Blogger Spotlight! Black and Blue Ink

This week's blogger spotlight is on Chioma from Black and Blue Ink!

Chioma is super enthusiastic about books and everything else. Her comments often make my day because she has a great sense of humor and is always cheerful. Also I LOVE her blog layout, with the blues and purples. I emailed her for suggestions of sites to use to find blog layouts and she's been really helpful (I just haven't had time to really research yet).

Everyone please welcome Chioma!

1) Explain about your blog

My blog is a YA book blog that focuses on YA books from a wide range of genres. I do mostly “specialize” in YA paranormal and my ultimate favorite paranormal romances. I have either probably read, or plan to read every single YA paranormal book out there, trust me. That doesn’t me I don’t throw in some contemporary, mystery, or even science fiction book into the mix once in a while. The name Black and Blue Ink is more representative as me as a writer (or aspiring writer) than as a reader. It started in the 8^th grade when I had one of those multicolored pens that you click for the different colors. This pen is my favorite pen in the world till this day and pretty much the only pen I used to write my original pieces with. All the other four colors of the pen are broken so now all that is left is my black and blue ink colors. And now I refuse to write with anything but black and blue. Kind of boring I know, but I love it!!!

2) What 2010 debut book are you most looking forward to? Non-debut?

For debut book, I am craving, I mean I am in desperate need to read Saving Maddie. That book has been on my wish list since I first discovered Goodreads, and it’s finally out, if I only had some money… And for non-debut book, Rules of Attraction is what I am most looking forward to. Perfect Chemistry is one of my favorite books ever. I am in love with Simone Elkeles’s writing. It is so beautiful and you can really feel the emotions of her characters. And I hear Rules of Attraction is no exception to this, so you can imagine the agonizing anticipation this book has cast upon me. (But it comes out a few days after my birthday so there’s hope!!!)

3) What are your top 5 favorite POC books?

1. Jason and Kyra by Dana Davidson

2. Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

3. Perfect Shot by Debbie Rigaud

4. Secret Keeper by. Mitali Perkins

5. The Skin I'm In by Sharon G. Flake

4) Tell the world about you =)

My name is Chioma; I am Nigerian and reside in sunny California!!! To begin with, I wouldn’t say its hard being a student and blogging since blogging is more of a fun leisure that I love. The hard thing is trying to find balance. When I come home I usually read before I start my homework (a habit I am trying to abolish), and when I finish a book, the first thing I want to do is write a review for it, but then there is always homework standing in my way. So it’s not really hard, just about prioritizing. Besides reading and blogging, I love volleyball, basketball, and track. Volleyball is my number 1 sport, I love it so much and I hope to play in college (UCLA here I come). I also love to shop. I mean I am a professional when it comes to shopping. Besides that I love to dance, listen to music-mostly Drake right now, sing, and text message!!

5) If you could have dinner with two POC characters who would it be and why?

This is a hard one. Initially I would say Jason from Jason and Kyra and Alex from Perfect Chemistry and NO GIRLFRIENDS ALLOWED!!! But since I think both Kyra and Brittany are really cool too, I would say Maleeka from The Skin I’m In just because we would have so much in common. I remember when I read this book I could relate to her so much. Being a dark skinned Nigerian girl (and loving every minute of it) I sympathized with Maleeka and what she went through being the only girl in her school with dark skin. And Asha from Secret Keeper [SPOILER, Highlight to read) I would ask her if in the end, did she think her decision to give up

Finally, any advice to those who want to start reading POC and to those who want to start a blog?

My advice to anyone who wants to read POC is to just go over to your library and bookstore and look for something you like. There are plenty of great POC recommendations on goodreads.com and librarything.com. Just find something you like, in a genre you’re interested in and you’ll be hooked!!! My advice to those starting a blog is to do your own thing. Don’t think you are not a “real” blogger if you don’t start off doing all the memes and activities circulating in the book blogger realm, just post what you want to talk, discuss, and review; it’s your blog, let it be what you want it to be!!!

Chioma gives great advice and I'm so pleased to say that I've read all her top five books! They were all fantastic. Asha from Secret Keeper is a popular dinner companion (I've had two other bloggers mention her) and I would ask her the same question, among others. I would love to meet Alex and Jason too :) I completely agree that one of the hardest things about blogging is finding a balance, although my problem is I read about 50 blog posts before I get around to doing my homework! Anyway, I hope this interview has shown you what a cool person Chioma is and inspired you to check out her blog.

Why are you still reading? Go visit Black and Blue Ink!