Bearded Backchat with Stevie from A Cornish Mum
Bearded Backchat is a chance for me to interview PR people and fellow bloggers. This week it’s Stevie from A Cornish Mum. Stevie is lucky enough to count blogging as her job, which I think makes her the first Pro Blogger I’ve spoken to here! She is also very vocal about Type 1 diabetes.
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Who are you?
Officially Stephanie Couch, but everyone including family have always called me Stevie.
What is your “day job”?
My day job is actually blogging and the occasional bit of freelance writing. I don’t make a fortune from blogging, but enough to call it a ‘day job’ luckily.
What is your blog called and where can we find it?
A Cornish Mum and it’s over at www.acornishmum.com
What’s your blog about?
A completely eclectic mix, but mostly lifestyle, a bit of parenting, Type 1 Diabetes which my eldest son has, and, of course, Cornwall.
I’m almost ashamed to admit that I’ve never been to Cornwall. Should I?
It’s beautiful down here, such a laid back lifestyle, friendly people oh and we have the best pasties!
Why did you start blogging?
When my eldest son was 5 he was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in hospital, I didn’t know the signs of Type 1 and because of that he almost died.
The signs were there, if I’d recognised them he wouldn’t have been so desperately ill at diagnosis, and a big bit of why I started was to raise awareness of the symptoms and provide some support to other Type 1 parents.
Just as Type 1 is only one part of our life, though, it is also only one part of my blog – the part I’m most proud of.
Why do you still blog?
I’ve gotten the bug, I love everything about blogging from the community to how random the things that arrive in my email inbox are. It’s given me a new life and a new career!
How has blogging changed since you started?
Not a lot ha, I only started in January 2015.
Would you count your blog as a job or something fun to do in your spare time?
A job for definite, but a fun one. I have a few exciting things in the pipeline at the moment, which may mean that fun job has a slightly more ‘fun’ income level in future as well.
Where do you get the inspiration to write a blog post?
To be honest, my brain works quite randomly, I drive my boyfriend mad by completely changing subject mid-way through a conversation and expecting him to have a clue what I’m on about.
In the same way, things randomly pop into my head, so I always have a notebook with me as my memory is awful.
Stevie
If you could recommend three other blogs to read, what three would you recommend and why?
Definitely Donna’s over at What The RedheadSaid, as I’ve been reading Donna’s blog since before I started blogging and I love how eclectic her blog is, you never know what’s coming next.
Natalie’s at Plutonium Sox as I love her writing style and photography, plus she and Donna are two of my best blog friends who crack me up on a daily basis.
Hayleigh over at Budget Food Mummy who is also Cornish, for her recipes. I’m an awful cook, but Hayleigh makes me want to try – I may blame her in future for my ‘experiments’ as Simon calls them.
What is the single best thing that has come about as a result of your blog?
Receiving an email from a parent of a child who had been recently diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, telling me that I had made them feel less scared and less alone – that is priceless to me.
What would be your perfect blog post?
Writing about the cure for Type 1 Diabetes – there isn’t one currently, but writing that post is what dreams are made of for me.
Type 1 is full on, in 6 and a half years my son has had around 10,000 injections and well over 20,000 finger prick blood tests. I’m actually emotional even typing that.
He doesn’t moan, though, he just gets on with it and makes me proud.
What can you recommend to other bloggers to increase the traffic to their sites?
If you want search engines to find you, call your posts something relevant.
Ambiguous titles may be great for drawing people in from social media, but you won’t come up in search results with a random title that doesn’t explain what is in your post.
Which brands do you enjoy working with?
I’ve worked with lots of fantastic ones, but my favourite so far has to be Lily Charmed jewellery. I’ve worked with them a lot this year, and they are just so lovely to work with, friendly and just a pleasure to deal with.
Everyone has that one company that they have always wanted to work with but have never quite been able to. Who is yours?
I have done zero approaching as of yet, I have plans to in the future and, in all honesty, there isn’t really that one company for me.
Someone who wanted me to review a cottage in the middle of nowhere with an open-fire over Christmas would be my ideal, though! Someone like Rural Retreats, Sykes Cottages or Cottages 4 you maybe.
What is your own personal favourite post on your site?
My Signs and Symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes – Our Diagnosis Story post, because it’s the main reason I started my blog, it’s one of the most viewed posts ever on my site which makes me proud and it was also one of the hardest I found to write, as it was so emotional.
Whose blog would you love to be featured on or write a guest post for?
I’m always open to guest posting when it’s an interview type one like this 😉 Normal guest posting, I have no idea how I would find the time to do so.
Anyone who wants to interview me in any way for a guest blog, though, feel free to give me a shout!
Lastly, if you were to interview another blogger, what question would you ask that I haven’t asked here?…
Who was the first brand that you worked for? This one is mostly because I’m nosy
… And what is your answer to that question?
The first time someone asked me to write for them it was a charity – the NSPCC and I was pleased and proud to help them out.
The first ‘brand’ was Appy Food and Drinks who were really lovely to work with, and they liked my review so much that they quoted me on their site and in their promotional magazine.
Thanks, Stevie!
You can catch up with Stevie in all of the usual places:
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. You can also visit A Cornish Mum, of course!
You can see all of the Bearded Backchat interview series by clicking here!
(Header adapted from an original design by www.lucykatedesign.co.uk, with thanks)
by DannyUK
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Twitter: plutoniumsox
on March 12, 2016 at 7:17 pm
Great interview, thank you so much for the mention Stevie! I do hope nobody checks out my blog because you’ve told them the photography is good though, I hate being a disappointment! I do love Stevie’s blog, she is an amazing blogger and one of my favourites.x
Natalie Ray recently posted…Prezzybox: Review and competition
Twitter: stevie_couch
on March 13, 2016 at 10:39 am
I love your photos and so does everyone on Instagram so sssh 😉 but you’re welcome lovely you know I love your blog!
Stevie x
Twitter: chelseamamma
on March 12, 2016 at 7:20 pm
Fab interview. I am fairly new to Stevie’s blog but really enjoy reading it
Twitter: stevie_couch
on March 13, 2016 at 10:40 am
That’s lovely to read Kara thank you 🙂 x
Twitter: muminanutshell
on March 12, 2016 at 9:22 pm
fab interview, Stevie has done phenomenally well considering she’s only been blogging for just over a year!
Ali recently posted…Slow Down Mummy | Living Arrows
How lucky for Stevie that she’s only been blogging for over a year and can already call it a day job, that’s fantastic!
Twitter: stevie_couch
on March 13, 2016 at 10:36 am
Certainly not a well paid day job yet 😉 I work full time at it though, a serious amount of hours, so I am glad my hard work over the last year is paying off!
Twitter: plutoniumsox
on March 13, 2016 at 3:58 pm
Stevie, you have done so well with blogging and it’s been a real inspiration to me to see how hard you have worked despite the trials that you face in your personal life. Seeing you succeed as a blogger is rewarding for everyone who knows you and we can all see that it’s hard work and not luck that has taken you to where you are today.x
Natalie Ray recently posted…Prezzybox: Review and competition
It’s lovely reading about Stevie. She’s so right about blog titles too. I used to try and write catchy blog titles not realising that it didn’t really work on the web. It’s one of those things you learn along the way I think
Twitter: PostmanSpotting
on March 13, 2016 at 8:30 am
That’s an incredibly impressive career path for your blog. Plus you’re helping a very worthy cause on the way. You should be proud that you’re doing so well after having so much heart-break.
Twitter: BuddingSmiles
on March 13, 2016 at 11:53 am
Fab interview with a lovely lady! I hope Stevie gets to write her dream post one day!
Twitter: alajode
on March 13, 2016 at 12:25 pm
What an inspirational lady! I really enjoyed reading this. It must be an incredible feeling to know that your blog has helped someone in such a way.
Twitter: genuineplacebo
on March 13, 2016 at 12:34 pm
Ah I love Stevie! Thanks so much for the mention. I am so proud of how far my lovely friend has come in such a short space of time – Stevie is awesome! x
Twitter: sarahnblogger
on March 13, 2016 at 4:11 pm
Great interview it’s amazing how well your blog has done considering you started in 2015 well done you 🙂 gives us newbies something for to strive for xx
Twitter: TheRealSupermum
on March 13, 2016 at 8:04 pm
Its so nice to get to know more about the person behind the actual blog
It’a great that she can use her blog as a platform for raising awareness! I am so jealous of those who can blog as a full time job! xx
Twitter: MamasHaven
on March 13, 2016 at 9:48 pm
Lovely interview and such a great way to find out about other great blogs! I am heading over to read Stevie’s favourite blog post.xx
Twitter: WafflemamaUK
on March 14, 2016 at 10:36 am
What a lovely interview, I love reading about other bloggers and getting to know them 🙂 thanks for sharing.
I really enjoyed reading this as I am a nosy bugger so it is lovely to read a bit of backstory about a blog I read and enjoy!
Sonya Cisco recently posted…A Day Trip to London
Twitter: myrabev
on March 14, 2016 at 6:41 pm
What a lovely interview and loved learning about Stevie going to check it out.
Anosa recently posted…{Fashion Monday} Work Dinner & Party Outfit
Twitter: etusty
on March 14, 2016 at 9:58 pm
I can never believe that Stevie’s only been blogging for such a short time. Really amazing how many injections at such a young age her son’s had. You never think about that aspect.
Twitter: budgetfoodmummy
on March 17, 2016 at 3:57 pm
Stevie is not only a talented blogger, she is also a lovely person who puts up with my silly questions about blogging! Plus she is Cornish 😉
This is a really great interview, it’s amazing to see how well she has done in a year.
Twitter: SMABLblog
on March 19, 2016 at 11:11 am
Love the idea of interviewing other bloggers!
Great way of discovering other blogs.
Stevie is lovely, really enjoyed reading the interview 🙂
Jayne recently posted…Have your own Bake Off – Aldi #Specialbuys Kitchen Range