Sunday Serenade: Natalie from Coffee and a Book Chick

I am so pleased to introduce to you Natalie from Coffee and a Book Chick. She is probably one of the absolute sweetest bloggers I know, and I so cannot wait until next year's trip to Key West....read on and you'll understand why! Natalie also has one of the best book blogs around and her book reviews are incredibly thorough! Be sure to stop by her blog and tell her hello!

 What do you do when you're not blogging or reading?

Not blog or read?  Whatever do you mean!  When I’m not blogging or reading, I am hanging out with my amazing husband and my fabulous “children,” which consist of Roma the Dog and Puppy the Cat.  My husband, who is my best friend, also shares my love of history and travel, so we make a great team whenever we plan our trips.  We got married one year ago in Atlantic Beach, Florida, and two days later, we went on our honeymoon to Italy for two weeks.  It was both our second time visiting Italy, so invariably when I’m not blogging or reading, I daydream about Italy and the history that we can surround ourselves with and get swallowed up in...!

Roma and Puppy

Describe your favorite place to read and why you love it so much

To be quite honest, I don’t have a favorite place to read -- I work from home so my office is strictly my office only.  I haven’t quite found *the* comfy chair that will look right in my office, so I’m content with lounging on the love seat in the living room and reading there.  Since I take a book everywhere I go, though, any place that I get a chance to read is my favorite place.

What is something we don't know about you and haven't been able to read in your 'about me' section?

I am a vegetarian, and am slowly moving back to my vegan (non-dairy) ways.  I originally switched my nutrition plan to be healthier, and I haven’t looked back since.  People think these recipes wouldn’t be tasty, but my husband is our determining factor -- he is a carnivore, and won’t be changing, so if he likes one of the meals that are vegan or vegetarian, then I definitely know it’s good -- and more times than not, it’s always been a very good meal!

If you could invite 3 authors over to your home (ANY authors) for a luscious beverage and most divine cheese and yummy chocolates, who would you invite?

Only three!  Oh, boy -- here goes!

1.  Ernest Hemingway -- I’ve really enjoyed Hemingway’s stories, and although many have sometimes found his works slightly dry, sexist, etc., I’ve enjoyed his writing quite a bit.  Not to mention, Hemingway would have kept the party going.  My father has entered the Ernest Hemingway Look Alike contest held every year in Key West, Florida -- the winner is interviewed on Good Morning, America, for cryin’ out loud!  If you haven’t experienced this annual event, trust me -- it is hilarious and an absolute blast!

2.  Lisa See -- I became a huge fan of Lisa See after reading Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, which made me bawl uncontrollably at the end.  I had a chance to meet Lisa See at an author event at our local independent bookstore in Atlantic Beach, Florida, The BookMark.  She was incredibly engaging and I loved the history that she shared.  If you haven't already, you must read that book -- it is beautifully written and will keep you thinking about it for days.

3.  Edith Wharton -- I fell madly in love with a recent reading of my first Edith Wharton novel, The House of Mirth.  Although written at the turn of the century, her solemn outlook on a socialite’s life is quite relevant even today.  Plus, she would be a mighty good verbal sparring partner in a debate with Hemingway, don't you think?

If your bookshelves caught on fire what five books would you save?

The Historian, by Elizabeth Kostova

The House of Mirth, by Edith Wharton

The Old Man and the Sea, by Ernest Hemingway

A Moveable Feast, by Ernest Hemingway

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, by Lisa See

I’d try to sneak one more in and save Ken Follet’s The Pillars of the Earth, too...

Name three songs on your playlist right now. Do you listen to music while you read or blog?

I normally try not to listen to any music while I blog -- I sort of get distracted, especially when a favorite pops up.  But, if I were to listen to any music, I would tend to listen to something more classical, or even one of the Harry Potter soundtracks -- music to fill the space and keep you surrounded without bumping in your way.

Three songs on my playlist:

Seether “Rise Above This”

Susan Tedeschi’s “It Hurts So Bad”

Nickelback’s “Gotta Be Somebody”

Name a quality you admire in others and a quality you admire in yourself.

I totally admire determination -- the determination of the underdog to do everything they can to make it is so inspiring.  I will always be in the underdog’s corner, cheering them on.

If I’m not supposed to be humble and am to name a quality I admire in myself, it’s loyalty.  I will always be there to support my friends and family and anyone else that I believe in.

Name three things on your bucket list (things to accomplish in your lifetime - ie jump out of an airplane)

1.  Move to Italy

2.  Open a bookshop (preferably in Italy)

3.  Get over my fear of dark water and go scuba diving with my husband over a hundred feet deep.  (He has been scuba diving since he was twelve-years-old, so I know I’m safe with him).

And that's me!  Thank you so much to Stacy, for inviting me to her Sunday Serenade -- I'm so honored, considering your blog is one of my absolute favorites to visit!!

Thank YOU Natalie! I'm so glad we got to know you a little better...and I very much want to make it to the Ernest Hemingway look-a-like contest this next year to cheer your dad on! It sounds like you come from a very cool family!