Full Transcript for Bookstagram Burnout: When Reading Starts Feeling Like a Job (with Amy King & Maggie Blankenship)

00:04:20.639 Yeah, would have never done that without bookstore. 00:04:21.120 --> 00:04:21.680 Yeah. 00:04:22.000 --> 00:04:22.959 That's great. 00:04:23.279 --> 00:04:27.120 I you make me feel better by saying there's nowhere else clean in your house. 00:04:27.279 --> 00:04:34.319 Because I feel like people always make these beautiful videos, and their space is always just so perfect. 00:04:34.800 --> 00:04:37.680 And I don't know, that's not my life. 00:04:37.839 --> 00:04:42.160 Like, that's I'm also like, where do I have good lighting and a clean space? 00:04:42.399 --> 00:04:44.399 No, it doesn't exist in the same place. 00:04:44.560 --> 00:04:45.920 Yeah, that's true. 00:04:46.240 --> 00:04:46.720 Oh my gosh. 00:04:46.959 --> 00:04:48.399 That's what I bought bookshelves for. 00:04:48.480 --> 00:04:56.000 I would say that's my bookstagram made me do it thing, is I had very few paperbacks before I started my bookstagram. 00:04:56.160 --> 00:05:00.160 I'm a big e-reader, and so almost everything I did was on Kindle. 00:05:00.319 --> 00:05:05.360 And I had a handful of paperbacks, but not like a whole bookshelf worth. 00:05:05.600 --> 00:05:11.519 Um, and over the last year I have collected I don't know how many shelf trophies of books that I have read. 00:05:11.759 --> 00:05:19.759 And it it has actually made me start reading some paperbacks again because I feel like you get a different perspective of the book when it's in actual paperback form. 00:05:20.000 --> 00:05:21.600 But Kindle is just so convenient. 00:05:22.000 --> 00:05:24.560 Yeah, I don't know if I'll ever tear myself away from that. 00:05:25.040 --> 00:05:28.160 My bookstagram made me do it. 00:05:28.480 --> 00:05:36.240 Like honestly, at the beginning of you know, being an author, everything felt cringy to me. 00:05:36.399 --> 00:05:42.639 Like every reel that I made felt like bookstagram made me do it, you know, cringy. 00:05:42.879 --> 00:05:49.920 But now it's getting my husband to make reels with me, is the like bookstagram made me do it. 00:05:50.000 --> 00:05:56.639 Because he's super as as I wouldn't say shy, but like shy adjacent as I am. 00:05:57.199 --> 00:05:58.800 He's way worse. 00:05:59.040 --> 00:06:05.120 But I have convinced him to do some reels with me, and those are always my best performing reels. 00:06:05.439 --> 00:06:08.399 My god, they are so good, they're so cute. 00:06:08.959 --> 00:06:10.800 I'm I'm with the world. 00:06:11.120 --> 00:06:12.319 Those are the best reels. 00:06:12.639 --> 00:06:13.279 I love them. 00:06:13.519 --> 00:06:14.160 I love that. 00:06:14.319 --> 00:06:21.040 Like, I will have to say, of everyone on this show, I am the least uh social media whatever. 00:06:21.120 --> 00:06:23.600 And it's because I think part of it is I still feel cringy. 00:06:23.680 --> 00:06:26.000 And then like I'd find, I'm like, you know what? 00:06:26.079 --> 00:06:27.600 It's cringy, but I'm gonna post it. 00:06:27.680 --> 00:06:29.920 And then it gets

like four views, and then I'm like, look at that. 00:06:30.000 --> 00:06:30.319 I was right. 00:06:30.399 --> 00:06:32.160 It was cringy and no one likes it. 00:06:32.399 --> 00:06:38.560 So I've been affirmed by social media algorithms that no one wants to see that. 00:06:38.800 --> 00:06:45.120 So it's actually probably a good sign it wasn't cringy enough because if it was, then you would have gone viral. 00:06:45.360 --> 00:06:45.759 Good point. 00:06:46.319 --> 00:06:46.639 Good point. 00:06:46.959 --> 00:06:47.199 All right. 00:06:47.680 --> 00:06:48.319 Well, let me see. 00:06:48.399 --> 00:06:49.839 My Bookstagram made me do it. 00:06:49.920 --> 00:06:50.879 It's right here. 00:06:51.279 --> 00:07:00.079 It's actually Book Talk made me do it, and it was purchasing this thing that had ring lights attached on the side, and this was supposed to change my life. 00:07:00.319 --> 00:07:02.720 It has not changed my life now. 00:07:03.519 --> 00:07:12.959 It says so for people who aren't on YouTube, it's a little tripod and it had ring lights on the side that never stay charged for more than five minutes and a little phone holder in the middle. 00:07:13.120 --> 00:07:19.600 We did use it when Tiffany and I went live in um in Texas, but anyway, it hasn't changed my life. 00:07:19.680 --> 00:07:21.519 But Book Talk did make me do it. 00:07:21.759 --> 00:07:24.160 Someone convinced me this was what I needed. 00:07:24.399 --> 00:07:25.120 That's amazing. 00:07:25.279 --> 00:07:25.920 I love it. 00:07:26.160 --> 00:07:33.040 Okay, we want to hear about just a little bit about how you started your account, why you started it. 00:07:33.120 --> 00:07:41.759 Like, what did you what drew you to Bookstagram and specifically like clean, closed door, Christian romance? 00:07:42.000 --> 00:07:43.600 Nagy, you want to start for us? 00:07:43.759 --> 00:07:48.720 Like just tell us a little bit about how you, your genesis, your origins story. 00:07:49.040 --> 00:07:49.279 Yeah. 00:07:49.439 --> 00:07:50.879 I will do my best. 00:07:51.120 --> 00:07:53.759 So I think it's about two and a half years ago now. 00:07:54.000 --> 00:08:08.959 I was reading this series, and it just kept getting spicier as the series went, and I was like, but I want to know what happened, and I just kept going and I started to feel the conviction of the Holy Spirit, but you kept fighting back. 00:08:09.120 --> 00:08:12.560 And I was like, no, I want to keep reading the series, I want to know what happens. 00:08:12.720 --> 00:08:16.480 Finally, I was like, I'll finish the series and I'll give up these types of books forever. 00:08:16.720 --> 00:08:17.519 Well, I did. 00:08:17.680 --> 00:08:29.600 I I gave up all books like that, and I was like, okay, forever now I'm going to be reading like Christian historical romances or anything you can find in the little um like religion section at Barnes and Noble. 00:08:29.680 --> 00:08:38.480 And I was like, that's gonna be me for the rest of my life,

but it's better to read that and um obey the Lord than to be reading what I was reading before. 00:08:38.720 --> 00:08:44.000 Well, I had just gotten Instagram like a few months prior, never had it until I went to college. 00:08:44.240 --> 00:08:47.840 And so all of a sudden I stumbled across this reel. 00:08:48.000 --> 00:08:51.919 It said something about like clean or closed door, and I was like, what is this? 00:08:52.159 --> 00:08:53.279 And I was like, that's a book. 00:08:53.440 --> 00:09:00.240 And then since I was interested, of course, the algorithm kept pushing more into my feed, and I was like, wait a second, you mean like no explicit scenes? 00:09:00.320 --> 00:09:00.960 Like, what? 00:09:01.120 --> 00:09:02.000 I'm sorry. 00:09:02.320 --> 00:09:03.360 This is so cool. 00:09:03.600 --> 00:09:11.120 So then I saw um this author, she was like calling out like I need art readers, and I was like, eh, what's that? 00:09:11.279 --> 00:09:15.039 So I looked it up and I was like, oh my gosh, you mean I can read a book before it comes out? 00:09:15.200 --> 00:09:17.200 Because everything in my life is a competition. 00:09:17.360 --> 00:09:20.000 So for me in that moment, I was like, yes, I get to read it first. 00:09:21.360 --> 00:09:22.320 I love it. 00:09:22.879 --> 00:09:30.000 And then I saw another author, and this author was Carrie Cotton, and she was um calling out for art readers for the Viking. 00:09:30.159 --> 00:09:31.120 I was like, sign me up. 00:09:31.200 --> 00:09:32.960 And I was like, oh my gosh, this is amazing. 00:09:33.120 --> 00:09:37.279 And I that's when I started to see more of these people who had the public accounts and were sharing. 00:09:37.360 --> 00:09:39.519 I was like, maybe I could do that too. 00:09:40.799 --> 00:09:47.120 So one random day in my truck on the way to college, I was like, I'm gonna do it. 00:09:47.279 --> 00:09:48.879 Had no idea what I was doing. 00:09:49.120 --> 00:09:59.039 All I knew is that I wanted to help people who were like me who thought that only closed door books could be like Christian historical fiction or Amish fiction. 00:09:59.200 --> 00:10:03.120 I was like, there I have found, like, I found a Western, I found medieval. 00:10:03.279 --> 00:10:05.679 And so I just, I just started making content. 00:10:05.840 --> 00:10:09.840 I started signing up for arcs and I just I just started connecting with authors that way. 00:10:09.919 --> 00:10:18.720 And I was like, I want to help other Christian readers find books like these and know that you can have basically any genre that you love to read. 00:10:18.879 --> 00:10:26.080 You don't have to have the spice in it, and so that's what I've been doing now for the past two and a half years, and it's been so much fun. 00:10:26.320 --> 00:10:26.960 That's awesome. 00:10:27.679 --> 00:10:28.639 Yeah, that's so good. 00:10:28.960 --> 00:10:29.440 I love it. 00:10:29.840 --> 00:10:34.080 Even, yeah, even when you're sharing, you're just so genuine and authentic. 00:10:34.240 --> 00:10:40.480 And I think that genuine joy and excitement is why your account has been successful, right? 00:10:40.639 --> 00:10:47.120 Like you're just genuinely out there to help others and support others, and your account has just like exploded. 00:10:47.360 --> 00:10:48.080 Thank you so much. 00:10:48.159 --> 00:10:49.279 That means so much. 00:10:49.759 --> 00:10:50.320 Thank you. 00:10:50.559 --> 00:11:01.120 Yeah, I think that you know, that's one thing that we were drawn to with both of you, is that it feels like you are yourself. 00:11:01.679 --> 00:11:06.559 And it feels like we know you, even though we we don't actually know you. 00:11:09.120 --> 00:11:09.759 Exactly. 00:11:09.919 --> 00:11:10.639 Exactly. 00:11:10.879 --> 00:11:14.639 And we're we're hoping to get to actually know you guys. 00:11:15.200 --> 00:11:16.240 That's why we're cruising together. 00:11:16.480 --> 00:11:16.720 Exactly. 00:11:17.039 --> 00:11:18.559 We want to hang out with you in real life. 00:11:18.799 --> 00:11:38.480 Yeah, but I do think that people are drawn to that genuineness that uh it at least it seems like you exhibit just being yourself, and and that looks so different for both of you, you know, like you guys are both genuinely yourself and expressing that in different ways, and it's so cool and beautiful. 00:11:38.879 --> 00:11:39.600 Yeah, I love it. 00:11:39.840 --> 00:11:41.519 Okay, what's Amy's origin story? 00:11:41.600 --> 00:11:42.320 I want to hear it. 00:11:42.480 --> 00:11:47.600 Um, I got introduced to uh what we call these days spicy books. 00:11:47.679 --> 00:11:51.360 Nobody called it that back when I was a girl, like 10, at a neighbor's house. 00:11:51.600 --> 00:11:54.879 Um and I say that I was raised on the J's. 00:11:54.960 --> 00:12:01.679 So, like Julie Garwood, Judith McNott, Jude Devereaux, I don't know if you know any of those people, but they were like the 80s ladies. 00:12:01.840 --> 00:12:06.480 You know, they were like the OGs of the spicy romance world back in the day. 00:12:06.639 --> 00:12:22.480 And so I started with that, and then things just got worse over the years, and I was miserable and had other issues besides um reading erotica, but that was sort of a sim a major symptom in my life. 00:12:22.799 --> 00:12:32.320 And I got pretty sick of that and had a big burnout situation, which is interesting that we're talking about burnout, Instagram burnout, but I had kind of a whole life burnout. 00:12:32.480 --> 00:12:40.720 Um, and I come to Jesus meeting and I quit reading for at least a year, just cold turkey and worked through a lot of things. 00:12:41.039 --> 00:12:48.480 And then when I came back around to reading, um, I knew I didn't want to touch what we call spicy books. 00:12:48.879 --> 00:12:49.519 It's so weird. 00:12:49.600 --> 00:12:52.399 I'm like, what did I call that before we called them? 00:12:52.559 --> 00:12:58.799 I don't know what I called it, but nobody in

my normal life reads, which is part of why I ended up starting an Instagram. 00:12:58.960 --> 00:13:06.320 Um, but I felt like my reading life for most of my life was very like dark and secret and weird. 00:13:06.559 --> 00:13:12.000 And so when I didn't want to do that anymore, I almost didn't even know what reading looked like. 00:13:12.159 --> 00:13:12.320 Yeah. 00:13:12.399 --> 00:13:21.039 Um, and so I started reading Closed Door and read that for a while and then found that I actually really missed the faith aspect of books. 00:13:21.120 --> 00:13:25.600 And I would get frustrated with characters and be like, the Lord could help you with that. 00:13:25.840 --> 00:13:29.600 Like you you should pray about that. 00:13:29.759 --> 00:13:32.480 Like, girl, let me help you. 00:13:33.120 --> 00:13:34.399 So I love that. 00:13:34.720 --> 00:13:42.480 Then I started finding Christian fiction and Christian romance, which I didn't really outside of Amish fiction, I just was not exposed to that world at all. 00:13:42.720 --> 00:13:51.840 Um, and so I found all of my wrecks through like Kindle and Goodreads and was talking my husband's ear off about everything that I was reading and what characters did and all this sort of thing. 00:13:51.919 --> 00:13:56.399 And he was the one that was like, you should start a book talk, which is where I started on TikTok. 00:13:56.559 --> 00:13:57.919 And I was like, no, that's dumb. 00:13:58.000 --> 00:13:58.720 I don't want to do that. 00:13:58.879 --> 00:14:00.399 I didn't even know book talk was a thing. 00:14:00.480 --> 00:14:02.240 Like it was just not part of my world. 00:14:02.559 --> 00:14:04.399 And uh he was like, no, I think you should. 00:14:05.200 --> 00:14:06.080 You gotta know my husband. 00:14:06.159 --> 00:14:07.840 He is like, he has the best ideas. 00:14:07.919 --> 00:14:13.679 I don't know why I don't ever just like on the first time be like, I'll do that, you know, because it always works out. 00:14:13.840 --> 00:14:16.240 Well I'm just shocked that he knows what book talk is. 00:14:16.320 --> 00:14:20.879 Like when I tell people outside of the reading world what bookstagram or book talk is, they're like, What? 00:14:21.039 --> 00:14:21.679 What is that? 00:14:21.840 --> 00:14:23.840 But dude, my husband knows what's going on in the world. 00:14:24.000 --> 00:14:27.360 Like, okay, I he is he is the man. 00:14:27.519 --> 00:14:30.000 He likes to travel, he likes to be out there. 00:14:30.159 --> 00:14:38.320 I could just like sit in my bed all day for the rest of my life, you know, which is another reason Instagram appeals to me, because I just film in my bedroom and it's great. 00:14:38.480 --> 00:14:41.200 Like I don't have to go anywhere and I talk to all the people. 00:14:41.279 --> 00:14:43.120 It's like an introvert's dream. 00:14:43.679 --> 00:14:44.159 Really. 00:14:44.399 --> 00:14:49.120 So anyway, I started on book talk and that took off within like three weeks. 00:14:49.279 --> 00:14:50.000 That was crazy. 00:14:50.080 --> 00:14:54.879 And I was shocked that that many people were looking for Christian romance, and that's all I was sharing. 00:14:55.120 --> 00:15:01.679 And it was not, I mean, it was like Francine Rivers and Halle Bridgman and whoever Kendall had recommended to me. 00:15:01.840 --> 00:15:06.799 And I was shocked by how many people on TikTok were looking for Christian romance. 00:15:07.279 --> 00:15:09.279 Um, so I did that for a few months. 00:15:09.519 --> 00:15:12.399 I started it May of last year, I guess, 2025. 00:15:12.559 --> 00:15:16.480 And then took up Instagram July of that same year. 00:15:16.639 --> 00:15:19.519 And then I was like, oh, everybody's on Instagram. 00:15:19.679 --> 00:15:21.840 Like nobody was a Christian on TikTok. 00:15:21.919 --> 00:15:22.559 You know what I mean? 00:15:22.720 --> 00:15:26.320 And then I got to Instagram and I was like, oh, here's where everybody's at. 00:15:26.480 --> 00:15:29.840 Like every author, every publisher, every bookstagrammer. 00:15:30.080 --> 00:15:39.360 So like I think that is a fun difference between my two accounts, is Instagram very much feels like the industry, I guess, for lack of a better term. 00:15:39.519 --> 00:15:42.159 Everybody, all the players are on Instagram. 00:15:42.320 --> 00:15:42.480 Yeah. 00:15:42.720 --> 00:15:50.240 TikTok still really feels like just my fellow reading gals that were all just shooting the breeze about books. 00:15:50.399 --> 00:15:54.000 And so I like different aspects of both platforms. 00:15:54.240 --> 00:15:54.720 I love that. 00:15:54.960 --> 00:15:59.519 Amy, so I will the first time I remember seeing you on Bookstagram. 00:15:59.679 --> 00:16:05.360 I don't remember what you're talking about, but you were like bringing the truth and you were calling people out. 00:16:05.600 --> 00:16:10.399 And I like sent it to Tiffany, and I was like, Tiffany, you gotta see this girl. 00:16:10.559 --> 00:16:18.159 But I just remember you just like truth bringing, and then you had like a part two and a part three, and I was like, Yes, this girl, she's speaking my language. 00:16:18.320 --> 00:16:22.960 So anyway, I have loved that and I don't like what have you talked about that has gone viral. 00:16:23.120 --> 00:16:23.440 I don't know. 00:16:23.519 --> 00:16:25.360 I've had a lot of spicy topics. 00:16:25.519 --> 00:16:28.480 Um no pun intended, I guess. 00:16:32.159 --> 00:16:42.000 I think my perspective on things is just different because I've read so much filth, like, and I don't wear that as a badge of honor. 00:16:42.159 --> 00:16:46.960 I just mean I I'm past missing out on things, I think. 00:16:47.120 --> 00:16:52.559 And and I don't read, you know, all I all I read and share is Christian romance, and I don't feel legalistic about that. 00:16:52.720 --> 00:16:58.879 I don't have some theological stance that all Christians should only read faith content or in books or something like that. 00:16:59.039 -->

00:16:59.840 That's just what I prefer. 00:17:00.000 --> 00:17:01.360 So that's what I share. 00:17:01.679 --> 00:17:08.640 Um, but I do have strong feelings about Christians promoting smut or promoting erotica. 00:17:08.880 --> 00:17:16.400 And so, and I I try to do it in a loving way and not in a big way that comes off as judgmental or harsh or whatever. 00:17:16.559 --> 00:17:25.200 I just feel like I've lived that whole life and I've told myself all of the things, and I've come full circle and I've had years and years doing it. 00:17:25.440 --> 00:17:37.599 And so I feel I don't know, I guess I feel confident in my perspective, and it doesn't mean people have to agree with me, but yeah, that that got me in some trouble on TikTok, which I was like, woohoo, more views. 00:17:37.839 --> 00:17:38.160 Right. 00:17:38.720 --> 00:17:39.440 Yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:17:39.599 --> 00:17:40.880 It's so funny. 00:17:41.200 --> 00:17:51.440 What I love about both of your origin stories is that you both had some sort of conviction from the Holy Spirit about what you were reading. 00:17:51.680 --> 00:17:58.720 And also you thought that what was out there was much more limited than it actually was. 00:17:58.960 --> 00:17:59.119 Right. 00:17:59.279 --> 00:18:01.119 And I and I felt that way too. 00:18:01.279 --> 00:18:06.400 I had no idea the scope of what was out there, what is out there. 00:18:06.640 --> 00:18:16.720 And I just have to think that there's so many people like all of us that are searching and don't even know that like what's available. 00:18:17.039 --> 00:18:22.240 And, you know, I I'd like to think that we're we're doing people a service. 00:18:22.559 --> 00:18:23.680 We're doing our part, you know? 00:18:24.000 --> 00:18:24.799 Right, exactly. 00:18:25.039 --> 00:18:27.759 Trying to raise awareness and stuff like that. 00:18:27.920 --> 00:18:33.599 So I really appreciate what you guys are doing for the clean and Christian romance community. 00:18:33.839 --> 00:18:48.240 And I do, I have been seeing so many people lately who are expressing, especially readers expressing burnout over Books to Gram, which you see authors talk about that a lot too. 00:18:48.480 --> 00:18:56.960 But I think it's been surprising to me seeing readers saying, Man, like I can't keep up with the algorithm, I can't keep up with the arcs. 00:18:57.200 --> 00:19:01.440 I feel like the enjoyment of reading isn't there anymore. 00:19:01.599 --> 00:19:04.640 And so we just wanted to get your perspective. 00:19:04.799 --> 00:19:14.000 Like, what do you think are some of the biggest sources of pressure for people, for readers in particular, on Bookstagram right now? 00:19:14.319 --> 00:19:21.359 Well, I'll just start with kind of what I think an overview of the problem is, and this is likely an oversimplification. 00:19:21.680 --> 00:19:31.680 But I think part of the trouble is authors are trying to make money by selling books, and influencers don't make any money by promoting your book for the most part. 00:19:32.000 --> 00:19:32.480 For the most part. 00:19:34.799 --> 00:19:36.319 And those two marry each other. 00:19:36.960 --> 00:19:45.519 And so you have bookstagrammers or book talkers kind of feeling the pressure to help this author make money. 00:19:45.680 --> 00:19:50.480 Um, but it's really just out of the goodness of their of their hearts for the most part. 00:19:50.640 --> 00:19:54.400 And turns out people have a limited number of goodness in their hearts. 00:19:57.119 --> 00:19:57.680 I love it. 00:19:57.839 --> 00:19:58.799 It's a finite resource. 00:19:58.880 --> 00:20:04.000 There's only so much but also like there's only so much reading time. 00:20:04.319 --> 00:20:17.440 And like when you are, you want to like support all these people, like even Tiffany and I with the podcast, like we want to support like everyone who sponsors an episode and everyone who like reaches out, and everyone who applies for to be a guest. 00:20:17.519 --> 00:20:20.960 We want to support everybody, but we only have so much reading time. 00:20:21.119 --> 00:20:22.799 Like we can't keep up with it all. 00:20:22.960 --> 00:20:25.440 And I think that's probably part of it too. 00:20:25.599 --> 00:20:33.759 Like, you you want to like share the love, but that the love doesn't just include a post, it includes five to eight hours of reading as well. 00:20:34.000 --> 00:20:34.720 So true. 00:20:35.519 --> 00:20:35.839 Yeah. 00:20:36.160 --> 00:20:51.599 And honestly, like you know, I've been on Bookstagram as an author making posts and reels about my own books, but it's only been in the last year since we started the podcast that I've been spending time making posts about other people's books. 00:20:51.839 --> 00:20:54.720 And it is so time consuming. 00:20:54.880 --> 00:20:55.119 Yeah. 00:20:55.440 --> 00:21:00.480 It's like when it's not, especially when it's not your own book that you know inside out. 00:21:01.680 --> 00:21:03.279 It's it's hard. 00:21:03.440 --> 00:21:08.240 Like Sarah, Sierra sends me these reels, like, oh, we should do this on Instagram. 00:21:08.559 --> 00:21:13.200 Like, and I'm like, that is gonna take me entirely too long to do that. 00:21:13.519 --> 00:21:15.920 Tiffany's like, you can do that one. 00:21:16.160 --> 00:21:17.119 Send it to me. 00:21:17.359 --> 00:21:18.160 All you go. 00:21:19.680 --> 00:21:20.240 We'll see. 00:21:20.400 --> 00:21:20.799 We'll see. 00:21:20.880 --> 00:21:22.079 I have done a couple. 00:21:22.319 --> 00:21:23.839 I did one and it went viral. 00:21:24.079 --> 00:21:26.079 It really ticked up on TikTok. 00:21:26.720 --> 00:21:29.039 I hadn't opened TikTok for like a month. 00:21:29.200 --> 00:21:34.319 Like, because I did it on summer vacation at the beginning of vacation, and I didn't open TikTok for a month. 00:21:34.480 --> 00:21:38.400 And when I opened it up, there was like thousands of notifications. 00:21:38.559 --> 00:21:45.039 And I so wish I had screenshot it because

in my life I never thought that I would do anything that actually went viral. 00:21:45.279 --> 00:21:47.519 Was it anything productive toward our count? 00:21:47.680 --> 00:21:48.240 Not at all. 00:21:48.400 --> 00:21:48.880 You know? 00:21:49.119 --> 00:21:51.119 Like, did it scream clean romance? 00:21:51.279 --> 00:21:52.480 No, of course not. 00:21:52.720 --> 00:21:55.200 Um, but it went viral and that was fun. 00:21:55.440 --> 00:21:56.640 Yeah, that was fun. 00:21:57.359 --> 00:22:14.000 Meanwhile, I made a reel that had like a Hundred million book covers that I was like adjusting, like adjusting the book covers with your fingers and like trying to get them all even with each other and all in a line, and it gets like two views, and you're just like, I can't do this again. 00:22:16.720 --> 00:22:18.079 Oh man is so real. 00:22:18.160 --> 00:22:24.400 It's always the most random stuff that takes off, and then things that you put a lot of like thought and time into nobody cares. 00:22:24.559 --> 00:22:25.200 You're like, great. 00:22:25.440 --> 00:22:29.200 Yeah, I mean, honestly, I I agree. 00:22:29.440 --> 00:22:35.359 It you only have so much time, especially when Bookstagram is a hobby. 00:22:35.680 --> 00:22:40.240 And I mean, even though reading has just always been a part of me. 00:22:41.200 --> 00:22:46.240 Now that I've added Bookstagram, like I didn't come on, I didn't come into it being like, oh, it's a hobby. 00:22:46.480 --> 00:22:50.000 Or at least recently that's been my train of thought, is like it's not a hobby anymore. 00:22:50.240 --> 00:22:51.440 It's it's a business. 00:22:51.599 --> 00:22:55.519 I know that's one of my pressures, is I'm like, this has got to be good, this has got to be perfect. 00:22:55.680 --> 00:23:03.359 And then all of a sudden I'm just like, I'm not it's it's hard when you're not like seeing benefits. 00:23:03.519 --> 00:23:07.839 So then because you also I also have to um like live life. 00:23:08.319 --> 00:23:09.519 So really, yeah. 00:23:09.599 --> 00:23:09.839 That's it. 00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:20.240 I mean some sometimes I think like that's just the thing where like, oh my gosh, I've got to do this, I've got to do that, and then I've got to post this, and I've got to post that, and I've got to read this, and I've got to read that. 00:23:20.400 --> 00:23:23.359 And then you're like, Well, you know, it's a job. 00:23:23.440 --> 00:23:42.480 Some booksogrammers are moms, and then moms and jobs, you know, there's just so many, and then like volunteering it at church for the Christian bookstogrammers, and just time after time after time, and you want to spend time with your family, and you want to spend time with friends, and then you're just like, Well, now I'm gonna read a book, and then you're like, wait a second, I'm gonna read that book. 00:23:42.559 --> 00:23:49.039 Oh, then I gotta write the review for the book, which don't get me wrong, I love writing reviews, but sometimes I'm like, oh man.

00:23:49.200 --> 00:24:05.680 And so and then you gotta post that review in eight places, and three of them you can't post until the book comes out, but they want you to post for the pre-orders before the book comes out on the platforms that you can, and then you have to put on your calendar that you're gonna come back on the release day and post it on the ones that only take it on release day. 00:24:05.839 --> 00:24:07.359 And right, yeah, and it's all for free. 00:24:07.599 --> 00:24:09.839 It does, yep, and it just keeps going on and on and on. 00:24:09.920 --> 00:24:20.079 And I mean, don't get me wrong, I love telling people about books, and I'm like, yes, you know, learn about this author and read their books, but then sometimes I'm also like, yeah, I've only got so much time. 00:24:20.240 --> 00:24:23.279 Now I don't remember the last time I posted a review on time. 00:24:23.680 --> 00:24:25.279 Yeah, I'm like two months behind. 00:24:25.440 --> 00:24:26.960 So yeah. 00:24:27.519 --> 00:24:28.640 I feel that that makes sense. 00:24:28.880 --> 00:24:29.440 It is, yeah. 00:24:29.599 --> 00:24:30.000 Oh yeah. 00:24:30.319 --> 00:24:36.640 So how do reading goals and seeing other people's numbers affect your enjoyment of reading? 00:24:36.799 --> 00:24:39.359 Like, do y'all feel pressure by this whole good reads thing? 00:24:39.440 --> 00:24:47.519 And when people post how many books they've read, are you like, Yeah, I'm a loser or I'm a slow reader, or what like sometimes I see that and I'm like, I'm a loser. 00:24:47.599 --> 00:24:51.200 I can't honestly, I'm I'm right there with you. 00:24:51.359 --> 00:24:57.599 Like recently I saw someone post that was like 75 books out of 75 books for the year, and I was like beating my head against the wall. 00:24:57.680 --> 00:25:02.000 I'm like, how because I've like struggled to read 36. 00:25:02.319 --> 00:25:14.640 But this is also because I used to read, when I say used to read, I mean like I was a kid in school, and you know, reading was all I did during the summer, you know? 00:25:14.720 --> 00:25:30.640 And so I was like, I used to read a hundred books a month, and so seeing like other people read a hundred books a month, and then I'm like, I think I read 50, maybe like that gets me because as I stated earlier, I am an extremely competitive person, and so anything can be a competition for me. 00:25:31.119 --> 00:25:35.599 And so so I'll like see posts or like I'll go on good reads and I'll and I'll see. 00:25:35.680 --> 00:25:43.200 And I try not to let it get to me because I'm like, we all have different reading speeds, but again, all I can think of is the fact that I used to be such a fast reader. 00:25:43.279 --> 00:25:50.160 I used to have all this time, and I used to read so many books, and now I don't read that much, and so I'm like, I'm a failure. 00:25:50.480 --> 00:25:51.039 Which I know. 00:25:52.079 --> 00:25:55.279 But when you're a kid, you also may have been reading shorter books,

right? 00:25:55.440 --> 00:25:57.200 Like when you weren't okay. 00:25:57.359 --> 00:25:57.839 I wasn't. 00:25:57.920 --> 00:25:58.240 I don't know. 00:25:58.480 --> 00:25:59.039 I know, I know. 00:25:59.119 --> 00:26:01.119 It was it's a it's it's a good, it's a good try. 00:26:01.200 --> 00:26:03.920 Um yeah, I was I was reading Harry Potter when I was seven. 00:26:04.079 --> 00:26:09.680 Um I will say, like, honestly, I I like to say that it doesn't affect me. 00:26:09.839 --> 00:26:12.960 Like, no, who cares about Goodreads goals, blah, blah, blah. 00:26:13.039 --> 00:26:19.440 But when it comes down to it, like, I'm not reading the next Brandon Sanderson book because the audio hours is like 50. 00:26:19.599 --> 00:26:25.440 And I'm like, I don't have enough time in my reading life to read a 50-hour book. 00:26:25.680 --> 00:26:27.680 Yeah, that's that's yeah. 00:26:27.759 --> 00:26:34.000 So that's where I think it affects me is I like tend to shy away from long books because I'm like, I don't have time for that. 00:26:34.160 --> 00:26:36.319 I got a billion books on my TBR. 00:26:36.400 --> 00:26:39.200 I have all these books I want to read, so I don't have time for a super long one. 00:26:39.359 --> 00:26:39.599 Yeah. 00:26:39.680 --> 00:26:39.920 Yeah. 00:26:40.160 --> 00:26:46.240 And and I think to the point of like, I there are lots of books to review. 00:26:46.480 --> 00:26:54.559 Like if you read a 50-hour book, that's you know how many other books you're not able to read and review. 00:26:55.119 --> 00:27:02.960 And so I do think I will say Sarah is much more generous with her her reading time than I am. 00:27:03.119 --> 00:27:10.079 I'm like pretty ruthless these days about like I'm only gonna read a book if I am actually excited to read it. 00:27:10.160 --> 00:27:24.000 But like Sarah will be like, you know, reading, you know, like I want to try to discover new authors and I want to try to like, you know, read all of our sponsors' books and read every person who's coming on the podcast their books. 00:27:24.160 --> 00:27:26.960 And I'm just like, I'm gonna read it if I feel like it. 00:27:30.400 --> 00:27:31.279 Dude, that's healthy. 00:27:31.440 --> 00:27:32.799 I need to be like you, yeah. 00:27:32.960 --> 00:27:43.119 Cause I'm trying to support people and I'm trying to find new authors because I feel like in this all for uh, like for me, I'm not posting about it on Instagram, but I'm talking every week. 00:27:43.200 --> 00:27:45.839 We have an episode, and every week I'm sharing a five-star read. 00:27:46.000 --> 00:27:52.000 And if I am spending my entire month on one book, then I'm not gonna have enough five-star reads. 00:27:52.079 --> 00:28:03.359 Um, but I'm also like I'm trying to share the love here and not just we tend to recommend the same authors over and over again because we love them and they have a deep backlist and we know that they're gonna be good. 00:28:03.440 --> 00:28:07.200 And so, you know, when when you're in a slump, you go back to that author that you love. 00:28:07.279 --> 00:28:11.599 But I'm trying really hard to not share the same names over and over. 00:28:11.759 --> 00:28:18.799 Like there's a billion clean romance authors out there, and and I know what it's like to be like, I wish someone would talk about my book. 00:28:18.960 --> 00:28:19.039 Right. 00:28:19.359 --> 00:28:22.799 So I am reading other people's books so that I can try to talk about them. 00:28:22.960 --> 00:28:28.000 But then I'm also a super picky reader, and so I struggle. 00:28:28.319 --> 00:28:29.039 I struggle. 00:28:29.200 --> 00:28:29.759 Yeah. 00:28:30.079 --> 00:28:31.119 That is a struggle. 00:28:31.359 --> 00:28:32.960 So what about you, Amy? 00:28:33.119 --> 00:28:36.400 Do you do reading goals and other people's numbers affect you? 00:28:36.640 --> 00:28:37.039 I don't. 00:28:37.200 --> 00:28:40.720 I've just accepted that I'm niche down pretty hard. 00:28:40.880 --> 00:28:41.119 Yeah. 00:28:41.279 --> 00:28:46.880 And even within my little sub-niche, I I am also very picky about what I want to read. 00:28:46.960 --> 00:28:50.720 I probably finish five books a month on average, I would say. 00:28:50.880 --> 00:28:52.240 And that's pretty good for me. 00:28:52.400 --> 00:28:58.000 Um, I probably pick up more than that, that I just know within the first few chapters that this is not my speed. 00:28:58.079 --> 00:28:59.039 I'm not gonna get into this. 00:28:59.279 --> 00:29:09.359 And especially with writing, I feel like I have to be a lot pickier even than usual about what I'm reading because it it it's kind of the same time for me. 00:29:09.680 --> 00:29:14.640 So am I going to spend this time working on my book or am I gonna spend my time reading this book? 00:29:14.720 --> 00:29:17.119 And if I'm gonna spend it reading, it's really gotta hit. 00:29:17.200 --> 00:29:17.440 Yeah. 00:29:17.680 --> 00:29:17.839 For sure. 00:29:18.960 --> 00:29:20.240 I feel that so much. 00:29:20.480 --> 00:29:44.319 I think too, having the podcast has made me a little bit more ruthless with my DNFs because if I am in the first several chapters and I'm already feeling like I would not recommend this on the podcast, then I don't want to waste my time reading it because I want to find something else that I can be effusive about on the podcast. 00:29:44.400 --> 00:29:44.559 Yeah. 00:29:44.799 --> 00:29:49.440 And then when you're writing a book, it's just it's a game changer too. 00:29:49.680 --> 00:29:50.079 Yeah. 00:29:50.319 --> 00:29:53.119 I think writing made me so much more picky as a reader. 00:29:54.000 --> 00:29:54.559 Definitely. 00:29:54.880 --> 00:29:55.839 So much more picky. 00:29:56.240 --> 00:29:59.440 I was not when I started Bookstagram, or I guess book talk, really. 00:29:59.519 --> 00:30:02.240 I I kind of had it sorted out by the time I got over to Instagram. 00:30:02.400 --> 00:30:05.680 But on Book Talk in the beginning, people were like, here's what I

write. 00:30:05.759 --> 00:30:07.119 Like, it's Christian romance. 00:30:07.200 --> 00:30:07.920 Here's the premise. 00:30:08.000 --> 00:30:08.880 Would you be interested? 00:30:09.119 --> 00:30:11.680 I was like, Yes, I would be so interested. 00:30:11.920 --> 00:30:15.359 And then I got a copy of their book and I was like, oh no. 00:30:15.680 --> 00:30:16.480 Like, yeah. 00:30:16.720 --> 00:30:18.240 I mean, there were some rough ones. 00:30:18.319 --> 00:30:24.960 I mean, where I almost couldn't even read it because it was formatted and the formatted so poorly. 00:30:25.200 --> 00:30:26.799 Spelling and grammar was awful. 00:30:26.880 --> 00:30:28.799 I mean, within the first 10 or 15 pages. 00:30:29.119 --> 00:30:34.160 And then you're like, now this indie author is waiting on me to tell them what I think of their book. 00:30:34.319 --> 00:30:34.559 Right. 00:30:34.799 --> 00:30:38.000 And I'm thinking, why am I not beta reading this? 00:30:38.160 --> 00:30:39.839 Why, why is this an arc? 00:30:40.000 --> 00:30:40.400 You know? 00:30:40.640 --> 00:30:54.400 And so after I had a handful of awkward encounters like that, I just thought, you know, I'm gonna stop doing this unless I already know the author and I already know their books, and I already know I would buy this anyway and read it because I'm gonna enjoy it. 00:30:54.559 --> 00:31:02.240 And I think that has helped me with as far as arcs and launch teams and things like that, avoid burnout in that area. 00:31:02.480 --> 00:31:07.680 Is these days I pretty much only read what I know is gonna be a four or five star going into it. 00:31:08.079 --> 00:31:14.720 And on the one hand, I hate that because there's so many great authors out there, but I'm like, I have to discover those organically. 00:31:14.880 --> 00:31:19.519 I cannot discover that reading your arc that I'm then supposed to recommend. 00:31:19.759 --> 00:31:21.920 Or now we're in an awkward position because I won't. 00:31:22.319 --> 00:31:23.039 Right, right. 00:31:23.200 --> 00:31:23.519 Yeah. 00:31:24.160 --> 00:31:32.799 Have you had conversations with authors who send you arcs and you're like, this needs some editing, or uh like I don't even know how you go about that. 00:31:33.039 --> 00:31:35.119 I tried not to for the most part. 00:31:35.359 --> 00:31:40.160 Um, and there there are all kinds of kinds when it comes to authors. 00:31:40.480 --> 00:31:52.240 And some authors were polite enough not to follow up and just knew when they didn't see a review, you know, that and I said, you know, I had a whole template that explained I only leave four or five star reviews. 00:31:52.319 --> 00:31:55.920 If it wasn't a four or five star for me, I won't be leaving a review, da da da da. 00:31:56.480 --> 00:32:02.160 You know, but I still had several that dogged me in the DMs about why I hadn't recommended their book. 00:32:02.480 --> 00:32:08.480 And there were a couple that I did finally, as gently as I could, just say, you know, one, it was a content thing. 00:32:08.640 --> 00:32:14.799 I was like, this is you're calling this Christian, but we we just have two church scenes wedged in here, and the rest of it is just general fiction. 00:32:14.960 --> 00:32:20.160 Like this is you know, and and and almost questionably spicy general fiction. 00:32:20.480 --> 00:32:28.000 Um so that one was more of a content question, but then the other one, I said, Yeah, you need to get an editor to look at this and help you format. 00:32:28.319 --> 00:32:28.640 Wow. 00:32:28.880 --> 00:32:29.920 That's so tough. 00:32:31.200 --> 00:32:46.079 I had uh during COVID, I had a podcast called Author Shenanigans, and the whole point of the podcast was if there was a book that I absolutely could not put down, then I would invite the author onto the show and we would have a fun conversation about it. 00:32:46.240 --> 00:32:58.480 And so that put a lot of pressure on me just to like I was constantly reading, trying to find books that I couldn't put down, but also people would like DM me asking to be on the show, and then I would be like, Okay, well, send me your book. 00:32:58.640 --> 00:33:01.519 And I got some terrible books. 00:33:01.759 --> 00:33:06.799 I mean, it was like I got so many published first drafts. 00:33:07.119 --> 00:33:14.720 And like in that time, I was writing my like really digging in deep and getting a writing coach and stuff with my first book. 00:33:14.960 --> 00:33:20.480 And so I did have the con I remember having a conversation with at least one of the people and being like, look, you need more edits. 00:33:20.559 --> 00:33:21.839 Like, this is a first draft. 00:33:22.000 --> 00:33:24.640 It's not like the bones are good, you know. 00:33:24.799 --> 00:33:26.000 I'm trying to like be nice. 00:33:26.160 --> 00:33:29.839 Like, I this is a really interesting story, but it needs some work. 00:33:30.079 --> 00:33:30.720 Yeah. 00:33:30.960 --> 00:33:31.279 Yeah. 00:33:31.440 --> 00:33:35.599 I feel like too, I have a little bit of a chip on my shoulder when it comes to Christian fiction. 00:33:35.680 --> 00:33:39.359 And I'm like, if you're writing Christian fiction, it needs to be good. 00:33:39.519 --> 00:33:45.599 Like if you are presenting this as a faith package, this should be an excellent offering. 00:33:45.680 --> 00:33:47.680 And that doesn't necessarily mean that I'm gonna love it. 00:33:47.839 --> 00:33:51.440 Like we all have different tastes and different things that appeal to us. 00:33:51.680 --> 00:34:01.359 But as far as craft and what you're like, if if you are putting this at the feet of Jesus, it should look like you brought your best to Jesus. 00:34:01.519 --> 00:34:01.759 You know? 00:34:01.920 --> 00:34:02.160 Wow. 00:34:02.319 --> 00:34:02.720 I love that. 00:34:03.119 --> 00:34:03.599 That's awesome. 00:34:03.759 --> 00:34:04.160 I agree. 00:34:04.319 --> 00:34:05.119 That's really good. 00:34:05.359 --> 00:34:05.839 Yes. 00:34:08.000 --> 00:34:12.000 I'm

in the trenches with this manuscript right now because I'm like, it's gotta be good. 00:34:12.159 --> 00:34:13.199 It's gotta be good. 00:34:13.599 --> 00:34:16.960 I'll tell you, writing and reading is all those are two different ball games. 00:34:17.119 --> 00:34:22.880 But as a reader, that's how I feel is that this should be the best it could be, the best you can. 00:34:23.599 --> 00:34:24.800 Yeah, I love that. 00:34:25.039 --> 00:34:27.199 Okay, back to the to the arc thing. 00:34:27.360 --> 00:34:32.960 Because I I feel like I hear so many people talk about how they sign up for too many arcs. 00:34:33.119 --> 00:34:42.639 And I'm curious, like, have you ever gotten to the point where you had so many arcs or obligations that you weren't able to read the books that you actually want to read? 00:34:42.960 --> 00:34:54.239 Or even that you didn't, you didn't feel like you could enjoy the arc because of the pressure of it, you know, need you were obligated in a way to read it. 00:34:54.480 --> 00:34:56.400 Yeah, that's really, that's really good. 00:34:57.039 --> 00:34:58.400 Making making a face. 00:34:58.719 --> 00:35:06.159 Well then let me do y'all feel like because you have a bookstagram account that every time you sign up for an ARC, you have to talk about it on your Bookstagram? 00:35:06.559 --> 00:35:15.760 Or are you just like, because for me, when I signed up for ARCs, I no longer do ARCs, but when I was signing up for them, I just, you know, would leave a Goodreads review and an Amazon review. 00:35:15.840 --> 00:35:17.840 And that to me is what I was signing up for. 00:35:18.000 --> 00:35:21.119 But I didn't have a Bookstagram account with tons of followers, right? 00:35:21.199 --> 00:35:22.079 Like y'all do. 00:35:22.239 --> 00:35:24.880 So when you sign up for an ARC, do you feel that pressure? 00:35:25.119 --> 00:35:26.000 I would say yes. 00:35:26.159 --> 00:35:30.880 I I think at least for me, Maggie, you can say if you feel like this is different at all. 00:35:31.119 --> 00:35:40.480 But I definitely feel like I have been picked because of my social media numbers, which I probably put on the application to get an ARC because of this. 00:35:41.760 --> 00:35:42.000 Yeah. 00:35:42.320 --> 00:35:44.320 And they expect me to post. 00:35:44.400 --> 00:35:49.039 Although I'm still doing whatever I want to do over on TikTok because nobody has that on forms. 00:35:49.119 --> 00:35:50.880 It's like, will you post this on Facebook? 00:35:50.960 --> 00:35:51.840 I'm like, no. 00:35:52.239 --> 00:35:55.920 But I have this thing called TikTok that you should look into. 00:35:57.519 --> 00:35:59.519 So I think that gives me an outlet. 00:35:59.679 --> 00:36:03.199 Like Instagram is where I feel like people are looking for reviews. 00:36:03.360 --> 00:36:05.280 I need to post a review on Instagram. 00:36:05.440 --> 00:36:10.079 It needs to look a certain way, or like, you know, uh put some just in general. 00:36:10.159 --> 00:36:13.440 I feel

like Instagram needs to look like you put a little more effort into it. 00:36:13.679 --> 00:36:20.960 TikTok feels like, you know, kind of like you're saying, Maggie, I feel like I can just blast a TikTok from my bathroom shower gears, you know. 00:36:21.280 --> 00:36:33.360 Okay, my dream is to have one of these successful TikTok accounts where it just seriously looks like they just prop their phone right in front of their face and they tell it like it is and they share God's truth and they move on and they get millions of views. 00:36:33.519 --> 00:36:34.719 And I'm like, what? 00:36:34.880 --> 00:36:35.760 It's amazing. 00:36:36.079 --> 00:36:36.400 I know. 00:36:36.480 --> 00:36:37.760 Um that's really cool. 00:36:38.079 --> 00:36:44.079 Yeah, I I keep having this thought like, I'm producing all this content for books degree. 00:36:44.239 --> 00:36:47.920 I'm like, I should at least repurpose some of it for TikTok. 00:36:48.159 --> 00:36:52.800 But I honestly, I just feel like I'm at the end of my bandwidth, you know? 00:36:52.880 --> 00:36:59.280 Like, I'm just I mean, that's very you have a bunch of just going like you gotta pick and choose. 00:36:59.519 --> 00:37:00.639 Yeah, it's true. 00:37:00.719 --> 00:37:01.760 It's true. 00:37:02.800 --> 00:37:03.679 Definitely true. 00:37:03.920 --> 00:37:05.199 What was the question again? 00:37:05.519 --> 00:37:06.000 I don't know. 00:37:06.079 --> 00:37:10.880 What I was doing, and I was like, uh I was just looking at TikTok. 00:37:11.760 --> 00:37:12.800 Yeah, yeah, right. 00:37:12.960 --> 00:37:15.199 I was basically stressed. 00:37:15.519 --> 00:37:17.119 Are you stressed by arcs? 00:37:17.440 --> 00:37:18.239 Is it too much? 00:37:18.480 --> 00:37:19.840 Sometimes it can be, I think. 00:37:20.159 --> 00:37:25.039 I have found after now doing this for a year, it does feel like there's busier times of the year. 00:37:25.679 --> 00:37:36.400 Like to me, early spring and fall, like before the holidays, feels like every book in the world comes out in like January, February, and September, October. 00:37:36.559 --> 00:37:39.360 So I feel like I'm planning a little bit better for that this year. 00:37:39.519 --> 00:37:56.000 But I there were a couple times I felt really swamped last year, realizing that every book I really did want to read was all being released within maybe three or four weeks of each other, which was kind of I I definitely get that because that's what I'm in the middle of right now, because I decided. 00:37:56.239 --> 00:38:10.559 I decided, I don't remember when the signups came out, but I remember seeing it, and I was like, Oh my gosh, there is a 13-book multi-author series coming out this summer, and I wanted to read it. 00:38:10.639 --> 00:38:15.280 And I still do, still, still do want to read it, and I'm very excited to continue reading it. 00:38:15.440 --> 00:38:30.559 It's just I may have um got a little too excited about what I could handle because there was this little thing called graduation and moving out of my apartment and moving back home, and that that really got me. 00:38:30.880 --> 00:38:38.559 So here I am with my overambitiousness, and now I'm currently reading books from July. 00:38:39.119 --> 00:38:39.280 Yeah. 00:38:39.519 --> 00:38:39.679 Yeah. 00:38:40.239 --> 00:38:52.320 But what also happened is just like just like we were talking about, all of the books that I'm on the permanent teams for, because those are like the authors, I'm like, I will not miss your book and I want the world to know about it. 00:38:52.480 --> 00:38:57.440 And so they s they're all releasing within the next month or two. 00:38:57.519 --> 00:39:06.800 So that's gotten really stressful to where I've had to I've just had to like take a breath and be like you're just gonna have to do the best you can. 00:39:06.960 --> 00:39:07.199 Right. 00:39:07.360 --> 00:39:14.880 But yeah, arcs they can get so much because well, it's mostly me and my mentality over here. 00:39:15.280 --> 00:39:17.199 Because I don't know when to say no. 00:39:17.920 --> 00:39:25.519 I just sorry, I just want to say as an author, if you're doing this for free, I think it doesn't have to be on time. 00:39:26.000 --> 00:39:29.280 Like, yeah, I just want you to release some of that pressure. 00:39:29.440 --> 00:39:40.480 Now, as an author, if I was paying you, like, hey, will you talk about my book this week because this is the week that it comes out, then yeah, I would expect you to talk about it that week. 00:39:40.639 --> 00:39:46.239 But if this is like all volunteer, yeah, it is I think release some of that pressure on yourself. 00:39:46.400 --> 00:39:46.880 Yeah. 00:39:47.440 --> 00:39:47.760 Oh, yeah. 00:39:48.000 --> 00:39:49.599 Definitely definitely release that. 00:39:49.840 --> 00:39:52.480 Like, yeah, it's a good word. 00:39:52.800 --> 00:39:55.119 The competition is to the sane. 00:39:55.199 --> 00:39:58.880 Like the winner is the sane one who is enjoying life and enjoying reading. 00:39:59.039 --> 00:40:00.159 That's how we got to see it, Max. 00:40:00.400 --> 00:40:01.519 Because you're competitive. 00:40:01.760 --> 00:40:02.960 I get the competitiveness. 00:40:03.039 --> 00:40:04.000 I'm super competitive. 00:40:04.239 --> 00:40:13.039 My daughter was like, um, her best friend did better on a test today, and she was like so mad today, and I was laughing because I was like, We're just so competitive. 00:40:13.199 --> 00:40:17.760 Like it's she, I was like, if if her friend hadn't done better, she would have been happy with her grade. 00:40:17.840 --> 00:40:20.480 But because her friend did better than her, she's like, I hate my grade. 00:40:20.559 --> 00:40:23.360 I did terrible, but anyway, competitiveness, I get it. 00:40:23.440 --> 00:40:26.320 But the the winner is the one who can still enjoy reading in the end. 00:40:26.480 --> 00:40:26.800 Okay. 00:40:27.039 --> 00:40:29.519 So just like release that. 00:40:29.920 --> 00:40:30.239 Yeah.

00:40:30.800 --> 00:40:42.559 And to piggyback off of that, I want anyone who picks up my book, whether it's a beta reader, an art reader, you know, or just someone who finds my book on Amazon. 00:40:42.800 --> 00:40:46.639 I want them to read it because they want to read it. 00:40:47.280 --> 00:40:56.000 You know, like I have zero qualms with people DNFing my book, my books, because like I want you to want to read it. 00:40:56.239 --> 00:40:57.760 You know, art readers too. 00:40:57.920 --> 00:41:10.480 Like, I I get that you you did sign up for something, but still, like your your primary obligation is to yourself and your own enjoyment of reading. 00:41:10.639 --> 00:41:12.719 This is this is for fun. 00:41:13.199 --> 00:41:13.519 Right. 00:41:13.760 --> 00:41:15.519 You know, like yeah, it is. 00:41:15.920 --> 00:41:17.360 It's supposed to be anyway. 00:41:18.400 --> 00:41:24.960 I'm gonna wrap up this discussion with one final question before we get into our five-star reads. 00:41:25.119 --> 00:41:32.320 What is one thing that you wish readers and bookstagrammers would give themselves permission to stop doing? 00:41:32.559 --> 00:41:43.920 Honestly, I would give you full permission to just ignore spicy bookstagram, ignore all those books that have just blown up and become so popular. 00:41:44.079 --> 00:41:50.960 Just completely ignore them because if you try to focus on those two, you're gonna feel behind. 00:41:51.199 --> 00:42:07.199 You're gonna feel like you're not a good bookstrammer because you're not talking about those books and ignore them, read, read your clean books and just be just love those clean books and don't be ashamed to love those clean books. 00:42:07.440 --> 00:42:07.840 Love that. 00:42:08.079 --> 00:42:08.239 Yeah. 00:42:08.480 --> 00:42:08.960 That's awesome. 00:42:09.360 --> 00:42:21.840 Yeah, I would piggyback off of that and just say I wish bookstagrammers and book talkers would care less about what the outcome is, I think, on social media. 00:42:22.159 --> 00:42:26.960 I think a fast track to burnout is being very locked in on the outcome. 00:42:28.000 --> 00:42:36.719 And I think there has to be joy in the process and in creating what kind of like you were saying earlier with what you're reading, what you're talking about. 00:42:36.960 --> 00:42:39.599 And sure, some of it is, you know, work. 00:42:39.760 --> 00:42:43.280 I mean, you're trying to be consistent and upload and and all those sorts of things. 00:42:43.599 --> 00:43:05.679 But I think caring less about what's performing, whether or not everybody agrees with you, um, if your take might ruffle a few feathers or whatever it is, I think just being planted in your lane and enjoying what you're doing regardless of the result, is is the recipe for longevity on social media. 00:43:05.760 --> 00:43:05.920 Yeah. 00:43:06.480 --> 00:43:06.800 I love that. 00:43:07.519 --> 00:43:07.679 Yeah. 00:43:07.840 --> 00:43:08.800 That's great advice. 00:43:09.039 --> 00:43:27.679 One thing that I'm trying to implement in my own life is ordering my priorities and allowing the time that I have to be like how I gauge whether something's successful or not. 00:43:27.840 --> 00:43:35.599 So, like, for example, instead of saying, I'm gonna write 2,000 words a day, it's like, okay, I'm gonna, I have an hour. 00:43:35.760 --> 00:43:37.119 I'm gonna write for an hour. 00:43:37.280 --> 00:43:51.519 And whatever I get done in that time, I'm gonna be at peace with, you know, or like with producing content, it's like, okay, you know, I have this thing in my head of all of these things I want to do for the podcast or for my own social media or whatever. 00:43:51.599 --> 00:43:53.679 And like I want to post every day. 00:43:53.920 --> 00:43:58.639 And the reality is is that, you know, this is like my fourth job. 00:43:58.800 --> 00:43:59.760 It's not my first. 00:44:00.159 --> 00:44:04.000 You know, like I am primarily a wife and a mom. 00:44:04.159 --> 00:44:05.679 I'm I homeschool my kids. 00:44:05.840 --> 00:44:09.119 That is my primary job, you know, and then I'm a writer. 00:44:09.280 --> 00:44:14.400 And then I'm, you know, like it's like podcaster comes like, I don't even know where. 00:44:14.880 --> 00:44:18.719 But sometimes, you know, that's the exciting thing to do. 00:44:18.960 --> 00:44:22.960 And, you know, I want to do all of the things and I have all of the ideas. 00:44:23.119 --> 00:44:33.039 But the reality is that okay, I have these two hours, and whatever content I produce during these two hours is what is gonna get out in the world. 00:44:33.280 --> 00:44:44.480 And I gotta be at peace about that and and not compare myself to somebody who has 10 hours or 20 hours to produce their content. 00:44:44.639 --> 00:44:51.360 You know, I think I think that's tough, you know, when you compare yourself to people who definitely like, you know what? 00:44:51.599 --> 00:45:00.559 They're not homeschooling their kids, they don't have, you know, like they're empty nesters or they're you know, it's just kind of like different seasons. 00:45:00.880 --> 00:45:06.639 We're all in different stages of life and we can all handle different things, and that has to be okay. 00:45:06.880 --> 00:45:07.599 Be at peace. 00:45:07.760 --> 00:45:10.880 I think that's the problem is the peace, the peace problem. 00:45:11.280 --> 00:45:11.760 Right. 00:45:12.800 --> 00:45:15.599 All right, are we ready for our five-star reads? 00:45:15.840 --> 00:45:21.840 Yes, I did want to share about our sponsor, our book sponsor for the week. 00:45:22.159 --> 00:45:28.480 So this episode is brought to you by the class she skips by Ella Marie. 00:45:28.880 --> 00:45:30.880 And I love Ella Marie. 00:45:30.960 --> 00:45:34.559 She writes Christian romance and rom com. 00:45:35.119 --> 00:45:42.400 We became friends on Bookstagram, and I got to Beta read uh the first book in this series for her. 00:45:42.719 --> 00:45:55.039 But she she reached out to me

and she said, the Bookstagram burnout episode seems really appropriate for me to sponsor because I've barely been online and I don't know how to properly get back in this space. 00:45:55.199 --> 00:45:59.920 So she's sponsoring this episode for us. 00:46:00.079 --> 00:46:13.119 So she's that book, the class she skips, it's a single dad, forbidden romance, found family, Christ-centered relationships, friendships. 00:46:13.440 --> 00:46:16.400 And I love this series. 00:46:16.480 --> 00:46:22.159 And I think Elle Marie does such a good job, like the whole like single dad or forbidden romance. 00:46:22.239 --> 00:46:27.119 Like sometimes I get a little bit nervous, like, uh oh, how are they gonna handle this? 00:46:27.280 --> 00:46:39.199 But she does it so well while maintaining um just like Christian boundaries, but dealing with kind of these tougher relationships. 00:46:39.440 --> 00:46:42.400 And I I highly recommend it. 00:46:42.480 --> 00:46:48.239 So it's a it's a Christian romance where a college professor falls for his student. 00:46:48.880 --> 00:46:49.519 Ooh. 00:46:49.840 --> 00:46:52.400 So yes, yeah. 00:46:54.159 --> 00:47:04.480 This reminds me of the episode that we just had, where it's tropes that uh what is it, tropes that you wouldn't expect to work in the clean romance space, but they do. 00:47:04.880 --> 00:47:14.400 Like a college professor and his student seems a little scandalous, but it says it's Christ centered, so I'm gonna trust Ella Marie. 00:47:14.719 --> 00:47:15.039 Yes. 00:47:15.440 --> 00:47:17.920 Definitely, definitely trust this one. 00:47:18.079 --> 00:47:18.960 It's so good. 00:47:19.119 --> 00:47:23.280 Like I remember reading it and I was like, I'm so excited to see how this is gonna go. 00:47:23.440 --> 00:47:25.360 And then I was like, no way. 00:47:25.760 --> 00:47:28.719 She just incorporated all of that and kept Jesus at the center. 00:47:28.800 --> 00:47:31.280 I was like, this book was amazing. 00:47:31.679 --> 00:47:32.320 Yes. 00:47:33.440 --> 00:47:35.119 Okay, it's gone on my TBR. 00:47:35.280 --> 00:47:35.679 Oh, yeah. 00:47:35.840 --> 00:47:36.239 So good. 00:47:36.480 --> 00:47:36.880 Make that look. 00:47:37.280 --> 00:47:40.159 And really, really truly faith-based. 00:47:40.320 --> 00:47:42.079 Like what Amy was saying. 00:47:42.159 --> 00:47:47.039 It's not like, oh, this is happening, and then there's a church scene like stuck in there. 00:47:49.360 --> 00:47:53.360 Yes, if there's one thing about Ella Marie, her characters are going to pray. 00:47:53.440 --> 00:47:55.119 Like I love that a lot. 00:47:56.000 --> 00:48:06.159 It's honestly, it's one of those times where I read, look, and I'm like, oh, maybe I should pray a little bit more, like go to Jesus first instead of what I'm over here freaking out about. 00:48:06.239 --> 00:48:07.760 Yeah, it's one of those types of books. 00:48:08.400 --> 00:48:14.320 It's like romance and also, hmm, maybe I need to, you know, go to Jesus first instead of freak out. 00:48:14.559 --> 00:48:14.719 Yes. 00:48:15.039 --> 00:48:15.920 That's my favorite kind. 00:48:16.159 --> 00:48:24.880 If you want to read The Clash She Skips, it's on Kindle, on Kindle Unlimited, and Paperback, and we're gonna put the link in the show notes. 00:48:24.960 --> 00:48:30.719 So go add the Clash She Skips to your TBR and check out that book by Ella Marie. 00:48:31.039 --> 00:48:32.960 All right, it's on my TBR. 00:48:35.199 --> 00:48:38.079 Um, okay, are we ready for our five-star reads? 00:48:38.320 --> 00:48:38.880 So ready. 00:48:39.119 --> 00:48:41.440 Okay, we normally let our guests go first. 00:48:41.679 --> 00:48:43.199 So um, who wants to go first? 00:48:43.360 --> 00:48:45.440 Maggie, Amy, rock, paper, scissors. 00:48:46.000 --> 00:48:46.800 Oh my gosh, no way. 00:48:48.079 --> 00:48:49.119 Oh my gosh. 00:48:50.239 --> 00:48:52.480 Maggie, we're gonna have so much fun on the cruise. 00:48:52.719 --> 00:48:54.000 It's gonna be so much fun. 00:48:54.239 --> 00:48:54.639 Oh my gosh. 00:48:55.039 --> 00:48:55.679 Great minds. 00:48:55.840 --> 00:48:56.719 I love it. 00:48:57.280 --> 00:48:58.320 Oh, it's so good. 00:48:58.480 --> 00:49:01.039 Okay, Maggie gets to go first because she loves paper scissors. 00:49:01.360 --> 00:49:06.159 Um, my most recent five-star read was Ashfall. 00:49:06.480 --> 00:49:09.519 And okay, please forgive me because wait, what what is it? 00:49:09.760 --> 00:49:11.519 Okay, Ashfall, but like one word. 00:49:11.840 --> 00:49:12.320 Ashfall. 00:49:12.480 --> 00:49:12.559 Okay. 00:49:12.719 --> 00:49:12.880 Yes. 00:49:13.039 --> 00:49:13.280 All right. 00:49:13.440 --> 00:49:13.760 Okay. 00:49:14.239 --> 00:49:15.840 So please forgive me. 00:49:15.920 --> 00:49:20.719 I might butcher the author's last name, but it is a husband and wife team, Dalton and Emily Beckett. 00:49:20.960 --> 00:49:25.280 It is a young adult fantasy, and it's the second in a series. 00:49:25.360 --> 00:49:32.079 So the first is Flame Heart, and the second is Ashfall, but it was so good. 00:49:32.400 --> 00:49:33.760 I cried a lot. 00:49:33.920 --> 00:49:34.960 Oh, wow. 00:49:35.199 --> 00:49:40.000 But if a but if a book makes me cry, then oh, it's gonna be good. 00:49:40.320 --> 00:49:40.719 Nice. 00:49:41.119 --> 00:49:46.800 Literally, I made like a reaction video like halfway through because I was like, what is going on in this book? 00:49:47.039 --> 00:49:54.400 There were like there, there were plot twists, and I was like, this isn't, no, this should be illegal. 00:49:54.559 --> 00:49:57.360 And then there were more plot twists, and I was like, this should also be legal. 00:49:57.519 --> 00:50:01.679 And then I was like bawling my eyes out, and I was like, I hate this book, but that means I love it. 00:50:01.840 --> 00:50:04.960 It was a perfect sequel to the first one. 00:50:05.039 --> 00:50:11.519 And there's also gonna be a third book, so now I'm like preparing for my heart to be ripped out, but

yeah, Ashfall by Dalton and Emily Beckett. 00:50:11.679 --> 00:50:12.000 Nice. 00:50:12.159 --> 00:50:13.679 All right, interesting. 00:50:13.760 --> 00:50:16.880 You don't hear a husband and wife duo very often. 00:50:17.199 --> 00:50:18.400 Yeah, unique. 00:50:18.639 --> 00:50:19.280 Um Amy. 00:50:19.679 --> 00:50:25.840 I guess my latest five-star read is The Turning of the Tide by Ashley Warell. 00:50:26.159 --> 00:50:27.760 It's available on Kindle Unlimited. 00:50:28.000 --> 00:50:31.440 It's Scottish medieval romance. 00:50:31.760 --> 00:50:35.679 It has everything I love in a book. 00:50:36.239 --> 00:50:45.199 It's like super alpha, warrior hero, marriage of convenience where they hate each other, when they get married. 00:50:45.599 --> 00:50:53.119 Very slow burn, but in a great, like angsty sort of way, not just in a low romance content sort of way, like a true slow burn. 00:50:53.519 --> 00:50:55.599 And I stayed up until 2 a.m. 00:50:55.920 --> 00:51:02.400 at ACFW conference this past month reading it, which was a true testament to how badly I wanted to read because wow. 00:51:08.159 --> 00:51:12.639 And I got drug out for a long time waiting for that, but it was worth it. 00:51:12.800 --> 00:51:13.760 The payoff is worth it. 00:51:13.840 --> 00:51:14.559 It's iconic. 00:51:14.719 --> 00:51:15.519 Everybody should read it. 00:51:15.760 --> 00:51:19.599 Ashley World is a treasure and she doesn't get talked about enough on social media, in my opinion. 00:51:19.840 --> 00:51:20.079 Nice. 00:51:20.239 --> 00:51:20.880 All right, okay. 00:51:21.039 --> 00:51:23.599 I literally just added it to my library. 00:51:23.920 --> 00:51:24.400 No, you see. 00:51:24.559 --> 00:51:25.760 Um influencing. 00:51:26.079 --> 00:51:26.719 I'm doing it. 00:51:26.880 --> 00:51:27.199 Yeah. 00:51:27.360 --> 00:51:27.920 Yes. 00:51:28.320 --> 00:51:30.639 Okay, my five-star read. 00:51:30.880 --> 00:51:39.039 Um, I picked this book because I felt like it's a book I thought of for the topic of burnout. 00:51:39.199 --> 00:51:44.000 And it's also been at least a month since we have recommended a Courtney Walsh book. 00:51:44.159 --> 00:51:48.079 So I felt like we were overdue for a Courtney Washbook. 00:51:48.800 --> 00:51:52.079 This book is part of the Holidays with Heart series. 00:51:52.159 --> 00:51:54.719 It's the third and final book in the series. 00:51:54.880 --> 00:52:03.280 It's called My Mary Mistake, and it's a workaholic eldest daughter, which I resonates with me. 00:52:04.320 --> 00:52:12.079 And she lands in the ER just from stress, and she has to take a month off. 00:52:12.559 --> 00:52:18.639 And there's a flirty hockey player, and his name is Finn, which is my son's name. 00:52:18.880 --> 00:52:28.480 So, you know, there's like several things going on that resonate with me, but um I love that book, My Merry Mistake by Courtney Walsh. 00:52:28.639 --> 00:52:32.079 So if you're needing a burnout book, it's a good one. 00:52:33.760 --> 00:52:34.559 Sounds good. 00:52:34.880 --> 00:52:37.519 That's very, very apt for the episode. 00:52:37.599 --> 00:52:38.079 I love that. 00:52:38.320 --> 00:52:42.000 Okay, well, my five-star read is part of the multi-author. 00:52:42.559 --> 00:52:43.360 Falling for summer. 00:52:43.679 --> 00:52:44.559 Falling for summer. 00:52:44.719 --> 00:52:45.039 Okay. 00:52:45.199 --> 00:52:49.119 So it's Plotting Summer by Jess Hilleman. 00:52:49.440 --> 00:52:51.360 I don't know how to say Jess's last name. 00:52:51.599 --> 00:52:52.239 Hillman? 00:52:52.400 --> 00:52:52.960 Hilleman? 00:52:53.280 --> 00:52:54.320 Anyway, it was really cute. 00:52:54.719 --> 00:52:56.719 Based in a small town, they don't even have cars. 00:52:56.800 --> 00:52:58.800 They're like riding golf carts to get around. 00:52:59.039 --> 00:53:02.320 And um, so anyway, it was adorable and I liked it. 00:53:02.559 --> 00:53:06.000 And it was on Spotify like audio. 00:53:06.719 --> 00:53:12.639 I love listening to books on Spotify because when you have premium, you get like 12 hours a month or something. 00:53:12.800 --> 00:53:13.440 So yeah. 00:53:13.760 --> 00:53:14.559 That's awesome. 00:53:15.440 --> 00:53:16.159 Love it. 00:53:17.360 --> 00:53:17.760 All right. 00:53:18.000 --> 00:53:26.960 So Maggie and Amy, before we wrap up, like y'all are books to grammarm, and so our listeners need to know how they can find you. 00:53:27.440 --> 00:53:29.360 So Amy, how about you share first? 00:53:29.440 --> 00:53:31.599 Since Maggie shared her five-star review first. 00:53:31.840 --> 00:53:37.039 Yeah, I am author Amy King on Instagram and TikTok. 00:53:37.280 --> 00:53:37.679 All right. 00:53:37.920 --> 00:53:38.159 Thanks. 00:53:38.480 --> 00:53:38.719 Hey. 00:53:39.280 --> 00:53:50.800 And you can find me at mags dot closed underscore door dot books to four. 00:53:52.000 --> 00:53:53.280 It's so complicated. 00:53:53.360 --> 00:53:56.079 I need to change it, but at this point I've become so used to it. 00:53:56.239 --> 00:53:58.719 Yeah, and you have a ton of followers on that. 00:53:59.039 --> 00:54:06.320 We'll uh we'll have the link in the show notes for Maggie's and for Amy's, but Amy's is easy. 00:54:06.400 --> 00:54:07.519 We'll have the link for both. 00:54:07.599 --> 00:54:10.159 So you can just click and it'll take you to Instagram. 00:54:10.320 --> 00:54:10.559 Yeah. 00:54:10.880 --> 00:54:16.559 I'm sure if you just search in Instagram Mag's closed door, it'll it'll come up. 00:54:16.800 --> 00:54:18.000 Come up for sure. 00:54:18.239 --> 00:54:18.880 Yeah. 00:54:19.599 --> 00:54:26.719 Okay, and you can join us on our cruise clean romance getaways cruise. 00:54:26.880 --> 00:54:28.000 We're gonna link that. 00:54:28.239 --> 00:54:32.639 Go check that out because honestly, you guys, we're gonna have so much fun. 00:54:32.800 --> 00:54:36.079 Yeah, we are, and we want you to be a part of it. 00:54:36.320 --> 00:54:39.199 So come join us on the cruise. 00:54:39.519 --> 00:54:56.960 And what's even like we're just getting started with this cruise celebration thing because we are gonna be featuring each of our featured partners on the cruise, bookstrammers and authors on the podcast over the next few months. 00:54:57.039 --> 00:55:01.039 So Maggie and Amy got to go first, and this was so much fun. 00:55:02.880 --> 00:55:09.920 But in two weeks, we're sitting down with one of our featured authors, Mandy Blake. 00:55:10.079 --> 00:55:18.960 She is gonna be on the Clean Romance Getaways cruise with us, and we're doing a book club with her book, Love in the Storm. 00:55:19.119 --> 00:55:26.559 So you can read the book and join us in a couple of weeks on October 20th when we sit down with Mandy Blake. 00:55:26.719 --> 00:55:29.760 And this is a truly Christian romance. 00:55:29.920 --> 00:55:36.000 Speaking of characters praying together, they prayed so much in this book. 00:55:36.239 --> 00:55:38.559 Like it was definitely convict. 00:55:38.719 --> 00:55:41.679 Every time they ran into a problem, they're stopping and praying. 00:55:41.760 --> 00:55:44.320 And I'm like, dang it, I need to do this. 00:55:45.599 --> 00:55:46.960 So convicting. 00:55:47.199 --> 00:55:47.920 I love that. 00:55:48.079 --> 00:55:51.840 I love it when a book shows us what we can be doing better. 00:55:52.000 --> 00:55:52.239 Yes. 00:55:52.480 --> 00:55:54.800 And like draws us closer to the Lord. 00:55:54.880 --> 00:55:55.679 That's my favorite time. 00:55:56.079 --> 00:55:56.480 Absolutely. 00:55:56.639 --> 00:55:56.880 Yeah. 00:55:57.119 --> 00:55:57.840 Absolutely. 00:55:58.079 --> 00:55:59.920 All right, I'm gonna wrap us up. 00:56:00.159 --> 00:56:07.199 Thank you for joining us on the Clean Romance podcast, where Clean Romance lives happily ever after. 00:56:07.360 --> 00:56:13.039 Wherever you're listening, follow or subscribe so you don't miss a single episode. 00:56:13.280 --> 00:56:15.280 Until next time, happy reading. 00:56:15.519 --> 00:56:16.800 Happy reading.