Introducing this week’s featured Bookstagrammer, Michelle from @reading_with_ralphie! We’re diving into another colorful world filled with books and furry friends. Join us as we chat with Michelle about her passion for literature and her journey to becoming a Bookstagrammer.
Instagram | Goodreads
Thanks for talking to us, Michelle!
Why did you start your Bookstagram?
I actually started my Bookstagram while I was recovering from a major illness. On October 26, 2022, I suffered from cardiac arrest due to acute myocarditis, which is basically inflammation of the heart. I had zero history of heart issues, was fine one day, and then fought for my life in the cardiac ICU for the next three weeks. Once I was home and on the mend (still on a life vest and still unable to walk around or do much of anything on my own), I turned to books to provide me with an escape from the pain, worries, and anxiety I suddenly had on my plate. I discovered other people’s fun, colorful, and positive book pages… and my account was born! Ooh, and my cat Ralphie literally never leaves my side, so he became the undisputed star of my book photos and the inspiration for my handle.
Where are you from?
I am a New Englander who gets slightly anxious when there’s not an ocean nearby.
What do you want your Instagram to bring to the world?
Positivity! One thing I’ve learned from my health journey is that life is just too short. It’s not worth spending your time worrying about what other people think or about all the things you can’t control. All that matters is your health, your friends and family, and doing what makes you feel happy and fulfilled.
What is a fun fact about you?
I’ve been an elementary school teacher for over ten years! I’ve temporarily stepped away from my teaching job in order to continue to heal and spend time with my toddler, and in the meantime, I’ve started working part-time with a local small business that teaches people to hand-knit blankets! It’s so fun and different from anything I’ve ever done before! I love being crafty.
Who are some of your favorite Bookstagrammers?
I have WAY too many to name, but fellow cat-loving accounts rank among some of my favorites. I just love it when my feed is filled with their cute furry faces! (Bonus points for orange cats—instant besties!)
Favorite books and authors?
- Elin Hilderbrand
- Kristin Hannah
- Taylor Jenkins Reid
- Jodi Picoult
- Steven Rowley
- Riley Sager
- Lisa Jewell
I can’t pick a favorite book… I’m a Gemini!
Who’s your fictional crush?
Actually, I typically develop an extreme love for non-fictional people after I listen to their memoirs on audio. There is no type: from Dave Grohl to Matthew McConaughey to Seth Rogen to Henry Winkler… to Viola Davis, Jeanette Walls, Julia Fox, and Molly Shannon… Just to name a few. It’s less of a romantic crush and more that I feel like I’m best friends with that person after listening to them tell me their life story in their own voice.
What’s on your TBR?
- All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker
- Real Americans by Rachel Khong
- Same as It Ever Was by Claire Lombardo
- Husbands and Lovers by Beatriz Williams
- The Love of My After Life by Kristy Greenwood
- The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley
Currently finishing The God of the Woods and LOVING it.
What’s your special approach to content?
To be honest, because of my extreme FOMO, many of the books I read are the buzzy ones that everyone else is reading and reviewing, too. I can’t help myself! So, to try to set my account apart and offer something unique, I create lots of fun bookish memes/graphics and editable templates (monthly trackers, currently reading templates) for others to use and share. I usually release new graphics each month with the seasons. I absolutely love seeing people repost and enjoy them!
How often do you post?
I usually post daily or every other day. I like to alternate my actual photos with graphics to create a pattern on my feed.
What does your Bookstagram mean to you?
It’s a creative outlet, a positive space, a place to find great book recs, great ideas, funny reels to laugh at, and plenty of other fun and creative people that I can relate to. It’s also a place to discover people with different backgrounds and different worldviews from my own. I’ve picked up so many books that I maybe wouldn’t have otherwise if it weren’t for my Bookstagram.
Who would you have supply you with a lifetime of books?
Elin Hilderbrand! I love her atmospheric beach reads and I live for her newest release each summer. Sadly, this summer’s Swan Song was her last annual Nantucket novel… but if I had it my way, I would have a lifetime of new summer reads each year. PLEASE, ELIN!!!?
What’s your favorite book cover?
I am a SUCKER for a good cover… Some that come to mind are, Pineapple Street, Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow, The Secret Book of Flora Lea, Hello Beautiful, The Great Divide, and Remarkably Bright Creatures.
When did you know you had made it as a Bookstagrammer?
I don’t think I can say I’ve “made it” yet, but one of my cutesie little book graphics did reach over 58,000 people, got 9,500 likes and was circulating around for weeks and weeks. That was fun to see!
Any advice for aspiring Bookstagrammers?
Reach out to others! Shoot a DM to someone with a feed you love or book choices that are similar to yours. Chances are you’ll strike up a conversation that never ends! I’ve found myself in many of these and I now have book friends from all over the country (and world!!) that I chat with regularly. It’s such a welcoming and fun little space.
Bookstr welcomes and thanks Michelle for sharing and being a part of this week’s Bookstagrammer interview. Michelle’s Bookstagram journey symbolizes positivity and creativity in times of trouble, and her rainbow-themed Instagram brings light to the bookish community.
Check out another Bookstagrammer of the week here!
For our Bookstagrammer of the Week bookshelf on Bookshop.org, click here!
