Karen Manabat

How and when did you come up with the idea of being a bookstagrammer? Tell us about your amazing journey as a Book Influencer.

I created my bookstagram account back in the first half of 2017. My joining the community was mostly influenced by a few close friends who inspired me to start a page of my own. It’s been more than 3yrs now but I still love making content and meeting new bookish people online almost everyday.

What are the top social media platforms available in India and the USA for book promotions?

Well, I live outside of those two countries so I can only speak based on the promotions I see online, which are mostly on Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.

At what stage of my book publishing journey should I consider social media promotions? Pre publishing or post and How?

Again, I don’t think I’m the right person to answer this, given that I’m neither an author myself nor someone who works in publishing. I think social media promotions help, both when done pre and post-publishing.

Your feed looks aesthetic! What are the difficulties faced while shooting/creating such artistic portraits?

Thank you. I used to struggle coming up with photos—still do, to be honest, but the difference now is that I’ve found my style and the kind of aesthetic I want to stick to. It’s okay to keep experimenting with your feed as long as you’re having fun and slowly learning what look you want to go for.

You are doing a pretty good job in your niche. What are the top 3 things you consider while reviewing a book?

That’s such a compliment, thank you. Reviewing a book can be difficult, especially the hyped and/or controversial ones. For me, mentioning trigger warnings is important. You can also list down the pros and cons of the book, to balance it out. And of course, honest and unbiased opinions.

What are the 5 most effective ways to promote books on social media?

There are several ways to promote books on social media, especially at this time of pandemic when almost everything takes place virtually. I think author interviews are fun. Promotional arts and various bookish merch also make readers get more excited about certain releases, as well as sending advanced reading copies to reviewers, bloggers and librarians.

What impact does bookstagram have on your life? Are there any negative sides to it?

I treat my bookstagram mainly as a passion project and creative outlet where I get to express myself and show my bookish side, so it’s something enjoyable for me. I avoid letting it take too much of my time or getting obsessed over likes and follower counts because I know that can be mentally draining and unhealthy.

What is the Vision & Mission of your social media handle? Tell us a bit about the kind of books you promote, your biggest strength as a book influencer, popular authors promoted so far, years of experience, any testimonials, etc.

I don’t have a vision and mission, that’s too formal for my liking, I’m afraid. I just want my account to be a safe space for fellow readers, myself, and hopefully inspire non-readers to read too, bearing in mind that being a bookworm is something not to be ashamed of. Biggest strength? I don’t really know. I’d like to think I’m a diverse reader who works hard on continuously educating herself and trying out different genres every time, and someone who people can talk to in the comments easily.

At Sharing Stories, we have an ongoing campaign ‘Let’s Empower Our Kids’. Please suggest some books here that you would want your child to read before the age of 15 which could help him in understanding certain dimensions of human life like empathy, sympathy, relationships, etc.

I would want my future child to read whatever would bring him joy, but I would definitely hand-pick a few, such as You Can Do All Things by Kate Allan, to encourage him to be himself and continue to dream, and maybe Trevor and Me by Yuno Imai, which is a story of friendship and a promise that transcends age, nationality and gender.

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