able to finish? If so, what was it? And why couldn’t you finish?
There is only one book I have never finished and that was Hannibal by Thomas Harris…..so my genre, so my type of book…..I just couldn’t get into it and gave up. It was a few years ago so maybe I should give it another go?
What is your favourite book genre?
My fave genre is anything horror or scary. I love being scared by a book! I am a huuugggeee fan of Stephen King, James Herbert (The Dark is the only book that has every scared me that much I couldn’t sleep for days in the dark!) and a love YA horror!
I love books with a shocking twist that make me gasp…so I love a whodunit genre of book too!
That being said I am a sucker for a good love story or an emotional read so it really couldn’t be further away from horror lol
*hides under bedsheets*
Quick Fire Round
*Gulps* ohhhhh the pressure *cries*
ebook or hardcopy?
Hardcopy always! I mean they just feel and look so good. You cannot beat that feeling of a book.
YA or Adult?
YA! And UKYA ROCKS!
Vampires or Werewolves?
Vampires! As long as they are vampires like Alexander Skarsgard or Stephen Moyer (True Blood) then they can suck my blood anytime!
Chocolate or Vanilla?
CHOCOLATE! Especially Ben & Jerry’s Phish Food ! Nom Nom Nom
Harry Potter or Twilight?
Harry Potter all the way without fail!
Four or Peeta?
Peeta! But the Peeta I imagine from the books not the film….my imagination runs slightly wild!
Series or Single?
Single! No! Series! No! Single! Oh my….they both have there plus and minuses!
Tough choice!
Blogger or WordPress?
Wordpress! It started me off blogging so I am ever devoted.
And finally, is there anything else you would like to say about you or your blog?
I would just like to say thank you to my blog for having me and letting me type whatever I want, for highlighting spelling mistakes and frazzling my brain at certain coding, for sometimes, when in a temperamental mood, throwing my picture files in places I do not want them on my post, but most of all dear old blog of mine thank you for being you and thank you for letting me share my hobby and love of books.
Thanks again Faye for having me as new blogger spotlight for February ….you are so lovely and supportive it’s breathtaking!
And there’s just a little insight into the lovely Michelle!
If you’d like to know more about her, or to read her rambling but lovely reviews, here are the ways you can follow her;
6 Comments
Melissa
I love seeing book bloggers that, like me, work outside of the book world! Yay for different walks of life! Not to disparage librarians, teachers, writers, bookshop owners/employees, etc. It’s just nice to see bibliophiles outside of that field.
Michelle Toy
Hi Melissa
Michelle Toy
My work really couldn’t be more different lol….by day I deal with aircon and catering breakdowns and plan routes for engineers by night I have my family and an awesome hobby that I love to come home to
Jesse Owen
Brilliant Q&A – really enjoyed reading more about you Chelle and now I love your blogs name even more :)
Michelle Toy
Awwww thanks Jesse. Faye asked some awesome questions … And yes if you ever meet my poor long suffering husband of mine best not to mention the time I thought of my blog name or the time I thought his arm was a snake so I pinned it down on the bed in my sleep hitting it lol…I have given him many a heart attack in the middle of the night before! Opppsssiieesss lol
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