On this week’s Bookstr Team Tuesday, we have an artiste in our midst. The incredible Talia Wall from Graphics is here to share her favorite books, but along the way, she’s also letting us in on what makes her uniquely her.
Talia’s impressive resume begins with a B.S. in Criminal Justice! She initially intended to pursue a career in law but instead chose her two passions: art and writing. Talia really made an impression when she first joined the team by revealing that she actually creates her own book covers for the works that she writes. And now, as she lends her talents to Bookstr with some fantastic graphics, she’s also making her authorial debut with a paranormal fantasy trilogy! And yes, she’s designing her own covers.
So, what else do you need to know about Talia? She has a beauuutiful Persian cat named Thor; her favorite video game is Apex Legends on PS5; and her favorite polite insult? “Common sense has been chasing you, but you have always been faster.” Damn. Don’t get on Talia’s bad side. With that in mind, let’s give her the stage so she can tell us even more about herself by walking us through the books that have shaped her.
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
People either love it or hate it. I had a seven-year dry spell of reading and writing after college burnout. Sarah J. Maas’s ACOTAR series was the first book to hold my attention and reawaken my imagination, which I thought was long gone. Other books often left me reading the same paragraph three times before putting it down because of frustration or distraction.
The Maze Runner by James Dashner
I know it’s an old series, but I feel that it’s underrated despite also having movie releases. The attention it got was very short-lived compared to The Hunger Games. I loved the action, apocalyptic science fiction, and characters.
Cryer’s Cross by Lisa McMann
It’s been years since I read it, but I remember enjoying it during my YA horror genre phase. The disappearances of students, the protagonist’s internal struggle with depression and OCD, and the little oddities that occurred throughout the book kept me intrigued throughout. I added it to my TBR for a nostalgic reread.
The North Wind by Alexandria Warwick
The genres I mostly read growing up were horror, paranormal, thriller, and dystopian. As an adult, after discovering ACOTAR, I realized that my heart also belonged to fantasy more than I realized. I started The North Wind and was immediately granted vivid imagery, greeted with diverse characters, and my favorite trope, enemies-to-lovers. I learned recently that this series started as independently published and then it was taken up by Simon & Schuster. As an aspiring self-published author, it gives me hope that one day I could do the same. My only grief is that it’s still ongoing so I have to brave through the waiting periods.
Grendel by John Gardner
I’m a Christian and I went to school within the Bible Belt of the United States. This book is often banned in schools. I was lucky enough to go to a school that allowed it. I was assigned to read Grendel in my high school senior English class. This was one of the few books that left a lasting impression on me. Set in Beowulf’s antagonist’s point of view, it brought on a whole new perspective of the epic. I enjoyed this version much more than Beowulf. I also tend to enjoy stories about anti-heroes more than those with purebred heroes because they’re more complex characters.
It cannot be overstated how much of a creative soul Talia is. Which is why we absolutely loved what she had to say when asked to name her favorite personal feature: her hands. To close off, let’s give the final word to Talia as she explains why. We think every creator out there can relate to this one.
“I love to create… Whether it is something from scratch or bringing something old back to life, I’m proud of what my hands can do if nothing else.”
Enjoy this Bookstr Team Tuesday? Check out last week’s feature, the fabulous Elizabeth Beaver!
Want more book recs from the team? Browse our picks on Bookshop.org.
