Blogger Backstage Pass: Kat from The Aussie Zombie!

Thanks Jessica! I’m very excited to be the lucky first blogger to be featured in 2013.

My name is Kat, and I’m an Australian expat living in the Netherlands. I’ve been here for nearly five years, and I’m currently learning my fifth word of Dutch. I’m in my very late twenties (no, I’m not in denial, I just haven’t come to terms with my age starting with a 3 yet) and I’ve been a book addict for as long as I can remember. I grew up reading historical fiction but in the last few years my tastes have gone in a very different direction, so I’m loving discovering a whole different world of books. Some weeks I read one book, others I read eight, because apparently I’m a fickle person 😉

2) How did you get into the world of book blogging? How old is your blog?

I had a discussion with someone on Goodreads last year about why I didn’t write reviews for books I read which really got me thinking. I’d started a blog a few years ago about my adventures as an expat in a country where I didn’t speak the language and I had a lot of fun with it, although it only lasted a few months. Then I started thinking about whether people blogged about books so I did a quick Google, found a few blogs and saw how friendly everyone was and immediately wanted to be a part of it. So I dug out my old Blogger account and posted a few reviews – and the rest is history! I’ve been blogging just over a year now and despite some ups and downs I’m having a blast being part of the book blogging community and gushing over books with every blogger I can find!

3) If you had to choose just one genre to read for the rest of your life, which one would you choose?

Part of me wants to say zombies, but I’d expand it into anything apocalyptic. I love the ideas that authors come up with about how the world could end, the strong characters and the fast-paced plot lines. I’m a huge fan of intricate world-building (even to the stage of overlooking average or underdeveloped characters!) and apocalyptic books have to have that to really grab a reader and thrust them fully into the world of the book.

4) What book do you think should absolutely be on every reading list out there?

The book I recommend the most is Robert R. McCammon’s Swan Song. It’s the perfect book for apocalypse fanatics and I’m sure it could convert most anti-apocalyptic readers to the genre – it’s creepily epic!

5) If we were to look at your TBR pile right now, what three books are right on top?

The Hallowed Ones by Laura Bickle, Zombie Fallout 3 by Mark Tufo and Rage Within by Jeyn Roberts

6) Finally a fitting challenge. Since you are The Aussie Zombie I’m guessing you’re a zombie apocalypse aficionado! So here we go:

The ravenous horde is descending upon your house. You know you need to make a run for it, but you can only have the time to grab five items. What do you take?

Oh wow, this is definitely a test. If I fail I’ll lose all my zombie street cred! OK, firstly I’d take my knee high boots to stop those ankle biting zombies getting a taste of me, my big winter coat, a box of English tea because it’s hard enough to find here even without zombies, my Cybook e-reader because it lasts for days and days without charging and….oh I suppose I should take my boyfriend. Otherwise I’m ditching him for a first aid kit.