Teodora Kostova: Hey Kelsey, welcome! Tell
me about your blog and why people should visit it.
Kelsey Burns: Hi Teodora and thank you for
having me.
I like to think my blog is a fun
place to hang out. I post as much as possible and the posts include cover
reveals, freebies, reviews, giveaways, spotlights and I have the occasional
page takeover. I've also been involved in hosting live events. You name it I
tend to give it a go. I love to interact and get feedback from my followers
about the books they are reading and really enjoy chatting to everyone. I'm
really passionate about my book world and I like to try and help get the word
out about as many authors as I can. Be it established authors or newbies just
starting out, I feel that everyone deserves a fair crack of the whip. I
especially love interviewing authors for my spot on my website In The Korner with Kelsey . I have a kind of alter ego me and I transform into her as soon as I start an
interview. I love to make the interviews fun and witty.
TK: How
did you get into blogging?
KB: I was asked by a friend of mine to
help her out with her blog, I wasn't very tech savvy so I was reluctant at
first but I gave it a go and things spiralled from there. I decided to start my
own blog and that's when Kelsey's Korner was born. I also help out with the
sharing on two or three other blog pages. It's all about sharing and caring.
TK: Do
you think something has changed in the bloggerverse ever since you started
blogging and if so, what?
KB: My blog is relatively new and I'm
struggling to find the answer. I've watched more and more blogs appear which is
a good thing for authors. The more we can shout about them the better. I tend
to watch behind the scenes as trends come and go. I'm not one to follow trends
and I'll always do my own thing.
"Her own thing" seems to be getting her boobs signed at every possible occasion LOL
"Her own thing" seems to be getting her boobs signed at every possible occasion LOL
TK: What
are your biggest challenges as a blogger?
KB: Keeping my blog interesting. I
want readers to follow my blog and get a buzz. I tend to think outside the box
whenever possible and try something different and exciting. I had a great time
when a ton of my favourite authors turned the tables and interviewed me. There
were some very up close and personal questions and we did this live! My
wonderful author friends took great pleasure in embarrassing me with extremely
quirky and fun questions. It was a challenge in itself answering them!!
I tend to get something into my head and focus
until I get it right. Sometimes it takes over my life completely. Another
challenge is letting go. It's often hard to remember that this is my hobby and
pastime.
TK: Did
you ever think about giving up?
KB: Yes I would be telling lies if I
said I never thought about giving it up occasionally. We're all human right?
It's nice to be appreciated and at times people take bloggers for granted and
just expect. You have no idea how many emails and messages I get every day
asking me to share, post or review. 90% of the time people are courteous and I
do try to accommodate their requests. Sadly there's a minority out there who
have no manners. When I have down days and wonder why I do this crazy blogging
stuff all for love of it I speak to my close author friends who set me on track
again.
TK: If
you had to think of a single moment that makes all the hard work worth it what
would it be?
KB: I can't single out one I'm afraid
because I've had some very special moments! I've been very lucky to have had my
blog name and quotes from reviews on the back of 3 books. I've also had
dedications to myself personally which brought tears to my eyes. I love to beta
read and give my thoughts, I'm very honest and critical but always try to be
constructive. When my authors say "Kelsey that makes a difference thanks
for your input" I feel like the happiest woman alive and the buzz is
amazing. The icing on the cake and funniest moment yet was having a full chapter
wrote about myself and two friends using our real names. We were having fun
times with a male escort. The day of publication my phone never stopped buzzing
and my mother read that book!!!!
I travelled to Chicago to meet a
wonderful group of friends from all over the world and attend an author
signing. Meeting them was a huge highlight in my life and I'll never forget how
that made me feel but one other thing always sticks in my mind. A lady follows
my blog page religiously and while I was wandering around at the event she made
herself known to me, she said "I'm a great supporter of your blog
Kelsey." I'm a big softie at heart and the tears welled in my eyes as I
realised who she was. I couldn't believe she was waiting in line to chat and get
a picture with me.
There's been many more moments
I'll treasure. Including having my boobs signed!! Yes, Kelsey, we remember the previous photos LOL
 |
TK: What’s
the best and worst thing about being a book blogger?
KB: The best thing about being a
blogger is meeting like-minded people. I love to form relationships and bond.
Blogging has enabled me to connect with thousands of people who love what I
love. I've been extremely lucky to have met lots of authors, bloggers and
readers over the past year at author events and each time I meet someone
different and make great friends. The worst thing about blogging for me is
reading negative and nasty comments on the internet. There's times I just need
to take a step back from it all and have a break. Anyone who has the courage to
write is a star in my opinion.
TK: If you
stopped blogging all of a sudden, what would you do with all that free time?
KB: Read!!
TK: Do
you have any advice for bloggers just starting out?
KB: I'm still learning something new
every day. If anyone asked for my advice I'd say don't get dragged into the
dramas, be yourself and support the authors and readers who support you.
TK: What’s
your day job, if you have one, and how does it fit in your blogging life?
KB: My day job is perfect for my
blogging life. I work on school transport and I take 3 wonderful children who
have special needs to school every morning, then deliver them back to their
parents on an evening . My husband is the driver so I get perks too, like time
off to go to author events etc. Life is good, I get all day to read and blog.
TK: Do
your family and friends know about your blog and if so, what do they think
about it?
KB: Yes. Everyone knows about my blog
but no-one really has the same passion for reading that I do. My son is a web
designer and created my website therefore he shows interest. My daughter thinks
I'm boring and thinks I spend too much time on my computer. My mother is 80
years of age and reads a book a day, she has made the occasional guest review
and is known as The Dark Mamma in my social circle. Anyone who writes a dark
read wants my mother to read it and get her feedback. I have one or two close
friends who say I've found my forte and have always known I should be doing
something like this. Then I have friends and family who called me a boring geek
when I started. I'm quite happy to prove them wrong and tell them about my
travels to Chicago, Ireland, Las Vegas and Great Britain meeting great authors
and friends, what a shame I'm such a geek and my life is so boring.
TK: What
do you love to read in your free time, when it’s not a blog obligation?
KB: I don't have a favourite genre but
I do like something gritty and dark. I can read almost anything as long as it
grips me. I'm a little bit sick so the more a book makes my tummy churn the
more I enjoy it. I like an author to take risks and not write for the masses.
If there's cheating, death m/m then I get excited. I don't need a happy ending
and I like when an author makes it real. I don't believe in stars and rainbows
but I respect that readers also want to find a happy place and escape in their
books. I've read full series' in science fiction romance and love lots of
paranormal. When I'm in the mood for it I enjoy some erotica but I need to have
a good story with my sex! If someone makes me LOL in a book I will love them
forever.
Flash
round:
·
Backstreet
Boys or Nsync
Backstreet
Boys
·
Batman
or Superman
Batman
·
Morning
or night
Night
·
True
Blood or Vampire Diaries
True
Blood
·
Books
or audio books
Books
·
Disney
or Dreamworks
Neither
·
Sushi
or pizza
Pizza
·
Rock
or pop
Rock
·
TV
series or movies
TV
series
Thanks, Kelsey, for this amazing interview!
Kelsey's contact details are below - make sure you follow her!
Thanks, Kelsey, for this amazing interview!
Kelsey's contact details are below - make sure you follow her!
2014 has been incredibly busy for her and 2015 is shaping up to be even more so - Kelsey will be attending LovenVegas author event in October in Las Vegas and assisting in York and Dublin next year.
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