Welcome to my BOOKSTAGRAMMER SPOTLIGHT, where I show some love to our fellow Bloggers, Bookstagrammers and common Romance Readers. I started this because while there might be a lot of us out there, each of us is different and unique in not just reading, photography, books…everything! A fun way to show some love & learn a little more about the romance community members!! Today’s feature is a very beautiful person and I really enjoyed reading more about her!! ENJOY!
Name: Aline Azevedo
About yourself: It’s always so difficult to talk about me hahaha! But here it goes: I’m a Gemini from São Paulo, Brazil and I have 24 years old. I study Portuguese and Italian on college and work at the second biggest library of Brazil! I love reading, writing, organizing stuff and learning new (and super different) languages! I have four dogs that matches my personality: CRAZY. I love rock, horror movie, glitter and learning new and random stuff! Oh, and my favorite color is blue! Nice to meet you!
BOOKSTAGRAM
Logo/IG name? @RomanticLit
How/Why did you come up with it? Well, actually my blog had a different name before, Uma Leitora, but there was already a blog with that name and at a certain time, I realized I was reading and writing so much about romance novels that I decided to direct my blog just to this genre. Then I made a really poor brainstorm with some of the keywords of the genre and came with RomanticLit, short for romantic literature.
When did you start Bookstagramming? What was the first thing you did? When I started doing book reviews it was on my blog on blogger. Sometime later I created accounts to RommyLit on social media and Instagram was the one I liked most. I love visual content and my followers interacted more in it, so I directed more time and creativity to IG. I don’t remember the exact time when I started, but in I think it was 3 or 4 years ago. I started with pictures of the books I bought and as promotion to the content posted on the blog.
Why did you start what you started? Influence? Mostly for promoting the reviews I wrote for my followers and for the authors and publishing houses of my country. Then I started making some content to IG and now huge part of what I create is focused on Instagram. I don’t remember a single influence, but lots of Brazilian bloggers that rocked the photo game ans inspired me to try and do something similar.
Did you have any help at the beginning or winged it? Only for the reviews on the blog, but for the IG it was always only me.
What is your favorite part about BOOKSATGRAMMING and why? I LOVE when a picture catch my eye. I don’t know how to explain it, but when I see a book in a good picture it makes me automatically want to read it. I love how creative everyone is to create the set to the pictures, arranging color and objects and themes that matches the book… WOW I could spend my entire life talking about it. The other thing that gained me on IG was the practicity to interact with the people that like the same things that I like, and how people seems more open and inclined to really interact, give indications, expose their opinion… This makes the experience there much more rich and inspiring.
What platforms do you use (this is meant for APP’s mainly, things like Canva and so forth.) I use mostly Canva (to create banners for the posts on the blog), VSCO, Repost for Instagram and Boomerang (one of my favorites). But I love trying new apps, so there’s always something different on the photos I post.
What social media’s are you on? And do you have a favorite? I’m on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Tumblr. For the blog my number 1 is Instagram, but personally I love Tumblr (even with the annoying changes), I search for lots of inspirations there.
Do you have any tips and tricks about blogging?
- Post at least 3 times per week
- Create content. Photos, stories, questions, tests… Just interact with your followers. They’ll love it and will go to your straight to your IG when searching for news and good content.
- Use hashtags, but use it wisely. The right ones, not that much, AND USE HASHTAGS ON STORIES TOO! PLEASE!
- Be original. I know now days being original is hard. Sometimes it seems there’s nothing else to be created but when I say original I’m not excluding having inspirations. Everyone has it, it’s super normal and healthy to keep your mind working. Just do what YOU like, not what is always trending. Followers search for a unique opinion too, someone that are curious, that shine a light in something they haven’t noticed yet. So snap your crazy pics, write your true opinion, even if it is controversy, read your different sub genres. DO YOU AND HAVE FUN!
Have you had any bad/negative experiences on Bookstagram? Not baaad. Just some comments of people that didn’t like my opinion about a book, a theme and stuff like that. But I was always super happy in my IG experience until now. Even when I made some mistake with information or something people came to talk to me with the best intentions.
What have you learned from blogging on a public platform like? I’ve learned that everyone see Instagram as the kingdom of perfection. You know that sensation that everyone on IG gave the perfect life? Yeah, I’ve struggled with that at the beginning. I was unemployed when I started, didn’t have all the new books, the good phone with awesome camera and that made me feel bad for some time. So, I’ve learned that you can make a good content with less. And learned to keep being me and being humble (this is a fragile subjects for some bloggers on Brazil due to partnerships with publishing houses and how this made some bloggers and bookstagramers go super Paris Hilton about it).
Do you have any goals that you haven’t yet been able to get to, concerning your account? I really want to get closer to a font of news regarding the romance novel world. A account/blog that people go to learn more about the genre, the fresh news of romance books, events, movies, TV, etc. And my ultimate dream at the moment is to save some money and doing a tour for different book events and different countries. First to show my people at Brazil it’s possible to go see the world and to show the differences from here and other countries events structures, activities, ideas and much more. Send me good vibes please! Hahaha.
What are some highlights or special moments that have happened, concerning your book blogging career? My first trip alone at 16 to the biggest book event of Brazil, Bienal do Livro at Rio de Janeiro. I’m from São Paulo, so some bookfriends rented a microbus and we’ve gone to another state to the event. It was FANTASTIC! Bought lots of books, met a dozen friends that I met online, and I met Sylvia Day at a signing. My heart goes insane just to remember it! Most of the highlights are meeting my fave authors like Jamie McGuire, Tammara Webber and Brittainy C. Cherry.
Do you think Bookstagram is an effective platform to express your opinion on books? Yes! Mostly because you can catch the usuer attention not only with your text but with visual content too. Than the chance of someone stop scrolling to read your opinion is bigger. And I think we’re at the flash generation, where small and direct text are most appreciated ever for the ones that likes to read. So the word limitation of the word limitation of the app obligated bookstagramers to created shorts and rich content that calls for the attention of everyone.
What do you use camera vise when taking book photography? Well, I only use my smartphone camera and apps to edit the photos.
Do you use your own props? Is there a fun or MAGICAL way you set it all up? (loc, props…) I’m kind of obsessed with flat lay, so I like to spead the books and lots of items that remind me of it on a neutral background, like old and yellowish book pages, or a pallet. Then I edit with lots of bright and shiny effects and BAAM! It’s ready to post!
Do you have advice for new bookstagrammers on how to start, be, and do? (anything goes here)
- Search for tips and tricks about Instragram. This is super important to make your posts visible, high quality and to enjoy every action that could help you being the best!
- Choose hashtags that matches what you post, but don’t flood your post with it! I recommend 15 at max.
- Experiment. Take some books with your and go see your city, try taking some experimental pics, learn what you like, what’s your style and don’t be afraid of not being the best. You’ll conquer your followers with your originality and with time.
- Do brainstorms! Read more about your fave genre, interact, leave your confort zone!
- Post regularly!
- Please, don’t stress about number of likes and stuff like that! HAVE FUN!
Do you have any favorite Instagram accounts that you follow for books, inspiration, ideas…? Recently @musingsofthemb, @ursula_uriarte and @clayci are my top inspirational IGs, but I like to go to some hashtags like #bookshelf #booksaremylify #booksobsessed and just scroll and see what catches my attention.
What was the first book you officially bookstagrammed, how about the first book you reviewed and posted on Instagram? I don’t post reviews on Instagram ☹ But the first book I reviewed (I think) it was Dark Prince, by Christine Feehan. The first picture of books I posted on IG was of Never Too Far, by Abbi Glines.
LET’S 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) I have no idea! I think I have close to 170 paperbacks and e-book… Only god knows! HAHAHAHA
Do you prefer paper or kindle? I love paper, but I spend the entire day out so Kindle is much better to carry around.
Do you know your first paperback/ebook? My first paperback was Twilight, by Stephenie Meyer and e-book was The Devil’s Lady, by Deborah Simmons.
Do you remember your very first read? It was a comicbook for children called A Turma da Mônica, by Maurício de Souza. It’s pretty popular in Brazil even between adults!
What is it that draws you to a book? (picture, blurb, author..or all?) Cover, for sure! Than blurb. If I like both than it’s automatically on my TBR list.
Do you have a favorite genre you read? And which one? Oh, I LOVE dark romance. Actually I love all the B side subgenres of romance. Like Sci-fi, shapeshifters romance (yeah, the dragon and sexy puma ones), merman, etc…
What is your ideal bookboyfriend like? (looks, actions…) The funny and sexy tattoed guy who hides his scattered heart and soul with jokes. This type always wins my heart just to torn it into pieces. Its SO PAINFUL but I love every second of it!
Do you have a real life bookboyfriend? If he is a celeb, book model and so forth, care to share a photo of who? OMG, I have two. Both models, both showed on book covers! First is Stephen James (@whoiselijah) and the second is Jord Liddell (@jord_liddell). Come drool with me, my friends!
What is your favorite part about a story? (the beginning get to know each other, the sexy scenes, the middle right before the peak…) The slow burn scenes! Right after the characters have that cliché thought “it’s not possible that I’m into him/her”. And then they start noticing the other, the jokes are no more only jokes, they get nervous when are alone… OMG. This road of torture to the first kiss is FABULOUS!
What book are you currently reading? I’m starting “The Summer I Turned Pretty”, by Jenny Han.
Do You have a favorite book quotes from any recent or previously read books you’d like to share? I love this one from “The Bet”, by Rachel Van Dyken: “The past is called the past for a reason. If you are constantly looking behind you, your eyes aren’t on the road ahead. You don’t drive the car that way, so why should you live your life that way?”
How long does it take you to read an average book? I’m a super slow reader! 4-5 days ☹
How many reads per week do you think you read on an average? I think 2. 3 at max!
Have you ever considered writing a book? If so, why, how, when and who?! Hehe I already write books and post them on Wattpad! The book I’m posting now (with a long hiatus) is called “The Perfect Opposite” and it’s romantic comedy about a woman than had a crush for a man that don’t have interest in her, but she doesn’t give up. And in order to convince him to give her a chance they both fall in love, with super different personalities, lives, countries, desires… Oh, it’s my baby. I love this story!
Who is your favorite author and why? (you’re welcome for this one *smirk*) J.R. Ward! Because she seems to have and multiverse on her head. I love how she mixes tradition and modernity in her vampires on the Black Dagger Brotherhood series, how every character are completely different and evoke all the craziest feelings on the readers… She is a Midas to me, and I’ll keep reading everything she writes!
Now, the real important question -> What is your favorite book & why! Lover At Last, by J.R. Ward. I love LGBTQ+ romance and since the first time I’ve read Qhuinn and Blaylock interact, on the begging of the BDB series, I knew they would fall in love and that their story was going to end my heart for sure and I wasn’t wrong! This book is SO BEAUTIFUL that brings tears to my eyes just to remember it.
Do you have any magical words for everyone out there?! I want to thank you for inviting me for this Spotlight! I loved answering this questions and I hope I can help some new bookstagramers! And thanks for everyone that read it! You guys rock! Never stop reading, writing and conquering the world! Bye!
STALK THE BOOKSTAGRAMMER!
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/romanticlit/
BLOG: http://romantic-lit.blogspot.com/
FACEBOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/romlit/
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/romanticlit
That Concludes another wonderful SPOTLIGHT, thank you everyone, more to come of course & let’s go show some love to our fellow bookstagrammer!