Sure! Here’s a bunch of statements about me. I’m a nineteen year old girl going to college to become an elementary school teacher who really really really really wants to write YA books. I still live with my parents and younger sister (who is often referred to as “the lovely” on my blog). I have a cat named Waldo because it makes it funny when she gets lost in the house (“Where’s Waldo?” get it?). I love puns. I get very emotionally involved (/obsessed?) with my tv shows. I’m really close to my family. I live near the beach but never go. I’d rather write than almost anything else. I have strong opinions about bumper stickers. I’m honest to the point of it being a fault. I’m quiet but not shy and I hate when people confuse the two. I love twitter. (http://twitter.com/ninjajordyn)

It’s selfish, I admit. I love analyzing books – seeing what works and what doesn’t. The fact that I get to do this and call it “productive” instead of “weird” is incredible. And, of course, I love when people (especially the authors whose books I’ve reviewed!) notice the work I put into it or my site. Right now I think I keep blogging just because I love it, because it’s fun for me.

I did try another format but the only real differences were that it was only five sections instead of ten and it was out of 25 points instead of 100. I decided on a rubric with different sections because it keeps me on track, I’m less likely to forget about something important I wanted to point out, and I like reviews that are more in-depth. I’m all about the writing so I enjoy going over the more detailed aspects – how the writer handles characters, plot, and setting as three separate ingredients because often one or more of those things is done well while something else isn’t. If you’re a reader who loves exciting plot-driven books, you might not care so much if character development isn’t strong, but a character-driven reader will. I like to think that my reviews are very informative this way.

How do you feel about negative reviews?  Do you review every book you read?

I don’t review every book I read, but if it falls into the YA category and I don’t absolutely hate it I usually review it. I don’t have a policy against negative reviews but I have no problem with not finishing a book and if that happens I don’t review it – which means a lot of the books that would get negative reviews don’t get reviewed at all. Also I’m pretty selective in what I read – if I can tell I won’t like something I don’t read it. I don’t like writing negative reviews, but if a book warrants it I have to be honest about that, or else not review it at all.

Do your friends and family read your blog?  What are their thoughts on it?

I think my mom occasionally reads it, and I don’t think she dislikes it, but she reads it more because I’m her daughter and less because she’s into books. But no, I don’t think any of them read it regularly and I like it that way.

Have you met any blogging friends in real life?  Would you like to do so?

I have, actually. My first blogging friend was a girl whose blog I’d been reading since she started it and then we met in real life kind of accidentally – we both had essays published in the same book and were in NYC for the launch. Her blog is now dead but since then I’ve met one of my blog friends (the wonderful Khyrinthia of Frenetic Reader) at various book events. There are others I’d love to meet but we’re all so spread out! (Here’s hoping I make it to BEA is 2010!)

Other than YA, what are some of your favorite books?  Any particular genres that interest you more than others?  Movies?  Music?

• Available or single? Um, don’t those mean the same thing? Single. Available.
• Best Friend? My little sister. Plus many others, but my sister is my best best friend.
• Cake or Pie? Depends what kind of cake v. what kind of pie.
• Drink of choice? Arizona sweet tea. Or any iced tea, really.
• Essential item for every day use? Cellphone.
• Favorite color? All of them. When I was a kid I used to change my favorite color on a daily basis – now I just refuse to choose.
• Google? Yes and everything.
• Hometown? A small, isolated city in northern Arizona.
• Indulgences? Iced tea.
• January or February? January!
• Kids and their names? I am nineteen, so it’s good I don’t have kids just yet. I am a bit obsessed with names though. Right now the names of the main characters in my novel (which, you know, is kind of LIKE a child) are Grayson, Ainsley, Willa (all girls), and Hunter (the boy).
• Life is incomplete without…? Love. Wait, no, that’s too cliche. True, but cliche. Life is incomplete without hugs!
• Marriage date? I don’t know. I need to meet someone first. I want to get married in the winter though, because I’m weird.
• Number of siblings? One.
• Oranges or apples? Oranges.
• Phobias and fears? Rollercoasters, dentist (gahhh!!!), bee/wasp stings and black widow spiders.
• Quote for the day? “That’s how we roll in the shire!” from Leonard on The Big Bang Theory. I actually have never seen LOTR and only read The Hobbit, which I didn’t like, but I just think this line is hilarious.
• Reason to smile? I’m listening to good music. (Right now it’s Half Past Two, my newly discovered music crush.)
• Season? Winter, please! (I tell my mom I have the opposite of SAD – too much sun makes me sad.)
  
• Three people you would tag for this exercise: Michelle (best friend/cousin), Becca (best friend/awesome person), and Jocelyn. (I know, I have a lot of best-friend-type people.)
• Unknown fact about me? I always (yes, always) have the theme song to Elmo’s World stuck in my head. For probably years now.
• Vegetable you hate? I’m not to keen on onions, but I wouldn’t say I hate them exactly. I actually really love vegetables. I was that kid who was like YAY PEAS!
• Worst habit? Letting the mess pile up. I’m a slob.
• X-rays you’ve had? Geez. Um. Lemme think. Arm (broke it when I was three or four), numerous chest x-rays (at least once a year) and numerous back/spine x-rays.
• Your fave food? I don’t know if it’s my absolute FAVORITE, but I really like creamed peas. And avocados.
• Zodiac sign? I don’t know. 

What advice do you have for anyone thinking about starting a blog, whether it is specifically for books or not?

Do it because you love it, because it’s fun, because it adds something to your life. Don’t feel obligated to it. Don’t let it become a burden. Enjoy it and make up your own “rules for blogging” along the way.

 Thank you, Jordyn!  It was fun getting to know you and your blog!  Now, everyone, head on over to her blog, Ten Cent Notes, and check her out!