Tell me about the person behind the blog?
I’m in my (ahem) late thirties and a stay at home mum to two little people. My daughter is 6 and my son is 3. I’m married to Ryan and we’ve been together for 10 years. I’ve been an avid reader for as long as I can remember. You know you see those people on X Factor and they say how they’ve been singing all their lives? Well that’s me and books! I can’t sing a note but I’m flipping good at reading 
.
When did you start blogging and why?
I started damppebbles in January 2016 so it’s nearly a year and a half old. I needed a hobby. I’d tried a number of other hobbies before (knitting, crochet, ceroc…) but nothing really stuck. I can’t imagine life without the blog now (and it’s the only hobby that’s lasted for more than a month!).
What are your proudest moments or achievements todate as a blogger?
I recently won the ‘Services to Bloggers’ award at the 2017 BloggersBash in London. That was pretty special and probably one of my proudest moments, full stop.
A book is due to be published in the Autumn and I’m quoted on the back cover. It sends me giddy with happiness when I’m quoted inside the book but the back cover is something else all together.
Featuring on some major authors blog tours has been incredibly cool. I was part of Elizabeth Haynes last tour, I’ve featured on two tours for Mark Edwards’s books, earlier this year I was on Simon Kernick’s tour promptly followed by Simon Beckett’s. If an author, indie or otherwise wants you on their tour then that’s pretty special.
If you had to breakdown the components of your ideal perfect book what would they be?
Surprise. I read a lot of crime so the element of surprise, of something different is key. My reviews tend to be quite character based so I love a good character. Someone I can either love or hate! I also enjoy lots of dialogue in my books. That’s not asking for much….is it?!
What is your favourite genre to read?
I love crime. There is nothing better than a well written police procedural or a gory serial killer thriller. I also love psychological thrillers and horror. Psychological thrillers tend to feature a lot on the blog but I do need to increase the amount of horror I read.
What 3 books would you recommend and why?
Messiah by Boris Starling: I love a serial killer thriller and this is a spectacular one! The bodies are posed in a macabre and gory fashion. There’s so much blood, it’s a brilliant page-turner from start to finish. If it sounds familiar, that’s because it was made into a television drama series a number of years ago. My very favourite book.
One by One by Chris Carter (or any book by Chris Carter!): This is another book that fulfils my need to read about dark twisted serial killers. This is the first of the Robert Hunter series that I read, but I have since gone back to the start and read them all (and those that came after book 5). Chris Carter’s books are sublime. The perfect crime thrillers.
The Killing Game by J.S. Carol: This is such an exciting read, real edge of your seat stuff. I was so completely immersed in the story that normal life was put on hold around me. It’s a little on the violent side but that’s probably why I love it as much as I do. I’m a huge fan of J.S. Carol’s books (his Jefferson Winter series is another I always recommend) but this is my absolute favourite.
Finally, tell me more about your blog and why we should subscribe
damppebbles is mainly a crime fiction blog with extra helpings of psychological thrillers and a few horror novels to mix things up (and because I enjoy them!). Someone recently said my reviews feel like I’m talking directly to the reader, that we’re just having a chat about books and I LOVE that. That relaxed approach is exactly what I wanted to achieve. Saying that, I’m still surprised that people follow the blog and care what I think about books. I post a few times a week so if you did want to subscribe I promise I won’t be spamming your inbox.
To find out more and follow Emma on her blog – click here
