I’m thrilled that Chris Graham The Story Reading Ape’s post was the most viewed on my blog in 2017. I posted it to celebrate his 4th blog anniversary on April 4th. If you missed Chris’ interview the first time around, I hope you’ll enjoy it now 😊

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Chris Graham  is much admired, respected, and appreciated in the blogging world. His indefatigable support of authors and bloggers is rivaled by few others. The Story Reading Ape‘s 4^th blog anniversary is April 4^th, and I can think of no better way to show my appreciation than by featuring him on my blog. Here’s to you, Mr. Ape! May you live long and prosper. I’m also putting energy out there for you to win the lottery 😊

Follow Chris’ blog  HERE

When did you start blogging and what prompted you to do so?  

I started blogging on April 4^th 2013 after reading authors’ pleas (on Goodreads) for promotional opportunities on blogs.

What moved you to choose an ape as your gravatar and online presence? 

My Most favourite author was (and still is) Terry Pratchett, who once stated, “The anthropologists got it wrong when they named our species Homo sapiens (‘wise man’). In any case it’s an arrogant and bigheaded thing to say, wisdom being one of our least evident features. In reality, we are Pan Narrans, the storytelling chimpanzee.” 

From this I extrapolated that since I didn’t TELL stories, but listened to, or READ them, I must be a Story READING ape (Pan Audiencia – as near as I can get). 

What motivated you to make author promotion and support the focus of your blog? 

I’ve always enjoyed reading, either to learn or be entertained, and owe a debt of gratitude to authors, so when I saw their pleas on Goodreads, I decided to focus on authors, rather than the stories they wrote.

After all, there are LOTS of book review blogs, but very few that give authors the opportunity to talk about themselves (as well as getting a plug in about their books).

You also add a weekly dose of humor to your blog. Does humor play an important role in your daily life as well? 

Yes, it does.

Like everyone else in the world, I have my bad times, as well as good, but was raised not to dwell on, or agonise over, the bad things. It’s better to learn from them and get on with those aspects of life I DO have control over.

Laughter and the ability to see humour (or the stupidity) in bad situations helps me get over, or overcome, the depths of despair that others seem to slip into easily.

It may well be an Irish trait, an example being after a funeral, where humour, song and celebration are an important part of remembering the deceased (and overcome grief).

This could be summed up in the old joke about friends putting a crate of drinks on top of the coffin and saying, “He left instructions that the drinks were to be on him.” 

How much time each day do you spend blogging? 

Too long I suspect; I often pop in and out of the blog to respond to comments and thank those who share the posts, while I’m reading emails, other peoples’ posts and searching around for articles that might be of interest to my blog readers (and myself).

Who are some of your favorite authors and what are some of your favorite books? 

Apart from Terry Pratchett, I enjoy books by the old masters like Dickens, et al, but there are quite a few modern (and self-published) authors I enjoy as well – however, I’m not going to say who – they already know who they are 😊

You and your sister recently published a book of your mother’s poetry. Tell us a little about your Mum, her poetry, and the book. 

It was my sister Lorna who collected the poems and Jo Robinson who edited and formatted the book – all I did was upload and publish it.

Poetry was a side of Mum that I never knew about until Lorna sent them to me. So I was both surprised and humbled when I read them.

What most inspires you in life? 

Nature in all its diverse forms, from the variety and tenacity of life, to the wonder and immensity of the Universe.

Any parting words for your followers? 

Read, learn and experience as much as you can about everything.

If Reincarnation exists, it will help you progress.

If it doesn’t, you will have enriched your time while alive.

I hope you enjoyed learning more about our very own blogging Ape. I’m sure I speak for all of us in thanking Chris for his abiding support of authors and in wishing him a

VERY 

 

Please visit and follow Chris’  BLOG, and take a peek inside his book,  My Vibrating Vertebrae. 

Thanks so much for stopping by ❤