Behind the Blogger – Susan Hampson from Books From Dusk Till Dawn

Tell me about the person behind the blog?

My name is Sue and I am a 60 year old book lover and blogger. I have 5 children, 3 boys and 2 girls. Jonathan my eldest is 42 and there is less years between me and him than him and his 22 year old sister. I work full time on the night shift at Tesco but all being made redundant in July. I live in Uttoxeter a small town known mainly for its racecourse and being handy for Alton Towers where my children went to like it was the local park when they were growing up.

When did you start blogging and why?

I use to review books now and again until I joined TBC when everyone said what a difference it made. I was like ‘Oh wow ‘ I was talking to Gods on here. Authors were actually nice people that loved to chat! So I began to review lol not great at first but I listened to others and got better. Being quite shy I would join in on threads and was befriended by Joanne Robertson (My Chestnut Reading Tree) and author Robin Roughley (D.S. Lasser series and recent Bloodhound Book Author). Now I know this will be shocking but this pair bullied me but in the best possible way. They hounded me to start a blog so on 19th June last year Books from Dusk Till Dawn was born. I had 2 followers Joanne and Robin. My first feature was on Rob and after a week I still had 2 followers the faithful Joanne and Rob. My blog had crashed so many times I wanted to throw my new lap top at the wall but they made me keep going.

What are your proudest moments or achievements todate as a blogger?

My proudest moments are being in a character in quite a lot of books now. Being quoted in books and being in acknowledgments in books. I was also asked to be a guest judge in an international writing competition beginning this month. But my biggest buzz is when an author asks me to read their book, a stranger but by the time our last emails are sent to each other the relationship has changed we are friends.

If you had to breakdown the components of your ideal perfect book what would they be?

I am strange. I can read anything but can not watch it on tv. So I like a book that raises my adrenaline and puts me on edge. Then add lots of threads that come together right at the end and finally I am totally sold if an author can scare me and make me cry laughing in the same paragraph.

What is your favourite genre to read?

I read all genres except biographies and history books pre WW1. I have a favourite author in each genre.

What 3 books would you recommend and why?

Stations of the Cross by Robin Roughley. DS Lasser 14. I have followed this series right from the first book being published and in each book I get to know a little bit more about their lives. Robin Roughley isn’t afraid to kill off some of the most beloved characters either. Every book is very different but I don’t know another series where a psycho can gain such a strong following that readers love. Plymouth drops in and out of quite a few books. A little swoon here.

Block 46 by Johanna Gustawsson. I loved how she took a personal part of her own families history and created a riveting story. The translation was superb and I grieved for all the brilliant books that were out of my reach because of the language barrier. My third is a fantasy book which I first read via Helen Boyce and TBC reviewing group.

Judas (The Iscariot warrior series book 1) by Roy Bright. Loved this guy’s writing. Judas is living forever amongst us as a punishment for betraying Jesus. He is offered a deal, protect the next saviour, a little girl, and he will be allowed to die. This is a little belter of a read and I have gone on to read book 2 and in autumn hopefully the last of this super trilogy.

Sorry have to had add another as read so many genres. The first one was my favourite crime series. Second was a serial killer mixed with history. Third fantasy and my fourth if allowed another TBC reviewer book. A comedy Casting Off by P I Paris. I just laughed so much at this book OMG little old ladies and men raising money to help their friends pay the rising fees in the retirement home. When you hear one old dear asking if sex lines are what people mean when they talk about oral sex. Hilarious especially after a lot of heavy crime books.

Finally, tell me more about your blog and why we should subscribe?

Yes I would love more followers. What I can offer is variety in what I review. Blog Tours, publisher requests and independent authors from all genres. Plus I always support back too. I am a bit different and try to look at reviews at a bit of a different angle. Come and find out you may even like it.

You can follow Susan on her blog by clicking here

Find this book on Amazon