For this week’s Bookstagrammer, let’s meet Laura, @whiskers_andwords! Like us, Laura is excited for the upcoming fall season. The anticipation of the leaves changing and the weather dropping is high. Laura is already on it with her adorable cat Maxie, enjoying their days curled up reading nothing but thrillers and mystery books. Laura’s feed of recommendations is a perfect match to her wonderfully dark and cozy aesthetic theme. In this interview, we’ll learn more about her passions and drive as a Bookstagrammer!
Laura of @whiskers_andwords
Why did you start your Bookstagram?
I started Bookstagram and reading more books when I was struggling with my mental health and needed a distraction from the real world. I stayed on Bookstagram because of the beautiful community of people on here and the friendships I’ve made.
What do you want it to bring to the world?
I’m an advocate of talking about mental health and if my sharing a little snippet of my experience helps someone else open up about how they’re doing then that’s great :-)
Where are you from?
I’m from Leeds, UK.
What do you want your Bookstagram to bring to the world?
A safe space to talk to a friendly stranger (and her cat). I hope Maxie and his Maximus Monday posts bring a smile to a few people’s faces each week.
Who is your favorite Bookstagrammer?
@__fully.booked__ is my real-life bestie who introduced me to the world of Bookstagram and is the most beautiful soul. Everyone needs someone like Lauren in their life. <3
What are your favorite books and authors?
Behind Closed Doors by B. A. Paris is my favorite thriller book to date. It was the first book I picked up and it’s honestly been hard to beat! I haven’t given many 5-star ratings since this one. I also love anything by Freida McFadden and John Marrs.
What’s on your TBR List?
I have too many!!
- The Only One Left by Riley Sager
- Falling by T. J. Newman
- Jar of Hearts by Jennifer Hillier
- The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson
To name a few!
Also anything by Stephen King! I’m not sure how I’ve gone my whole life without reading one of his books!
What’s your special approach to content?
My gorgeous cat Maxie is the real star of my Bookstagram. He posts every week on (Maxie) Monday to let everyone know what he’s been up to. I adopted him earlier this year and he’s honestly the best little reading companion.
I also love finding independent bookshops to post about. Criminally Good Books in York has just recently opened and is a great place to go if you love a good murder mystery!
What’s your aesthetic / Instagram page theme?
I love having a darker aesthetic as I find it really cozy and it matches up well with my love of purely reading thriller books.
How often do you post?
I try and post a few times a week when life gets a little busy. I do post more often during the school holidays when I have time off from teaching little humans and can get more reading and exploring bookshops done!
What’s your favorite bookstore?
The Minster Gate bookshop in York is beautiful. It has so many treasures for you to find! Waterstones in Bradford is also one of my favourite places as it’s located inside one of the most stunning buildings. I could spend hours just admiring its beauty!
Who would you have supply you with a lifetime of books?
Freida McFadden is my thriller book queen. She can send me an endless supply of books, please! Never Lie is another one of my favorite books of all time. A fast-paced, short-chaptered, twisty book is always a win for me.
Any advice for aspiring Bookstagrammers?
Don’t take Bookstagram too seriously. Don’t obsess over how many likes you’re getting. Just talk to people with similar bookish interests to you; make friends and have fun posting content!
Do you have any additional bookishness you want to share?
I am currently an affiliate for a gorgeous small business called @trulymagicalbooks and you can use my code AFONEOFAKINDLE for 10% off. Their sweatshirts and tote bags are my absolute favorite!
Bookstr gives many thanks to Laura for being part of this week’s Bookstagrammer interview! Be sure to follow her and Maxie on their Instagram for many thriller recommendations!
Check out another passionate Bookstagrammer by clicking here!
Head to Bookshop.org to browse through Laura’s book picks at Heart Racingly Good Thrillers and Mysteries!
