Hi Mimi! We’re so glad to have you on The Nerd Daily team! Can you tell us a little about yourself?

So happy to be part of this team! Phew, where to start? I’m from a small town in the South of Germany, am currently pursuing my PhD in American Studies with a focus on portrayals of mental illness in adolescent literature and am just starting a three-year apprenticeship to become a software developer. I cope with the stress of doing two full-time jobs at the same time by consuming copious amounts of iced coffee and reading well past my bedtime I also regularly fail at practicing meditation or finishing one of the seven WIPs (work in progress) I’ve been dragging around since NaNoWriMo 2013…so, being a total run-of-the-mill adult.

Where do you think your “nerdiness” came from?

That all goes back to my mom, bless her heart! Movie and book references were the status quo in our household – and her showing me her favorite shows like Gilmore Girls and The Nanny, reading Harry Potter to me, or playing old ABBA songs to me was all part of that. I’m forever grateful that she always filled our home with all these stories – I wouldn’t be the same without them.

What has been your favourite read of 2019 so far and why?

Just one?! How about I narrow it down to…three, instead?

• Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston because it gave me so much hope that one day, there will be people in office who care about everyone’s safety and freedom of speech and love.
• The Exact Opposite of Okay by Laura Steven – a recent favorite! It’s about a teen caught in a sex scandal when one of her nudes go viral – it’s laugh-out-loud hilarious but also tackles important issues such as male privilege, and social media’s tendency to turn women into scapegoats for the same sexual behavior men display. It’s also packed to the brim with friendship and feminism and found families.
• Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World by Ashley Herring Blake – it’s a middle-grade novel about a young girl who loses her home during a hurricane and faces some pretty big changes – including realizing that she likes girls. A wonderful exploration of how important a supportive environment is for children questioning heteronormative beliefs!

If you could only read one author for the rest of your life, who would it be?

This is going to be such a boring answer but I have to say J.K. Rowling. Harry Potter’s journey has shaped me in so many ways and I could never make it through a single year without rereading this series. What can I say? I’m just a Potterhead, until the very end.

What TV shows are you enjoying at the moment?

I have a soft spot for rewatching classics like Gilmore Girls, One Tree Hill, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine. On top of that, I’ve been loving the latest (and last) season of Jane the Virgin and of course the new Veronica Mars episodes.

What’s your “go-to” genre and why?

It really depends on the season – somehow I always seem to read more contemporaries in the spring/summer and more fantasy the minute fall hits! So right now, I’m all about contemporaries – the more emotional, the better!

Since you’re from Germany, are there any German authors you’d recommend or perhaps books set in Germany?

I confess I’m not the biggest reader of German authors (funnily enough, it takes me ages to read in my mother tongue) – though Cornelia Funke and Kerstin Gier create some of the most heartfelt children’s books! Ruby Red is still one of my guilty pleasure trilogies – so much drama. Ava Reed is another wonderful and young author who excels at making me tear up with her beautiful writing.

Do you have any recommendations for our readers whether it be books, movies, TV shows, or something else?

Sure! If you’re in the mood for some lighthearted fun, go watch One Day at a Time on Netflix or read a Christina Lauren novel – I’m currently listening to The Unhoneymooners and it’s hilarious!

If you’re looking for a more emotional story, Kat Cho’s fantasy novel Wicked Fox kept me turning the pages at lightning speed and the show Big Little Lies definitely deserves more hype! It’s hard to watch at times but so rewarding!

And if you’re in search of a new Booktuber to become obsessed with, I’ve been loving watching Chandlerainsley and xCatherineReads on YouTube!

You can find Mimi on Instagram and Goodreads, and you can check out all of her Nerd Daily articles here!

Will you be checking out any of Mimi’s recommendations? Or perhaps you share a common love? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Meet Our Team: Mimi Koehler appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Hi Jayse! We’re so glad to have you on The Nerd Daily team! Can you tell us a little about yourself?

Hey! I am beyond excited to be part of the wonderful Nerd Daily Team, it’s been a fabulous experience. I’m Jayse, a librarian, budding author, father, husband, bookstagrammer, booktuber, and total book nerd from regional Victoria, Australia.

Where do you think your “nerdiness” came from?

At primary school I really struggled with reading, but there was an amazing, passionate teacher librarian at our primary school who really ignited my love for reading and creative writing. Also, growing up with a steady diet of Disney and Saturday morning cartoons forged my love of all things TV and film which has continued into adulthood.

Can you tell us what’s involved with working in a library?

Working in a library is CRAZY, not only do you need to have extensive knowledge of books and your collection, but we are on our feet for 7 hours. Customer service is a major part of what we do and we also need to be technology trouble shooters as more and more people are coming to us with tech problems/issues.

What has been your favourite read of 2019 so far and why?

Gosh, there have been so many this year. I have loved Aurora Rising, the characters and sass were amazing. We Set The Dark On Fire had so many elements I loved: action, passion, romance, espionage, and LGBT representation. Storm and Fury for the amazing storyline and uniqueness. I’m also burning my way through The Medoran Chronicles by Lynette Noni, which I am so in love with.

If you could only read one author for the rest of your life, who would it be?

It would have to be one of my recently discovered love, Nora Roberts.

Are there any Australian authors you’d recommend?

MARIA LEWIS!! I freaking love that woman – are you following her on Instagram? her stories are hilarious! I love her books, I love her personality, shes legit amazing. But also Thalia Kalkipsakis, Lynette Noni, A B Endacott, Lili Wilkinson just to name a few.

Do you have any recommendations for our readers whether it be books, movies, TV shows, or something else?

You need to read Four Dead Queens by Astrid Scholte, watch the movie Stardust, binge the Wentworth TV series, and play Infamous First Light.

And there you have it! Be sure to check out Jayse’s articles and follow him on Twitter, Instagram, his blog, and Goodreads!

Will you be checking out any of Jayse’s recommendations? Or perhaps you share a common love? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Meet Our Team: Jayse Smith appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Hi Beth! We’re so glad to have you on The Nerd Daily team! Can you tell us a little about yourself?

Thank you! I’m so happy to be part of this great team! I will be 36 this month and live in the U.S. (North Carolina) with my husband and three-year-old son. I studied Psychology and English as an undergraduate, then went on to get a Master’s degree in Social Work as well as a clinical license. Last fall a friend encouraged me to finally join Instagram and I’ve been blogging about books ever since. What else makes me happy? A hot cup of black coffee, crisp fall days, soft blankets, the smell of books both old and new, a good brown ale, and long talks with old friends.

Where do you think your “nerdiness” came from?

I think it’s just how I’m wired. I have always loved reading and learning. Even as a small child, my mom would take me to the library and bring me home with a bag full of books. I was also the type of kid who wanted to do workbooks during the summer for fun, I taught myself to type correctly around the age of 6 or 7, and I was on a bowling league. Nerd, nerd, nerd! I got a lot of positive reinforcement from my parents for this type of behavior, so I’m sure that helped. And I’m an only child, so I suppose I also had to figure out ways to keep myself entertained!

What has been your favourite read of 2019 so far and why?

I can’t choose just one, so here are a handful of my favorites:

• The Unpassing by Chia-Chia Lin because it is a heartbreaking, character-driven work that just sticks with you.
• Folded Wisdom by Joanna Guest because it is the most amazing real-life story of a father’s love for his kids shared through daily notes.
• Triangulum by Masande Ntshanga because it is a strangely wonderful mix of genres and there is so much to wrap your head around.
• The Book of X by Sarah Rose Etter because reading it is a visceral experience and I’m not sure I have ever been moved that way by a book.

If you could only read one author for the rest of your life, who would it be?

Stephen King. I didn’t read my first book by him until I was nearly 30. I always thought that he was a big commercial writer and I wouldn’t like “horror” and blah, blah, blah. But here’s the thing about King … he is the most incredible storyteller and world-builder! Plus, he has written a ridiculous number of books, so I would have a great variety to choose from.

Are there any TV shows you’re enjoying at the moment?

I really don’t watch a lot of TV these days, but there are three shows I am trying to keep up with: The Handmaid’s Tale, Stranger Things, and Younger.

Do you have any recommendations for our readers whether it be books, movies, TV shows, or something else?

Here are a few backlist favorites … The Giver by Lois Lowry is one of my all-time favorite books, great for both kids and adults. Donnie Darko is a wonderfully weird and twisty movie that is impossible to explain here briefly! And if you haven’t seen the early 2000s TV show Six Feet Under, get HBO Go or HBO Now and watch it!

And there you have it! Be sure to check out Beth’s articles and follow her Instagram and Goodreads!

Will you be checking out any of Beth’s recommendations? Or perhaps you share a common love? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Meet Our Team: Beth Mowbray appeared first on The Nerd Daily.