July 24, 2015

Reader Interview with Sherry Fundin



When it was time for me to find another reader to interview, I immediately thought of Sherry. She recently reviewed both of my short stories Ghost of Death and Witch of Death for me. I enjoyed her thoughts on my stories and characters. Reading her reviews is like hearing a good friend telling you about a book she read. So please welcome Sherry to Write with Fey!



1. Tell us about fundinmental.

I started blogging in June of 2012. My sister, Laura at fuonlyknew turned me on to Goodreads and I started my blog shortly thereafter and have never looked back. I also like to post about my adventures, some near and some far from home. I like to share videos, music videos and book trailers. Funny things too, I think we can never laugh enough. I have 1000+ followers on my blog. I have a lot of followers on twitter, goodreads…so I will not list them all. Check out the links in my bio blog below and you, too, may become one. J

2. Who is your favorite author and why?

Hmmm. The only way I know to answer this question is:  the one I am reading now. LOL But...I will say, if you love romantic suspense, check out Kristine Mason. She is a master storyteller. I love that her novels stand alone, even though they are part of a series and the characters pop in and out of all the books. I have read thousands and thousands of books, so to surprise me like she does is pretty hard to do. Her suspense will keep you on the edge of your seat, biting your fingernails (if you are that kind of person) and looking around to make sure no one is paying undue attention to you.

Sherry's Shelves.
3. Thanks for the tip on Kristine Mason. What book can you read over and over again?

Once upon a time, I could have answered this. Now, there are so many books out there and I want to read them all, that I rarely reread anything. So…next.

4. Next...What kinds of book covers attract you?  

I am a “cover girl”, so this is a great question. I love simple covers that convey the story inside. Anything with water or trees, vibrant colors, blood (LOL, I love murder stories) will make me pause and investigate further. Author alert:  I must confess that I am turned off by the “naked six pack”. They are everywhere and I am sure I have missed some great books because I “turned the page”. I’m just sayin’…

5. I'm turned off by bare chests on covers too. Who is your favorite fictional character?

Again with the favorites. LOL Again with my answer, the one I am reading about now. I am lucky to be able to jump in a book and lose myself in the story, getting invested in the characters quickly. I rarely find one that I cannot finish or appreciate.

6. Sorry about the favorite questions. Let's try this: Which author do you have a love/hate relationship with?

None. All I want is a good story and I am fortunate enough to choose some good books with authors who can tell a tale. It amazes me…the number of super books I found through blogging. I never would have known these authors without the Kindle, and books I have been exposed to through blogging, so kudos to the internet and Amazon for seeing the future.

Sherry's favorite reading spot.
7. Growing up, what was your favorite children’s book?

As soon as I read this, I thought of a book by John F Kennedy. But that was in my early teens. I really don’t remember a favorite children’s book, but I am familiar with all the stories so I must have read them.

8. What would you like to know about the authors you enjoy reading the most?

My first question to an author is about the cover, most of the time. Do they do them, if not, who does? How much input or control do they have over the final product. Then, I ask them about the characters. If you could be a character in your book, which would it be and why. I think that tells me a lot about the author.  I read everything – cover to cover – so when an author shares their acknowledgments, etc, it gives me more insight into their personality.


Hyper Round:

1. Ebooks or Print books?

Ebooks, very convenient.

2. Movie Adaptations: Yay or Nay?

Sure, why not?

3. Favorite reading spot?

My Patio.

4. Favorite reading snack?

Pretzels.



BIO: 

I live in the United States.

My two greatest passions are reading and photography, not necessarily in that order, and I have developed a real enjoyment for reviewing. I want to be able to share my love of books and help people when they are looking for their next book. Shortly after I started reviewing, I started my blog and I now find myself sitting at the computer, totally engrossed in what I'm doing, not realizing hours have gone by.

I am a sun and water worshiper, so it is not unusual to find me lounging around the pool, reading or piddling in the yard. I also spend a lot of time wandering around the beach, looking for photos to take. For some reason, I have this insatiable urge to be near the water. Was I a mermaid in a former life? My wonderful hubby thinks so. ^_^


Links:
Blog  /  Twitter /  Facebook /  Pinterest /  Goodreads /  Bloglovin /  Google+  


Thanks for spending some time with me Sherry!

Please leave a comment for Sherry. :)


68 comments:

  1. Interesting interview and nicely done too.

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    1. Thanks Blogoratti and it's nice to meet you. Have a great weekend. And Chrys...thanks so much for the great interview and sharing your blog today. Have a super weekend!

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  2. Great intereview , very interesting to read. Well done.
    Yvonne.

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    1. Thanks so much, Yvonne. I hope you are having a great day and the weekend is good to you.

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  3. Nice interview and I like the inclusion of photos!

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    1. Thanks Sage, Chrys did a great job, didn't she? My hat's off to you, Chrys.

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  4. A fun interview! I find it hard to pick a favorite author too. I can do without the naked bodies on covers as well. There are other things to convey steaminess.

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    1. There are a lot of other ways to convey steaminess. I like your covers!

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    2. Thanks Christine. I read so many books and if I love the book, I love the author, so it is very hard to choose a favorite. Not that there is anything wrong with that...the naked bodies, I mean. LOL

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  5. Maybe I need to ask for some blood on my next book cover?
    With all the bare chested men on books, why don't we see more women? Oh, wait...
    Nice to meet you, Sherry!

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    1. LOL Nice Alex. I think I will let your bare comment slide, but in my "book" you can't go wrong with a little blood. Nice to meet you and happy reading.

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  6. I love the reader interviews. And it can be difficult to choose favorites. I do have an author who I think sits just a tad higher than all others for me because she helped shape the way I both read and write books.

    I read everything cover to cover, too. I love author acknowledgements—especially when they're funny.

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    1. Thank you, M.J.! Picking just one favorite is tough, but I have many favoritesssss. ;)

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    2. Good to see you M J. I am afraid of missing something, so cover to cover it is. Are we a little anal or just curious? Have a great weekend.

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  7. I hate the bare chested book covers as well! I don't think I would even want people on my book's cover, or at least not half naked ones...
    Great interview!

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    1. I like people on my covers, but NOT half naked one. lol

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    2. Hi Sarah. I have a thing about eyes, so when there is only a six-pack, not that there's anything wrong with that, is all there is, I feel something is missing. Plus, I'm afraid it will be more sex than action, which is what I am after, of course, some sex is just fine.

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  8. I truly enjoyed this comfortable, chatty reveal of the 'ordinary person' side of the esteemed reader! A pleasure to meet you, Sherry :-)
    Another great post, Chrys! Thanks for sharing :-)

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    1. Thank you so much, Diedre, and it is nice to meet you too. I hope you have a super weekend and read a great book. :-)

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  9. Hi Sherry, So great to meet you although I know I've heard your voice here in the comments. Thanks for the author recommendation. I will add her book(s) to by TBR shelf. I really enjoy goodreads and wonder what we all did before it was established both as authors and passionate readers. I'm off to check out your fun blog! Thanks Chrys, for the wonderful interview!

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    1. You're welcome, Lisa! Thanks for leaving Sherry a comment!

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    2. Hi Lisa. So true about goodreads, whether you have a blog or not. I have heard your voice also. Chrys has a great blog and shares very interesting things, whether it's of something personal, others, like myself, writing tips...shows a great blog can bring us together. I look forward to seeing you at fundinmental. Have a great weekend and happy reading.

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  10. I totally agree with your distaste for the whole headless bare chest cover trend! It's even worse when it also includes a crotch shot, something else which needed to not have become a trend. It just screams "generic, unoriginal romance" to me, nothing special or different.

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    1. I agree wholeheartedly. Sometimes, if you look closely, you will notice the same crotch, over and over again. How about a little creativity and personality? Covers speak to me and I don't always like to hear, "Hey baby, wanna ****". LOL

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  11. Interesting interview, ladies. Nice to meet you, Sherry. Looks like you have a lovely place to read.

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    1. Thanks, Beverly. I am very fortunate. Nice meeting you happy reading.

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  12. Great interview. There definitely are a lot of awesome authors coming through that wouldn't have had a chance before.

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    1. Thanks for commenting, Nick!

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    2. So very true, Nick. The evil warlord, Amazon, has done a good thing anticipating the future. Goodreads has done a tremendous job of giving authors exposure, where otherwise they might have been overlooked. We can never have too many authors or books.

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  13. Good interview, she does put a lot of emphasis on book covers; that and titles always leads me to books I might want to read.

    betty

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    1. Good covers and titles always pique my interest.

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    2. Hi Betty. I do put a lot of emphasis on covers, because most of the time it is what catches my attention first. I am a bit like a child, in that bright colors make me stop and look. I will grab a book for the cover alone. I must admit, there are times, when the title is so creatively done, I will pick up a book for that in itself. Rare, but true. Thanks for visiting and sharing your thoughts.

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  14. Yeah, that's what I feel about favorite writers and favorite books too--what's got me engrossed right now.

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    1. I think that's nice, because it's less of a competition then. Every author is a winner when you're reading their book. :)

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    2. Here! Here! Ladies! Well said, Chrys.

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  15. I'm turned off my naked six packs too, just saying

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    1. BAHAHA! You and Alex made me crack up today with your comments.

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    2. Awww, Pat. I hope we didn't offend you. :-)

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  16. Love the idea of interviewing a reader! Enjoyed getting to "know" Sherry.
    Life & Faith in Caneyhead

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    1. Thanks, Barbara. We are all in this together. :-) Chrys did a great job, didn't she?

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  17. Hi Sherry, nice to meet you. I like your favourite reading spot and bare chested men on book covers makes me think that its an erotic romance ;)

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    1. I think the same thing when I see a bare chest on a book cover.

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  18. Excellent interview, ladies!! Sherry, thank you so much for taking the time to post reviews of books you read. It's so important to authors. And I absolutely love your favorite reading spot!

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    1. Thanks for visiting, Ava! And for leaving Sherry a nice comment. :)

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  19. I hate the naked torso(s) on book covers too! That's why my covers will hopefully never be like that. Great to learn more about you, Sherry!

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  20. I always think of them being erotica, even though I know tons of them aren't. I am sure it helps sell books, but...well...you know. I love reading, so reviewing seems to be an extension of that. The only problem...I have to quit reading to write the reviews. LOL Thanks so much for dropping in. It is nice to meet new peeps and see the familiar too. I hope everyone is having a super weekend and happy reading!!!

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  21. It's great to meet Sherry! And I hope none of my readers have a love hate relationship with me. Sounds terrifying.

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  22. Dig that reading spot. I'd love to read by my pool, if it existed haha

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    1. If you are ever in my neck of the woods, give me a shout out. LOL

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  23. Sherry, you've got a great reading spot:) Thanks for the heads up on Mason.

    Great interview, ladies;)

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  24. Interesting interview! I especially like the part about asking authors about their characters; I always wondered which characters the authors identified with most, which is one of the things I often look for when I read authors' interviews.

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    1. I think authors reveal, sometimes more than they think they do, themselves when writing and the characters talk, so I listen. Have a great day, N.

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  25. it was a good interview, with no menempakan much emphasis on the cover of the book and the title always makes the book interesting to read.
    Obat Sperma Subur

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    1. Hi Dinda. Sometimes I will choose a book just by seeing its cover. On the rare occasion, I will choose a book just by its title. Funny the things that make us say, "Oh, this is going to be good". :-)

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  26. Excellent interview! It's always fun to learn more about a favorite reviewer :-) Thanks for all that you do to promote authors/books, Sherry!

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    1. Hi DV and thanks. It is my pleasure to share the books I love and the authors who write them. Keep it coming! :-)

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  27. Sherry! Wonderful interview. Nice to get to know better. *sigh* :-)

    Anna from Elements of Writing

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    1. Hi Anna. I am normally quite private, but Chrys knows how to bring out some of my secrets. :-)
      sherry @ fundinmental

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