A Month in Book Land

At the beginning of March I created this blog not really knowing what it was or what I even wanted it to be. (For the most part, that’s still true.) So far it’s been mostly a jumping off point for diving deeper into the world of publishing and Bookstagram and seeing what it looks/feels like to be a 37-year-old content creator on a platform for folks much younger and more spry than I. In a way it’s given me permission to evolve the hobby I love into more of a lifestyle, something I’ve wanted to do for a while. Over the last month, having this space has motivated me to explore more of the indie bookstore scene here in Chicago and beyond, connect with authors I admire, and seek out advanced reader copies of books that I’m excited about. I think I’ve learned a few things… maybe?

I’m an Insta-grandma. As an elder millennial my content creation heritage is rooted in good old fashioned blogs. I don’t really feel inspired to create complex Reels and grow a following by doing things that feel forced. I just really like pouring my creative energy into this project and creating stuff that I like and would still like if it wasn’t mine. One big win has been returning to graphic design, which I used to dabble in. (Read: once knew how to hack things together in Photoshop.) After army crawling my way through Adobe Creative Suite in college, I was drawn to Canva like a moth to a flame and it’s everything I dreamed of.

I’m not so sure I want to enter the world of book marketing. It seems like the type of work I want to do might not be aligned with the type of work this role requires. Generally speaking, I want to do creative and interesting marketing work for up-and-coming authors who need the exposure and deserve to have their stories birthed out into the world. I don’t want to A/B test Amazon ads for well-established authors. I want to help build community, not vie for clicks.

I’m still in search of my people. I have felt so fulfilled and proud of myself for venturing out to book stores and events and author conversations on my own. This world is so meaningful to me and, while I’ve really enjoyed flying solo, I know I’d also love to share in these activities with other people who feel a similar connection and enthusiasm for all of the happenings in book land.

In terms of what’s next… I wish had more of a prediction. I feel like I know what’s come easily and gone well. I know what has felt rewarding. Now that I have my proverbial blogging legs under me, I’d like to start connecting with more people in the bookish community and be brave enough to put myself in front of the camera more often. I also know I’d like to begin living up to the credo of this blog which means pairing book recommendations with other types of content — art, film, music, etc. — to further engage in and enjoy the material. This month I hope to share more about how I started my local book club, more personal thoughts and feelings about what I’m reading, and a potential Q&A with an author.(!!!)