July 29, 2021

Interview with a Bookstagrammer - July 2021

For July's Interview with a Bookstagrammer, we spoke with the brilliant Kayleigh from @alittlebiblio. Kayleigh's account is filled with beautiful photographs with a soft, cosy, autumnal aesthetic. Her feed makes us want to grab our favourite book and spend the afternoon reading under a blanket. Thanks so much for chatting with us, Kayleigh!

How did you first become involved with the Bookstagram community? Can you remember the moment you decided to create your account?

I can’t remember the exact moment but I had only got back into reading a few years prior and I stumbled upon the term ‘bookstagram’. Honestly, I didn’t know anything about it or that there were so many people who loved books as much as I did. My first thought was ‘these are my people!’

Photography wasn’t one of my strong points then so I felt like no one would care about my account and it took some courage to start reaching out to others and really become part of the community but it was all worth it in the end to be around likeminded people.

What’s your favourite part of the Bookstagram community and why is it so important to you?

I have a couple of things I really love about it. For one, the sense of community is so nice! There’s always someone to talk to about anything, it doesn’t even have to be book related. But I’ve made some amazing friends from it.

And, of course, all the different aesthetics and beautiful photos of books. It’s such an inspiration to see so much beautiful photography.

Do you think your content has evolved over the years, if so tell us more about that!

It definitely has! At first I had no idea what I was doing. I didn’t know how to take a decent photo, didn’t really know what ‘aesthetic’ was all about and I was too shy to say very much so my captions were always quite short. My photos were very sparse and didn’t compliment each other but now I use more props and know exactly the type of feeling I want my photos to give people — a cosy autumnal vibe.

Now, photography is something I love. I taught myself to use a proper camera with the manual settings and I try to engage more with others—usually through a question in my captions or questions/polls in my stories.

I’m very happy with my content at the moment!

Do you have any other hobbies alongside books and reading? We’d love to hear more about them!

I wouldn’t say they’re hobbies as such because they’re more of an occasional thing but I do like to draw, write, bake and play video games. However, being a mum to a toddler, I don’t have a lot of free time for any of that these days!

Have you always loved books? Tell us the book that cemented your love of reading! Any particular author who’s a huge inspiration?

I loved books when I was a kid but through my earlier teenage years I didn’t really read at all. It wasn’t until I left school that I got back into it and books are now one of my passions.

I think it was Harry Potter when I was maybe seven or eight that really started my love of reading even though I started at a younger age. I pinched my sisters copy, ran back to my room with it and sat reading against my bedroom door in case she came looking for it!

I don’t have a particular author who’s a huge inspiration but I think the classics - Jane Austen in particular - always leave quite an impact.

My current favourite authors include VE Schwab, Jay Kristoff, Leigh Bardugo, Sarah J Maas and Jennifer L Armentrout.

So you’ve told us about your favourite writers, let’s talk about favourite characters! You can invite three fictional characters from literature to a dinner party, who are they and why did you choose them?

This is so hard! I have so many characters I love.

Elizabeth Bennet (Pride and Prejudice) - we could bond over our love of books and swoon over Mr Darcy together.

Nikolai Lantsov (Grisha trilogy/King of Scars) - he’d be a lot of fun and his sass would keep things interesting, not to mention some new contraption he’d invented.

I’m torn between Rhysand (A Court of Thorns and Roses) and Hawke Flynn (From Blood and Ash) as my last choice. Clearly I have a type — I have a weakness for tall, dark, handsome males who are practically immortal and have a dark side while also very sarcastic and have great banter but are incredibly selfless and loyal to those they love. So of course one of them would have to attend!

What book are you most excited to read this year?

This is another hard question. I have a TBR that could probably bury me! I would’ve said Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber but I’ve read that now (and loved it!) so perhaps I’ll say Empire of the Vampire when it comes out. I’ve been long awaiting its release!

Tell us your favourite account to follow. What do you love about it?

I have different accounts based on what they post.

For dark academia aesthetic: @ardently_adele - all dark browns and whites with a mix of historical sites and DA/vintage outfits. She’s also one of my best friends and the nicest person!

For classics: @sissireads - she always leaves amazing reviews and makes you want to read anything she’s reading.

For book recs and a good sense of humour: @fictiontea - we have the same taste in books and her reels always have me laughing, they’re so relatable!

Okay final hard hitting question… Dog ear or bookmark?

BOOKMARK, no question! It physically pains me to dog ear a book. I will use anything and everything as a bookmark before I fold that corner!

Anything else you’d like to add or tell us about?

I think I’d just like to say to anyone thinking about joining: do it! The bookstagram community is such a welcoming one and we’re quite a fun bunch too! There really is something for everyone. :)

KAYLEIGH'S FAVOURITES

Use the code BIBLIO10 to get 10% off Kayleigh's favourites until 27th August.

Varsity Style Pride & Prejudice ‘Pemberley’ Literary Sweatshirt

Sunday Readers Society Sweatshirt

Varsity Style Shakespeare ‘Verona’ Book Lover Sweatshirt

Personalised Pride & Prejudice Book With Exclusive Cover

Jane Austen Complete Collection - The Bookishly Editions

The Cosy Night In Big Book Bundle

Personalised Map Of The Stars Print - White and Gold Foil

Scandi Wall Hanging “Read past my bedtime” Children’s Pennant

‘Pemberley’ Book Lover Vegan Candle

Funny ‘Too Many Books?’ Relatable Book Lover Mug