Meet the Bookworm: Olivia-Savannah

I’ve sent a couple of bookish questions to some bloggers and bookstagrammers who have been crazy enough to fill them out. In this series you’ll get to read their answers, admire their favourite reads and share their favourite stories. If you want to join the series just drop a comment below!

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Name
Olivia-Savannah

Blog
Olivia’s Catastrophe

Instagram Handle
@writing4joy2

Twitter Handle
@oliviascatastrophe

Booktube
Olivia Roach

What sort of things do you like to read? Any favourite books?
I love to read pretty much all genres and all types of books! Some favourites are The Raven Cycle, Shakespeare plays in general, Dracula and the Noughts and Crosses series by Malorie Blackman.

Would you like to share any happy/funny reading related memories or stories?
There was a time when I read Where Europe Ends by Yoko Tawada and was very confused about the narrative… How the character experienced so many different things and abruptly jumped from country to country. Only to be told when discussing it in a university seminar and explaining my confusion that it’s a short story collection and not a novel. Oops!

If you could write yourself into any story, which one would it be? Would you change anything about yourself or have any magical powers?
I would totally write myself into A Curse So Dark And Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer so that I could fall in love with my current book boyfriend (Grey). I would have the power to teleport too, of course.

What got you interested in books? Any particular books or people?
I was always read to by my parents and then when I went to primary school I had a brilliant librarian. We still email and recommend books to each other now! She let me help with filing and other librarian things and I’d stay for hours after school to either read, chat books with her or help out.

Do you enjoy writing as well as reading? What sort of things do you write? Do the novels you read inspire you?
I love to write! I’m a poet and write poetry, mostly. But my current WIP is a horror novel with all black characters. 😉

Was there ever a point where you found yourself reading less? Why? Do you have any tips for getting out of a reading slump?
At the end of every year my reading tends to dwindle as I prepare for Christmas and the New Year. I usually take 2 weeks off from reading at the end of December to focus on other things and feel ready and excited to read again in the New Year!

What made you decide to engage with other bookworms on the internet? Are your internet bookworm friends different to your real life bookworm friends?
I mostly started a blog before I knew book blogs existed. My blog was originally just life updates – but when a book blogger commented I visited their blog and suddenly found the entire bookish online world. I wanted in! I actually have quite a few reading friends in real life. I just like to talk books with as many people as possible 🙂

Do you have any reading routines? What about blogging or bookstagramming routines?
Routines? Not for me. I mostly squeeze in reading, blogging, bookstagramming and booktubing whenever I have time. A lot to balance but I enjoy it so that’s what I keep doing!

Has your reading changed much over the last decade? Do you have a reading journey?
The main thing is that my reading has grown exponentially. I read almost double the amount of books now than I used to, even though I have less time for reading. I’ve started to read quicker. But I’ve also started to read more genres and underrated books too, which makes me happy!

Has interacting with bookworms online changed your reading at all? Do you think it’s for the better?
It’s probably helped my reading become more diverse and spread out, which is only for the better. That way I can learn what life is like for more people, and hopefully help move the world to being a more inclusive place for all.

Have you ever found yourself in a novel? If you had to pick one character you really relate to, who would it be and why?
Oh, many times and actually mostly in new adult romance? Probably because I’m the new adult age. It was quite scary to see myself in so many if Roan Parrish’s novels. Especially in her novel called Rend!
When I was 12 I related to Fanny from Mansfield Park. I was incredibly shy and outspoken. I don’t relate to her anymore at all and that makes me feel proud. I’ve come a long way since then.

What do you find most challenging about blogging and bookstagramming? Any 2020 reading/blogging/bookstagramming goals?
I find keeping constantly active the hardest. It takes a lot to make one photo or blog post and it’s hard for me to share often while also living life. My main goal for 2020 is to be a bit more consistent and make more friends too 💜

Would you want to work in the wonderful world of books? Why/why not? Do you have a dream job in the book world?
I originally wanted to go into publishing but now I want to teach… But as a poet and novelist I would still be involved in the author side of the book world hopefully 😋

What advice would you give your younger self? Do you have any advice for budding bookworms out there?
Keep reading what you love. Look for yourself in characters and see how they develop. Because that’s the way you’re going to develop too.

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Thanks Olivia-Savannah for filling out the questions and joining my blog! I love your idea of taking a reading break before the new year so you’re excited to start again in January! Sadly I think rushing to get my Goodreads challenge done may interfere with that one. Do you have any reading breaks in your year? is Grey your current book boyfriend? Let me know in the comments!

Another bookworm will be featuring on my blog next Friday so stay tuned for that, and tell me in the comments if you want to get involved.