Another week another feature! Today we have a lovely soul that I met a little while back on IG of course, and we have since become very good friends. I hope you ENJOY a little about her & let’s show her some love!
Name: Alexandria Goncalves
About yourself:
I am 20 years old, turning 21 on November 15 which means I am a Scorpio! I was born and raised in Canada, but have a full Portuguese background. I currently reside in Toronto because I am studying English Literature at a University downtown. I am actually from a small town in Southern Ontario which most people have no idea exist. I live with my boyfriend, who is most definitely the most amazing person in my life. I didn’t have very supportive ex’s in the past and to find someone who supports and pushes you to do what you love is absolutely amazing. He is my best friend and my love, I don’t know what I would do with him! As for family, I have a younger brother who is 8 years younger than me, but that doesn’t stop us from being close. My parents are divorced, but still the best parents a girl could ask for (even when we don’t always agree). Two interesting facts about myself is that I am the first person in my immediate family to go to University. My second favourite fact is that I have 6 tattoos (and more to come *wink*) that all have a personal meaning. Besides my obvious love for books, I really enjoy writing, cooking, baking, and being outside (when the weather is nice, Canada is bipolar with weather, lol).
BOOKSTAGRAM
Logo name? BeautifulBitchBookReviews
How/Why did you come up with it? I was actually inspired by Christina Laurens novel Beautiful Bitch and thats how I came up with my name. I really love that entire series, so I went with something that sounded fun and unique.
When did you start Bookstagramming? What was the first thing you did? I started on June 21, 2018. I immediately started posting reviews for books I was reading. I actually left for a trip to Portugal I think a week later? And I wanted something to do while there, so I brought 9 books with me and finished them all in 3 weeks with reviews.
Why did you start what you started? Influence? I had always wanted to create a blog, I had a website earlier from 2016, but I hated the way it looked so I took it down and never thought about it again. Interesting story, I was actually inspired by another bookstagrammer. I was already following him, and one day my boyfriend said to me “I have a friend that runs a book account that I used to work with.” And I asked him who it was and freaked out knowing it was the same person I followed. I actually ended up meeting with this bookstagrammer and ended up having a great conversation with him. I am now friends with him and its just so cool to look back and think about. I also think a major part of wanting to create an account is that I wanted to find people who had a passion for romance novels like I do. I wanted people to freak about books with and to have people understand me.
Did you have any help at the beginning or winged it? Honestly, I just winged it. I had no idea what I was doing or if it was even any good, but I continued with it anyways.
What is your favorite part you would say and why? The people who engage with me. I have so much fun meeting new people and have made some of the best of friends. I love finding people to talk about books with, I never really had that in real life, so Instagram made it happen.
What platforms do you use (for things like posts on any of the social media’s? Or at least your favorite ones? I mainly use Instagram, but I recently created a website. I love Instagram and I think its so much easier to use and engage with others. I created my website because I want to be able to write more lengthy blogs in regards to book related topics.
What social media’s are you on? And do you have a favorite? Instagram, Facebook, Goodreads and a Website!
Do you have any tips and tricks about blogging? Google will become your best friend when you are looking for tricks. I am constantly on Google trying to figure out tips and tricks, but just be yourself. I have found when you post more often and add yourself in photos it makes a huge difference.
Have you had any bad/negative experiences on Bookstagram? Oh man, well its still social media, you know? There are always going to be people out there that like to rattle others. A while ago there was a blogger that was stating that bookstagram is only to make money which I believe is SO false! I believe this community is meant for finding others who love your passion as much as you do, to help others find their next read, and to help your favourite authors succeed.
What have you learned from blogging on a public platform like? People are going to love you and some won’t and that IS okay! We aren’t meant to please everyone, so have fun and enjoy your account.
Do you have any goals that you haven’t yet been able to get to, concerning your account? Honestly, I think hitting 10k will be a goal. I never expected to even hit 1000, so I believe anything is possible if you put your heart into it. Other then that, I am really happy with my account. My followers are engaging and absolutely so sweet.
What are some highlights or special moments that have happened, concerning your book blogging career? I would say:
- Hitting 1000 was a special moment for me, I never expected it at all.
- Getting to edit two novels for Gigi Birtie (seeing your name in a novel is absolutely insane, and that wouldn’t have happened without blogging).
- Making new best friends, although I have never met them, they are SO special to me (shout-out to Gigi Birtie and Amorettes Reviews!)
- Finding new authors! Holy crap, I thought I was in the loop before, but Bookstagram holds a whole other world when it comes to finding new authors!
Do you think Bookstagram is an effective platform to express your opinion on books? Absolutely!
What do you use camera vise when taking book photography? My iPhone X or Nikon DSLR.
Do you use your own props? Is there a fun or MAGICAL way you set it all up? (loc, props…) I do use my own props, I really need to go shopping for some new ones because they are becoming repetitive, but what can you do on a budget? Lol!
Do you have advice for new bookstagrammers on how to start, be, and do? Do what you love, be unique and have fun with your account. Everyone wants to follow others with themes and photos, but I believe that it is your account, so do as you please.
Lets talk about BOOKS!!
Tell us, do you know the exact amount of paperback you own? How about ebooks? (I suggest not to count because I did & I regretted it) Oh you know I counted every book because I am a nut! I currently own 562 paperbacks. Thats not including my school novels, that is just Romance novels, lol.
Do you prefer paper or kindle? Paperback!
Do you know your first paperback/ebook? I don’t remember my first read, while in elementary I HATED reading. I only got into reading in Grade 8 when my parents had recently separated and I needed something to keep my mind off family issues, which is when I got my first paperback Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire! My first ebook was Raising Ryann by Alyssa Rae Taylor!
Do you remember your very first read? Not at all, probably something by Robert Munsch lol.
What is it that draws you to a book? (picture, blurb, author..or all?) Honestly I start with the cover, but a cover sometimes isn’t enough, so I obviously go for the blurb. If I know the author and they are amazing, I don’t even think about it, I just read it!
Do you have a favorite genre you read? And which one? Romance, duh! My heart sits with romance. I have to read other genres for school but find they don’t interest me.
What is your favorite part about a story? (the beginning get to know each other, the sexy scenes, the middle right before the peak…) I love plot-twists, sexy scenes, and getting to know the characters. I love how every character is always different and we picture them differently in every book.
Now, the real important question -> What is your favorite book & why! HOW DARE YOU ASK SUCH A QUESTION! Haha, I am kidding. I haven’t read it in a long time, but my favourite is Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover. I was going through a lot of crap in high school with family and relationships and this book was my getaway. This novel has such a special place in my heart, I even have “God gives us the ugliness, so we don’t take the beautiful things in life for granted” tattooed on my arm. I had doodled it into my notebook in Grade 10 and always knew one day, I will have it tattooed. Do you have any magical words for everyone out there?! Don’t ever allow anyone to make you feel bad for what you love reading. We live in a society where a lot of people like to judge others, and by reading “smut” we may find that judgement is aimed towards us. Keep reading it though, and hold your head hella high while doing so. Reading is your escape, don’t allow anyone to have hold of something you love so dearly.
STALK THE BOOKSTAGRAMMER
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beautifulbitchbookreviews/
Website: https://beautifulbitcbookr.wixsite.com/blog
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/34606302-alex-victoria