Name : Lenore
Blog : Presenting Lenore
City/Country : Frankfurt, Germany
Welcome Lenore !
Tell us a little bit about you and your blog.
I’m an American living in Germany with my German husband and our two Sacred Birman cats, Emmy and Finn (featured on the blog every Tuesday). The blog started out mainly as a way to keep my friends and family updated about life overseas, but it transformed into a book blog nearly 2 years ago after I attended the Children’s Book Fair in Bologna and fell in love with the YA genre enough to want to widely promote it.
Have you ever lived anywhere else in the world ?
Yes. I grew up in the US and spent 2 years with my family in Greece. I also did exchange programs to Ecuador, Japan and Spain.
What countries have you visited ?
55 and counting! I’ve been to every continent except for Antarctica.
(Wow.)
What countries would you like to visit ?
My wish list includes Bhutan, Chile, Jordan, Montenegro and Madagascar. But I’ll probably next end up visiting Senegal and Kuwait since good friends of mine will be moving there soon.
According to you, what are the positive and negative aspects of being a book blogger in Germany ?
It’s great in October during the Frankfurt Book Fair. But from a book blogging perspective, it’s not so hot the rest of the year.
What German authors and books would you recommend ?
I’m just read a book by Uwe Timm. He’s great. The Perfume by Patrick Susskind. Nina Blazon is a hot YA fantasy author in Germany but only one of her books is available in English so far.
How many languages do you speak ?
English, Spanish, German.
Do you read more in English or in German ?
English. I barely ever read in German, but I am trying to change that.
Where do you usually buy your books ?
I usually buy them via amazon.com or amazon.de but I’ve been hearing great things about the book depository. I also order some books at my independent English language bookstore here in Frankfurt.
Is getting your hands on foreign books tricky or easy (not mentioning online stores) ?
I can usually order just about anything I want. It may take a little longer to get it, but that’s ok.
Every country has its clichés. What cliché about Germany do you consider disproportionate ?
Probably that everyone is on time. My friends are always so, very, late.
While the Frankfurt Book Fair is not as exciting as Book Expo America (way less author presence, unless you’re a fan of German authors), it is pretty amazing to be able to attend such a major book fair in your hometown. It’s such a rush to see all those amazing books all in one place! And if you’re lucky and come the last day, you can also take tons of books home with you.
Tell us about your International Book Blogger Mentor Program.
Sure! As an International Book Blogger, I know how difficult it can be to feel like you are a part of the book blogging community, which seems to have its centre in the US and Canada. Publishers won’t send ARCs to us, most book contests aren’t for us, and it can sometimes be difficult to find the new releases that everyone seems to be raving about. I’ve been lucky in getting books though, and I wanted to share the wealth, and offer a program to help international book bloggers feel more included. That includes help with reviews, moral support, publicity and lots of other things. The first applicants chosen have already been sent their books, and we are on track to have the first feature post in mid-March. I’m very excited about it! For more info, see this post.
Quick Q&A
Favorite thing about Germany : Frankfurt Airport – Gateway to the world
Least favorite thing about Germany: Abysmal customer service
Favorite typically German food : Spatzle
Favorite place in Frankfurt : my apartment :)
Favorite bookshop : Hugendubel English Bookshop
Favorite German author : Don’t really have one
Favorite German singer/band : Wolfsheim
Favorite book to read while travelling : A travel guide
Plane or train : Plane
Boat or bus : Neither
Bike or feet : Depends on the distance
Thank you Lenore ! It was a pleasure having you up on the hill.
Next week we'll be traveling to Japan!
Question of the Week :
The Tongue Fairy grants you a wish : you can learn one language in 5 seconds.
Which language do you choose to learn and master ?
Which language do you choose to learn and master ?
If you'd like to be featured, this post is for you.
This is seriously a feature that I love. Lenore is an amazing blogger and the fact that she is running this international mentor programme is just outstanding.
ReplyDeleteThe language question is a real tough one because I've always wanted to be able to understand Latin. It's like the language of alchemists and you know I'm a total dreamer. But then this week I fell in love with Perfect Chemistry and so I would so love to be able to speak Spanish (Mexican) because Alex Fuentes has totally got me weak at the knees with that!
Wow. So traveled and versed. Way cool.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the lovely interview! It was fun :)
ReplyDeleteHey, I'm greek! Where did you live in Greece?
ReplyDeleteWolfsheim???They're amazing!!Best German group along with Deine Lakaien.
Also a huuuuuge thanks for running this International blogging program.It means so much to us :)
Oh, how I'd love to travel with Lenore!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great interview with a wonderful blogger. If I could learn a language it would be Italian because I used to know it and now I have forgotten!
ReplyDeleteThank you for this wonderful feature.
The customer service I experienced in Germany was better than that in England . . . maybe I just wasn't there long enough.
ReplyDelete55 countries? WOW! I'm. So. Jealous.
ReplyDeleteI would probably want to learn mandarin, it's a huge language and seems very hard to learn without a tounge fairy ;)
How great to get to know Lenore a bit more! Wow 55 countries! That's something.
ReplyDeleteI have to say that I love the fact that you have included the international book blogging community, Lenore.
As always a great interview, Charlotte.
As for the question the first language that sprung to mind: French
I had no idea you traveled so much, Lenore! Fantastic interview, by the way, Charlotte. :)
ReplyDelete