Blogoversary ~ Jaffareadstoo is eleven today!!

 

Eleven years ago, and after after much consideration, Jaffareadstoo was born. With no real idea of what I was doing, or if anyone would even want to read my musings on the books I have read, I decided to take the plunge and sign up to a blogging website.

Since then I have created over 3600 book reviews, interviewed lots of lovely authors, promoted, shouted and squealed in delight at some of the books I have been so privileged to read. I still get a real sense of delight when a book pops onto my kindle, or drops through the letterbox and I am deeply indebted to the talented authors, their conscientious publishers and the wonderful blog tour organisers who continue to send books my way and who invite me onto their blog tours.

As most of you know I lost my lovely Jaffa last year and for a time I seriously considered giving up blogging but my love of books, and reading, won through in the end. Although Jaffa is sadly missed, it is still his name above the door and one that is now well recognised in the book world.

So, today on our eleventh blogoversary, Jaffareadstoo continues to go forward, a little bit bruised and missing a vital piece, but always with the love of books... and cats, in my heart  📖 😸

A donation will be made to the National Literacy Trust

And to all our blog readers, Timmy and I are so grateful for your continuing support

✩ ✩ Jaffareadstoo Tenth Blogoversary ✩ ✩

 

Ten years ago I took a leap of faith and with time on my hands and a burning desire to pass on my love of reading to a wider audience I took my first tentative steps into the world of book blogging. I had no idea of how to set up a web site and had no presence on social media but with fingers crossed and the help of a few like minded blogger friends I set up Jaffareadstoo.

Ten years later, we continue to survive and thrive in our little corner of the blogging world. Jaffa and I are both older and wiser than when we set out on this great adventure but what has remained constant throughout the years is my passion for sharing the book love to those who read my blog. With several thousand viewers a month stopping by to read my reviews, with over a 1000 following by email, and over 2700 followers on Twitter we can't be doing much wrong.

It's been a real privilege to interact with authors, publishers, publicists and blog tour operators and we have built a solid rapport with them and I like to think that our reputation, so carefully built over the last ten years, is what brings them back time after time. It's lovely to see authors revisiting us with news of their latest book, they are always welcome guests on the blog and being involved in promoting books on publication day or as part of a well organised blog tour is an absolute joy and is still something we never take for granted. However, it is the readers who make my day when they tweet, or message me, to say that due to reading one of my reviews they have gone out to purchase the book, or have discovered a new favourite author.

And as we go into our second decade I am still hugely excited to discover fabulous stories from talented authors and will continue to shout about them with as much enthusiasm as I did back in 2011 when Jaffareadstoo's grand blogging adventure was just beginning.

♡Thank you all for being part of our adventure ♡

Rather than hosting a giveaway I will make a donation to the National Literacy Trust

an independent charity working with schools and communities to give disadvantaged children the literary skills to succeed in life.

Summer Picnic with Jaffareadstoo ...

 In this time of lock down Jaffareadstoo is delighted to welcome you all

 to our virtual Summer Picnic 

Pull up a deck chair, tie knots in your hanky and roll up your trouser legs!

☼ Summer time is here ☼ 

☼ I'm delighted to share our Summer picnic ☼

Photo credit : Picksipics

What favourite foods are you bringing to our summer picnic? 

I’m bringing spicy pork pies, savoury chicken legs, assorted continental cooked meats and a delicious chunk of Lancashire cheese. A big tub of creamy coleslaw, crunchy green salad, and lots of sweet and piquant cherry tomatoes. 

For dessert we have a lemon tart and home-made scones with strawberry jam and clotted cream

Would you like chilled white wine, a flute of Prosecco, a tumbler of Pimms, or a tall glass of sparkling elderflower cordial? 

A tall glass of ice cold sparkling elderflower cordial for me 

Where shall we sit, by the pool, in the garden, in the countryside, at the seaside? 

We’ll sit in the countryside near a river and we’ll let the sound of the water ease away all our cares and worries 

Bolton Abbey
Photo credit: Digital Images

Do we have a wicker hamper, tablecloth and cutlery, or is everything in a supermarket carrier bag? 

We have a wicker hamper, with a checkered tablecloth and proper cutlery and glasses 

Do you have favourite place to have a summer picnic? 

Let’s go to Bolton Abbey in Yorkshire. Its idyllic setting makes it a perfect location and we can soak up over a thousand years of history while we eat our picnic

Bolton Abbey
Photo credit: Digital Images

Which of your literary heroes are joining us on the picnic today? 

Charlotte, Anne and Emily Bronte, Jane Austen and Daphne du Maurier. They are all strong and decisive women and amazing authors who have stood the test of time. I think we'd have a lively picnic!

Which summer read are you bringing with you today? 

I’m bringing what promises to be an interesting historical novel set in England in 1628. The Honey and the Sting by Elizabeth Fremantle is published in August.

Michael Joseph
August 2020

What is your earliest summer memory? 

Going on a caravan holiday to north Wales when I was about three years old. I had a yellow swimming costume which had little blue birds printed on it. I remember being fascinated by seagulls and hearing their feet pitter patter on the caravan roof in the early morning. 

Do you have a favourite summer hideaway? 

I love my garden in the summer time. It has areas of both sun and shade and I can find quiet corners to read and relax. Sitting in my reading chair with one, or other, of the cats curled up in the sunshine close to my chair is my perfect hideaway.

Photo credit : Picksipics

Do you have a summer music playlist for reading / writing? And if so will you share with us a favourite song or piece of music that makes you feel summery? 

I listen to music all the time and have an eclectic mix of playlists on Spotify. I enjoy light classical music if I’m reading and Vaughan Williams, Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis, is one of my favourites but I’m also just as comfortable listening to Elbow, Bastille, Jess Glynne and Birdy. 

Do you find that your reading tastes differ between winter and summer? 

I prefer to read lighter and more romantic novels during the summer season and leave the darker psychological suspense stories for the darker months. I do enjoy reading hefty historical novels during the summer and always save a promising epic for long days in the garden. 

You can find us on social media? 

Blog

Twitter  @Jaffareadstoo 

Facebook 

Instagram @jaffareadstoo 

Follow our virtual picnics on Twitter

#SummerPicnicwithJaffareadstoo

Starting tomorrow with Chantelle Atkins and Wendy H Jones, please come and join some amazing authors during June, July and August and share in their Summer Picnics...

The spotlight shines on .....Jaffa

Random Facts About Orange One

Do you have a middle name?

All cats have a middle name.

My middle name is Pickle – I have no idea why

What is your favourite drink?

Whiskers Cat Milk but the V.E.T says I can’t have it so I am relegated to water and when
no-one is looking I drink out of the garden pond.

What is your favourite food?

Gourmet - Beef or Turkey
Sometimes my humans try and trick me with another brand but I am not easily fooled

What was the last thing you bought?

Occasionally I do a bit of inter-cat shopping for cat treats – I sneak packets of Dreamies into the house under cover of darkness

What is your favourite book of all time?

Catlantis by Anna Starobinets

What is your favourite colour?

Orange …..of course

Do you have any pets?

Yes, I have two human pets who are now nicely trained to do everything I ask 

What is your favourite perfume?

Eau de Mouse

Where is your favourite hideaway?

My favourite hideaway is under the chair in the spare bedroom where I have a cosy blanket and a few cat toys

Do you speak another language?

Of course

I  say “hello” to my  human every morning, just to be polite

How many siblings do you have?

I have a sister but I haven’t seen her for a long, long time and that makes me sad

Where is your Favourite place to lie in wait?

The stairs are my playground - I enjoy nipping toes and ankles

When was the last time you meowed?

This morning when I couldn’t get into the wardrobe. I need to check it daily for intruders

What is your Favourite Blog?

The one with my name above the door …Jaffareadstoo, of course

What is your Favourite pastime?

Sleeping - it's an art form I have perfected

What is your favourite TV Show?

Strictly Come Dancing, I enjoy the music – Anton Du Beke is my favourite 

Do you have a friend?

Yes, Timmy - he's a sneak and a thief

Do you have a secret?

Yes, but if I told you I would have to kill you

What would you say is your specialty?

I take security very seriously and check items that come into the house very carefully

Anything else to say, Jaffa ?

Of course, I hope your Christmas shines bright like a diamond

The magazine for readers and reading groups....newbooks nb83 Winter ...

Since 2007 I have been actively involved with newbooks  as a reviewer for their excellent magazine which is aimed primarily at readers, readers who belong to reading groups, or indeed, to anyone who quite simply enjoys reading about books, reading reviews from like minded bibliophiles and for those readers, much like myself,  who have a to be read pile which teeters dangerously close to the ceiling !

A few months ago I was dismayed to discover that the magazine was perilously close to closing down and I hoped beyond hope that there would be a solution and thankfully the answer came in a shared collaboration with the excellent on line book site nudge-book.com which offers the best of book worlds, on line content combined with a printed magazine for those of us who still like to hold something in our hands and turn physical pages.

I was delighted to be approached by the editorial team at newbooks to help launch a new feature in their relaunched magazine which aims to highlight the world of blogging and the many hundreds of us who take the time to winkle out those new books and who are passionate about sharing their love of reading with a wider audience.

Jaffa, of course, was included, what feature on Jaffareadstoo would be complete without the main man!  Donning his best bib and tucker, he kindly posed on his favourite vantage point, the garden shed roof, and as usual, managed to look extremely thoughtful, as he contemplates his important role in the book world.

Opening the Winter issue of newbooks I was extremely proud to be associated with such a fine venture and I really hope that this relaunch of the magazine I have come to know and love goes from strength to strength.

My thanks to Guy Pringle at newbooks and to Karen Maitland who generously allowed me to use her interview in this magazine article.

***

March 2015 - In the latest issue nb84 you will find a similar feature of my friend Lindsay's blog - The Little Reader Library...do pop along to meet her.

*~*~*