Today we have the perfect person to close out Bookstagram Month: Taylor Freeman, who blogs at Novels and Nail Polish and posts gorgeous photos of books (and bookish nail art) at @novelsandnailpolish.
Tell us about yourself! Where do you work/play? What books do you like to read? Do you have any non-bookish hobbies? Any pets? What's your one great ambition?
Hi! I'm Taylor. I work and play in Los Angeles, California, and I'm quite the connoisseur of YA books and nail designs! They're definitely my favorite to read and paint on my nails. When I'm not reading, I'm singing around the house or going to musicals.
Do you have favorite filters or settings you like to use? Is there a particular reason you use them?
My filter of choice is Nashville, and I always edit my photos before putting them into IG with VSCO. I love the slight pink touch that combo gives pictures.
What are some tips you would give someone who was thinking of joining IG or had just joined?
Have fun with it, follow people who inspire you, and try to post every day!
Hashtags: What are some of your favorites? Do you have any "rules" when it comes to using hashtags?
Well, one of the rules I live by at work is USE THEM! A lot of people are afraid to use more than one, but that's what they're there for. I also like to put only a couple very relevant ones in the actual caption, and put the remainder in a comment on the photo. I also love creating specific hashtags for various events or series of photos, such as #LABookwormTour for my bookish explorations around Los Angeles! Some of my favorites are #bookstagram, #vscobooks and #yalit.
What are some NON-bookish things you love posting?
Is it cheating if I pick nail polish?? That's a given, so some other things I love taking photos of are flowers and anything gold & white!
If you could add/remove one thing in Instagram, what would it be?
Multiple user platform, like Twitter! I work in social media, and it gets super annoying having to log in and out of accounts all day!
Blogging's more fun with friends! Who are three people on IG you think are must-follows?
A photo posted by Novels and Nail Polish (@novelsandnailpolish) on
Be sure to also follow Taylor on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and Pinterest. Thanks to Taylor and all the bloggers who participated in Bookstagram Month!
Please welcome Jennifer, who blogs regularly at The Relentless Reader and also lights up Instagram with awesome food and book pics as @therelentlessreader. Find out more about Jennifer and her IG pet peeves below!
Tell us about yourself! Where do you work/play? What books do you like to read? Do you have any non-bookish hobbies? Any pets? What's your one great ambition?
I live in a small town in Wisconsin and I work at a bookstore in an even smaller neighboring town. I have 3 kids, 1 husband, and an embarrassing number of cats. Outside of books my interests include cooking, cheering on the Green Bay Packers, and trying to wrangle my family for get-togethers. My one great ambition? I'd like to own a bookstore one day.
How did you get started blogging on IG? How long ago?
I was first prodded to join Instagram during Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon. I believe I've been on Instagram for a little over a year.
What do you like about IG in comparison to other platforms or more traditional blogging?
Instagram, to me, is a happy place. There's not the kvetching of Twitter or negativity of Facebook. It's positive, it's bright, it's my happy place. And to be terribly cliched: A picture really can say a 1000 words.
Do you have favorite filters or settings you like to use? Is there a particular reason you use them?
I'm a fan of the filters that add illumination and warmth. Valencia is a particular favorite. I'm also a fan of Juno and Rise.
What are some tips you would give someone who was thinking of joining IG or had just joined?
Poke around (the best way to learn), follow some bookish folks (to see what types of posts you like), take the time to frame a photo nicely. No one wants to see dirty laundry or dishes in the background. Some of my Instagram peeves are blurry photos, too many photos in a row, and excessive hashtag use.
Hashtags: What are some of your favorites? Do you have any "rules" when it comes to using hashtags?
I use the usual suspects: #books#bookstagram#booklove, etc. My rule for hashtags is that I don't use more than 3 at a time. I like the uninterrupted flow of photos on my feed, when I have to scroll for an hour due to hashtags I become a smidge annoyed.
What are some NON-bookish things you love posting?
Anyone who follows me will know my answer to this question. FOOD! I also share photos of my family and our cats.
Selfies: Yes or meh?
I'm a grown ass lady so I take selfies to show off a new haircut or lipstick, not to show off my face. ;)
What are four of your best or favorite photos/videos that you've posted in the past year?
Alors, book bloggers, please welcome Emma! When she's not blogging at Words and Peace, running France Book Tours, or writing, she's snapping bookish photos on Instagram as @wordsandpeace1. Bonjour, Emma!
Tell us about yourself! Where do you work/play? What books do you like to read? Do you have any non-bookish hobbies? Any pets? What's your one great ambition?
I'm French living in the US. I work all from home: giving French online classes through skype, translating English novels into French, running a virtual book tour company (France Book Tours), and painting on rocks!
I read all kinds of genres, but enjoy especially historical novels and books in translation.
Apart from devouring books and painting, I love hiking and birding.
My next great ambition: publish a 2nd book, this time based on books I have reviewed, and also re-translating in French some old English book. Some translations are really dated.
How did you get started blogging on IG? How long ago?
I started about 6 months ago. I was seeing tons of book bloggers I follow using it, but at the time I didn't have a smart phone. Then I realized my cheap carrier, Tracfone, has also smartphones! This was the first app I installed on my phone I think!
What do you like about IG in comparison to other platforms or more traditional blogging?
quick and easy way to share when I start or just finished a great book. plus it's visual, no need of long blabla, a book cover says it all!
Do you have favorite filters or settings you like to use? Is there a particular reason you use them?
my favorite filter is Ludwig, I think it gives more clarity and faithful colors to my pictures
What are some tips you would give someone who was thinking of joining IG or had just joined?
try to post at least once a day - which I still don't do enough
Develop a cty by following those who share your same interest
Hashtags: What are some of your favorites? Do you have any "rules" when it comes to using hashtags?
#amreading #bookstagram
no rule really
What are some NON-bookish things you love posting?
I try to stick to bookish things, but sometimes I share about flowers in my garden. I usually don't like when people post about personal stuff, so I only follow book bloggers who stick mostly to books. Not interested in reading or seeing pictures of pets, sorry. Life is too busy
What are some things that surprised you about IG?
how many book bloggers do post about their pets!
What's one place, person, or thing you think has appeared most often in your photos?
BOOKS
Selfies: Yes or meh?
no
They say a picture's worth 1000 words. What story does your Instagram feed tell about you? Do you think it's accurate?
they say I'm a book addict. that's 500% true!
What are some tips you'd give people for photographing their books?
am still considering myself a newbie, ready to receive advice, not give them
If you could add/remove one thing in Instagram, what would it be?
it would be to be more flexible to use from a computer, not just app on the phone
How do you integrate IG with your blog? Or do you?
I have a widget on my blog. as soon as I post on instagram, it shows up in my sidebar, nothing more so far
Blogging's more fun with friends! Who are three people on IG you think are must-follows?
oh wow, I try to follow automatically all the book bloggers I know are using it, and follow back when a book blogger follows me. No special favorite so far
What are four of your best or favorite photos/videos that you've posted in the past year?
hmm, let's say the prettiest:
I did that for armchairbea, the #TBRrainbow challenge
Today please welcome Beth Nolan-Conners, an eclectic reader who blogs at Beth's Book-Nook Blog.
What's the meaning behind the name of your book blog?
I wanted something to show that it was all about the books I enjoy.
How long have you been blogging?
Since 2009. It started because so many family and friends asked me to recommend a good book that I was spending a lot of time sending the same emails. As a New Year's resolution I started a book blog.
Tell us a bit about your book blog. What makes it unique?
I will read just about anything, though I don't usually review erotica. My MO is to read and review, but if I don't like a book, I don't finish it; and if I don't finish it, I don't review it. So, my blog is a pretty positive view on things.
What genres do you write about most, and why?
I love historical fiction, regular fiction, YA, and mysteries. I will do biographies, Christian fiction, and self-help books. I love cookbooks. I try to find books that fit my moods and so I'm often reading 2 or 3 (or 4) books at once.
Every blogger feels pressure at some point. What's something you feel pressured to do or not do on your blog? How do you deal with it?
I feel that I should respond to every single request I get, even if it's just to say "no thank you". I get a lot of requests, but I think that is just common courtesy.
What's one book you think everyone should read?
I noticed that To Kill a Mockingbird is back on the bestseller list. That is probably my favorite book ever. To Set a Watchman is coming out in July, so I am guessing that this has brought a buzz to TKAM. If that makes more people read or reread that book, then great!
Writing in books: Yes or hell to the no?
Wait- writing IN books?? Like notes?? Um - no. Sticky notes if needed but I don't allow pages to get bent or dirtied or covers to get bent. People love to borrow my books because they always looks brand new (and if they return them bent up I "generously" let them keep them).
What's your favorite place to read or blog?
I love to lie on the couch or lie in bed. When my husband travels I sleep with my Kindle in the bed with me. No kidding.
Is Amazon.com the evil empire? Discuss.
While I am all for indies (I have a love affair with The Concord Bookshop), I will say that Amazon has provided a service of making books available to folks that might not have access to a bookstore or couldn't afford a list price for a book. I'm all for that.
Book shelfie time! Take a "shelfie" of your bookshelves and share it with us.
And I have lots more in other rooms!
What have you learned from other bloggers or your readers?
How to be more creative with my blog (always a challenge).
Do you judge a book by its cover, or its lover?
both
One book you like that no one else seems to, or vice versa?
I recently gave kudos to The Goldfinch and several friends said they hated it.
To DNF or not to DNF?
DNF - life is too short for bad books.
What's one book that intimidates you?
The Autobiography of Mark Twain, vol. 1
If you could go to any literary destination, where would you go?
Under the Tuscun sun
How about non-book related hobbies? What do you do when you don't feel like reading?
(which is never)
Write
Exercise
TRAVEL esp. to NYC, Napa, and Hawaii
Cook
I do a ton of community theater - act, sing, direct, produce
I love going to Europe and Disney World
What's your favorite book to movie adaptation?
I thought they did a good job with The Hunger Games.
What are 3 favorite posts or reviews you've read by other book bloggers?
Our featured #Bookstagrammer today is Memory, also known by her Instagram handle @Xicanti, and accompanied here by her wee poodle, Murchie. When not Instragramming, Memory blogs about books and food at In the Forest of Stories. Take it away, Memory!
Tell us about yourself! Where do you work/play? What books do you like to read? Do you have any non-bookish hobbies? Any pets? What's your one great ambition?
I'm Memory, an avid reader of most things and a particular fan of SFF. I live with a tiny poodle named Murchie, who stands opposed to my Ultimate Life Goal, which is to pet every dog ever. He's much more supportive when it comes to my ongoing quest to eat all the tacos, though he does wish I'd share the spoils a little more often.
How did you get started blogging on IG? How long ago?
I first heard of Instagram through Kelly of The Written World. It looked like a lot of fun, so I signed up as soon as I acquired my first mobile device with a camera. I think that was around three years ago, but I'm bad with time.
IG started as a way for me to share pictures of my dog, Murchie, and my feed quickly expanded to include shots of my current reads, places I'd wandered to on my walks, and whatever I was eating. Around a year ago, I decided to combine the Murchie photos with the book photos; thus was my Murchie Plus Books series born.
Hashtags: What are some of your favorites? Do you have any "rules" when it comes to using hashtags?
I tag all my bookish pictures with #murchieplusbooks. When Murchie and I are apart and I've got to use a stand-in (usually someone else's pet, but sometimes one of my Funko Pop! bobbleheads) , I add #specialgueststar[stand-in's name].
Right now, I've also been tagging all my food pics so people observing Ramadan can filter them out if they deem it necessary. And I always tag my taco pics with #tacowatch2k15, which started as a joke on Twitter and has now become an actual thing.
What are some NON-bookish things you love posting?
Foooooooooood. Whenever I end up with a remotely photogenic meal, I Instagram it. Tacos have a particularly large presence on my feed on account of Ultimate Life Goal #2.
Selfies: Yes or meh?
Meh on my own account. I've taken maybe five selfies in my entire life, and at least two of those were alongside Murchie. I'm not a photogenic person. I do enjoy other peoples' selfies, though.
They say a picture's worth 1000 words. What story does your Instagram feed tell about you? Do you think it's accurate?
Surely anyone who stumbled across my feed would think I like dogs and comics and things one can eat. This is entirely accurate.
How do you integrate IG with your blog? Or do you?
Every Sunday, I do a round-up of all my Murchie Plus Books posts from the previous week. I include descriptive alt tags for my vision-impaired readers, and I add some additional commentary on the books and on anything cute or quirky Murchie may have done during the photo session.
What are four of your best or favorite photos/videos that you've posted in the past year?
A small grey poodle, Murchie, sits on a fuzzy red and white blanket. He wears an orange t-shirt and has his mouth stretched wide open. Behind him is a white Kobo with the cover of John Lewis's March, Book One on its screen.
Murchie stands on a patch of green grass, his ears perked. Slightly in front of him is a trade paperback copy of Tomboy by Liz Prince.
Murchie lays on a concrete step, his paws stretched out before him. He wears an orange t-shirt with brown trim. Beside him is a paperback copy of The Gathering Storm by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson.
Murchie lays on a black couch. Beside him is a white Kobo with the cover of Matt Fraction and Christian Ward's Ody-C on its screen.
If you want more cute poodle pics, be sure to follow Memory's Instagram account. You can also connect with her on Twitter.
Today we have Serena Agusto-Cox, aka @SAgustoCox on Instagram. Although a veteran book blogger at Savvy Verse and Wit and the owner of Poetic Book Tours, Serena only joined Instagram recently. What does she think of the platform? Read on to find out!
Tell us about yourself! Where do you work/play? What books do you like to read? Do you have any non-bookish hobbies? Any pets? What's your one great ambition?
I read a wide variety of books, though most readers know I love poetry. I work from home in a position that allows me to telecommute and take care of my 4-yr-old daughter. I love taking photos, scrapbooking (though I haven't done much of that, and talking books. I have one dog, Sonia, she's a rescue husky mix (with what we don't know), and she's really the family dog. My ambition is to not only get Poetic Book Tours of the ground and profitable, but also to finish my own poetry collection and get it published.
How did you get started blogging on IG? How long ago?
I just started in February 2015. I saw that a bunch of other book bloggers were on Instagram. Everyone said they loved it, so I decided I'd try it out since I could post about books through my favorite hobby, photography.
What do you like about IG in comparison to other platforms or more traditional blogging?
I love the instant nature of it and the photos. What is there not to love.
Do you have favorite filters or settings you like to use? Is there a particular reason you use them?
No. I like them all. But I also haven't played with them much.
What are some tips you would give someone who was thinking of joining IG or had just joined?
Tips, boy I don't really have any. But if you have tips for me, I'd gladly take them.
Hashtags: What are some of your favorites? Do you have any "rules" when it comes to using hashtags?
#foodporn is one of my favorites. I love taking pictures and posting them of the food we eat at home and out.
What are some NON-bookish things you love posting?
Food, my daughter having fun, the garden
What are some things that surprised you about IG?
That the people I follow don't post that much or at least as much as I seem to. Maybe that's because I'm relatively new to it.
What's one place, person, or thing you think has appeared most often in your photos?
Gardening stuff or my daughter
Selfies: Yes or meh?
NO
They say a picture's worth 1000 words. What story does your Instagram feed tell about you? Do you think it's accurate?
That I love my daughter, my garden, and books; that's a far cry from 1,000 words.
What are some tips you'd give people for photographing their books?
Make sure you have good lighting so people can see the title and cover clearly. But make sure that the light is not directly above the cover when you are taking a picture because you'll either have a glare or see your own shadow.
If you could add/remove one thing in Instagram, what would it be?
Nothing fits this question...yet.
How do you integrate IG with your blog? Or do you?
Instagram automatically posts to the Facebook page of Savvy Verse & Wit. That makes it easy for me.
Blogging's more fun with friends! Who are three people on IG you think are must-follows?
Today please welcome Angelica, who blogs about young adult novels and chick lit at Paperback Princess.
What's the meaning behind the name of your book blog?
I've been told that I'm a bit high-maintenance and princess-y and because I am always with a book whether it's on my phone, ereader or a printed copy, they thought it'd be perfect....I had a shortlist then enlisted my Facebook friends to help me choose which was the best.
What genres do you write about most, and why?
I cannot articulate enough how much I love the YA-genre. Prior to Twilight it was hard pressed to find fantastic YA novels but since then our shelves have been bombarded with GREAT YA Authors and stories and I love, love, love it!
In YA there are no rules, it doesn't have to be realistic, the characters do not have to be mature, they can be sullen but still great, they can be bratty but still emerge at the end as a hero, I think that's what I love about YA, no rules.
Every blogger feels pressure at some point. What's something you feel pressured to do or not do on your blog? How do you deal with it?
Definitely keeping up with the Joneses so to speak.
There are so many fantastic blogs out there who have fabulous content and seems to be reviewing all the soon to be released popular books and I sometimes get caught up in the whirlwind on trying to keep up.
The best way to deal with this pressure is to be true to yourself. Be reasonable with your personal expectation of yourself and your blog.
Being organised also helps. I got a Blog Planner which helps me see what posts are scheduled for which days, so if I do a review I can see the best spot to slot it in.
You don't need to beat the best, you only need to be the best you can be.
Writing in books: Yes or hell to the no?
Definitely not. I only excuse this for Author Signing.
What's your favorite place to read or blog?
I'd love to say this:
but unfortunately I am not that lucky. I read where I can, the bus, the train, my study, in bed, at stoplights...ok I'm kidding about the last one (kinda).
Do you judge a book by its cover, or its lover?
I love beautiful covers, I most especially love the covers with beautiful dresses featured on it like The Selection Series by Kiera Cass.
To DNF or not to DNF?
I used to persevere when reading a book, but since becoming a book blogger I have changed my stance on this.
I now DNF as there are just so many fantastic books out there that I don't want to waste my time forcing myself to read ones I can't get into when I can spend that time reading another book that won't be so torturous to read.
If you could go to any literary destination, where would you go?
Definitely Warner Bros London so I can see the Harry Potter Studio. I'd love to taste a Butterbeer and shop at Diagon Alley.
How about non-book related hobbies? What do you do when you don't feel like reading?
Shopping, makeup, scrapbooking watching movies and TV series' and spending time with my loved ones.
What's your favorite book to movie adaptation?
Whilst I'd love to see my fave books on the big screen, most often than not it's really disappointing as the movie doesn't capture the story as well as the book, but one exception was the Harry Potter series.
I also enjoyed watching The Hunger Games, Vampire Academy, Divergent and City of Bones, but they certainly wasn't anywhere as good as the books.
Thank you for joining us today, Angelica! Remember to check out Angelica's blog, Paperback Princess, and leave a comment or question.
Give a warm welcome to Abbigail Kriebs, author, photographer, blogger, and bibliophile! You can find Abbigail on Instagram as @abbigailkriebs. Tell us about yourself! Where do you work/play? What books do you like to read? Do you have any non-bookish hobbies? Any pets? What's your one great ambition?
Hi, I'm Abbigail. I'm a Midwestern gal who somehow became a city-dweller in Madison, WI. My day job is in advertising & marketing, but in my spare time you can find me at Inkwells & Images, writing about books, photography, and writing. I love literary fiction - recent swoons include Sea Creatures by Susanna Daniel & The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. I also love a good love story, anything where the Midwest is a major character, and I admit that every now and again I just want to be entertained. I have a husband and he has two cats, so I guess that means I also have two cats: Zipper and Thumper. Great ambition? I'm slowly, slooooowly writing my first novel. But sometimes, my big ambition is to spend time outside while the sun is still shining. Having a desk job can create some funky ambitious cravings.
How did you get started blogging on IG? How long ago?
I don't blog primarily on IG - I often share photos related to blog posts, or that fill in the gaps between posts on my site. Often, I find IG is the perfect place to spell out a lyrical thought that just doesn't need to be longer than a sentence or two. I started posting on IG in 2013, sharing photos and not realizing then that it would become my favorite platform and where I get so many book and restaurant recommendations.
What do you like about IG in comparison to other platforms or more traditional blogging?
I love that it's quick. And also that it seems to be a collection of the most beautiful images on the web. Scrolling through my feed is a relaxing, enjoyably task - not something that has to be done or that clutters my life.
Do you have favorite filters or settings you like to use? Is there a particular reason you use them?
I adore "crema" - as a photographer, this one feels the closest to capturing light on film. And it also reminds me of coffee, which is kind of a win-win for this coffee-sipping gal.
What are some tips you would give someone who was thinking of joining IG or had just joined?
Do it! It's lovely, first. Second: it's a wonderful place to meet people. Make sure to not only use hashtags but to click on those hashtags and connect with others. I've made actual, in real life friends doing this - and I'm not a super user or anything like that.
Third: don't auto-post all your Instagrams to your other social platforms. From a marketing standpoint, you should treat each platform uniquely and tailor your content its own attributes. If I follow someone on multiple platforms and see the same content over and over again in both places, I will likely unfollow them on one of the platforms. There needs to be an incentive to connect online in multiple places, or we are merely just adding to the internet clutter.
Hashtags: What are some of your favorites? Do you have any "rules" when it comes to using hashtags?
I like to capitalize the words in my hashtags to make them a little easier to follow. This doesn't always happen, of course.
Some favorites: #AmReading #Midwestival #AmWriting #BeMadison #Collaboreating
What are some NON-bookish things you love posting?
Food & travel. I love capturing the simple moments of life - my cats chirping at birds, the ice collecting on the windows in January. The little memories that you would otherwise miss while on vacation.
What are some things that surprised you about IG?
How much I would enjoy following absolute strangers! I'm stalking what they read, watching them raise their children, and even stealing destination ideas from people around the world that I have never and may never meet - and it all feels so personal.
What's one place, person, or thing you think has appeared most often in your photos?
My dining room table. It's a lovely wood grain cut on the diagonal that my husband made, and it makes the perfect backdrop for all sorts of things: fancy cups of coffee, new books, chocolate malted milkshakes. It adds enough interest to be beautiful, but not so much that it distracts from the subject of the photo.
Selfies: Yes or meh?
I am worst selfie taker. I have tried and tried, and they just never turn out. I'm going to blame it on the fact that I am only 5'1" tall, so maybe my arms just aren't long enough to take flattering photos?!?
They say a picture's worth 1000 words. What story does your Instagram feed tell about you? Do you think it's accurate?
Back in 2013 when I had only been on IG for a few months, I wrote a random note in my journal:
The seven photos currently in my Instagram profile accurately describe my life:
quiet country spaces, food, books, baked goods (more food), coffee, stickers, and writing (and more coffee).
I make my picture-taking self proud.
So yes - I think my feed accurately described my life, then and now.
What are some tips you'd give people for photographing their books?
Choose neat backgrounds! Don't always opt for the sky or your lap: look for neat textures, or places that complement the subject of the book. I recently bought two memoirs, both dealing with life spent on farms. The perfect backdrop? Fresh green grass, of course!
If you could add/remove one thing in Instagram, what would it be?
I sometimes wish that hyperlinks worked on the platform - I know they're not working keeps it less cluttered with ads, but at the same time it would be nice to click through to a longer article when a post necessitated it.
How do you integrate IG with your blog? Or do you?
Yes and no. I often post a preview image on IG and then direct people to my blog. Otherwise, I'll use similar hashtags, or end up using photos that I took on Instagram to feature in blogs later on.
Blogging's more fun with friends! Who are three people on IG you think are must-follows?
@BenjaminHole runs a family farm on the Isle of Purbeck, England, and his photos are phenomenal.
@JoshuaHaroldson is a freelance photographer in the Midwest and his Instagrams are always stunning.
@AustinKleon, author & artist, posts blackout poems everyday, and also has book recommendations that are always worth taking.
What are four of your best or favorite photos/videos that you've posted in the past year?
Today please welcome Gail, aka Irish, who blogs at Ticket to Anywhere but also has a fantastic Instagram feed @Irisheyz77 where she reviews books, subscription boxes, and posts photos of her travels.
Tell us about yourself! Where do you work/play? What books do you like to read? Do you have any non-bookish hobbies? Any pets? What's your one great ambition?
Hello! I'm Gail and I have lived in New England all my life where by day I work in the biotech/medical device industry. I'm a total science geek and love to escape from the real world through books which is part of why I started my blog, Ticket to Anywhere, 8 years ago. I love to travel and try and see someplace new every year (this year I'm going to Greece!) and I trying to follow my Nana's footsteps around the globe. My Nana was a world traveler and I grew up hearing all about her adventures and she passed her wanderlove on to me.
How did you get started blogging on IG? How long ago?
I can't remember when exactly I joined instagram but it was just a random hodge podge of picture postings. I think I started posting my book thoughts on a regular basis a little over a year ago when it became clear that I was always going to be behind on writing up full reviews of books. At first I just snapped a photo of the book I read and now when I post a picture I add in three thoughts on the book to give a quick overview to my followers.
What do you like about IG in comparison to other platforms or more traditional blogging?
I like how fast it is and the reach it can get via hashtags. I also like how I can easily import the photo to my facebook, tumblr and twitter to get the word out on a particular title, be it good thoughts or bad. Its also a good reference for me when I go to write my full review on my exact thoughts right as I finished the book. I don't usually wait to take an IG photo...as long as I have service I snap a photo right where I am and then post my main three thoughts on the title. I do this even when I'm up way past my bed time.
Do you have favorite filters or settings you like to use? Is there a particular reason you use them?
I often find myself using Juno, Valencia and Ludwig filters alot. No particular reason really except that they tend to sharpen up the colors of the photo a bit.
What are some tips you would give someone who was thinking of joining IG or had just joined?
Hashtags are your friend and it helps to learn the basic bookish ones (or ones for what you are posting) but don't overload your caption with hashtags.
Hashtags: What are some of your favorites? Do you have any "rules" when it comes to using hashtags?
I will make a personal one for my book thoughts, this year its #irish2015reads and I'll use that on every post. Others I like to use are #bookstagram #instabook, the genre of the book (#romance, #fantasy), target audience (#youngadult, #new adult, etc), author name, publisher, and series of the book (if applicable). Then a few random ones based on current mood when I finish like #allthefeels for books that slay me in some way.
What are some NON-bookish things you love posting?
I love to post pictures of my travel when I am traveling and then just random things that I stumble upon and find of interest during the course of my day. Like watching geese cross the road or finding my friends names on coke bottles so I'll post a picture and tag them, sometimes making up a little story as I do. I like posting book quotes as I read a book, because I love quotes and I like trying to get people interesting in a title.
What are some things that surprised you about IG?
How quickly some people will like a photo when I post it and the new people I've found because they started to like a lot of my photos as they followed a hashtag to them. I found several new IG friends this way.
What's one place, person, or thing you think has appeared most often in your photos?
I think my IG profile says it best 'expect lots of random pics of coffee, books & quotes from books' and that is pretty much what you'll find most.
Selfies: Yes or meh?
I take a terrible selfie so while they do show up on IG they definitely don't dominate my feed.
They say a picture's worth 1000 words. What story does your Instagram feed tell about you? Do you think it's accurate?
I think my feed lets people know I like to read and travel and that pretty much sums me up. lol
What are some tips you'd give people for photographing their books?
Make sure that the title and author name can easily be seen. My book pictures are mostly spur of the moment so I could probably be better at my framing of them and such.
If you could add/remove one thing in Instagram, what would it be?
The ability to edit comments! I am not always the best at the proofreading so editing my replys to people's comments would be awesome-sauce. But for now I'm happy with being able to edit the initial caption so yay that!
I also wish it was easier to resize an existing photo withing IG instead of needed to use a secondary app to make an image fit the square.
How do you integrate IG with your blog? Or do you?
When I'm not being lazy I'll integrate my IG photos into my monthly recap posts on my blog. I have a section that talks about my Random Moments of the month and I'll often highlight some of my favorite moments/pictures of the month there. Though it used to be easier on WP with a simple copy and paste of URL and now there are more steps so when I'm pressed for time I just link to my IG account.
I also post my planned TBR category list onto IG and then at the end of the month I'll sometimes post a how I did on the TBR list and a cover snap shot of all the books I read that month. I then use the cover snapshot in my monthly recap post.
Blogging's more fun with friends! Who are three people on IG you think are must-follows?
@WhatSarahRead - she makes these amazing mood collages for every book review she posts and then posts them to IG as well. I post collages too on occasion and she's definitely the source of this because she reminds me almost daily how much I love collages.
@BethFishReads - she's an amazing photographer and I love traveling with her on her daily walks and seeing the world through her eyes.
@AndiABCs - she's quite the fashionista and my day doesn't seem complete if I don't see her OOTD post first thing in the morning.
What are four of your best or favorite photos/videos that you've posted in the past year?
1) The most fun IG posts I've done this past year is a series I did where I visited all the places mentioned in Anna & the French Kiss when I was in Paris. Those are compiled here and were captured under the hashtag #AnnaARCandtheFrenchTrip
