Welcome Blogger Extraordinaire Carrie Booth Schmidt

Welcome to your friday edition of TWA. So excited you could be here with us today!!

This week has been filled with some fantastic posts like The Anti-Marketing Plan by Mary Vee and a beautiful guest post with the ever-lovely Beth Vogt.

And today! TODAY, we're welcoming a person who has become such a great friend over the past year. Besides being an avid reader and all-around great gal, she is also the mastermind behind the blog Reading is My Superpower and a reviewer for Romantic Times.

Without further ado, let's get to this fun interview with the amazing Carrie Booth Schmidt!!

1.   ME: You have quickly become a top blogger for Christian authors with having such guests as Julie Lessman, Laura Frantz, Becky Wade, Jen Turano, Jody Hedlund…and the list goes on.  What do you feel is something that’s brought about the wonderful explosion of interest in Reading is My Superpower and the magnificent Carrie Booth Schmidt

CARRIE: Well… first of all … LOL… I’m not all that magnificent. I just love to read and I love to push the books I read at other people J And I love the authors who write the books I love to read.  As far as what has brought about the crazy never-would-have-expected-this-in-a-million-years interest in my little blog – I have no idea LOL. Honestly, I’m so humbled that anyone cares at all what I have to say.

So… I asked my husband and this is what he said, “Well Pepper… I have to say that the real nexus of this interest is Carrie’s poignant and consistent … uh… respect and love of this particular niche. She has overwhelmed the niche by reading all the books.” So. There you have it. J

2.       ME: Eric cracks me up!!! Okay, so you are quite the reader (cough, cough – understatement of the DECADE). What are three top things you find that make a story go from good to GREAT?

CARRIE: First – it hits me in the feels. It doesn’t really matter which emotion, and in fact a range of emotion is even better. If a book can make me laugh AND cry – or swoon from suspense AND romance? It’s going to be a GREAT book in … well… in my book J

Second – the characters. A GREAT book has characters that just march right into my heart and set up camp for the duration of the read and beyond. I’m thinking right now of four books that I’ve read in the past year whose characters I actually do find my mind and heart drifting toward on more than one occasion. They become friends… and more importantly they leave an indelible impression on the reader that’s not easily replaced.

Third – redemption. I read and review mostly Christian fiction, but I love to read (it IS my superpower, after all) and I have a variety of “general market” authors that I consider among my go-to faves as well. What puts them in this category is that – somewhere in their story – they weave a thread of redemption. Something – someone – needs to be redeemed for the book to be GREAT in my eyes. It doesn’t need to be preachy (in fact, please let it not be) and it doesn’t have to be a come-to-Jesus moment. But I want to see a heart changed … or a situation reclaimed … or a rogue turned hero (SWOON).

3.       ME: Well, we all know I HATE swooning, right? (NOT) Your love for writing and reading have led you to some great ideas... in fact, you were one of the brilliant minds behind the Christian Fiction Reader Retreat. What was something that surprised you about this unique opportunity? What is one thing you would change for next time? What is something memorable that will linger with you forever about CFRR?

"stolen" from Annie JC's FB page ;-)

CARRIE: I was probably the least brilliant mind behind the CFRR – my partners in crime, Annie JC and Bonnie Roof, were the brains and the heart that made it such a success – but thank you J

Something that surprised me? How much friendship was in that room. These were people I’d (mostly) never met in person before that day, and yet we acted like we’d lived next door to each other for years. Such a genuine spirit of fellowship and unity, of LOVE. This is what the body of Christ needs to be – and can be. It was such a blessing and a joy to be part of.

Something we would change for next time? We might round up more help LOL. The three of us were pretty much in a stupor for a month or so after this year’s CFRR haha! Honestly, though, we’ll tweak some of the activities – add some, change some, etc. – and we’re praying now about future locations and dates.

Something that will linger with me forever? Well there are so many little things – like hugging you, PEPPER BASHAM, for the very first time in person! And giving KATE BRESLIN a ride in my car. I mean… I still can’t even. And when BECKY WADE walked up the author registration table where I was giving my spiel … and I lost all my words. But I think what will really linger with me forever is the story behind CFRR. How God took one woman’s years-long dream (Bonnie Roof) and within a couple of months, led her to two other women (me and Annie) who had the same vision. And even more so, how He wove this beautiful and precious friendship together between the three of us while we were planning CFRR.

4.       ME: I LOVED meeting you in person too, Carrie - though I feel like I've know you much longer. Okay, so since you got to meet so many people that have led to amazing interviews, are there any moments that really stand out to you in this first year of blogging?

CARRIE: Well… there was one of my very first interviews. With Melanie Dickerson. And I basically goobered all over myself – and her – in a serious case of fangirling. I mean – HELLO? I had devoured every single one of her books and now MELANIEDICKERSON (because you have to say her name like that, all together) is talking to ME! On my blog! It’s a wonder she still talks to me.

But really – EVERY interview I do with an author, I have to pinch myself a little because I’m totally living my dream right now! So grateful.

5.       ME: Yep, I totally understand. That happened to me when I met Julie Lessman, Laura Frantz, and Liz Curtis Higgs for the first time. You either yell it out or say it in a hushed whisper :-) I wasn't so in 'awe' when I met Ruth Logan Herne for the first time as I was like "Do I hug her or wrestle her?" I absolutely LOVE that woman!!

       And you do interviews so well, btw!.

      You are NOT just a reader and reviewer, but also an amazing blogger. As aspiring bloggers, what would you recommend to people who are starting a blog (or…um…seem to get lost in trying to keep one consistently?)?

CARRIE: Love what you do. And blog consistently. Even if “consistent” for you is just once or twice a week. Be consistent about that so people know what to expect.

As far as book blogging – go into it because you love to read and because you want everyone to love the books you love. If you’re only doing it to get free books, you’ll burn out quickly.

6.      ME: Gread advice! Now, last but not least (and probably PRETTY tough), can you give us ten of the top books you’ve read in 2016? (Note that I didn’t say THE top 10, just 10 from your top….you know, 50)? J

CARRIE: Can I choose to not answer this question? LOL

In no particular order (and each one of these represents at least 10 more on my list) –  these 10 are GREAT examples of those traits of GREAT books I was talking about in question #2.

The Lady & The Lionheart by Joanne Bischof, Song of Silence by Cynthia Ruchti, The Cautious Maiden by Dawn Crandall, The Thorn Healer by *cough cough* Pepper Basham, If I Run by Terri Blackstock, Land of Silence by Tessa Afshar, The Things We Knew by Catherine West, Told You Twice by Kristen Heitzmann, The Captive Heart by Michelle Griep, and Unblemished by Sara Ella.

And I already feel bloggers’ guilt for the ones I didn’t mention… lol.

So....do you guys have questions for Carrie? She's a fantastic brainstormer, by the way ;-)