Beyond the Blog with Wicked Scribes

Welcome to Beyond the Blog, where we'll not only be featuring some amazing blogs but also the creative people behind them. Today we have an interview with Kaleigha from Wicked Scribes.  We love Kaleigh's blog because it's not your typical site.  You can see all the time and effort she puts into creating her character guides, series reading lists, cover lover posts, beautiful blog designs, featured authors and future releases.  It's all really impressive and is a site you must check out, AFTER Kaleigh's interview  :-)

Let’s start with a few blog related questions

How has your blog changed since you first started it?
Superficially, I guess, I can say the look has changed several times. I started not even knowing what button to press to make a post show up, so working up to customizing CSS took a while. Wicked Scribes also started out purely for my own organizational needs - it was just a way to keep track of when “my” books were coming out, and it sort of snowballed from there. Pretty much everything on there is what I use myself to keep track of what I read - I am just glad if someone else can find the info useful.

What sets it apart from others?
Hm. It does have a lot in common with other blogs - cover art, release info, etc. I guess the difference might be that I am trying to be a reference site rather than a review site. I only offer an opinion on books/covers/etc if directly asked (or if something catches me off guard - either good or bad - and I can’t keep my big mouth shut). I just want to make it easier for people to find books to read, when to read them, and keep track of the series and characters that they already love.

We love the header and background on your blog. Who designed them?
Thanks! Good, bad, and ugly, I have done all of the incarnations myself. I thought I was decent at Photoshop until I tackled all the little blog design elements - er, lets just say I have a whole new-found respect for web designers. And graphic artists.

Who are some of your favorite authors/books that you discovered because of blogging?
I came into blogging with a slightly unhealthy obsession with several authors - Kresley Cole, Nalini Singh, Christine Feehan, and a few others. All strictly Paranormal Romance. Blogging opened up the whole world of Urban Fantasy and Young Adult, both of which I was too snobby to get into before. Patricia Briggs, Ilona Andrews, Jeaniene Frost, and Richelle Mead all shot to the top of my favorite authors list once I “lowered” myself into trying them. My newest love is Jennifer L. Armentrout’s books - which I never would have found if not for blogging.

Let’s get to know the bloggers behind the blog, shall we?

Where are you from?
Originally I was born in Vancouver, Canada, but I have lived in New Brunswick, Canada for a long, long time. Did I mention it is an hour and a half to the nearest bookstore?

What would your dream job be?
Ever since I was young, I had wanted to be an Architect. I had the first four years put in before life got in the way, but that is how things go. I think now, however, if I was starting over, I would love to have something to do with computer software design.

Are you a morning person or is coffee a must before you are able to function?
To be honest, I haven’t actually seen a morning in so long I don’t remember what they look like - unless I am still up from the night before. I take nocturnal to a whole new level. Vampires have absolutely nothing on me (right now it is 4 am, and not tired yet).

It’s noon on Sunday, what are you up to?
Still sleeping - it is an hour before I have to get up for work. That is my “early” day.

You’re stranded on an island (not really sure how that happened) and when you look in your bag you’re thankful to see your 5 favorite books are in there. What’s in your bag?
I was going to say the usual “I could never choose”, but that would be a cop out. So, here goes, in no particular order.

Dark Prince by Christine Feehan - the first paranormal book I ever read. It not only started my paranormal love, but got me back into reading after a long break with no reading at all.

Shadow Game by Christine Feehan - I fell completely in love with the Ghostwalkers, thanks to this one.

Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh - I thought the cover was tacky, so I avoided it on the TBR pile like the plague. I think about half way through, Nalini had a fan for life. She can do no wrong.

Dark Lover by J.R. Ward - again, I had it on the TBR mountain forever. Vampire brotherhood fighting evil  Ha! Like that storyline would ever catch on…yeah.

A Hunger Like No Other by Kresley Cole - Again, totally cheesy cover that almost turned me away, but ended up hooking me for life a few chapters in.

Not all of these were my favorites of their respective series, but I would take them for sentimental value alone.

You just found the paranormal world is real. What is your reaction?
It would be a whole lot of pointing and laughing at those who have always figured I waste my time and money reading “those books”. And then ask to borrow them.

You just won your dream vacation, all expenses paid. Where are you going?
New York. I went there last year, and am going back this year, and I completely love it. If I had about 25 million dollars, I would move there in a heartbeat. As a working stiff? Not so much.

Oh, we forgot to mention you get to take your fantasy man with you. So, who are you taking?
It would probably be the hero of whatever book I am reading at the moment (hellooo, Vlad). All time fantasy man…uh, I think I have to go with either Jeaniene Frost’s Bones, or Karen Marie Moning’s Dageus MacKeltar. Either? Both? Yeah, I vote for both.

Thanks again…hope I didn’t bore you too much. I still get surprised people actually read my blog, never mind like it. It is much appreciated!


You were awesome Kaleigha!  Thanks again for the interview and for giving such a helpful site!  Here's where you can find Kaleigha around the web.

Wicked Scribes Blog
Wicked Scribes on Facebook