Good Morning Everyone and Happy Monday!

I wanted to start the week off strong, and I’ve had the great pleasure of having another interview, this time with Shannon O. from R&R Book Tours and Reads & Reels.

This is my second interview, but before we get into the nitty gritty I want to clarify a bit more about this segment. I love getting to know Authors through my interviews, but I want to keep the door open for bloggers as well.

Bloggers are a vital part of the online writing community. Not only do they pour their hearts out like the rest of us, but they devote countless, selfless hours to give new authors a chance in exchange for their honest opinion on their works.

Being a new author myself, I owe plenty of my honest reviews to hard-working bloggers like Shannon O., and I can’t be more grateful.

All right, let’s get this party started!

Shannon O.

Shannon is a mom, wife, publicist, blogger, and all-around fangirl. She is also the owner of book promotion company, R & R Book Tours. When not chasing her tiny human around, you can usually find her chugging coffee with her nose in a book.

My backstory with Shannon is that I originally reached out to her for a review of my debut novella Reaper, but after that was done we continued talking and sharing great book recommendations on WordPress. She’s quickly become a good friend of mine.

The Interview

Hi Shannon, thanks so much for stopping by. To keep things interesting, I like to ask my interviewees a random question to get the blood flowing. Here’s yours!

It’s the apocalypse, and you only get to choose two items to take along into the devastation. What would you bring?

If there was an apocalypse, I would bring a weapon of some sort. Not a gun because lack of ammunition would become an issue, but maybe a hammer or a garden tool. Have you seen how lethal some of these gardening tools are? There’s one that is “supposed” to be for twisting weeds out of the ground, but it looks like you can twist vital organs out with it! Sorry, I read and watch a lot of horror. Oh, and I better bring my inhaler, so you know, I can breathe!

Haha, no worries! Being a huge fan of horror and apocalyptic stories, I know exactly the garden tool you’re talking about. Great choices! 

Apocalypse aside, let’s go back to the present. I always find it interesting how authors and bloggers alike lead multiple lives. What is your day job? Do you enjoy it?

I do wear many hats that’s for sure, but as of the last year and a half, my day job is organizing promotional events for books! It’s a dream come true really! After I had my daughter, I decided that when she started school, I wasn’t going to go back to a soul-sucking 9 to 5. I was going to do something I love.

Being a book blogger has enabled me to meet all sorts of wonderful people in the industry, thus enabling me to launch R&R Book Tours! It’s been a ton of work, and I can’t pay all my bills with it just yet but I’m getting there. Thankfully, I have a very supportive partner. The best part is I can honestly say, I love my job!

Wow, you are truly living the dream! Not many people can say that.

Could you tell us a few fun facts about you?

Hmm, fun facts… I’m a freakishly fast reader! As in I can finish an average length novel in about three to four hours. I’m also allergic to everything. Literally EVERYTHING. On second thought, I should probably pick a hazmat suit as one of my items during the apocalypse.

That’s great! I’m not the fastest reader myself. I tend to finish a book in a week unless it’s YA, then maybe three? Oh, you’re not alone on the allergies. I have a bunch of food allergies that heavily restrict my diet. Going out to eat is not fun for me at all! 

What first inspired you to start blogging?

I was at home, a new mother and I needed to do something to engage my brain. My husband had been saying for years that I should start a blog. This time I actually listened.

That’s awesome! I think everyone needs to have that one person that’s a rock for them to give them advice when they need it.

So, how long have you been blogging?

I have been blogging for almost four years.

Nice! Yeah, I think that blogging takes time to get used to, much like writing. I’ve been doing it just under two years and still have moments where I say “Am I Doing This Right?” It’s definitely a craft of its own, and really takes some skill and determination to develop. 

So, since you’ve been doing it for this long, I’ve gotta know. Why do you blog personally?

I write about books and film because I’m obsessed and think that everyone else should be too! Honestly, I just want to share my love of these things with people who feel the same way.

I totally agree with you. Books and film are like air to me!

Speaking of which, what is your favorite genre to read and why?

I love all sorts of genres, but my favorites are Horror and Sci-fi. Preferably a blend of both. I love it because I am intrigued by the unexplainable, and why some people can do the things that they do. Also, I love a good scare!

Me too! I’ve watched so many horror movies I can’t even count them, and grew up watching Star Trek: TNG. I totally get where you’re coming from, I just need to read more horror. 

What are you reading now?

Right now, I am reading an existential thriller by Helen Philips called The Need, and I have also just started a paranormal thriller by indie author Laurel Hightower called, Whispers in the Dark.

Sounds interesting, I’ll have to check those out! 

All right, last book question. Who are your favorite writers?

I don’t even know where to start! Um, Stephen King, Marion Keyes, Ania Ahlborn, Sophie Kinsella, and Michael Crichton to name a few lol.

Nice picks! I’m pretty sure Crichton is a genius, haha! 

How about other media? What are your favorite tv shows and movies?

Favorite shows at the moment are; iZombie, Black Mirror, Brooklyn Nine Nine, Stranger Things, and Sabrina. Some of my favorite movies are, High Fidelity, Shaun of the Dead, Bridget Jones’ Diary, Grease, and The Goonies.

I am COMPLETELY addicted to Black Mirror and Stranger Things. San Junipero always makes me cry at the end. Talk about obsession-worthy! 

Let’s go back to blogging for a moment.What do you think made your blog successful?

Getting involved in the community. Hands down, that has been the most instrumental contributor to my blog’s success.

Great advice! I’ve made so many great friends since I started writing and blogging. You really can’t put a price on it.

What networking do you do that you feel helps your blogging business?

Personally, twitter has been the most helpful tool, but I also like Instagram. Most bookworms are visual creatures and love a good book pic!

I’m not on either of those, but a couple of friends have been telling me to create an Instagram account. I may just have to try that out! 

What do you find most challenging about blogging?

Not letting bad stats get you down. Every blogger including myself, will tell you it’s not about the numbers but even the most seasoned blogger will feel down if their traffic is slow or a post they’ve worked really hard on doesn’t have the most interaction.

Being a newbie to WordPress, I can totally understand that. While I do check my stats, I try not to look at them and focus on my content and its quality. It’s hard to do though! 

Keeping on that same subject, if you could give advice to new bloggers, what would you say?

Do it for yourself! If you get bogged down with the stats, you will be miserable. Secondly, and probably THE most important thing I could tell newbies is to interact with other bloggers. Become an active participant in the blogging community. Not only will it improve your numbers, but it is the best part. I have made so many wonderful friends. I’m also inspired regularly by other bloggers.

Thanks so much for that wonderful advice. Well it’s almost time to end this interview. Let’s do a couple more quick, fun ones. 

If you could meet anyone who ever lived, past or present, who would that be?

Marilyn Monroe! I have always been I tiny bit obsessed with her, and everyone who’s done their research knows, she was more than a blonde starlit. She was smart, creative, and loved to read. Also, wouldn’t you want to know the real story behind her death and the whole Kennedy conspiracy?

Um, yes, tell me all about it! 

What kind of music would you say touches your soul?

That’s so hard to answer! I love all sorts of music! Since you’re making pick then I would have to say actual Soul music lol, like Sam Cooke, classic 50’s and 60’s, rock, punk, and old school electronica.

Very interesting! I am hopelessly obsessed with 80’s and 90’s music myself. 

Okay, last one! If you could take a vacation anywhere, where would you go?

Am I Earthbound lol? I have always wanted to go to Egypt. But not current day Egypt. I would love to have gone when you could actually tour the pyramids. Physically experience them. Now you can’t even get close to them.

For future reference I’ll definite modify that question, but that sounds really interesting. If you find a time machine, take pictures when you go!

All right everyone, this concludes my interview with Shannon O. I really had fun getting to know her more, and I hope you did too! If you’d like to learn more about Shannon O., she can be reached at the following social media links below. Thank you all for stopping by, and have a great day!

Reads & Reels (Blog) 

R&R Book Tours

Twitter (Reads & Reels) 

Twitter (R&R Book Tours)

Facebook (Reads & Reels)

Facebook (R&R Book Tours)

Instagram