Dec. 2, 2025

A Book Bestie’s Journey Into Tropes, Smut, And BookTok Confidence

We trace Lex’s path from closed-door romance to dark romance and into horror, breaking down why anti-heroes, revenge arcs, and detailed prose changed how we read and review. We trade messy trope confessions, memory hacks for multi-reading, and how BookTok helped us show up on camera with our full voices.

• shifting from soft romance to dark romance, thrillers and horror
• why revenge horror and splatterpunk land on the page
• when spice enhances plot and when it distracts
• favorite tropes including enemies to lovers and secret baby
• reading anywhere with zero shame and some strategy
• DNF rules, mood reading and avoiding “homework” books
• note-taking, highlights and memory systems for multi-reading
• prepping author interviews with catalog deep dives
• BookTok as community, confidence and creative practice
• choosing formats, series styles and favorite narrators

You guys can find her on TikTok and Instagram and on Facebook as Lex Between the Lines. That’s BTW.

outro

00:00 - Meet Lex Between The Lines

01:05 - From Soft Romance To Dark Romance

03:20 - Why Horror And Revenge Stories Hook

05:00 - Smut In Horror: When It Works

06:55 - Favorite Tropes And Guilty Pleasures

09:25 - Wildest Places We’ve Read Smut

12:20 - Early Reads And Boundaries At Home

15:12 - DNF Philosophy And Mood Reading

17:20 - How Lex Remembers Every Detail

19:05 - Preparing To Interview Authors

21:20 - BookTok Origins And Finding Community

24:05 - Showing Your Face And Finding Your Voice

27:10 - This Or That: Formats, Series, Narrators

30:00 - Switching Seats: Reflections And Sign‑Off

WEBVTT

00:00:01.679 --> 00:00:05.040
Hi everybody and welcome to BDST with Toya.

00:00:05.280 --> 00:00:08.080
I am your book bestie and host Toya.

00:00:08.480 --> 00:00:13.199
I am here today with my favorite book bestie.

00:00:15.599 --> 00:00:19.280
We're gonna put the spotlight on Lex today, honey.

00:00:19.440 --> 00:00:21.039
I'm going to take a moment.

00:00:21.280 --> 00:00:23.440
I'm going to let her do her spiel.

00:00:23.760 --> 00:00:27.920
Tell us a little bit about yourself, Miss Ma'am.

00:00:28.160 --> 00:00:29.839
Whenever you're ready.

00:00:30.640 --> 00:00:31.839
Oh wow.

00:00:34.320 --> 00:00:37.840
Like my cheeks hurt from cheesing so bad.

00:00:43.359 --> 00:00:46.320
So I am licks between the lines.

00:00:46.479 --> 00:00:50.799
I am a reader, a reviewer, and I am a podcaster.

00:00:51.200 --> 00:01:00.159
Um for the most part, when I read and review, I try to say between the lines, but occasionally, more than occasionally, I do cross them.

00:01:03.840 --> 00:01:05.359
I'm a dark romance girly.

00:01:05.760 --> 00:01:11.120
Well, if you would have told me maybe about the beginning of the year, what was my favorite genre?

00:01:11.200 --> 00:01:17.760
I would say dark romance billionaire, but lately fantasy and thriller have been taking over my catalog.

00:01:17.920 --> 00:01:23.439
And so it's kind of like the scales of the different genres, it's not like battle of the genres.

00:01:24.000 --> 00:01:27.920
So I said, Yeah.

00:01:28.799 --> 00:01:29.920
So let me ask you.

00:01:30.159 --> 00:01:32.640
So what was it?

00:01:32.799 --> 00:01:38.319
What book or genre, what was it that got you into reading in the first place?

00:01:40.079 --> 00:01:40.799
Romance.

00:01:40.959 --> 00:01:47.920
I think it was just really, and it was when I started reading, it was like Marie Force, like soft romance.

00:01:48.079 --> 00:01:48.319
Okay.

00:01:48.560 --> 00:01:51.040
And it wasn't even like real smut.

00:01:52.400 --> 00:01:53.920
I know, can't you believe that?

00:01:54.079 --> 00:01:55.840
So it was like the closed door stuff.

00:01:56.000 --> 00:01:56.480
Yes.

00:01:56.719 --> 00:02:01.920
And then when they did have like scenes and stuff, I feel like I was like invading.

00:02:02.079 --> 00:02:07.760
I was just like, and it wasn't even comp like compared to the stuff I read now.

00:02:08.560 --> 00:02:12.800
I would be like looking over my shoulder trying to see if somebody was like watching me read it.

00:02:13.599 --> 00:02:13.919
Okay.

00:02:14.400 --> 00:02:16.639
So were you were you young?

00:02:16.800 --> 00:02:18.719
Is that why you was looking over your shoulder?

00:02:19.199 --> 00:02:20.719
No, I wasn't even.

00:02:25.120 --> 00:02:27.680
Because girl, I don't care who stands right now.

00:02:28.879 --> 00:02:35.280
Like now I don't, but when I first started, like it may, it may be like three years now.

00:02:36.159 --> 00:02:39.840
Um, since I've been reading like smut and jumped into the dark romance.

00:02:40.000 --> 00:02:48.319
But before that, it was like I was ashamed to like girl, you would have thought my daddy was a priest like a pest or something.

00:02:51.360 --> 00:02:52.319
Oh my god.

00:02:53.280 --> 00:02:54.800
Girl, really?

00:02:55.599 --> 00:02:56.240
Yes.

00:02:56.479 --> 00:02:57.680
Oh, yes.

00:02:58.800 --> 00:03:00.159
Not for me, honey.

00:03:00.400 --> 00:03:01.360
Not for me.

00:03:01.599 --> 00:03:04.560
Okay, let me ask you, let me ask you a question.

00:03:04.719 --> 00:03:05.039
Okay.

00:03:05.360 --> 00:03:14.719
What is it about horror that you love so much that has pulled you in and kind of taken over?

00:03:18.879 --> 00:03:28.479
So in a dark romance, I love like a um an anti-hero and the things horror is introduced.

00:03:28.560 --> 00:03:30.080
Like, don't judge me.

00:03:30.319 --> 00:03:33.039
I promise I won't, because I can't say nothing.

00:03:34.400 --> 00:03:41.280
Some of the horror, and what's crazy is I can read it, but I'm not really like a horror fan, like TV show.

00:03:41.599 --> 00:03:51.599
But like, especially when it's a horror, when it's like a revenge horror, and they go into details, and it's like a splatter punk or splatter, what do they call it?

00:03:52.000 --> 00:03:53.199
Splatter punk.

00:03:53.439 --> 00:03:54.000
Yeah.

00:03:59.120 --> 00:04:04.000
When they give more of the details of the unaligned.

00:04:04.159 --> 00:04:07.039
I know that's gonna sound so bad of like the unaliving.

00:04:07.520 --> 00:04:18.639
Okay, so you you like to hear, you like to read more in depth, like, to be able to take your time with the scene.

00:04:18.959 --> 00:04:19.439
Mm-hmm.

00:04:20.000 --> 00:04:25.040
And like they don't hold back, like there's no closed door violence.

00:04:25.279 --> 00:04:26.399
It goes straight.

00:04:27.680 --> 00:04:28.000
Yeah.

00:04:28.240 --> 00:04:29.680
That's why I said don't judge me.

00:04:29.920 --> 00:04:31.439
So, so do you okay?

00:04:31.519 --> 00:04:32.639
So let me ask you this question.

00:04:32.720 --> 00:04:39.120
So, do you prefer your horror books to have smut in them, or are you okay with no smut in your horror books?

00:04:39.360 --> 00:04:47.920
I'm okay with no smut because I have read some horror and it was like it didn't really flow with with it.

00:04:48.079 --> 00:04:54.399
It was like random pop-ups and stuff, but I like for it if it's gonna be in there to kind of flow with it.

00:04:54.639 --> 00:04:58.160
But for the most part, I can do without smut and horror.

00:04:59.680 --> 00:05:00.959
Oh, yeah, no, baby.

00:05:01.040 --> 00:05:01.519
I don't know.

00:05:02.319 --> 00:05:04.319
Especially when the plot is plotting.

00:05:04.480 --> 00:05:06.079
Toya, I'm telling you, don't miss it.

00:05:06.240 --> 00:05:11.360
When the plot is plotting, like and the story is flowing, you don't even miss it.

00:05:12.079 --> 00:05:23.600
You know, um I actually announced on my podcast how I think I may have lied because there are some slow burns that I can handle.

00:05:23.680 --> 00:05:32.959
It's still the but there's still smut in the slow burns, but I don't know if I can I may have to try.

00:05:33.279 --> 00:05:38.079
Well, I mean, there's the one that we read together, and that one didn't have no smut in it.

00:05:38.399 --> 00:05:39.279
Which one?

00:05:39.759 --> 00:05:43.680
The one with the LM Juniper, that book.

00:05:44.319 --> 00:05:46.079
That one definitely didn't.

00:05:46.480 --> 00:05:48.240
You know, and I enjoyed it.

00:05:48.399 --> 00:05:50.399
The the plot was plotting real well.

00:05:50.639 --> 00:05:54.000
I feel like we read another together and it wasn't really.

00:05:54.879 --> 00:06:04.079
Um, the only other one that I read that didn't really was The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.

00:06:04.319 --> 00:06:10.959
You would think with the title that there would be a whole lot of smut in there, but there was not a whole lot of smut in that book.

00:06:11.600 --> 00:06:15.680
That's been on my show forever, and I have not tapped into it yet.

00:06:16.319 --> 00:06:16.959
I know.

00:06:17.839 --> 00:06:18.959
Oh my god.

00:06:19.519 --> 00:06:21.199
Oh my god, I know.

00:06:21.759 --> 00:06:23.759
Oh girl.

00:06:24.160 --> 00:06:29.439
Okay, so let me ask you this because you are what do you like to call yourself?

00:06:29.680 --> 00:06:30.639
Pantropeal.

00:06:31.439 --> 00:06:31.839
Is that right?

00:06:32.079 --> 00:06:32.959
Okay, okay.

00:06:33.360 --> 00:06:44.079
So if you can only read one trope for the rest of your life, just one, which trope would it be?

00:06:46.480 --> 00:06:47.439
Damn it.

00:06:54.160 --> 00:07:02.240
Maybe uh enemies to lovers are a bully, like, because sometimes enemies lovers and bully be like, I'd like what's different?

00:07:02.319 --> 00:07:07.360
Well, it is a difference because a bully be more like young adult, and but yeah.

00:07:09.839 --> 00:07:13.360
Maybe an enemies just dang it, Toya.

00:07:16.319 --> 00:07:17.279
That's your one.

00:07:17.519 --> 00:07:18.319
That's your one.

00:07:18.480 --> 00:07:20.560
Are you sure you don't want to change your answer?

00:07:20.800 --> 00:07:22.959
Do I need to start playing the Jeopardy music?

00:07:23.279 --> 00:07:27.680
Oh my god, it's so hard because I like a secret baby too.

00:07:27.759 --> 00:07:33.199
I know like a lot of people don't like a secret baby, but I love a surprise pregnancy secret baby.

00:07:33.360 --> 00:07:36.639
Baby, I love a surprise pregnancy and when they cheating.

00:07:37.519 --> 00:07:40.560
And don't have it be a billionaire mixed in.

00:07:41.920 --> 00:07:49.759
When it is messy, messy, messy, I love good, well, you know.

00:07:50.399 --> 00:07:52.639
Because I hate you read messy.

00:07:52.959 --> 00:08:01.519
And that's a powerful messy plus billionaire plus uh a good and oh, and then a jealous ex-girlfriend.

00:08:03.199 --> 00:08:06.480
Or one who think that they should, it should have been their spot.

00:08:08.000 --> 00:08:10.240
I'm finna eat it up every time.

00:08:13.040 --> 00:08:26.480
Okay, so you said that when you started reading The Smud, that you would kind of look over your shoulder and just kind of see, like, okay, where have you been?

00:08:26.560 --> 00:08:35.840
What is the wildest place that you have read a smuddy book and had to keep a straight face while you read said book?

00:08:36.799 --> 00:08:38.399
That was just recently.

00:08:38.559 --> 00:08:50.559
Oh girl! My daughter was in like this coronation, and I'm gonna read anywhere I go.

00:08:51.120 --> 00:08:57.360
So I knew it was she was um like a princess to the queen, and the queen comes comes out last, right?

00:08:57.600 --> 00:09:04.799
Okay, so they have all of these other dances and the stuff in between before they even bring the queen out.

00:09:05.039 --> 00:09:10.320
So I was in the stands reading my book, Blackthorne by JT.

00:09:11.360 --> 00:09:16.960
Oh child, I'm up there reading, and it started.

00:09:17.120 --> 00:09:22.639
I said, um, and then now, mind you, there are actual people behind me.

00:09:25.440 --> 00:09:26.960
You were Kindle reading.

00:09:27.200 --> 00:09:39.279
Yes, I was reading on my phone, and what's crazy is I feel like the lady behind me was kind of reading my stuff, and as I was reading, and I was like, it was a little girl on the side of me, and her ass kept coughing.

00:09:40.879 --> 00:09:42.320
And she was coughing in my face.

00:09:42.480 --> 00:09:46.639
I'm I was kind of like had my jacket, I put my jacket kind of like over my mouth or something.

00:09:46.879 --> 00:09:51.039
So I would look at the girl and then I would look back at the mama like, you ain't gonna say nothing.

00:09:51.200 --> 00:09:57.120
So sometimes when I be looking back, it was like she'll be looking over my shoulder, like at my phone.

00:09:58.080 --> 00:10:01.840
Girl, I was like, but I still was reading it though, baby.

00:10:02.320 --> 00:10:12.240
But I was just like, and then and then my daughter and Monica was sitting on the side, so I really had my phone like like I was in school.

00:10:15.519 --> 00:10:16.960
Oh my god.

00:10:17.440 --> 00:10:30.639
And so you was just trying to just kind of you still, so that means that you still be like kind of watching, making sure ain't nobody because sometimes my daughter be like, what you read?

00:10:30.960 --> 00:10:33.440
And I'd be like, mind your business.

00:10:33.919 --> 00:10:35.440
We got buddy reads together.

00:10:35.519 --> 00:10:36.639
This ain't one of them.

00:10:37.840 --> 00:10:38.559
That's cute.

00:10:38.639 --> 00:10:41.039
You and your daughter have buddy reads together.

00:10:41.279 --> 00:10:42.720
Oh, I love it.

00:10:42.879 --> 00:10:43.440
I love it.

00:10:43.600 --> 00:10:44.240
Oh man.

00:10:44.399 --> 00:10:47.679
Yeah, my daughter ain't reading nothing that's not lyrics to Chris Brown.

00:10:47.759 --> 00:10:51.279
She don't my daughter ain't reading nothing.

00:10:51.600 --> 00:10:52.639
She ain't reading nothing.

00:10:52.960 --> 00:10:53.519
What?

00:10:54.639 --> 00:10:54.960
No.

00:10:56.000 --> 00:10:57.519
My daughter's not reading anything.

00:10:58.799 --> 00:11:03.679
She did not pick up the the reading gene.

00:11:05.200 --> 00:11:05.279
Oh.

00:11:06.639 --> 00:11:06.799
Yeah.

00:11:07.600 --> 00:11:12.799
Because I started when I was 13, honey, and my intro was Air Drone Dickey.

00:11:15.919 --> 00:11:16.960
Not your intro.

00:11:17.440 --> 00:11:18.240
Yes, ma'am.

00:11:18.480 --> 00:11:19.919
I started reading.

00:11:20.320 --> 00:11:24.799
I started with smut books at 13.

00:11:25.679 --> 00:11:29.919
Air Drone Dicky, Milk in my coffee.

00:11:33.360 --> 00:11:35.279
And I started with like thriller and crime.

00:11:35.360 --> 00:11:41.039
I don't know if I told you, but my uncle's trifling um ex-wife now.

00:11:41.360 --> 00:11:45.120
She gave me like this box of books, but it was grown-up books.

00:11:45.360 --> 00:11:46.480
Like you bitch.

00:11:46.720 --> 00:11:54.639
Like now that I know that she now did I know that she's a trifling individual.

00:11:55.039 --> 00:11:57.360
I can understand why it didn't click in her mind.

00:11:57.440 --> 00:11:59.759
Like, I shouldn't give this to a child.

00:12:00.000 --> 00:12:00.240
Right.

00:12:00.399 --> 00:12:02.240
Because it had like kiss the girls.

00:12:02.480 --> 00:12:05.519
It was another book in there called God's Other Son, I must.

00:12:06.559 --> 00:12:06.879
Okay.

00:12:07.679 --> 00:12:15.519
I couldn't even, I I read a few pages of that book, and I gave it to my cousin who shouldn't have been reading it either.

00:12:16.080 --> 00:12:18.559
I couldn't, I couldn't even deal with that one.

00:12:19.039 --> 00:12:23.360
And then the kiss the girls, and I was like, this ain't like the movie.

00:12:23.519 --> 00:12:25.120
They went into detail.

00:12:27.120 --> 00:12:32.240
But because it was like a mystery, like who did it, like who the killer was, and stuff like that.

00:12:32.399 --> 00:12:34.000
I I went on ahead and read it.

00:12:34.080 --> 00:12:37.279
But like the forms of torture and stuff, I was like, what the hell?

00:12:37.440 --> 00:12:38.960
I should not be reading this.

00:12:39.200 --> 00:12:43.200
But but wait, but how old were you at that time?

00:12:43.440 --> 00:12:46.720
I was in like sixth grade, sixth, seventh grade.

00:12:47.120 --> 00:12:48.399
Should not have been reading it.

00:12:48.559 --> 00:12:49.600
I should not.

00:12:49.919 --> 00:12:51.279
Let me tell you.

00:12:55.279 --> 00:12:56.480
Don't judge me.

00:12:57.200 --> 00:13:08.720
So I am not uh one of those parents who uh filters or sugarcoats things for my daughter.

00:13:08.960 --> 00:13:15.600
I have found that it's easier for me to just be up front with her.

00:13:18.639 --> 00:13:29.519
So when my child got into ninth grade, I sure did let her read that Messy S book that I gave.

00:13:30.559 --> 00:13:31.360
No, you didn't.

00:13:31.679 --> 00:13:32.240
I did.

00:13:33.759 --> 00:13:34.320
I did.

00:13:34.480 --> 00:13:36.080
She was like, oh my god.

00:13:36.320 --> 00:13:41.200
I was like go ahead and read this book back.

00:13:41.279 --> 00:13:42.240
Go ahead and read this.

00:13:42.720 --> 00:13:47.840
Because at the end of the day, in reality, this is how it is.

00:13:48.720 --> 00:13:50.879
So we was watching Bad Girls Club and everything.

00:13:51.279 --> 00:13:53.600
I was just gonna say it's on TV anyway.

00:13:55.360 --> 00:14:11.600
We watched all that stuff, and it was just like to me, it worked out in my favor because there were things that her friends were going through that she didn't have to deal with or go through because you got to read and see the mess.

00:14:11.679 --> 00:14:13.279
Maybe that's why she don't like to read it.

00:14:13.440 --> 00:14:20.639
I don't baby.

00:14:21.200 --> 00:14:22.879
I I am the problem.

00:14:23.120 --> 00:14:23.759
You didn't shock her.

00:14:24.960 --> 00:14:26.159
You you shocked her sister.

00:14:26.320 --> 00:14:28.399
Speaking of cards, did you hear that new album?

00:14:28.559 --> 00:14:29.759
Oh that's so off topic.

00:14:31.039 --> 00:14:32.559
Girl, it's okay.

00:14:32.879 --> 00:14:34.559
And no, I have not.

00:14:34.879 --> 00:14:40.159
Um you know, only the one where she was talking about how she was outside.

00:14:40.480 --> 00:14:45.600
And uh as a married woman, I don't get to go outside, so I'm just gonna live through her through that song.

00:14:45.919 --> 00:14:46.720
Do you hear me?

00:14:46.960 --> 00:14:47.919
Do you hear me?

00:14:48.399 --> 00:14:53.200
I don't even have all the problems, but I sure was the girl popping.

00:14:53.440 --> 00:14:57.440
Yes, that'd be hoping like as if I do have problems and I don't.

00:14:58.159 --> 00:14:59.840
I don't know nothing about that.

00:15:01.279 --> 00:15:03.360
I am in love, Marligay.

00:15:09.120 --> 00:15:12.000
Okay, so let me ask you this question.

00:15:12.720 --> 00:15:18.639
When it comes to your books, do you DNF books or do you power through?

00:15:18.720 --> 00:15:23.919
Like how far into a book do you get before you DNF it, or you don't DNF it at all?

00:15:24.000 --> 00:15:25.759
You just kind of push through.

00:15:27.279 --> 00:15:33.120
Sometimes I can probably count on my hand, on one hand, how many books I DNF.

00:15:34.720 --> 00:15:39.600
And as long as a book is entertaining to me, I'll go ahead and finish it.

00:15:39.679 --> 00:15:44.480
Because I'm so nosy, I gotta see what the hell is going on at the end.

00:15:45.440 --> 00:15:57.039
Like, I probably in my whole like thing of reading, because sometimes I'll just pause it because I'm a mood reader too, and sometimes I just don't be in the mood, but I'll pause it and then I'll go back to it.

00:15:57.360 --> 00:16:23.120
But the books that I did, DNF, one of them was like a chapter in, and I was just like, it felt like homework, like like I had to piece it together, and then it was just like all of these complex words that I had to go and look up because I didn't know what the hell was going on in the book, because it was like a and I was just like, I can't do this, I don't know what the hell is going on because I don't know these words, right?

00:16:23.279 --> 00:16:52.879
And it was like uh the main male character was some kind of engineer, and something happened with his girlfriend, but he was working for this tech company and like stuff was going on, and I was just like, okay, but it was just telling like the technical side, like just his job stuff, and I was just like, okay, we're the plot, or like what, like, I don't give a fuck what's going on to his job and all these words, like, is somebody picking on him up there?

00:16:52.960 --> 00:16:54.639
Is he gonna like you know?

00:16:54.879 --> 00:17:00.799
And it just was like them explaining what he did at work and stuff, and I was like, how is this gonna pertain to anything?

00:17:00.960 --> 00:17:07.759
Like, it was just that the whole and I was just like, Yeah, I can't, I can't even, I didn't it it didn't interest me enough to see where it went.

00:17:08.079 --> 00:17:14.880
See, you have an ability to do something, and it leads me into my next question for you.

00:17:15.200 --> 00:17:24.319
You have this amazing ability about you um that I'm gonna be honest, I try to mimic, right?

00:17:24.640 --> 00:17:26.720
So you're gonna have to break this down for me.

00:17:27.039 --> 00:17:35.519
How the hell do you keep up with who, what, where, when, why when it comes to these books?

00:17:35.759 --> 00:17:44.240
Because let me tell you, I will read a book and I got about 72 hours before my brain does a dump on everything that that book was about.

00:17:44.400 --> 00:17:58.799
I am the person that they talk about on book talk when you're like, this book is really good, and the FMC and the MMC is really good, and oh no, but I don't know what the fuck happened in the book once I closed it.

00:17:59.920 --> 00:18:14.640
Baby, you do your videos and stuff, and you have the whole rundown, and you are a multi-reader, so what do you do that allows you to be able to like how do you do that?

00:18:15.200 --> 00:18:23.359
I don't know, my brain just kind of I don't know, but I've been like that all through school and stuff, like to be able to multi, I don't know.

00:18:23.519 --> 00:18:36.000
I just say my brain is a multitasker, which in real life I'm a horrible multitasker, but when it comes to my mind, like processing stories and stuff, it's just I don't know.

00:18:37.119 --> 00:18:39.200
It's especially when it's a good one.

00:18:39.440 --> 00:18:45.599
Oh, I'm gonna remember even the smallest details, but then I can't tell you what happened yesterday, though, in my real life.

00:18:52.880 --> 00:19:00.000
Listen, I am to the point now where I am taking notes.

00:19:00.160 --> 00:19:09.200
I will be at work, and I will it I don't care what a defendant is doing, hold on, because I have to get this scene down.

00:19:09.440 --> 00:19:16.640
I have to write, I need to write down these names and who they are and who is connected to who and all of that.

00:19:16.720 --> 00:19:27.839
And then when I get home, I need to plug it into something and type it up because when it gets to the point where I start doing other stuff, I need to know what I'm talking about.

00:19:28.079 --> 00:19:41.359
Now I do highlight, I do highlight in the um books and stuff like this book that you got me reading, because I had to go back and highlight, because I said, um, I know I ain't just read what the fuck I thought I read.

00:19:41.519 --> 00:19:48.720
That him and Nora, this lady was in the hospital dying, and you and Nora was messing around, and then when this lady died, you marry her.

00:19:48.799 --> 00:19:55.359
So I highlighted that so that when we talk about it, I can go back to my highlight and be like, girl.

00:19:55.599 --> 00:20:02.079
So I highlight I do highlight certain things that catch my attention in the book and stuff, so that helps too.

00:20:06.079 --> 00:20:20.720
So let me ask you when you are preparing to interview your authors and things like that, because you do do your interviews with authors and things like that.

00:20:20.960 --> 00:20:23.920
Is there research and things like that that go into it?

00:20:24.079 --> 00:20:27.599
Or are like what what do you do to prepare yourself for that?

00:20:28.000 --> 00:20:35.519
Mostly that's why I try to stick to interviewing um the authors that I have read or I'm familiar with their work.

00:20:36.079 --> 00:20:51.119
And so that way the questions kind of form from me reading the instead of just interviewing somebody that I don't know their work, I don't know their, you know, because sometimes I be nosy, especially when I read a good catalog of people, you know, a good bit of their catalog.

00:20:51.519 --> 00:20:56.160
And I feel like I know them, and I'm not gonna lie, I be going and stalking them and go back.

00:20:57.119 --> 00:21:01.200
I'll probably be liking stuff from two, three years ago from you know how you be hitting them.

00:21:02.720 --> 00:21:05.200
So that's how I kind of prepare.

00:21:05.359 --> 00:21:09.039
I um read their books and then I go search their profiles.

00:21:09.200 --> 00:21:11.440
I'm still waiting to interview like Kiri Casey.

00:21:11.599 --> 00:21:18.400
When I tell you I ran this lady's profile at first, because I was like, why can't you find no information on her?

00:21:18.799 --> 00:21:26.559
So I did like a deep dive and then I found out that she lives in Shreve Put.

00:21:27.200 --> 00:21:30.319
I said, Yes, do you know that's right up the road for me?

00:21:30.400 --> 00:21:32.319
I was getting ready to say she lived down the block.

00:21:33.680 --> 00:21:38.000
I went and stopped this lady's profile, I went and found her Facebook, added her as a friend on.

00:21:38.480 --> 00:21:45.279
I had to be like, hey, I'm not a stalker, I'm not a stalker, but yeah, we do.

00:21:45.440 --> 00:21:45.839
Uh-huh.

00:21:46.480 --> 00:21:49.599
I'm stimulated in to kind of connect with her, but that's what I do.

00:21:49.680 --> 00:21:51.759
I go like a I go down a rabbit hole.

00:21:52.079 --> 00:22:07.759
And so whenever I have put my questions and stuff together, it be from like the stuff that I've seen that I'm post or the questions that I have that I read from the book that maybe I missed or didn't answer, or a question, like one of my questions for Samara.

00:22:08.000 --> 00:22:09.440
I can't wait to get her in.

00:22:09.599 --> 00:22:18.000
Is what was the actual diagnosis for um her character in the book that I read of hers?

00:22:18.079 --> 00:22:23.359
Because it didn't really get it, it didn't tell like what he was diagnosed with or what was his exact.

00:22:24.240 --> 00:22:27.759
So I kind of that's the question that I kind of asked.

00:22:27.920 --> 00:22:29.200
That's how I prepare.

00:22:29.680 --> 00:22:32.480
So are you are you a people person?

00:22:32.559 --> 00:22:37.599
Is it easy for you to do your interviews and stuff like that, or do you get nervous?

00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:38.559
You know what?

00:22:38.640 --> 00:22:39.440
I is both.

00:22:39.839 --> 00:22:45.359
But I am a I I try, I like to say I'm an introvert, but I'm like an introvert extrovert.

00:22:46.799 --> 00:22:56.319
Like I really am a people person because I'm a statician and I have to talk and deal with people all day and stuff, but then sometimes I like to be by myself and I'm kind of shy.

00:22:56.480 --> 00:23:09.599
But when it comes to stuff that I really like or that I really, especially, or if I really know my shit on it, then it's like like I'm about to talk your head off.

00:23:09.759 --> 00:23:10.000
Right.

00:23:10.319 --> 00:23:12.559
So then it just flows.

00:23:12.960 --> 00:23:14.240
It's real easy for you.

00:23:14.559 --> 00:23:16.079
It is okay.

00:23:16.400 --> 00:23:21.920
So what got you into book talk?

00:23:22.079 --> 00:23:24.720
Like what took you over there?

00:23:26.799 --> 00:23:40.240
So when I got into reading, remember I told you about three years ago when I started reading for uh reading my dark romances and stuff, and then I was on TikTok, but I was on there for my other business.

00:23:41.119 --> 00:23:45.599
And then some kind of way I heard somebody say something about book talk.

00:23:45.680 --> 00:23:48.240
And so I went and Googled book talk.

00:23:52.000 --> 00:23:53.519
Not the Google, honey.

00:23:53.680 --> 00:24:00.160
I felt dumb as hell when I've well, that's why I tell people now when I say, Oh, are you on book talk?

00:24:00.240 --> 00:24:03.759
And I say, Hey, it's just it's just TikTok, but it's just the book side.

00:24:04.079 --> 00:24:09.440
Because I'm thinking that it's an actual app or it's an actual, you know.

00:24:10.640 --> 00:24:14.720
And so I went looking for it, and then it was like, it's a part of TikTok.

00:24:14.799 --> 00:24:22.960
And I was like, wait, book talk is on TikTok, or book talk is, but I was new to TikTok, and I would just post my videos and I barely knew how to do that.

00:24:23.279 --> 00:24:33.119
So I started putting, and then that's when people were like, you know, you could just type in something on TikTok, and then it'll show you like everything that's like related to it and stuff.

00:24:33.279 --> 00:24:47.759
So I said, let me start um putting in some of these books and stuff that I'm reading, because maybe there are other people out there who are reading this, and I can kind of, you know, and that opened up the floodgates.

00:24:47.920 --> 00:24:52.640
What I found people who like the same books, and there was no shame.

00:24:52.720 --> 00:25:06.799
And we could talk about like what I could talk about this on the live and or the things that this anti-hero or this MMC did, and we know in real life that it's not okay, but in this situation, in this fictional world, girl, we here.

00:25:08.640 --> 00:25:11.359
So I have a confession.

00:25:14.640 --> 00:25:16.240
I have a confession.

00:25:16.559 --> 00:25:18.160
Just just a little bit.

00:25:19.519 --> 00:25:26.480
You are what inspired me to show my face on my booktop.

00:25:27.039 --> 00:25:37.039
What so what happened was originally when I started, um like I said, I've been reading forever.

00:25:37.359 --> 00:25:46.880
So I was like, I had taken a break from social media from October to January from all forms of social media.

00:25:47.279 --> 00:25:49.599
Um, and I was just reading.

00:25:49.920 --> 00:26:04.079
And then I was like, there's I saw something before I ended my social media and did my break about book talk, and I had researched it and was like, oh, okay, I'm gonna join this when I come back.

00:26:04.720 --> 00:26:06.880
So I had everything.

00:26:06.960 --> 00:26:18.160
I had girl, I had gone to Hobby Lobby Marshalls, I had gone to Michaels and was buying all this stuff because I'm like, I'm gonna do an account and it's gonna be faceless.

00:26:18.480 --> 00:26:35.279
And when you look up stuff on social media for book talk, you get all the pretty backgrounds and everything so colorful and coordinated, and there's no form of chaos when you first go and look up book talk.

00:26:35.440 --> 00:26:50.079
It's like okay, so I was gonna do that, I was gonna take pictures, I was not gonna show my face, and then I came across your page, and I was like, oh, okay, well, I'm gonna follow her.

00:26:50.720 --> 00:26:52.240
I don't know why.

00:26:52.880 --> 00:27:01.839
Um, I think it was because when I'm talking about books, I can be very animated in what I'm saying.

00:27:02.400 --> 00:27:09.839
And I felt like I don't know how these people are going to accept the fact that I am animated as fuck.

00:27:10.160 --> 00:27:14.720
When it comes to these books, I can get real loud and start clapping, and the words come out.

00:27:14.960 --> 00:27:18.160
There's probably not where you're not gonna find the words in the dictionary.

00:27:18.319 --> 00:27:20.960
But you heard what I said, and you know what I said, you heard me.

00:27:21.279 --> 00:27:22.319
Don't play with me.

00:27:23.359 --> 00:27:28.880
So I'm looking and I'm looking at your page, and I'm like, I can do that.

00:27:29.440 --> 00:27:31.039
She did that, I can do that.

00:27:31.200 --> 00:27:33.119
And then I started talking to you.

00:27:33.440 --> 00:27:36.000
And I was like, oh, I like her, she is fun.

00:27:38.960 --> 00:27:41.440
I'm about to mimic the shit on this page.

00:27:41.680 --> 00:27:44.400
Maybe she's gonna be like, you better not take nothing else.

00:27:44.640 --> 00:27:50.319
And I didn't take anything, but it was just more so uh an inspiration.

00:27:50.400 --> 00:27:50.880
So thank you.

00:27:50.960 --> 00:28:00.480
Because everybody sees my face because baby, I was not, I was not gonna show my face, honey.

00:28:00.559 --> 00:28:03.599
Mine was gonna be all cute with the pretty pictures and everything else.

00:28:03.680 --> 00:28:11.039
And then the more I started looking and the more I was seeing more people that just posted real book stuff.

00:28:11.359 --> 00:28:15.680
It wasn't let me color coordinate all of this.

00:28:16.000 --> 00:28:16.720
Oh man.

00:28:16.880 --> 00:28:22.799
And I was real happy that there was no color coordination, it was just you just on there.

00:28:23.359 --> 00:28:24.640
So thank you.

00:28:29.759 --> 00:28:30.960
Oh my god.

00:28:31.599 --> 00:28:34.720
Look, how does it feel to be on the other side of this?

00:28:35.119 --> 00:28:35.839
You see me?

00:28:36.000 --> 00:28:38.480
I'm like, don't do not cover up your face.

00:28:38.559 --> 00:28:40.000
I'm like, oh my god, stop.

00:28:40.079 --> 00:28:40.799
I'm blushing.

00:28:40.960 --> 00:28:50.160
You were like, oh, so I'm like look, inspiring people.

00:28:51.839 --> 00:28:53.440
Was that the goal?

00:28:54.000 --> 00:29:04.640
It would I was just out here to make book friends to talk about some of the stuff that I like and didn't get like side-eyed for it.

00:29:05.440 --> 00:29:08.960
But you just added to my days, like what?

00:29:09.440 --> 00:29:09.839
Uh-huh.

00:29:09.920 --> 00:29:11.039
That's how I started, honey.

00:29:11.119 --> 00:29:15.279
When I got on that, when I started this book app, I was on Drake, no new friends.

00:29:15.519 --> 00:29:16.400
We wasn't doing it.

00:29:16.559 --> 00:29:18.160
I was like, mm-mm-mm-mm.

00:29:18.400 --> 00:29:22.000
I'm just gonna get on here and post some book stuff and let me see what they're talking about.

00:29:22.240 --> 00:29:27.279
Because I think the first book that I posted about was um 365 days.

00:29:28.559 --> 00:29:31.200
I was like, okay, here we go.

00:29:31.920 --> 00:29:33.920
But then it turned into something else, honey.

00:29:34.000 --> 00:29:35.759
And then yeah, and then poof, here you come.

00:29:35.839 --> 00:29:41.279
God was like, let me go ahead and put this girl in your lap real quick so that way you can do what the hell I need you to do.

00:29:41.519 --> 00:29:45.279
And look how we how everything lined up and what we're doing now.

00:29:45.599 --> 00:29:46.240
Yes.

00:29:46.720 --> 00:29:48.559
And it's absolutely amazing.

00:29:48.720 --> 00:29:49.599
It really is.

00:29:49.920 --> 00:29:52.960
He sends help, he sends help.

00:29:54.559 --> 00:29:55.039
Mm-hmm.

00:29:55.359 --> 00:29:59.839
Because child, yeah, I'd have never thought I'd have had this damn floor to ceiling bookship.

00:30:00.240 --> 00:30:04.319
In here, but I was happy with my three little bookshelfs.

00:30:04.400 --> 00:30:06.319
Like, oh, we'll figure out how to get this, baby.

00:30:06.400 --> 00:30:12.319
I got on booktuck, and they was like, and here's 86,000 more books for you to be trying to add.

00:30:13.279 --> 00:30:20.160
So, all these new releases, and then all of these recommendations on top of the new releases.

00:30:21.359 --> 00:30:21.599
What?

00:30:21.759 --> 00:30:22.480
Like, what?

00:30:23.039 --> 00:30:23.680
Listen.

00:30:25.119 --> 00:30:28.000
So, I'm gonna play a little game with you.

00:30:32.400 --> 00:30:35.599
We are going to do a little bit of this or that.

00:30:36.480 --> 00:30:41.119
Because the last time we did this or that, I had you stumped.

00:30:41.200 --> 00:30:43.359
And it was a tell me Tuesday post.

00:30:43.519 --> 00:30:48.319
So I'm like, oh no, we're gonna play this little game real quick with you and see.

00:30:48.559 --> 00:30:50.000
Okay, you ready?

00:30:50.240 --> 00:30:51.039
I'm ready.

00:30:51.279 --> 00:30:51.599
Okay.

00:30:52.480 --> 00:30:56.480
This or that ebook or a physical copy?

00:30:58.160 --> 00:30:59.039
Ebook.

00:31:01.680 --> 00:31:04.160
Because I can read it anywhere in ebook.

00:31:06.240 --> 00:31:12.000
You know, I want the I want the physical copy.

00:31:12.079 --> 00:31:12.400
Okay.

00:31:12.880 --> 00:31:16.720
So do you prefer a series or standalone?

00:31:17.839 --> 00:31:22.640
I'll take a ser I I could do either or, but I do like a series.

00:31:23.119 --> 00:31:30.880
But I like the series where it kind of carries over into like the same like you know how they do like the different couples and stuff.

00:31:32.079 --> 00:31:39.119
I do like the same couple going through the series and stuff, but I'll take a series with the different friends, especially if they're in they're interested.

00:31:41.839 --> 00:31:45.599
Yeah, I'm not even gonna try to answer that because I don't get the answer for you.

00:31:46.559 --> 00:31:56.319
Okay, so there are two narrators that are very popular in the book world.

00:31:56.640 --> 00:32:32.000
So Corbin King or Teddy Hamilton, Corbin Corbin, really Oh, over teddy.

00:32:33.200 --> 00:32:35.279
I don't know, that was a hard one.

00:32:37.680 --> 00:32:38.640
I agree.

00:32:39.279 --> 00:32:40.240
I agree.

00:32:40.559 --> 00:32:53.599
Well I want to kind of draw back my answer, but girl.

00:32:56.319 --> 00:32:57.599
Does it depend on the book?

00:32:57.680 --> 00:32:59.839
Because for me it depends on the book.

00:33:01.279 --> 00:33:02.480
It's the voice.

00:33:05.599 --> 00:33:06.880
It it depends.

00:33:07.119 --> 00:33:08.640
It depends on which one.

00:33:09.200 --> 00:33:11.039
It really didn't.

00:33:17.440 --> 00:33:18.079
It has.

00:33:18.559 --> 00:33:25.359
I appreciate you doing this interview and being on the other side of this hot seat, chat.

00:33:25.599 --> 00:33:32.799
It's so different being on the other side of being like interviewee instead of the interviewer.

00:33:34.319 --> 00:33:34.720
Yeah.

00:33:35.200 --> 00:33:39.599