It’s that time of the week we’ve all been waiting for! Today’s bookstagram feature is Alexandra/@as_thornton. She’s an author, bookstagrammer and vet all at once. What more could someone ask for than books, cover art and cats?
https://www.instagram.com/p/CE9xXu5JlOY/?igshid=19sl6ikcdgw2b
When did you start your Bookstagram:
I started it in April 2015. I had the cutest edition of The Jungle Book, so I held it up in front of a bush, threw an awful filter on it, and snapped the photo. Needless to say, it’s gone from my bookstagram’s history!
Where are you from:
Northern California
What do you want your Instagram to bring to the world:
I hope for nothing ground-breaking, just to show that books are beautiful both when seen from the outside and the inside.
Fun Fact about you:
I am a veterinarian for dogs and cats, and I have four cats of my own. (Uh-oh, that’s two facts, isn’t it?)
Favorite Bookstagrammers:
At this point my favorite bookstagrammers are really just some of my best social media friends. These include Casey (@caseyrosereads), Sara (@novelnovice) and Milana (@acouplereads), to name a few. I’m sure there are loads more I am missing and for that I already feel terrible!
image via @as_thornton
Favorite Books and Authors:
I adore everything Amy Harmon writes, because she writes my kind of love story (subtle, sweet, and tense!). Other favorite books: The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller and The Bronze Horsemen by Paullina Simons (both are deliciously heartbreaking love stories, which is what I live for).
Fictional Crush:
Matthew Clairmont from A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness. *swoon* What a man. But I’d be remiss not to include Edward Cullen–DON’T JUDGE ME–and Rhysand.
TBR List:
Right now I have nothing on my TBR, because I’m in the midst of edits for my own novel. I can’t read anything when I’m working on my own stuff, because I get intense imposter syndrome and feel like everyone writes infinitely better than me.
image via @as_thornton
What’s Your Special Approach to Content:
I’m all about bookish rainbows.
Aesthetic / Instagram page theme:
I don’t have a theme, because I’m lazy and not able to be that coordinated. So I use the cheater method, instead: a consistent filter.
How often do you post:
I used to post daily, but work and life has gotten so busy that now I try to post 3-4 times per week.
image via @as_thornton
What does your Bookstagram mean to you:
Oh goodness, I could get so sappy here. I can’t even begin to describe what the book community means to me. Not only have I found so many reader and writer friends that I have made very close connections with, it got me started writing again. I wouldn’t be getting a book published today if it weren’t for the book community. I am living my dream because bookstagram exists. *starts crying*
Favorite Bookstore:
Any that I can browse and browse and browse and browse. That is to say, all of them.
Who would you have supply you with a lifetime of books:
TheBookDepsitory.com, because not only would I get all my fun reads from them, I’d get all of my beautiful classics, too!
Author to take a selfie with:
Paullina Simons, because I don’t think there’s a book in the world I love as much as I loved The Bronze Horsemen.
image via @as_thornton
Favorite book cover:
THERE ARE SO MANY! I don’t think I can tell you a single favorite, but I can tell you I rarely like covers with people on them.
Book you have claimed to have read that you didn’t:
None. I see no reason to claim I’ve read something at this point in my life. I’ll proudly say NO I HAVEN’T READ THAT ONE AND I’M NOT GONNA!
When did you know you had made it as a Bookstagrammer:
When I started getting trolls commenting on my posts! Every time I see a negative comment, I get so gleeful! That’s true success right there, guys.
image via @as_thornton
Favorite fandoms:
I used to be into fandoms so much more, but now I find that I’m less interested in them. Gosh, I’m boring, aren’t I?
Advice for aspiring Bookstagrammers:
Bookstagramming does not require fancy equipment or expensive props! I use my phone for everything and do minimal (if any) editing!
image via @as_thornton
Additional bookishness:
My debut adult fantasy novel, Daughter of the Salt King, comes out early 2021! If you like ancient deserts, magical jinn, and forbidden love, go add it to your Goodreads TBR.
feature image via @as_thornton