Interview of PW Blogger Barbara Vey

Today we're so fortunate to present an interview of Publisher's Weekly "Beyond Her Book" blogger, Barbara Vey...a great romance friend and fan! I met Barbara on a flight from Milwaukee to Pittsburgh in 2008 when we were flying to the Romantic Times Booklovers Convention! Carol Lynn, Barbara, and I were all first-timers going there and excited about the upcoming events. Barbara interviewed Carol and me during our plane ride! We shared a ride to the hotel and had lunch and dinner together, along with other authors from Ellora's Cave/Cerridwen Press. Look for her at conferences and conventions! Her blog: http://blogs.publishersweekly.com/blogs/beyondherbook

BIO:
As Senior Editorial Contributor for Publishers Weekly, Barbara Vey brings readers and writers together with her popular Beyond Her Book blog. From her entertaining “Drive By Videos” to reader feedback on books with WW Ladies Book Club, Your Turn Friday, BHB continues to grow into a must read daily adventure.

An avid reader, Barbara consumed a book a day before taking on the glamorous life of a roving reporting. Traveling all over the United States to conferences from Romance to Thrillers, Mysteries to Horror, Historicals to Comic Con, Barbara has even broken through the barrier into the entertainment industry by covering Red Carpet Events and interviewing the likes of Richard Dean Anderson, Joshua Jackson, Joss Whedon, Dakota Fanning and others.

But her love of Romance and the "Happily Ever After" keeps her grounded while she offers readers a place to step away from life’s daily trials to take a positive journey through the world of books.

Q: What motivated you to get involved in the romance industry and start writing your blog?
A: A chance meeting with the Deputy Editor of Publishers Weekly, Karen Holt, on an Author's At Sea cruise.

Q: Where do your blog ideas come from?
A: I follow Twitter, Facebook, other blogs and read a ton of books. I also watch and listen to people around me. Lots of ideas there.

Q: Describe your perfect hero. Also, would he clean house or cook?
A: My perfect hero would anticipate what I need before I need it. He would love to read and talk (intelligently) about the books I like to read, he'd love baseball, football and The Amazing Race. He would never say, "Not again!" when I want to watch Notting Hill, A Knight's Tale or Prince of Persia. He would think that all my blogs are brilliant.

Q: What's one important thing you've learned about your job as a blogger for Publisher's Weekly.
A: That there's a reader for every book. Even if I don't like a book, someone else probably does. I always try to stay positive. Never attack an author personally. It's wrong and just not nice.

Q: Favorite food/drink to have while reading romance books.
A: Wine and cheese (with the little toothpicks so my fingers don't get sticky). Actually, that's my fantasy. I usually drink Diet Coke and eat popcorn.

Q: You attend lots of conventions/conferences. What's the best part?
A: Definitely the people. Learning how they started, how they keep going and where they get their ideas.

Q: Finish this sentence: Romance is.......
A: when your heart keeps thumping after your brain has turned off.

Q: Do you read a romance book because a cover sparks your interest, the book blurb sounds great, you like the author, or it's a genre you truly enjoy?
A: In order, author, genre, cover, then blurb.

Q: Besides romance books, what else do you like to read? Any favorite non-romance book or author?
A: I love international intrigue. I cut my teeth on Robert Ludlum, Ken Follett, Ian Fleming. I owned all the James Bond books and wanted to be a spy. I also read every Agatha Christie, Erle Stanley Gardner, Arthur Cohen Doyle and Edgar Rice Burroughs. Now I love discovering new authors in between keeping up with my old favorites.

Where can we find you?
http://blogs.publishersweekly.com/blogs/beyondherbook (PO Box 438, South Milwaukee, WI 53172)
Twitter - http://twitter.com/barbaravey
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/barbaravey
MySpace - http://www.myspace.com/barbaravey

Thanks for the interview, Barbara!

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