Shruti Kantawala: Be Real and continue sharing your love for Books

Shruti Kantawala or @reader_sm dwelled into reviewing of books three years ago. The idea behind starting this page was to develop my passion into something more concrete.

Her Instagram handle is pure bliss to the eyes of the reader filled with quotations, book covers and inspiring content.

Chinmayee Bhange interviews Ms. Shruti Kantawala

Picture Courtesy: Shruti Kantawala

Please tell us more about yourself:

I am very passionate about books and everything related to books. I started my bookstagram page 3years back. Over the past three years,I have build my page for sharing my love for Books. I am very emotional person.

How long have you been blogging? Tell us more about the idea behind your blog.

I have been blogging since last 3 years. The idea behind starting this page was to develop my passion into something more concrete. The story behind the name of my handle is also quite interesting; it's the initials of mine and my daughter's name hence reader_sm (Shruti and Mahek).

What genres of books do you generally follow and review?

Historical fiction, Romance, autobiography, memoir, children literature and self help

According to you, what makes a good book? The plot or the author?

The plot

How does a certain book achieve its "Best Seller" status? Also what are your tips to newbies in the Book Writing Platform?

By having a good story, pretty cover and good promotion. A tip to newbies is to be authentic and to be true to your passion

What is it that Book Bloggers should look out for?

Fake people who don't read books but here on the platform to criticize

How much time does it generally take from receiving a book to posting its review? What is the general flow that you follow?

Max 10 days. There isn't any flow which I follow but yes after receiving a book,I can't wait to dive into the world of it.

In this scenario of information overload and binge reading habits, your blogging and instagram posts have opened up a new avenue for book enthusiasts. What is your message for like minded people?

To please continue reading books and sharing your love for them to others. Encourage others to pick up reading books as a habit.

What advice would you share for naive book bloggers?

Be Real and continue sharing your love for Books.

How many books do you read in a month? And how many are on your shelf right now as TBR?

It may vary depending on my time but I can read min. 5 books in a month. And talking about TBR,I better not say anything. It's never ending list.

Any three books which are very close to your heart and why?

Wonder by R J Palacio bcz that book made me realise that we should accept who we are and be happy with it. A thousand splendid suns by Khaled Hosseini bcz I don't think I can give a reason. Everything about that book is just perfect. It starts with us by Colleen Hoover bcz I want someone like Atlas to love me like this. Jokes a part, the character development and love story touched my heart.

Has it ever happened that you felt as if you were one of the characters in the book? Which was that book?

The books which talk about books or readers,I definitely felt the character was me. Nina's character from the bookish life of Nina hills is one of them.

Do your family / friends support you in this venture of book blogging?

Yes absolutely. My husband is very supportive

What’s your preferred medium to discuss books – your blog, Twitter or Instagram?

Instagram

What tips would you share for getting more likes / followers on Instagram handles for book reviews?

That's the most difficult question bcz nobody can understand the Instagram algorithm so I would suggest that post whenever you feel like but post consistently and quality content.

Social Media is ever evolving. How do you adapt yourself to this scenario?

By keeping myself sane.

Do you think likes / reviews on Instagram handles has a deep impact on the psychology of the readers?

Likes might not be but yes reviews has and will influence readers.

What are your favourite Bookstagram accounts?

@reader_vidh vidhya , @a.readers.corner Ira @storypals mridula

Who inspired you to Book Blogging?

My Husband

Who are your favourite Book Bloggers?

Kirkus reviews

Vidhya Thakkar: Look for what interests you. Enjoy this space and express what you feel.

Today as we celebrate World Book and Copyright Day let us meet a lively, helpful and an extremely famous Bookstagrammer - Vidhya Thakkar who is more popular on Instagram as reader_viddh. Reader_viddh is one of the leading book blogs since 2017. She has worked with more than 700 Authors, Brands and India’s listed Publisher’s in regards with Marketing and Promotions.

She’s a Mumbaikar soul and an avid reader which made her Founder of MUMBAI BOOKSTAGRAM – A community of more than 80 Mumbai - based Book Bloggers. They meet every 3-4 months, attend events together, do blind book dates. 

Vidhya is an ardent fan of Sudha Murty and rightly so she founded the SUDHA MURTY’s BOOK CLUB. 

She has been featured in Mid Day, Social ketchup, Outlook India, Shillong Times, Elle India, Buzz Feed and many others. 

Chinmayee Bhange interviews Ms. Vidhya Thakkar on the occasion of World Book and Copyright Day - 23rd April 2023.

Please tell us more about yourself

Vidhya Thakkar Is an avid reader and a Blogger. A social media strategist who works with author, publishers and influencers. Having work with more than 700 authors and almost all the publishers, this journey as a book blogger has been an interesting one. This May i will be celebrating the six years of reader_viddh.

How long have you been blogging? Tell us more about the idea behind book blogging.

I will soon be celebrating 6 years of reader_viddh. I have been a blogger since 2014 where I shared about personal experiences. Later, while travelling I came across a hashtag called Bookstagram, which made me curious. When I explored more I came to know more about book blogging and that's when the journey began and reader_viddh was born.

What genres of books do you generally follow and review?

Romance, mythology, thriller, self help.

According to you, what makes a good book? The plot or the author?

The plot always.

Vidhya was recently featured in the column - Shelf Life in Mid-Day.

Read the article - How readers become friends at this unconventional book club in Mumbai

How does a certain book achieve its "Best Seller" status? Also what are your tips to newbies in the Book Writing Platform?

Well, the bestseller status surely comes with apt visibility and sales. For newbies, I would suggest to have patience when it comes to writing, publishing and marketing as well. Choose the best and wait for the best rather than just choosing the first thing that comes for the sake of publishing.

What is it that Book Bloggers should look out for?

Look for what interests you. Enjoy this space and express what you feel.

How much time does it generally take from receiving a book to posting its review? What is the general flow that you follow?

Well it takes me good 25-30 days after I receive the book.

In this scenario of information overload and binge reading habits, your blogging and instagram posts have opened up a new avenue for book enthusiasts. What is your message for like minded people?

Have patience, and don't run after followers. Remember the reason you created the account.

What advice would you share for naive book bloggers?

Be honest with your work.

How many books do you read in a month? And how many are on your shelf right now as TBR?

I try to read 20-21 books in a month. TBR is never ending!

Any three books which are very close to your heart and why?

"Shakuni" because I love reading about Mahabharta. "Take a chance on me" by Sapna Bhog. A light romance read that I always reread when in slump and "1000+ little things". The book I go to every time I feel low.

Has it ever happened that you felt as if you were one of the characters in the book? Which was that book?

Yes it was "Take a chance on me" by Sapna Bhog.

Do your family / friends support you in this venture of book blogging?

Yes they do!

What tips would you share for getting more likes / followers on Instagram handles for book reviews?

Content and consistency are kings. The only way to get likes and followers

Social Media is ever evolving. How do you adapt yourself to this scenario?

Well I remind myself why I created this space. The reason I keep evolving. Also invest in website.

Do you think likes / reviews on Instagram handles has a deep impact on the psychology of the readers?

Yes they do have a deep impact.

What are your favourite Bookstagram accounts?

Creaty_rich, booxoul, bookish.fame, book_gobbler, just_another_aspirant

Who inspired you to Book Blogging?

My passion for reading!

Who are your favourite Book Bloggers?

Khyati, richa, purnima, siddhi, neelam

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Social Media Handles:

Instagram

Website

Twitter

Facebook

This post is a part of #BlogchatterA2Z 2023

Khyati Gautam: Stay true to your passion and values, they will take you places. In the long run, consistency matters.

Today on the eve of Gudhi Padwa let us all greet the New Year with a revived hope of reading. And to help us usher smoothly into this revival, we will meet - Khyati Gautam - Bookstagrammer who is more popular on her Instagram handle as Bookish Fame.

Chinmayee Bhange interviews Ms. Khyati Gautam on the occasion of Gudhi Padwa - 22nd March 2023.

Please introduce yourself.

Hello, I am Khyati Gautam and I run a successful book blog in the country that goes by the name Bookish Fame. It is your place to find book reviews, recommendations, and some bits of my creative writing. Besides my creative pursuit, I am pursuing my Master's in Development Studies and Public Policy from Tata Institute of Social Sciences Mumbai.

How long have you been blogging? Was blogging a conscious choice for you?

I have been into book blogging for six years now. It started off as a hobby, a creative pursuit combining my love for reading and writing. Over time, it became more than just a hobby, a medium to express myself and talk consciously about my growth and lived experiences - be it with books or life, in general.

What genres of books do you generally follow?

I usually fall for literary fiction and creative non fiction.

What makes a good book? The plot or the author?

I believe both make a book great. Good writing by an author contributes immensely in shaping a unique plot. The two cannot do anything on their own.

How does a certain book achieve its "Best Seller" status?

Having more sales usually amount to a book getting that 'bestseller' tag but it is too lean a metric to judge a book. Sales could be bought but loyalty towards a book could only be earned. Most amazing books out there are not bestsellers in typical fashion.

What is it that Book Bloggers should look out for?

A book blogger must constantly look out for learning and evolving. I feel they must learn from others, look out for reading different genres beyond their favoured areas, and be open to critique and be critiqued. They should be honest in their reviews but balanced in their tone and approach.

In this scenario of information overload and binge reading habits, your blogging and instagram posts have opened up a new avenue for book enthusiasts. What is your message for like minded people?

Life is too short. Choose things wisely and invest time in them accordingly.

What advice would you share for naive book bloggers?

Don't fall for cheap money and overnight success. You need not sell your honesty to make it big and earn numbers. Stay true to your passion and values, they will take you places. In the long run, consistency matters.

How many books do you read in a month? And how many are on your shelf right now as TBR?

I used to read 10 books on an average which has now come down to 3-5 books per month. As for my TBR, I have lost the count.

Any three books which are very close to your heart and why?

Tuesdays with Morrie - For teaching me about life and relationships, Softening the edge - For teaching me the value of empathy and leading with kindness, The Comfort Book - For being simple and beautiful

Has it ever happened that you felt as if you were one of the characters in the book? Which was that book?

Nope

Do your family / friends support you in this venture of book blogging?

Yes, my friends and family support it wholeheartedly.

What tips would you share for getting more likes / followers on Instagram handles for book reviews?

Stay true to your work, share your honest thoughts because authenticity matters. And as it is Instagram, clearly aesthetics matter too. Also, engage with the content of others while focusing on creating yours.

Social Media is ever evolving. How do you adapt yourself to this scenario?

I try to learn from my experiments and experiences. No substitute to keeping oneself immersed in learning constantly.

Do you think likes / reviews on Instagram handles has a deep impact on the psychology of the readers?

Likes is a vanity metric that happens to have a manipulative impact on the psyche of consumers. I believe the number of likes shouldn't be a parameter for judging something. However, I feel comprehensive and honest reviews could definitely help a reader decide if a certain book could prospectively interest them.

What are your favourite Bookstagram accounts?

@askthebookbug, @nupur_flipaleaf, @thisbookmagnet @reader_viddh

Who inspired you to Book Blogging?

My friend introduced me to reviewing books back in 2017. I loved reading others’ reviews and knowing that I could write one myself too, made me happy. I learned about the process of reviewing by reaching out to reviewers on Facebook as well as authors. I read a lot, experimented with my blogs, and started growing. So, I owe whatever I am today to that friend who himself is an avid reader, Ankit Chouhan. Second, I was inspired by Vidhya and her passionate work which continues to inspire me even today.

Who are your favourite Book Bloggers?

Vidhya Thakkar, Aakanksha Jain

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Social Media Handles:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookish.fame

Twitter: https://twitter.com/khyati_gautam

Blog: https://khyatigautam.wordpress.com/