When I read through my fellow bloggers posts I’m often inspired by their graphics, ideas, books to read, and discussions. When I read Marie’s posts I am all of those things but mostly I’m amazed at the amazing content she produces. This is a woman who has a full time job and still spends a few hours daily writing a blog. Her posts are incredible, well spoken, and unique. If you have never gone to her website and visited her blog, please do!

Click this link to enter. And BEWARE! Time will fly!  DRIZZLE & HURRICANE BOOKS

I’m sure we all feel like we know Marie pretty well, right? I hope I can learn something new from her answers to these 10 questions.

Blogging is universal and even though we inhabit the same community, we don’t always live in the same country. What country do you live in?

I live in the country of baguettes and croissants (and annoying strikes….), France.

Most blogs have a quirky name and a fun story of origin. Please share the story behind your blogs name?

My blog is called Drizzle & Hurricane Books and I thought my reference here would be obvious, yet apparently it’s not, for many people, so…

I’m a huge fan of John Green’s books and my favorite book is Looking for Alaska. There is a famous quote in that book, about drizzle and hurricanes and… when I was looking for a blog’s name, I actually stumbled upon one of the quotations up on my wall, and saw that one. I thought it’d make a pretty name for a blog and…. when you think about it, some books have the same effects as drizzles, or hurricanes, so… 🙂

Describe where you write your blog. 

I usually write my blog posts on my couch at home, either with some tv on the background or just nothing.

Most of us have a stack of books sitting next to our couch or bed waiting to be read. What books are in your stack? 

I currently have three books waiting to be read :

Once and For All, A Quiet Kind of Thunder, and Little black dresses, little white lies

In case you’d like to check out these books…

A Quiet Kind of Thunder by Sara Barnard

A girl who can’t speak and a boy who can’t hear go on a journey of self-discovery and find support with each other in this gripping, emotionally resonant novel from bestselling author Sara Barnard. Perfect for fans of Morgan Matson and Jandy Nelson.

Steffi doesn’t talk, but she has so much to say.
Rhys can’t hear, but he can listen.

Steffi has been a selective mute for most of her life. The condition’s name has always felt ironic to her, because she certainly does not “select” not to speak. In fact, she would give anything to be able to speak as easily and often as everyone around her can. She suffers from crippling anxiety, and uncontrollably, in most situations simply can’t open her mouth to get out the words.

Steffi’s been silent for so long that she feels completely invisible. But Rhys, the new boy at school, sees her. He’s deaf, and her knowledge of basic sign language means that she’s assigned to help him acclimate. To Rhys, it doesn’t matter that Steffi doesn’t talk. As they find ways to communicate, Steffi discovers that she does have a voice, and that she’s falling in love with the one person who makes her feel brave enough to use it. But as she starts to overcome a lifelong challenge, she’ll soon confront questions about the nature of her own identity and the very essence of what it is to know another person.

Click this link to purchase! A Quiet Kind of Thunder

Once and For All by Sarah Dessen

Is it really better to have loved and lost? Louna’s summer job is to help brides plan their perfect day, even though she stopped believing in happily-ever-after when her first love ended tragically. But charming girl-magnet Ambrose isn’t about to be discouraged now that he’s met the one he really wants. Maybe Louna’s second chance is standing right in front of her.

Click this link to purchase! Once and for All

Little Black Dresses, Little White Lies by Laura Stampler

Harper Anderson has always thought she should have been born somewhere more glamorous than her sleepy Northern California suburb.

Already resigned to working at a Skinny B’s Juice Press for the summer, Harper is shocked when the ultra-prestigious teen magazine, Shift, calls to say they want her to be their teen dating blogger for the summer. All she needs to do is get her butt to New York in two days.

There’s just one teeny, tiny problem: Apart from some dance floor make-outs, Harper doesn’t have a whole lot of dating experience. So when Shift’s application asked for an “edgy” personal essay, Harper might have misappropriated her best friend’s experiences for her own. But she can just learn on the job…right? Will the house of lies Harper has built around her dream job collapse all around her, or will she be able to fake it until she makes it in the big city?

Click this link to purchase! Little Black Dresses, Little White Lies

If you have had a bad day and want to spend an hour reading a book, what is your go to genre or favorite book that will lift your mood?

My go-to genre will always be young adult contemporary – whether it’s to lift up my mood, get me out of a slump or, just, you know, always. I just LOVE contemporaries too much, haha.

When you aren’t blogging, how do you spend your time? Work, Play, School?

I graduated university back in 2016 and I’m currently working full-time. When I’m not, I’m reading, blogging, traveling when I can, watching tv shows and waiting for my next holidays. Or book in the mail.

What is your favorite blog post you’ve ever written? 

This is such a hard question? I think I’d go with my blog post about the struggles of an international blogger, since it’s a topic I hold really close to my heart.

The Struggles of Being an International Book Blogger

Have you ever met one of your favorite authors? If so, what did you say to them? Looking back, what do you wish you had said instead?

I actually had never met any big authors up until earlier this year. I went to the biggest book fair in Paris and got to meet some of my favorite authors of all times: Sarah Dessen, V.E. Schwab and Marissa Meyer.

I kind of said hello and thank you a whole lot, even when there was no need to. Sarah Dessen told me she liked the book I took with me (The Truth About Forever) I said thank you, she said she liked the cover, I said thank you. Now, I’m like, WHY. I asked them about France and if they liked it there, but somehow I wish I could have expressed my love for their books a bit more?! I was just very awkward okay.

Do you have any blogging goals for the next year?

I’m not sure – I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself, even if I love a good goal. I’d love to get more opportunities to work closely with publishers I admire. I’d love to help bloggers more. Most importantly though, I’d love to RELAX about blogging and just be chill and happy with what I put out there. And keep on loving it 🙂

If you could sit down with an author for a slice of cake and a question,  who is the author, what kind of cake would you serve, and what is the first question you’d ask?

My favorite author of all times is John Green so, obviously I’d love to sit with him and have a slice of cake. I’d have chocolate cake, because it’s my favorite, but I have absolutely NO idea what the hell I would ask him, I’d probably be in shock or something. To be honest and practical, I’m thinking the first thing out of my mouth would be “how are you”.

Thanks Marie, so much for agreeing to answer my questions! FYI, I just read Sarah Dessen’s book myself, and it was very good! (review soon!) I am probably the only person who has not read any of John Green’s novels, but on your recommendation I may have to pick one up!

Has anyone else read any of the books on Marie’s bookshelf? If you’re a fan of John Green, which book is your favorite?

Thanks for reading my Blogger to Blogger post!

Deb