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I think I’m a bit of a bookstagram cliche now in that I got involved during the first lockdown! I’ve always been a big reader but the last few years I’ve always had an excuse as to why I can’t read as much, so it’s definitely one of the few silver linings of the last year that I’ve gotten back into it! I got involved in a book club first but then discovered bookstagram and started my own account at the end of May 2020.

What made you pick Instagram as a platform to build your brand? I didn’t realise there was a brand to build to be honest. I’d seen on a local Glasgow Facebook page that someone on there had a bookstagram and I followed her to begin with. After a week or so I thought ‘I can do that’ and that it would be a good way to chat to like minded people and really just encourage me to keep up with reading regularly. I suppose I did Instagram partially because it’s the example I saw, but also because it was a social media site I already used and understood, so it didn’t feel much like a conscious decision. What other social media sites do you use most to spread the word about your blog posts/to network with the book blogging community? I very recently joined Twitter but I’m a bit rubbish at it! I’ve been using it a bit to network, mostly with PR companies and publishers... but I think I need a bit more help with Twitter in general. I’m in a few Facebook groups but I’m mostly just a silent onlooker with those, and I’m also in some WhatsApp chats with other bookstagrammers. What do you wish you'd known about bookstagram before you started? How much more bookshelf space I’d need! I didn’t realise just how tempted I’d be to buy every book I liked the look of, but also how generous people are. From being offered my first ARC back about 6 months ago now, to having PR companies and publishers asking me to join their mailing lists. But also how generous other members of the community are. Random Acts of Kindness (RAOK) are a huge thing on bookstagram, less now than before, but in the depths of the pandemic it was really lovely being able to surprise others with books and have strangers do the same for me. I used to actually host one every week, and for 2021 I’ve decided to make it a monthly event. And with that I suppose I wish I’d known to be pickier, and however exciting it is to be offered an ARC, only to take it if I’d actually buy the book, for the sake of myself and the author! What is the hardest part of being a bookstagrammer? We definitely put a lot of pressure on ourselves as bookstagrammers to be constantly active and engaging with others, and some days I love that, but other times I just don’t want to do that, sometimes for days or weeks at a time. When that’s the case it’s really disheartening to see my follower count dive off a cliff. I try to avoid the pressure, and I’m certainly not someone who posts every day, but when I do take a break it’s really sad to see my reach and my follower count plummet. How often do you post to your bookstagram account? I don’t really have a set schedule like I know some more organised bookstagrammers do! I try to post at least once a week, but I originally set this up to review books, and that’s mainly what I do (hence the rather unimaginative name). So, generally, if there’s no book I’ve finished recently, there’s no review, and nothing to post. It also depends very much on this Scottish weather, as I like to have nice bright natural light in my photos. I’ll occasionally post more than reviews, for example a wrap up of the month, or showing off some second hand books, but it all depends on my mood, and the sunlight situation! What advice/top tips do you have for others just starting out on bookstagram? Just do it for fun and to meet new people and try really hard to avoid the pressure to post, or to gain followers, or to buy more books than you can read. Have fun with it, and try to avoid the parts that you don’t enjoy. What are your favourite genres to read? I’ve really discovered a lot more about what I enjoy reading since joining bookstagram! I’d say right now, it would be fantasy, which is mad because if you’d asked my a year ago I wouldn’t have gone near a fantasy book. I also love romance/women’s literature, but I tend to listen to those as audiobooks rather than physically reading them. Best book you've read so far this year? It’s got to be A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas as it has been my only 5 star read this year so far! I wish I could say something less predictable, but I do just love this series. What are you currently reading and why did you choose to read it?

I’m currently reading the Poppy War by R. F. Kuang. It’s definitely one that I wouldn’t have picked up if it weren’t for bookstagram and recommendations from friends on there. I’ve been really enjoying getting into fantasy over the past 6 months or so, and I can’t resist a popular fantasy novel. This one particularly interested me because it’s not like anything I’ve read before, and has roots in Chinese history which are particularly interesting to me as a history student. Also, have you seen the cover? It’s beautiful!

I hope you've enjoyed getting to know Erin better and encourage you to subscribe to her bookstagram channel.

FYI You can subscribe to my bookstagram channel too 😉

10. What are you currently reading and why did you choose to read it?

I'm currently reading Girl in the Walls by A J Gnuse. I won a proof a while ago, and have seen so many brilliant things about it from fellow bloggers. It's such a beautiful and unusual book.

I hope you've enjoyed getting to know Hayley better and encourage you to subscribe to her bookstagram channel.

FYI You can subscribe to my bookstagram channel too 😉