Interview with The Readers Cosmos

 1.Can you tell us a little about yourself? Your blog, and your aspirations and your hobbies!!

I am Nimi, a PhD student who tries to understand how the body defends itself from infection (immunology). I being a complete bookworm, my blog thereaderscosmos.blogspot.com is all about Books (reviews, interviews with authors, publishers, etc).  I aspire to be all a Scientist ,a Writer and an Entrepreneur, for the later I have already begun with book promotions online since last year and it has been a great journey so far.

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     2.How you first got involved in with blogging, are you an imaginative person?

I always wrote reviews of books I read on Flipkart,etc. Few of my friends found my reviews very useful and I saved some pocket money being spent on the wrong books, therefore they didn’t leave bugging me until I gave in to writing detailed reviews on a blog. Imagination is the color of life. I love reading and writing (only for myself) and therefore I live  more in fiction than reality.

3.    3   What do you find most challenging about blogging about your topic?

The most challenging issue is when an author you have loved comes up with a not so good book and you have to write an honest review.  I loved Ashwin Sanghi’s Chanakya’s Chant and recommended, in fact forced people to buy it. But when I read The Krishna Key, I didn’t enjoy it, reasons here http://thereaderscosmos.blogspot.in/2012/10/the-krishna-key-by-ashwin-sanghi.html.  I did manage to write what I felt without being biased.

4.Tell me about some of the people you have met while working on your blog?

Well I am lucky to have been in touch personally with some of the most well renowned authors such as Ashwin Sanghi, Indu Sundaresan, Jeet Thayil, Ravi Subramanian, etc. They have been a constant source of knowledge, inspiration and support.

I also have made great friends and gurus in the literary world, would be unfair to name a few. To sum it all up, what more can one ask for than be surrounded by creative geniuses? 

5. How would (someone) describe your blogging style?

Ask Someone not me ;).

6.What do you do when you are not working on your blog?

I do my PhD :P. Apart from that I love to watch movies, series and dance.

7 .Where do you see yourself blogging wise in the next 6 months, and 5 years down the road?

Never thought of that, I live in the moment.

8. What networking do you do that you feel helps your blogging business?

I do believe that Social networking via facebook and twitter helps the most and therefore I have worked very hard to make my presence on these portals.

9. How do you keep coming up with material/content for your blog? Many people struggle with coming up with different articles/posts and they only have one blog.

I review books so it is not difficult.  I have again been lucky here to have been liked by both publishers and authors who send more books to review than I can read.

10. Whats your strategy with your blog in general?

Be original and innovative. My blog was the first ever online portal that interviewed publishers (http://thereaderscosmos.blogspot.in/search/label/Publisher%20On%20The%20HOT%20SEAT). I also did “Read Along” sessions with very prominent blogger friends like TheReaddicts etc.

11. Any specific tips you have for newbie bloggers who want to make it in the blogosphere?

Be sincere and regular.

12. What would you prioritize? Content? SEO? Traffic? Readers?

Content>Readers>Traffic>SEO

13. Whats the best thing a blogger can give to his readers?

 Honest piece of work.

14. A lot of people are interested in blogging for the money earning potential. What are some tips for people interesting in making money from blogging? What are some realistic expectations in regards to what can be made?

All one has to ensure is readership to earn and for that again the quality and the novelty of the content you provide matters. Blogging can surely take care of your pocket money.

15. What motivates you most in life?

Doing something good and/or innovative.

16. What has been your strategy for creating visibility to yourself and your blog?

Being very active on Facebook and Twitter.

17 What was the most challenging moment in your blog content development process and why?

Nothing

18. Everyone has a favorite/least favorite post. Name yours and why?

My review of The Shadow Princess by Indu Sundaresan http://thereaderscosmos.blogspot.in/2013/08/shadow-princess-by-indu-sundaresan.html.

One I love the book as it belongs to my favourite “Mughal Era”. Two, it’s the first book (that I reviewed on my blog) to score 5/5 from me, I believe that explains it all J.

19. Name some of the bloggers whom you look up to and why?

The Readdicts : http://thereaddicts.blogspot.in

Their reviews are honest, detailed and they have a lot of innovative activities like Read Along going on. Above all they are very approachable and have been patient in answering the dumbest of my queries.

Live Your Life : http://livinglifegreenspeck.blogspot.in

He gives very balanced reviews and that is very helpful to debutants who are often badly trashed rather than explained where they could improve upon.

20. What is the story behind the name of the blog?

Interesting Question! I wanted a name that was unique, scientific and had a meaning that encompasses “everything”, therefore The Readers Cosmos .i.e The Universe for Readers.

21. Your connection with any Blogger Network like Indi blogger or Writeupcafe or any other and the experience?

 I have been an Indiblogger since the beginning. Their meets are the most fruitful as one gets to interact with a lot of fellow bloggers, learnt a lot from them.

22. Which genre do you feel gets the raw deal?

I believe every genre has its own place and audience.

23. Which one plug-in would you suggest all bloggers to have?

Two infact, Facebook and Twitter.

24. Five adjectives that describe you.

Honest, Sincere, Crazy, Short Tempered and Bookworm ;)

25. What book would you say has made the biggest impact good or bad on you?

Its Race of My Life by Milkha Singh and Don’t Think of A Blue Ball by Malti Bhojwani. They have taught me be very positive in life and do my best to achieve everything I wish to.

26. Do you get easily provoked by positive/negative comments??

Yes I do by the negative ones, I am short tempered.

27. Do you plan to write a book, as every bloggers dream it is?

Someday, yes. No immediate plans.

28. Are you a judgmental person, do you prefer to take sides instead of standing neutral?

I have very strong opinions about things I have knowledge of.

29. Your collaboration with other bloggers, are you much into social networking, tell us everything about it?

I run a review program to help authors get genuine critique from quality bloggers called The Readers Cosmos Review Program. I have sent books to about 50 bloggers so far for reviewing. The association has been amazing.

Also I conducted Read Along Session of Left From Dhakeshwari by Kunal Sen with help from pioneers in the field The Readdicts, Ankita Singhal (http://booklokcoffee.blogspot.in) and Fahima M (http://me24x7.blogspot.in). It was great to not just read but discuss the book in detail.

30. What genre attracts you the most and which genre you avoid?

I love reading stories and poetries therefore these are the blog genres I love. Though I love gadgets I just don’t love to read about them much, so I visit them only when I have to purchase one.

31. Your Views on Contests and increasing plagiarism?

I believe Contests are no harm and are a good means of promotion. Plagiarism on the other hand is a crime and we have to figure out strict ways to prevent it.

32. Words for me and my blog.

Your blog is unique and very systematic. It is great resource for beginners. Keep it up.

33. On winning the Award/s , Are they Really necessary.

Well an award is of course gives a great sense of achievement and encouragement; however my true reward is somebody completely unrelated writing to you, to inquire what book should be his/her next read or an author benefitting from an honest feedback.