I had some fun a few months ago interviewing a few wonderful people that I've had the privilege of befriending through the shared love of reading. I'd like to share one with you now.  

Please enjoy my interview with bibliophile 

April Schilling!

LKBR: Hi April! It’s great having you here!

AS: Hi Lisa!  I’m thrilled to be here!

LKBR: What was the first cozy mystery you read?

AS:  I think my first cozy was The Cornbread Killer by Lou Jane Temple

LKBR: How did you learn about cozy mysteries?

AS:   My husband actually bought that first book cause the cover made him snicker and he thought I’d like it.  He was right!

LKBR: How long have you been reading cozies?

AS:  About 15 yrs or so.

LKBR: What does reading cozies mean to you? How do they make you feel?

AS:  I like reading them.  They are ususally about small towns and involve a small group of friends or a family group.  It’s nice to read about people working together to protect each other or solve the mystery.  I have a wonderful husband and a best friend that I’m practically joined at the hip to.  Reading about other groups in the cozies makes me think about us and smile.

LKBR: Cozy mysteries often feature pets. Do you have any pets of your own? If yes, what are they?

AS:  I’m afraid I don’t have any pets.  I love animals but, we have a small apartment that doesn’t really allow animals.

LKBR: Do you leave reviews? If yes, for all the books you read or just the ones you liked?

AS: I do leave reviews which is a new thing for me.  I am part of Joyce and Jim Lavene’s review crew and that started me on doing reviews.  After that, I started leaving them for almost all of the books that I read.

LKBR: What has your experience in the Facebook cozy community been like for you?

AS:  It has been so nice to make new friends!  I’ve really enjoyed getting to know other cozy readers and sharing my likes and interests with them.  I’ve not had a bad experience so far and don’t expect to.

LKBR: What other genres do you enjoy reading?

AS:  I also read sci-fi, horror and fantasy.  Some paranormal as well. 

LKBR: Bookstores, on-line shopping, or libraries . . . which is your favorite way to acquire your books?

AS:  I honestly enjoy all three.  I get some of my older books online but, I have a cute independent bookstore here in Taunton that I love getting newer books from.  They all know me there and get worried if I haven’t come in for a while hehe!  I go to the library to try out new series or books I can’t find otherwise.  I also get a lot of my audio books from there.  The librarians are great!

LKBR: Print or eBook. Which do you prefer?

AS:  I prefer print books.  I do own a Kindle and it’s wonderful for when I travel.  It’s nice not to have a take a backpack full of paperbacks on vacation.

LKBR: Do you enter in giveaways for books? If yes, have you ever won anything?

AS:  I do.  My first was from the Cozy Chicks quite a while ago.  I won a lovely bag full of books and other goodies. 

LKBR: If you could say anything to your favorite author (you don’t have to name her/him), what would you say?

AS:  Picking a favorite author is way too hard hehe!  I am friends with most of the authors that I enjoy and I was able to have lunch with Joyce and Jim Lavene recently which was so much fun! (Lisa's Note:This interview was done several months before the sudden passing of author Joyce Lavene)  

LKBR: What do you do when you’re not reading?

AS:  I crochet and knit, play some online video games with my gaming family or watch movies with my hubby.  My best friend and I have epic Girl Days sometimes which is always fun hehe!  I also try to update my Etsy store.  I don’t have a lot in there but, it’s something to try to help keep the amount of blankets and scarves in the house to a minimum.  I’m going to make the things whether or not anything sells and I’ve given something to practically everyone I know J

LKBR: What are three things people would find interesting and/or fun about you?

AS:  I wasn’t sure on this one so, I asked my husband.  He said I’m in a category all on my own so I can’t really be categorized.  I’m always thinking outside of the box and I have a wonderful imagination. My best friend says that I am what she thinks of when someone mentions the Mother Goddess hehe!  

My nickname is Casey after a character in the movie The Return of the Living Dead.  When the movie came out, I was 13 yrs old and we had to have my friend’s brother take us.  I was really into the whole punk/new wave scene and my friends thought I looked like Casey.  The name stuck J

LKBR: Thank you, April. I loved learning more about you. Happy reading!

AS:  Thanks for having me, this was a lot of fun!  Happy reading!

Keep checking back for more 

bibliophile interviews!

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