#BloggerSpotlight

Welcome to the Perusing Princesses: Kelly, Elizabeth and Emma!

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Who are you and why are you blogging?

 Kelly: My name is Kelly, and I am one-third self-proclaimed blogging Princess at Perusing Princesses. Initially, I never intended to become a blogger but due to the amount of books I read, and my online interaction, I met a couple of amazing ladies who felt it would be a good idea, and alas… viola. We launched on June 1^st 2013 and still going strong. We love to read, chat and interact with other readers and authors. I think I can speak on behalf of Elizabeth and Emma when I say, we have the best hobby ever!

Elizabeth: I am Elizabeth, Co-Princess at Perusing Princesses.  I am a momma of 2 kiddos, my 21 your old Prince and my 7 year old Princess… I am a SHM, Queen of my castle (which means I am mostly portraying Cinderella prior to the fairy godmother). I also homeschool my Princess, and I manage our construction company.  How I squeeze in time to read, I have no idea!

I can thank my daddy for my passion for reading… my fondest memories of him is the both of us sitting on the couch on Saturdays and spending the whole day reading…  This passion for reading became sidelined for many years simply due to life and having kiddos… fortunately I was able to start reading again a few years ago.  After reading a spectacular series, and thanks to social media, I contacted the author and let her know how amazing her books were.  To my great surprise, she messaged me instantly and we chatted until 5am.  This opened up a whole new world for me… being able to contact the authors directly, have conversations, develop friendships! That would have been impossible without social media.  Not only did I get to meet authors online. I also met some wonderful women who shared my passion.  That sort of led itself in creating the website and inviting my co-princesses to blog, something I had no idea how to do.  So with trial and error I created Perusing Princesses.. and I could not do it without my co-Princesses, Kelly and Emma! I am very proud of them and our little niche of this book world.  We have made amazing friendships with great authors and readers, and I can’t help but fangirl all the time!

Emma: My name is Emma Allsop, I’m a 39-year-old married mother of 2 young children and I live in rural Hampshire in the south of England. I was introduced to Kelly (a fellow Princess) through a mutual friend. My friend knew I had a passion for reading and when she found out that Kelly (and Elizabeth) was looking for someone to join her blog, she recommended me. I have now blogged and reviewed with Elizabeth and Kelly for nearly 12 months and it has been an absolute blast. Not only have I met 2 wonderful new friends, I have also been able to share the love I have for books with an audience. I love promoting authors that don’t have the backing of big publishers. I wish I could write, but alas this isn’t a talent I have. I can however help the authors that pour their heart and souls into books by blogging and reviewing their books. Every little helps!

Where’s your favourite reading nook and why?

Kelly: I have a princess throne fit for reading. Literally! It’s in my lounge and it is very comfortable.

Elizabeth: Gosh! I truly love to read anywhere I can… I can’t say I have a fave spot, so I will share a pic of what I call the Princess cave, where I sit to blog and my little book shelf.

Emma: My leather armchair. It is so comfy and has a plug socket and nice wide arm big enough for my kindle and coffee to rest.

What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done?

Kelly: I don’t know if I should admit it online, but one night, while I was out with many of my friends there wasn’t quite enough room in my friend’s car at the end of night to get me home safely, so I rode home slightly (okay… maybe a lot) inebriated, on the bonnet of his car. Suffice to say… I survived!

Elizabeth: Got married after dating for about 2 months!

Emma: I am not the craziest person to be honest. I leave the marathons and skydiving to the hubby who is much more adventurous. However I do become social hand grenade after a few drinks. I could probably tell you lots of crazy moments that I have had with my girls. But a standout for me is getting up on a bar top in a nightclub in Barcelona on my hen do, to dirty dance with a very gorgeous and quite possibly gay barman. That would have been ok, had I not been wearing a short pleated skirt with a thong. When another barman decided to blow the air machine, the whole club got an eye full of my bare arse!! There is video evidence, you aren’t having it. 🙂

What’s the craziest thing you’d still like to do in your life?

Kelly: Skydiving. I’ve never had the opportunity to do it, but I would like to one day.

Elizabeth: hmmm… I truly do not know! I am such a conservative introvert.

Emma: That’s the worst question for me because quite frankly, if it is something that could put my life at risk (I include a ride on the London Eye in that – I had a serious meltdown on it) or makes my heart beat too fast I WILL not even entertain it. So crazy, maybe not, but I would like to visit a few places for sure.

What’s your most treasured possession?

Kelly: Can I say my kindle? 🙂

Elizabeth: My Family 🙂 Here is a quick pic of my princess and me being silly.

Emma: I wouldn’t call them possessions as such, but their mine and I adore them – My Kids…

Who or what would need to accompany you on a desert island?

Kelly: My Husband, because I would never survive alone.

Elizabeth: Since in my imagination it is a tropical paradise with all the creature comforts of home, a staff to wait on me, unlimited supply of necessities, I would just need my family with me…lol 

Emma: Well that would depend on whether the desert island had electric LOL!! If it did then it would without doubt be my Kindle. If not then I would cheat and take my favourite handbag, which is very large. I would then stuff it full of books!!

Top ten favourite books of all times (any genre)?

Kelly: This is such a hard question! My favourite book as a child was The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis. I found my well-loved paperback copy not so long ago and gave it to my 9 year old Daughter. My literary tastes now are quite eclectic. I like some classics, such as Jane Eyre and Oliver Twist, but then I’ll read paranormal such as the Black Dagger Brotherhood by JR Ward, and erotica romance on par with the likes of Fifty Shades. To then reading a comedy. Most of the books I love have a sexy leading male. Go figure…

Elizabeth: This question always guts me! I read a book every day or two… it would be like picking a favorite child! Can’t do it!  My fave genre is romance books, particularly MC, Rockers, Tattooed Bad Boys, and some Mystery/Thriller too.

Emma: Worst bloody question EVER!! Ok, I am going to cheat a little: 

1. Undeniable series by Madeline Sheehan
2. The Original Sinners series by Tiffany Reisz
3. Lucy in the Sky by Paige Toon
4. Thoughtless series by S.C Stephens
5. Chances by Jackie Collins
6. Hades Hangman series by Tillie Cole
7. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
8. FSOG series by E L James
9. Stewart realty series by Liz Crowe
10. Chasing Daisy by Paige Toon (To be honest, anything by Paige Toon)

I so know I’m going to remember another book as soon as I email this!

What’s your favourite cocktail or alternative tipple?

Kelly: Mojito. Its light and refreshing and the perfect summer cocktail. In the winter months, I’m all about the Jack Daniels and coke. I am a fond lover of wine too.

Elizabeth: I very rarely imbibe… maybe once a year… I just never have… lol!  But when I do, I enjoy a Washington apple or a margarita.

Emma: I love a pint of cold San Miguel or Peroni lager above everything else, but a nice Gin & Tonic with Ice and a slice comes a very close second.

What’s the thing you regret most not having done in your life so far?

Kelly: Travelling. I wish I backpacked in my younger years and saw more of the world.

Elizabeth: Hmmm… not so much a regret… but now that I am older, I would have loved to have been more free and adventurous as an older teen and young adult.  I went to a private catholic girls school, so me being sheltered is an understatement! And I am pretty shy in nature… so it would have been great to sow some wild oats in my youth to be able to regale some insane stories to my future grandkids.

Emma: There is no place for regret in any part of my life, but I do regret not going to Glastonbury Festival with my friends in 1995 – It was a hot and sunny weekend and they had a blast. I couldn’t get the day off my Saturday job and like the work horse I am, I didn’t ring in sick! They kept rubbing salt in the wound by ring me regularly to tell me what a great time they were having.

If you could marry a celebrity, who would it be?

Kelly: Considering my love of heavy rock music… it would have to be M. Shadows from Avenged Sevenfold. If I had to choose an actor, it would be Chris Hemsworth.

Elizabeth: Ha! Channing Tatum!

Emma: Easy! – Charlie Hunnam because he’s HOT!

You’re starting a book club. Which celebrities would you invite, and how would you convince them to turn up?

Elizabeth: I can’t stop laughing! The first ones I thought of is the Sparkly Vampire we all love in private and his on/off/on/off again Vamp babe..lol! Well, to defend myself, it is well publicized that they are avid readers!

Emma: Charlie Hunnam, Jamie Dornan and David Beckham for obvious reasons, and I would offer to show them my boobs if they turned up (actually, not sure if that would convince them to come or make them run a bloody mile LOL!!)

You’re invited to a buffet dinner, but you can pick only ONE savoury item and ONE sweet. What would you cram on your plate?

Kelly: Chicken satay followed by a big slab of New York Cheesecake. Yum!

Elizabeth: T-bone steak and Chocolate Mousse…  gosh, now I am hungry! lol

Emma: Puff pastry sausage rolls and Trifle.

You’re asked to a pot luck dinner party. What do you bring?

 Probably wine. Can never go wrong with wine!

Elizabeth: T-bone steak and chocolate mousse! Ok, ok, seriously… my really delish homemade chocolate cake.

Emma: I’m not the world’s best cook but I do make a pretty mean Lasagne and my Key Lime Pie is always a hit as well… 

Where’s your favourite place in the whole wide world?

Kelly: Home. Corny I know… but it’s where my favourite people are. If I had to choose a holiday destination, I would have to say Crete in Greece. Such a beautiful Island.

Elizabeth: Honestly, my home, and my life right now! 

Emma: I LOVE Barcelona, Spain – It has everything you could want: Beach, shops, culture, great food, great weather and copious amounts of San Miguel.

You’re talking to a hopeless romantic (me). But do you believe in love at first sight? Why? (Or why not?)

Kelly: I believe in insta-lust. I believe that you can look at a person and feel immediately attracted or connected in some way, but real love needs to be earned. I was attracted to my husband when I first met him, but falling in love came in time. It was quick but it didn’t happen overnight because when you love someone, you love everything about them, even their faults. He must love me because I have many. 🙂

Elizabeth: I really do!  And not just in romantic couple type of love at first sight… although I really believe in that too.  I believe that there are just people that cross your path and that you truly fall for them… you just connect!  I don’t think that’s just random.  And especially with blogging and social media being what it is… you “meet” people virtually, and it just seems like you are linked by your soul… even though you may physically never lay eyes on them.  There is just that heart tug that you feel that lets you know that you belong together…

Emma: Yes, because I met my husband 20 years ago, fell in love and knew we would be together forever. We are best friends and soul mates and he is my biggest supporter. We also argue the way you can only do with the people closest to you.

Unbeknownst to you, your best friend has entered you for a talent show, and suddenly you’re on a stage in front of 5,000 people. What’s your talent, and would you be voted through to the next round?

Kelly: I would have no choice but to sing because I’m not the best dancer, although I could probably do a mean air guitar! And no. I would probably be covered in tomatoes by the time I leave the stage.

Elizabeth: Sweet lord! Ummmm, play the piano, and probably not!!

Emma: I would wow them with my singing, which I think I’m amazing at. In my mind, I wouldn’t just get voted through, I’d win!! – In reality, I’d be boo’d off stage!

Any other random comments that you’d like to share with my readers?

Elizabeth: I want to say thank you to you Nicky!!! You are amazing, and one of those fall in love at first sight people I am talking about!  I have been given this amazing gift of life, and I am forever grateful that I am able to exist in this book world and meet amazing people as yourself.  I am truly blessed!

Aww Elizabeth: thank you so much for that lovely comment, now I’m blushing. I’m blessed too! xx

Emma:

 

Thank you so much to Princess Kelly, Princess Elizabeth, and Princess Emma for stopping by here today. Princesses–can I come on your desert islands with you, share your books, and partake of your dinner party food and cocktail choices, please? Loveya!