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Below is an interview with Laura DiNovis Berry who runs the blog, Berry’s Poetry Book Reviews, a book blog that doubles as a fundraising platform for charity. Find out more about this dog-loving reporter/poet, check out her blog, and follow her on social media!

About the blogger

Name: Laura DiNovis Berry

Blog (links open in a new tab): Berry’s Poetry Book Reviews

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Genre: Poetry

Buy Her Book: Bright Pink Ink 

About the blog: I provide free poetry book reviews for modern poets. 10% of the site earnings and donations are gifted to a non-profit every year!

Review excerpts:

“The poems in Bright Pink Ink can speak to all of us.” – Novelist Elizabeth Gauffreau

“This lovely collection of poems dances with things we do not always name. Each poem brings us up close and personal with the playful strings and the mischievous demons of the heart. Within it’s pages lie many stories that we’ve all felt, and rarely told.” – Poet Mela Blust

Talking Shop

Berry's Poetry Book Reviews Logo

How have you promoted your blog? What has worked best? What has failed?

I’ve found that engaging with other bloggers and trying to reach out to my specific audience, online and in person, works the best.

What’s the best comment/compliment that you’ve received about your blog?

People have told me that they admire this project and that has been really encouraging.

How active are you in the online writing community? How has this community helped you as a blogger?

Very active. It certainly has helped me! I’ve been able to read poetry from poets all over the world. Not only does this help me as a poet but I’ve also been able to increase my readership.

How long does it take to read, write, and post a poetry review?

Between two to four days. Life can get in the way which may push it back longer, but with poetry, having time to mull over a work usually results in a more constructive review.

How long have you considered yourself a writer? Did you have any formal training, or is it something you learned as you went?

Only for a year or so – which is how long I’ve been blogging. I went to school for writing and have always written poems but I never had a job that focused on my writing. Now I’m writing all the time as my main source of income is, well, my writing. I finally feel that I fit the title.

What is your day job? How, in any way, does it relate to your life as a writer?

I work as a reporter for Z107.7FM and am a freelance writer. I am very lucky to have two jobs that require me to write.

Who is on your Mt. Rushmore of all time great poets?

W.R. Rodriquez, V. C. McCabe, Lauren Scharhag and Carla Cherry.

Do you have a writing ritual or any odd habits or superstitions?

I write in the morning these days just after sunrise. Mostly because my dogs decide when I wake and they wake very, very early.

Have you ever read a book so bad that you couldn’t finish it to review it? What did you do?

There have been struggles, but I always do my best to get through the poetry because a poet may have spent money to send me their work and I promised them a review.

What is the most fun part about writing? The most difficult?

The constant exposure to other kinds of writing and the experimentation with language! There are a few key vocabulary words that I’ll notice myself using over and over again – that can be personally frustrating but hopping over to an online thesaurus fixes that!

Do you focus on word count, hours spent writing, page count, or another way to measure your daily or weekly progress?

I aim to post at least three times a week and my word count goal for every book review is 500.

‘What If’ Scenarios

Bright Pink Ink Cover

A wealthy reader buys 100 copies of your favorite poetry book and tells you to hand them out to anyone you wish. Who do you give them to? Oh, everyone?

My sisters, my friends, the library, bookstores – anyone!

You’re given $10,000 to spend on your blog. How do you spend it?

I like how my blog is now really – clean and simple. Plus, 10% of site earnings and donations are given to a non-profit every year (this year the money will be gifted to Lambda Literary!) so I would hold on to it! I’d put that money into a bank account and be very excited to announce how much money had been raised!

Would you rather own your own book store or your own publishing house, and what would you sell or publish?

Book store! That’s actually my dream at the moment. It would be poetry focused but of course there would be the usual book fare too. As well as wine, beer in the evenings and coffee and tea all day long.

You get to choose a famous person to read your favorite poems for one hour. Who do you choose? 

Noel Fielding. Even if he didn’t like it, he could probably make some hilarious jokes about it, and I would love that.

You win the lottery and decide to donate half of your winnings to your favorite charities. Who do you choose?

Good question! The Mojave Desert Land Trust for starters and TeacherFunder!

Just For Fun

One year of your life you’d like to do over.

My freshman year of college.

One bucket list item you’ve completed and one that’s still on your list.

I got a dog, but now I’d like to write another chapbook!

Favorite time of/part of your day.

Early morning. I get to write while surrounded by sleepy dogs.

Your favorite podcast

Slate’s Political Gabfest

Name a talent you have and a talent you wish you had

I love acting but I wish I could write music.

Buy it!

Buy a copy of Bright Pink Ink by Laura DiNovis Berry, and help support local bookstores! This is an affiliate link, and I will earn a commission on any sales.

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