BBAW: DAY 2 INTERVIEW w/JULIE of Manga Maniac Cafe



This is one of my favorite parts of BBAW, the chance to talk with a fellow blogger :) I had the pleasure to interview Julie of MANGA MANIAC CAFE



1) How long have you been Blogging?
I have been blogging for about 6 years. I started the blog as a way to keep track of all of the manga series that I was reading. With the demise of so many graphic novel publishers, though, I started reading and reviewing genre fiction, too. My interests are always changing, and my reviews reflect that. Because of time constraints when I first started blogging, I only had time to read graphic novels. Now I read about everything.
2) I was so excited to discover another blogger who loves manga!

Tell me a little about you history with the Manga genre

What was the first manga series you ever read?
I started reading manga when I was in college because I just didn’t have the energy or the attention span to read the fantasy novels that I had been enjoying. I started reading RANMA 1/2 by Rumiko Takahashi, which is a comedy about a boy who falls into a cursed pool, and when he gets wet, he turns into a girl. It’s a funny series, it was totally different from anything that I had read before, and it got me interested in graphic novels in general. I was big into X-MEN until Tokyopop began their “Manga Revolution,” and started publishing licensed comics from Japan, translated into English and unflipped. Their comics read right-to-left, which is how they are printed in Japan, and they offered titles aimed specifically at girls. MARS, PEACH GIRL, MARMALADE BOY – all of these series hooked me on manga.


3)Name your top 5 Manga/ Anime
My five favorites are probably:

Kenshin by Nobuhiro Watsuki

Red River by Chie Shinohara

Anything written by Chika Shiomi

Anything written by Nari Kusakawa

Revolutionary Girl Utena (Anime)


4) I also see you review Urban Fantasy & Speculative Fiction.
Tell me some of your favorite series or stand alone reads in this genre

I read anything and everything. I am just getting reacquainted with adult UF and PNR. Most of what I have been reading prior to this summer are for MG or YA readers. Some titles with an UF twist that I have read recently are:

Red Moon Rising by Peter Moore

The Magnolia League by Katie Crouch

White Cat by Holly Black

Mercy by Rebecca Lim


5)What are some of your blogging goals for the future?
I would like to network with more bloggers. I am very shy so this is the hardest part of blogging for me. I have a hard time connecting with fellow bloggers and still feel awkward making comments on blogs and reaching out on Twitter. It’s kind of silly, but I just have a very hard time with it!


6)What advice do you have for existing or potential bloggers?
Just keep plugging away at your blog and don’t worry about what other bloggers are doing. I think new bloggers get hung up on comparing their blogs to more established blogs, and that is just stressful and unproductive. Try to have a unique voice, read what you want to read, and talk about what you want to talk about. It’s your blog, so take ownership of it. Be proud of what you are doing – it’s hard work to keep up a blog, and if you aren’t taking some pride in it, you aren’t going to feel the blogging mojo. Try to set a schedule for yourself, even if it’s to post one review every Tuesday of the week, and try to stick to it. Remember that you are not in competition with anyone else, and have fun – that’s the most important part of blogging. You have enjoy it and have fun doing it!