Racy Romance Questionnaire: Carolyn Jean of the Thrillionth Page

I don’t recall how I discovered Carolyn Jean’s blog, The Thrillionth Page, but with its distinctive retro look, it quickly became a daily stop. She is incredibly funny (check out her alter ego, Miss Doreen’s, interview with author LB Gregg) and insightful (I have read a dozen reviews of Blue Diablo, but it was CJ’s recent discussion of the dual nature of one character’s gift that sent me to the bookstore to buy it), and she is one of those writer-bloggers whose voice really comes through on her blog. I have no idea what her forthcoming book (Bantam 2010) is about, but I know I will be buying it.

Without further ado, here are CJ’s answers to the Racy Romance Questionnaire:

1. What motivated you to start your blog?

I guess my blog started as a way for me to reach out to find community. Here in Minneapolis in real life, I know lots of writers and readers, but mostly they are into super literary stuff. When I discovered romance and paranormals several years back, it renewed my love of reading and writing. Frankly, it improved my whole life!  But I lost common ground with my RL friends around books; honestly, it’s been hard for my longtime bookish buds to relate to what I’m reading and writing now.  I missed talking about books like that. The blog was a way to reach out, both as a reader and a writer, and connect with other people around books.

2. Are those still the reasons you blog?

Yes, but I’ve added reasons. I discovered I learn a lot about writing when I do reviews the way I do, by focusing on an aspect of a book I think really worked. Sometimes just by typing out a passage I enjoyed, it shows me things.  Also, some posts make me sort of snigger to myself. I guess you could say I get a certain kind of fun out of putting up certain posts.  And obviously now that I have a book coming out, I can let people know about it, though I mostly have my website for that. And there’s the people of course now, that’s huge. Connecting with the friends I’ve made.

3. How has your blog changed since you started it?

I think it’s become clearer, because it was pretty oblique when I started. Like, I looked back the other day on this Linnea Sinclair post I did way back, and she was gracious enough to visit and comment, but I sort of wonder if she could tell if I even liked the book.

4. If you had to describe your blog to someone with an incredibly short attention span, how would you do it? (One word or fewer, please).

Experiential reviews and occasional silliness.

[This is Carolyn Jean's idea of one word? No wonder she is on the Thrillionth Page of her ms!]

5. If you could only read one romance blog (other than your own, chica — I am one step ahead of your ego!) for a week on a desert island which would it be?

[I'll start this answer for you: "This is so hard. There are so many great blogs. Blah Blah Blah."] Now SPILL!

This will sound kiss-up, but I really do like your blog. It’s got a great balance of book stuff, opinion and randomness. Renee’s Reading Addiction has been popping for me, too. Smart insights, well written, visually engaging.

6. Do you sometimes feel like blogging has taken over your life? And if not, what is the matter with you and why aren’t you more committed?

Oh, it’s bad. As somebody who works a mentally demanding job and also writes novels with actual due dates now, it is cutting into my productivity. Like an addict, I make little rules about how much and when I can blog. And then I break them!

7. What are your long term goals for your blog?

I have tons of exciting goals and I get new ideas every week, and the dangerous thing is, I can implement them instantly!!  It’s heady. Like, with my freelance writing, there’s always a client to say NO. With novels, there’s my agent and editor to say no. But with a blog, there is no NO!

I recently went through a phase where I considered spinning off an entire blog for little CJ. Yet another idea had me adding a fictional reviewer to discuss storylines of Japanese cartoon porn. But then I thought, WTF am I thinking? Luckily I was too busy to add that feature at the time.

8. What unique contribution to Romanceland does your blog make (can be a negative contribution if you’re feeling self-esteem challenged today)?

I feel like I take more than I give in so many ways, not just materially. But if I had to say what difference I bring…I think at its best, my blog hopefully stops and smells the roses of different authors’ work.

9. What’s one thing another blogger or bloggers do that you admire?

I love how Scooper Speaks leads her reviews with a favorite line from the book; it gives you a flavor of the writing right away. Plus, her reviews are smart, reliable and consistent. For me, she’s a top go-to blog on UF and paranormal.

10. Name a blog you enjoy that deserves way more readers:

I think Alpha Heroes does. I’ve been enjoying Nicola’s commentary on books and thoughtful analysis a whole lot lately. She puts so much thought and care into what she does, and she has kind of a cool journalistic style.

11. How hot is your blog’s look? Choose your scale:

Vegetarian Rating scale: Scorching, Smoking, Glowing, Tingling, hot coffee, cup of tea (caffeinated), cup of tea (herbal), milk (tepid), O’Doul’s, ice water.

Carnivore Rating Scale: Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, Denzel Washington, Nathan Fillion, Simon Baker, Zac Efron, Jonas Bros (all three), Jonas Bros (any one), Paul Giametti

Omnivore Rating scale: Christian Bale, Halle Berry, Hellboy, Charlize Theron, Doctor Manhattan, Daniel Radcliffe, Lady GaGa, Alf, iCarly, E.T.

This is a weird question with silly choices, Jessica! I think I’m a bit E.T., but also Nathan Fillion.  I like the way my blog looks. I like to use lots of pictures. I think it makes text more readable.

12. Kindly enter the Blog Stat Slut Box (you can’t see it, but you now have a truth telling digital lasso around your computer and cannot lie) (although there is a loophole for exaggeration, hyperbole, and false modesty)

a. Number of times a day you check your stats (readers, multiply by 3 to get a more accurate number):

Oh, cripes! Can I just say a super embarrassing number? Can I call myself a blog-obsessed narcissist and leave it at that? Checking stats is a big time waster thing I do between other things.

[Readers, interpret as: 1,274 times]

b. Give it up. How many subscribers do you have? Hits per day?

I’m never really sure how people measure this. It’s probably best if I don’t know. When I sign into google bloggers, it says 24 people are following my blog. On beta bloglines it’s 19. I don’t know if there is another measurement. But I get around 70-100 unique hits a day, unless I’ve been slacking off with the posts.

However, a good 10-15% of those are coming off Renee’s link to my Outlander tryout post … and presumably these visitors go away unhappy, since it sort of mocks the book, which I actually do love.

[Wait. I think I just discovered that CJ has mocked Outlander. Can someone please confirm while I go pour myself a shot of Glenburgie and unsubscribe from her blog?]

c. Are you happy with those numbers? And if so, why don’t you have any ambition?

My numbers.  Sigh. Most girls have bigger.

13. What’s one piece of advice you could offer to anyone thinking about buying a piece of real estate in Romanceland?

I think consistency is key here. And also, posts that aren’t really long. Sometimes when I see a really long post, I go, I need to come back and read this, and then I never do.

[Long posts? Never heard of such a thing!]

Thank you, Carolyn Jean!!