Last updated on March 22, 2020
I met Erika when I approached her to review my book, The Wreck of our Hearts. Learn more about Erika, and be sure to follow her on the Social Media Links provided after the interview.
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๐๐๐คโ๐จ ๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ค๐๐ง๐? ๐๐๐ก๐ก ๐ช๐จ ๐ ๐ก๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ค๐ช๐ฉ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช๐ง๐จ๐๐ก๐.
My name is Erika (Budd) Panfile. Iโm a wife of 15 years with two littles: girl is 11 and boy is 5. I have a blue tick coonhound to round out the circus. I work full time as a Benefits Analyst and began blogging about 2 years ago after reviewing as a reader for about 6 months prior to that. I also have my little reviewing Army behind me that keep me sane and support our blog so much. Nicole, Christina, Carolyn, Belinda, and Stina are rockstars!!
๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ค๐ค๐ ๐ข๐๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐ฌ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐ก๐ค๐ ๐๐๐ค๐ช๐ฉ ๐๐ค๐ค๐ ๐จ?
Actually, the blog was started by the owner, Amanda, and I was reviewing for her at the time when she asked if I wanted to run it for her, the rest is history. She has been amazing at letting me do whatever I want, even if I have no clue what Iโm doing. Although, one of my very first reviews was for Jordan Marieโs Devilโs Blaze MC Series, and Iโm still telling people they need to read that one.
๐ฟ๐ค ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐จ๐ค๐ฃ๐๐ก ๐๐ฝ๐ (๐ก๐๐จ๐ฉ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ฉ ๐๐ง๐ค๐ข ๐ง๐๐ซ๐๐๐ฌ ๐ง๐๐ฆ๐ช๐๐จ๐ฉ๐จ)? ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐๐จ, ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐ค๐ค๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐ข๐ค๐จ๐ฉ ๐๐ญ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ง๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐จ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ง?
Of course!! I try to read a mix of PR sign ups, direct review requests, ARCโs from my Authors, and a few that I one-click throughout the month. Of course thereโs always the โHere read thisโ pile from my amazing Blogger and Reader friends. I donโt remember off hand when it comes out, but Iโm salivating for when Flip Trick by Amo Jones comes out!!
๐๐๐๐ฃ ๐๐ก๐ค๐๐๐๐ฃ๐, ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช๐ง โ๐ข๐ช๐จ๐ฉ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐จโ (๐๐ค๐ค๐, ๐ข๐ช๐จ๐๐, ๐๐ช๐ฃ๐ , ๐ฃ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ข๐๐ฃ)?
I blog in spurts, so in the morning there needs to be coffee so I can see straight, and it really depends on the day. Thereโs something different happening on the blog each day. Having two kids and a full time job, itโs hard to find balance and original content, but I try to share what I want to read and have already read and loved, along with what my reviewers are reading as well.
๐๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐จ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐ง๐๐๐จ๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐จ๐๐ฎ ๐๐๐ค๐ช๐ฉ ๐ ๐๐ค๐ค๐ ?
I always find it difficult to review a new Author (either brand spanking new or new to me) because I donโt want them to be discouraged if the story didnโt blow me away. It rarely happens that I donโt like something, but when it does, I try to be as helpful and kind as I can be.
๐๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐จ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ค๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐ฌ๐๐จ๐ ๐๐ช๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ง๐จ ๐ ๐ฃ๐๐ฌ/๐ช๐ฃ๐๐๐ง๐จ๐ฉ๐ค๐ค๐ ๐๐๐ค๐ช๐ฉ ๐๐ก๐ค๐๐๐๐ฃ๐?
I guess the biggest thing for me is the time and the energy that goes into running a blog our size, a group, reviewing, and just keeping up. Maybe not necessarily the Authors, but random share requests being sent from all directions can sometimes feel overwhelming to us. Iโm a big fan of encouraging emailed review requests, putting share requests in our daily pimp posts, requesting takeovers in the group via email, anything that makes it easier. Itโs just me thatโs answering them, so it can be a bit much.
๐๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐จ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช๐ง ๐๐ก๐ก-๐ฉ๐๐ข๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ค๐ง๐๐ฉ๐ ๐๐ค๐ค๐ ?
That has to be the hardest question on the planet, but weโll go with my favorite since 5th grade. I have read Stephen Kingโs IT pretty much every summer since I was 11 and never get tired of it.
๐๐๐ค ๐๐จ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช๐ง ๐๐ค ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐ช๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ง ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฃ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ฉ๐ช๐๐ ๐๐ฃ ๐ ๐๐ค๐ค๐ ๐๐ช๐ฃ๐ ?
I have a few, actually too many Authors that maybe I spread myself thin at times. Honestly? The amount of talent in the indie world is astounding, just saying. You can never go wrong with L.J. Shen, Amo Jones, Jordan Marie, Ashley Jade, and I could rattle you off a ton of amazing Authors that Iโve enjoyed since Iโve started. I love when people talk books with me!!
๐๐ค๐ช๐ง ๐๐๐ซ๐ค๐ง๐๐ฉ๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐ง๐? ๐๐๐ฎ?
Iโm a sucker for Mafia Romance, it has always been one of my favorites, but Iโm convinced I will pretty much read most genres. Thereโs just something about Mafiaโฆ a bad-boy with power brought to his knees for the woman he loves that gets meโฆ.
๐๐๐ฅโ๐ค ๐๐๐ฅ ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐จ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ ๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฃ๐:
- What are your top 3 Movies (adaptations of books or other)?
- The Breakfast Club
- Halloween-Rob Zombie Version
- Friday
- What are your top 3 TV Series (adaptations of books or other)?
- Riverdale
- 13 Reasons Why
- Blue Bloods
- If you had 10 seconds before your house went up in flames, what is the first thing youโd grab?
After my family, I would grab my Momโs jewelry box with all her jewelry to be handed down to my daughter. Now that sheโs gone, itโs become so important to have that to pass along.
- Name one item on your bucket list?
A kid-less vacation to a tropical place with the hubsโฆso ready for that.
- Favorite song that youโre jamminโ to right now.
I have โMy Everythingโ by Kane Brown as my ringtone right now
- A book you secretly wish can be a movie/tv series and who would play the main leads?
I just read Melissa Toppenโs Tequila Duet and told her in no uncertain terms that it needed to become a movie STAT. The 1st book just released and the second comes out in the next few weeks and it was phenomenal!! The main leads, if it was a movie, would be Theo James as Hudson and Olivia Holt as Lennon. It needs to happen, lol. A must read duet by the way. (HINT)
- If you had to give an aspiring blogger advice, what would it be?
Be kind, but donโt be afraid to say no. Watch out for burn out. Keep it fun, and do what you can. Let your love for books shine through.
Final task:
Review yourself in twenty words.
Overly tired hot-mess Mom who wants to read every book on the planet in her pajamas while drinking coffee.

โ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ผ๐ฃ๐๐๐โ๐ค โ๐๐ง๐๐๐จ๐ค ๐๐๐ ๐น๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐ค ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ค ๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐จ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ค:
Email: bookhavenbookblog@gmail.com
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/bookhavenbookblog/
Facebook Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/394392050935911/
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/ErikaBHBB
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/ErikaPBookHavenBookBlog
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