Gryffindor Books: Thank you so so much for doing this with me!!
Liz: Thanks for having me!
Gryffindor Books: So, let’s start with an easy one. What or who got you into reading? How old were you?
Liz: I’ve had several reading influences over the years, but my mom was the biggest one. We didn’t grow up with a lot of money, so we went to the library a lot. I started learning how to read when I was about 5, so starting around then. I was hesitant to start reading YA in high school because children’s books were so much fun!
Gryffindor Books: Do you have a favorite book format? Hardcover, Paperback, Audiobook, or eBook?
Liz: It depends on how many pages, what genre, how I obtain certain books for review, and how easy it is to find the book in different formats. Audiobook is the easiest way for me to read a book, especially if it’s not a genre I usually read in. I love Audiobooks and Ebooks because they’re so easy to travel with!
Gryffindor Books: What book character did you relate to when you were younger?
Liz: I don’t know if I had any that I particularly related to, but I wanted to be Matilda. Who wouldn’t want magical powers? I guess that’s also why I liked Hermione Granger.
Gryffindor Books: If you had to chose one of your videos as your favorite which one would it be and why?
Liz: My Free Books video https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=nCa_SwiEwyA because I know there are people out there who don’t have easy access to great books, so why not find resources and share them! It’s been almost four years, and it’s one that I still share and probably need to add to sometime soon.
Gryffindor Books: When and how did you did you start your booktube channel?
Liz: I am what they call an O.G. booktuber. I started before the term “booktube” even existed! I started my channel on December 9, 2009 because I wanted to find a topic to talk about and talk about all the books I had read that year. I wanted to make sure I wasn’t stepping on anyone’s toes and only found one channel making book-related videos.
Gryffindor Books: If you were trapped on an island with a book series and the author of that book series which one would it be and why?
Liz: I survived high school thanks to the Georgia Nicholson series by Louise Rennison. She passed away at the beginning of 2016, sadly, but I would have loved to have met her! If you’re looking for a great British comedy YA series, that’s the one.
Gryffindor Books: How many book events have you been to so far? Which authors have you met and how many signed books do you currently have?
Liz: I’ve been blessed to live close enough to Decatur that I try to make it to as many of their YA events as I can. That being said, I’ve been to so many events, it’s hard to keep track! I haven’t been to too many this year, but I’m looking forward to Decatur Book Festival in the fall. Between DBF, BEA, and other author events, I have quite the signed book collection. I don’t have them separated out, so it’s hard to tell exactly how many.
Gryffindor Books: If you could do a collab video with someone who would it be and why?
Liz: Can I say Lauren Graham? Her two books, one a fiction and one a memoir, hit so close to home for me! She’ll make you laugh and cry and yell, “That’s SO true!” when reading her books.
Gryffindor Books: If someone wanted your help to start a booktube channel what advice would you give them?
Liz: Making friends should be top priority. It’s so easy to get caught up in comparing yourself to others. Comment on other people’s videos and join in on the conversations. Read what YOU like, and make personal challenges for yourself.
Gryffindor Books: Thanks Liz for doing this and I look forward to seeing you again!! (Hopefully I won’t be as awkward as I was last time!)
Liz: Thank you! Pfft, I was the most awkward! Okay, I’ll always be awkward. That’s just how I am.
Liz’s Links:
YA Books are Epic 