Six Things I Have Learned When Connecting With Authors On Bookstagram! ✍️⁣

Bookstagram tips
Six Things I Have Learned When Connecting With Authors On Bookstagram!

⁣One of my favorite parts of sharing about books online is the opportunity to interact with authors on social media. Four years later and it still gives me a thrill when they comment on a post or share content I have created. 🤩⁣

💬 Here are some things I have learned…⁣

DO follow along with authors in the genres you enjoy. It is a great way to see some “behind the scenes” and also know what books are coming out next! 🎉⁣

DON’T request that an author send you a copy of their book in DMs. If you are looking for a review copy, I suggest reaching out to their publishers directly – you can find out who is publishing a book by looking right above the ISBN on Goodreads. That is unless they live in your neighborhood, like @teacherlahey, right Jess? 🤣⁣

DO enter author book giveaways! Chances are, they have at least a handful of early copies of their books and are often quite excited to help get them out in the reading world! @camillepagan great about this! 💌📚⁣

DON’T tag authors in a negative review. While we all react differently to books (and that’s okay!) and not every book is for every reader, remember that authors are humans too! 🚫⁣

DO send an email! Have a specific and/or more long winded question? Send an email! Authors often have many incoming messages and DMs can easily get lost (here too, ack!) I use DMs to share content related to their books and save email for questions (like arranging a book club zoom, etc). 📧 ⁣

DO talk about authors’ backlists! While new releases are always exciting, it feels just as good to know there is still lots of love for their older books. 📖⁣

DO connect via the little things! I “met” @megmitchellmoore when I reached out about one of her books including Saint Michael’s College (my alma mater). Then we learned we have a bunch of other things in common! 💃🏻⁣

✨Do you have any helpful tips I missed? Any questions I can try to get answers for? I am discussing this over on my bookstagram account @genthebookworm and I would love to hear your thoughts! 💭⁣

My Reading Space Winter Refresh! {A Collaboration with ODK Furniture}

{Thank you to ODK Furniture for partnering with me on this project.}

reading space

{ODK Wall Mounted Ladder Shelf}

A Reading Space:

While I love having books all around our house, my winter organization momentum is pushing to me make things a bit more…orderly, and that is where this space comes in!

Home Office Turned…Remote Classroom?

remote learning

Once upon a time (pre 2020!) this room was my home office. Then remote school became a thing and any place dedicated to just adults quickly went down the drain! And while this room is a  space still used by many of our family members, I decided I could still find ways to make it my own. 

remote learningA Quick & Easy Refresh:

After almost constant use during the last couple of years, this room definitely needed a little bit of refresh and so when ODK Furniture offered to collaborate on this project, I couldn’t wait to get started!

We previously worked together when I updated my book blogger space and you can read that more HERE) and I am still so thrilled with my new workspace. I am currently writing from my new desk which has just been such a great addition.

ladder bookshelves

For this project, ODK Furniture gifted me two of their Wall Mounted Ladder Bookshelves which were perfect to put side by side. In addition to these shelves being very simple to set up (thank you Lucas for taking the lead on this!) They are also very secure and wall mounted, which in a house with active kids, is a must! 

The Details:

bookshelves

I chose the rustic brown color and love the simplicity of the shelves, which really allow the stars of the show, THE BOOKS, to really shine. And not only are they perfect in this space, but they also allowed the storage or twice as many books as before!

ODK Ladder Shelf 10% Off Sale!

ODK Ladder Shelf, 73.4 Inches Wall Mounted Ladder Bookshelf

If you are interested in adding one (or more!) of these shelves to your reading area, they are each under $100 with an additional 10% off discount HERE.

reading area

What About You?!

Do you have a designated reading space in your home? I would love to chat more about it over on my @genthebookworm instagram page! You can join in on the conversation HERE.

{Thank you to @Furniture_odk for my gifted desk! As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own, and I only feature things I truly love here.}

Disclosure: Some of the links above are Amazon affiliate links. This means if you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission that helps support this blog at no cost to you. Thank you!

Last // Now // Next {Currently Reading…}

{thank you to @stmartinspress, @minotaurbooks, @berkleypub & @putnambooks for my gifted review copies}

currently reading

Last / Now / Next

I am currently in a great reading streak and I am hoping it continues!

I finished Like A House On Fire  by author Lauren McBrayer on my kindle this past weekend. It’s one of those books that really examines the gray areas of life and I can’t stop thinking about it. The characters are layered and nuanced and I can’t wait to share more as we get a bit closer to its publication date. {4.26.22}

On audio, I am currently juggling two books, one fiction and one non fiction read and they are both excellent!! I am loving Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead by Elle Cosimano and keep seeing so many 5-star reviews for it all over #bookstagram, so I know I am not alone! {Publishing 2.1.22}

I started Losing Our Minds by Dr. Lucy Foulkes and it is just fascinating, nuanced and is giving me so much to unpack. {Publishing 1.25.22}

Finally, Good Rich People  by Eliza Jane Brazier is up next for my kindle reading and I can’t wait! I love a good dark domestic thriller with main characters behaving badly, so this seems like my cup of tea! {Publishing 1.25.22}

So tell me, what are your Last / Now / Next  book choices? I would love to hear over on @genthebookworm where I am discussing this more!

Disclosure: Some of the links above are Amazon affiliate links. This means if you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission that helps support this blog at no cost to you. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own, and I only feature things I truly love here.

What Happened To You? {If you read one book this winter, make it THIS one!}

What Happened To You?

What Happened To You? Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing by Bruce D. Perry M.D., Ph.D and Oprah Winfrey

What is the last book you read that you couldn’t stop talking about?! 📖🗣⁣

It is this book for me! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⁣

In fact, if you have talked to me in person during the last month, you probably have heard about it on more than one occasion, sorry, but not really! 🤷‍♀️🙌⁣

What Happened To You came highly recommended by some of my very trusted book sources and seriously did not disappoint. I alternated reading and listening to this one on audiobook format because I really had a hard time putting it down. Simply put, the concepts in this book truly are life changing and I try not to say that unless I am talking about Brenè…or Nedra…or well, you get the point! 🙏⁣⁣

Whether you have experienced childhood adversity or not, this book is revolutionary. The idea of looking at someone (or yourself) and instead of saying “what’s wrong with them?!” changing the narrative to “what happened to them?” can change so much. 💖⁣

I am a big believer in therapy and because of certain circumstances, I am grateful to say it has been a part of my life from a fairly young age (although it was definitely not as normalized as it is now!) ⁣

I think there can be a bit of a misconception that therapy (and probably personal development in general) somehow can seem a bit…selfish? But really, it is exactly the opposite! 💥⁣

Spending time processing your own experiences (past and present) can not only help yourself heal, but ultimately can help you understand and better interact with the world (and people) around you. And this book connects so much with that idea. ✨⁣

When we realize “huh, maybe that’s why I respond that way in certain situations!!” it also helps us understand why someone else might respond or act the way they do as well. In fact, this idea ultimately helps us have more compassion and empathy, which in today’s divided and challenging world, there just can’t be enough of. 💕⁣

Disclosure: Some of the links above are Amazon affiliate links. This means if you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission that helps support this blog at no cost to you. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own, and I only feature things I truly love here.

Find Your Unicorn Space by Eve Rodsky / Putnam Books {Book Discussion & Rating}

{thank you to @putnambooks for my gifted review copy}

Unicorn Space

Find Your Unicorn Space by Eve Rodsky

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Publication Date:

December 28th, 2021

Book Summary:

From the New York Times bestselling author of Fair Play and “the Marie Kondo of relationships” comes an inspirational guide for setting new personal goals, rediscovering your interests, cultivating creativity, and reclaiming your Unicorn Space.

With her acclaimed New York Times bestseller (and Reese’s Book Club pick) Fair Play, Eve Rodsky began a national conversation about greater equality on the home front. But she soon realized that even when the domestic workload becomes more balanced, people still report something missing in their lives—that is, unless they create and prioritize time for activities that not only fill their calendars but also unleash their creativity.  
 
Rodsky calls this vital time Unicorn Space—the active and open pursuit of creative self-expression in any form that makes you uniquely YOU. To help readers embrace all the unlikely, surprising, and delightful places where their own Unicorn Space may be found, she speaks with trail blazers, thought leaders, academics, and countless real people who have discovered theirs everywhere—from activism to artistic endeavors to second careers.
 
Rodsky reveals what researchers already know: Creativity is not optional. It’s essential. Though most of us do need to remind ourselves how (and where) to find it. With her trademark mix of research based, how-to advice and big-picture inspirational thinking, Rodsky shows you a clear path to reclaim your permission to have fun, manifest your own Unicorn Space in an already too-busy life, and unleash your special gifts and undiscovered talents into the world.

Purchase Your Copy:

Amazon Affiliate Link

LibroFM Bookstore Link

My Review:

Find Your Unicorn Space
As a big personal development reader, I have learned so much about boundaries during the last few years, including that idea that to say yes to the things we really want, it also requires saying NO to things as well.

My reading choices tend to be quite seasonal and this time of year, I am drawn towards books that have us looking at ourselves a bit more introspectively.

Fair Play
And it just so happens that one of my very favorite people, @everodsky, published a book the very last week of the 2021, one in which I have been also anticipating since it’s conception…Find Your Unicorn Space. 

My love for her 2019 book Fair Play runs deep, and it has made a huge difference in the day to day lives within our family unit. One of the things I love the most about Eve is that she is so real but also no nonsense. Your family and friends can’t read your mind, and ultimately, making something happen requires ongoing prioritization and communication and yes, boundaries!

If you have seen someone off chasing their dreams (or just trying something new!),it’s most likely happening because they put a plan into place to make it happen. We can do anything, but not everything, right? And this is where the unicorn space comes in.

“This personal time–what Rodsky calls Unicorn Space, what makes us interesting–isn’t just a luxury, she explains….Find Your Unicorn Space teaches anyone how to create time in their already-busy life to tap into their unique expression of creativity, and find purpose that will allow them to live a happier, more fulfilled life.”⁣

I could go on and on about Eve Rodsky’s life changing work but instead, I think you should just check out this book and see how it can inspire you as well!

Unicorn Space

{I also have a giveaway going on over at @genthebookworm where you can enter to win one of THREE copies of Finding Your Unicorn Space HERE}

Disclosure: Some of the links above are Amazon affiliate links. This means if you click through and make a purchase, I receive a small commission that helps support this blog at no cost to you. Thank you!

A New Home Office Space for 2022! // Furniture ODK Small Desk Review

{Thank you to ODK Furniture for partnering with me for this post and gifting me this desk. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.}

I have big news! 🎉 After almost four years, #GenTheBookworm has officially moved from our dining room table to a place of it’s very own…a desk next to the dining room table! 💃🏻⁣

I was super excited when @furniture_odk contacted me about their new small desk, which is touted for being perfect for utilizing small spaces. 🙌⁣

ODK Smal Computer Desk
⁣I like my workspace to be where the action is, and this desk fits right in while also giving me a space to contain the book blogging chaos. And how great is this lower shelf for all my books just waiting to be discussed?! Don’t youWish You Were Here?! 💁🏻‍♀️😅📚⁣

I was totally tempted by all of the different color choices (there are quite a few to choose from!) but ultimately decided to go the more traditional route with the rustic/ deep brown, which fits so well in our home.

It is super sturdy thanks to the R-shaped steel frame, and the perfect height for working on my computer or taking handwritten notes. And, it’s under $100! You can check it all out HERE.👏⁣

ODK Small Computer Desk
⁣It’s been pretty amazing to have a spot that is just for book-worming activities, and we can actually utilize our dining room table again. Fun fact, our younger son calls our dining room table “the birthday table” because that is how much we actually use it for dining purposes, LOL. 😂🤔⁣

If you are like me and are looking for a contained home workspace to call your own, head over to @furniture_odk and check out all the amazing things they have to offer! 💞⁣

{Thank you to @Furniture_odk for my gifted desk! As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own, and I only feature things I truly love here.}

Disclosure: Some of the links above are Amazon affiliate links. This means if you click through and make a purchase, I receive a small commission that helps support this blog at no cost to you. Thank you!