Latest / Gorls Unplugged / Booktok drama and content creation? Spilling the tea with Luceaslibrary! 📚

Transcript

Booktok drama and content creation? Spilling the tea with Luceaslibrary! 📚 · Gorls Unplugged

0:00
Welcome back to Girls Unplugged. We have the lovely Luce with us
0:03
today. We're so excited to have her
0:05
here with us. We have been hinting at on
0:07
Instagram that we are going to have a lovely guest with us and
0:10
Luce. Hi, we're so excited to have you
0:12
here today. Hi.
0:14
Hello, guys. Thank you so much for having me.
0:15
I'm so excited to be here. We are huge fans of Luce.
0:20
Like I have followed her now for, I think basically since you
0:23
started, I remember you thought like commented on a couple of my
0:27
videos and I was like, who is this?
0:29
And then I looked at your account.
0:30
I was like, Oh my God, I love her videos.
0:32
Feel like your videos are just so cozy and relaxing.
0:36
But we're going to get into that.
0:37
We're going to chat about Lucy's content journey and the types of
0:41
books that we that she loves and that we love as well.
0:44
And yeah, let's get into it. So as Brunty mentioned, we're
0:48
going to be talking book recommendations, becoming a
0:50
content creator, book talk drama, because we love to touch
0:54
on that stuff. Just all things loose and the
0:57
British world. But I feel like the best place
1:00
to start is at the beginning. So, Luce, what made you join
1:04
Book Talk? What encouraged you to start
1:06
filming and recommending books in the first place?
1:09
Well, my my journey was a bit different because I am I
1:14
actually, this is actually really deep for the first
1:15
question. So I'm, I'm really took an out
1:17
of that, but I, I actually got diagnosed with cancer when I was
1:20
26 and it was like my life did a complete 360 and as like a form
1:27
of escapism, I massively went to books.
1:31
Like they were just like a way to completely Get Me Out of like
1:34
what I was experiencing. And then as a result of that, I
1:38
started, you know, being interested in book talk and like
1:41
taking in people's content and stuff like that.
1:42
And I was like, Oh my God, this is amazing.
1:44
People are sharing their loves of books online.
1:45
I want to be able to do that. And for ages I put it off
1:48
because it's like quite a nerve wracking thing like is sharing
1:51
that online, isn't it? And then you've got the whole
1:52
thing of like, what if people I know see me all this or that and
1:55
there's all these thoughts that go through your head and then
1:57
you think, well, who am I to talk about books and all this is
2:00
going through my mind. And then my boyfriend was
2:01
actually like, lose, just make the first video, post it and go
2:04
from there. And I did and I actually haven't
2:07
looked back since I made that first video.
2:08
It was honestly like one of the best decisions I ever made.
2:11
And it was such a nice way to have like an outlet from what I
2:14
was experiencing in my personal life.
2:17
So, and the thing was as well, like I kept that that part of my
2:20
life very private. Like I didn't share about that
2:22
with book talk or anything until maybe like a year later, I
2:24
think. And so it was, it was nice in a
2:27
way just to be like normal, normal me without like any kind
2:31
of because obviously like when you're, when you're like with
2:34
friends and family, they're very, very supportive of
2:36
everything that you're going through.
2:37
But in a way, it's nice just to not have that associated with
2:40
you sometime. So that was kind of how I
2:42
started my book talk and my book journey.
2:46
Yeah. And I love it.
2:47
I wouldn't change a thing. That is so crazy.
2:50
And are you all like completely and I don't know anything about
2:54
this. I don't know if you do, but are
2:55
you like fully like recovered by?
2:57
Yeah, so it was when I got diagnosed, I was actually like,
3:01
I was perfectly healthy. And then I got really, really
3:04
poorly really, really quickly. Like literally over the course
3:07
of like 2 months. It got to the point where I was
3:08
like in a wheelchair. I was bed bound.
3:10
I couldn't care for myself like and it was it was stage 4 when I
3:13
got diagnosed. It was really, really bad.
3:16
And so obviously I didn't start creating book top content then
3:19
because that that wasn't the case.
3:21
And then I started treatment and I obviously started to get
3:24
better. And then now it's been like, I
3:27
think it's been almost three years since I got diagnosed and
3:30
I now have the all clear and and yeah, my health is, is the best
3:35
that it's ever been actually. So, so yeah, but I definitely
3:38
like prioritize, yeah, I definitely prioritize like a
3:42
slower pace of life now. I think obviously we're talking
3:45
about books, but when I look back at like my life before, it
3:48
was very hectic and very like very stressful.
3:51
And now I try and just have a little bit of like, you know,
3:54
prioritize, prioritize my piece. So.
3:57
Yeah. Yeah, I love that.
3:59
I think actually, like what you said about finding books as an
4:02
escapism, we've actually touched on that a little bit before as
4:05
well. We once did an episode on
4:07
chronic illness, which obviously is not the same as having cancer
4:11
at all. But we did mention in that
4:13
video, like how many people on book talks seem to have a
4:16
chronic illness or some sort of health condition and how books
4:20
can really help with that. So I know you said like that's a
4:23
bit deep for a first question, but I actually think that was
4:26
like the perfect beginning because it's something that we
4:29
have talked about before. And going back to your book talk
4:33
journey, do you remember like what the 1st post was that you
4:36
felt like did really well or that made you really excited?
4:41
Well, in the beginning I was like majorly finding my feet and
4:43
trying to figure out like what content fit with me.
4:46
And I do naturally gravitate towards like more chatty kind of
4:49
videos where I can just yap away about books.
4:51
But there was a video in particular that I made and I
4:54
think it was called something like my guide to Easy to Consume
4:58
Fantasy or something like that. And that was the first video
5:01
that did that did really well for me.
5:04
And I did that as well just because for me, like easy to
5:06
consume fantasy is those kind of books where like, don't get me
5:10
wrong, I love a book with complex world building.
5:12
I love a book that makes you think all that kind of stuff.
5:15
But sometimes you just want something that is a little bit
5:17
easy that you don't have to switch your brain on for and
5:19
that you can just escape into when you need.
5:21
And so that was what that video is all about.
5:23
And so many people were like, oh, this is actually what I've
5:25
been looking for. And so I think in that same
5:27
sense, people who are maybe going through things who wanted
5:29
just an easy fantasy that was kind of available and accessible
5:33
to them. And yeah, that was that was kind
5:35
of the first video that I did that that kind of did that a
5:38
little bit. So.
5:39
So that was good. Yeah, I love that.
5:42
We definitely all need some like brain off books sometimes.
5:46
That's why I love romance too, because I feel like it's the
5:48
perfect palate cleanser. Yeah.
5:50
Yeah, really. Switch off.
5:51
Yeah. Do you remember like a moment
5:56
that was like a pinch me moment, like because obviously your
5:59
account has grown a lot since coming.
6:02
How long have you been a content creator now?
6:05
Book Creator. I think it's coming up to two
6:07
years now. It's coming.
6:08
Up. Was that like a first moment
6:09
that you were like, Oh my God, like kind of stuff is happening
6:14
to me? Well, I think like the very
6:16
first event that I went to, to be honest, was like absolutely
6:19
insane and definitely like felt really ridiculous because I feel
6:23
as though so many people get imposter syndrome.
6:26
Whereas you go to something and you're literally there thinking
6:28
like, wait a minute, what am I doing here with these people?
6:31
And you've got people who are like have got these huge, huge
6:34
accounts and you're like, OK, I've never met any bookish
6:36
creators before. I've never had to leave my
6:38
little, my little safe space in the corner of my room.
6:41
So like having to go to an event and it being with like a
6:44
publisher was definitely like a pinch me, a pinch me kind of
6:48
moment. But to be honest, I definitely
6:50
still feel like I I'm just like pinching myself all the time.
6:54
Like you guys are like, do you want to come on this podcast?
6:55
And I was like, are they, are they, I'm not the right person
6:58
and I'm sure I'm constantly having to pinch myself.
7:02
And I think it makes you appreciate things more as well.
7:05
Like I think you have a few if you kind of like can keep that.
7:09
And I do feel like everything that I am lucky enough to get to
7:11
be able to do, I don't know, it's got a huge appreciation for
7:14
it, so. Yeah, that's so lovely.
7:17
That is lovely. And I still can't believe I've
7:18
never seen you at an event yet it's.
7:21
So weird, isn't it? No, that blows my mind because I
7:23
feel as though it's always like hit and miss.
7:25
I can't remember seeing you. Like, are you going to this
7:27
event? And I was like, no, I'm not.
7:30
So yeah, one day, one day it has to be, doesn't it?
7:33
There's got to be some kind of crossover at some point, surely?
7:36
Yeah, you would hope, surely. I keep messaging loose, like
7:40
being like, are you going to this one?
7:41
Are you going to that one? It's just never the same one.
7:44
And it's so weird, isn't it? Because I feel like you cross
7:47
paths with people so constantly online.
7:48
Like some people that I feel like I see their faces all the
7:51
time and they'll always comment on my stuff or yeah, like you
7:54
kind of connect with, but then you never actually see in
7:56
person. And then when you do see each
7:58
other in person, like, is this awkward?
7:59
Is it not awkward? Like, I don't know.
8:02
Yeah, yeah. It's that thing of like knowing
8:04
someone online versus knowing them in real life and it feels
8:06
like completely different ball game.
8:09
And then it's also the thing of like, I recognize you, but do
8:11
you know who I am? That's also. 100% OH.
8:15
And that I, that's my worst fear because I'm so bad with names
8:19
and like faces. And if people say to me like, Oh
8:22
my God, hi, and I don't know who they are, I get so panicky.
8:26
Didn't that happened, didn't it recently?
8:28
So just FYI, if anyone's listening and you ever meet me,
8:30
it's not on purpose, OK? So we've talked about this in
8:33
the past and we always just feel like your content always comes
8:36
across so aesthetic. So in that like soft girl era,
8:41
do you find that that just comes really naturally to you or do
8:44
you find you have to work hard to keep up that vibe across your
8:48
feet? I feel as though I do, I do tend
8:51
to navigate like that is kind of, I mean, the fact that you
8:55
think, you think my content soft girl, my life is made.
8:59
But at the same time, like, I think I think with any content
9:02
you have to like work, work at it.
9:05
It definitely like sitting and talking and chatting and
9:07
whatever. It's kind of like my default.
9:10
And I do think that that's probably like my where I tend to
9:14
just navigate in terms as a person.
9:16
That's kind of like where I stay at.
9:19
So, so it does come easy. But sometimes like you're going
9:22
through stuff or you're having like a, you know, a crappy day
9:25
and you're like, you know what, sometimes I'm just not feeling
9:27
like. And so you do have to put that
9:29
bit of work in to be like, OK, like, you know, people want to
9:32
see certain things or But then, and I do think, yeah, I think
9:36
it's hard sometimes to strike a balance and especially when your
9:39
mind isn't in it because let's be honest, we don't always feel
9:42
like a being in front of the camera or creating stuff like, I
9:45
don't know about you guys, but my creative well, like has a
9:47
tendency to really get depleted very easily.
9:52
We both know each other about this all the time.
9:55
I can't, can't be fucked. I can't.
9:58
Be fucked. I haven't posted consistently
10:00
since like I want to say July this year.
10:03
This has been the worst I've ever been on socials.
10:05
I don't think I've posted consistently really.
10:08
I haven't posted consistently all year this year because my
10:11
focus has just been elsewhere. But there is.
10:14
Don't you do find that sometimes there's like that guilt behind
10:17
not posting? Yeah, 110%.
10:21
That's the worst part of it that could be so crippling for me is
10:24
when it's like, I actually don't feel like it.
10:26
And so I'll go, OK, I'm not going to.
10:27
And then 2 seconds later my brain will be like, yeah, but if
10:30
you, if you don't post today, you know this is going to happen
10:32
on so and so it's going to be disappointed in you and in my
10:34
head and much no one, no one's going to miss me for a day.
10:36
Like it's not actually that deep.
10:38
It's just me putting pressure on myself and causing that guilt.
10:41
But I feel like we're all guilty of that.
10:43
It's nice to know that you guys feel the same way as well. 100%
10:47
and I don't know about you, but I also feel like I talked about
10:51
this in the interview with Smitty quite a lot.
10:53
I also feel like a quite large pressure to maintain a specific
10:58
style or aesthetic or try and do things that other people are
11:03
doing. So like if there's an editing
11:05
style that people are doing in videos, I'll kind of like
11:08
subconsciously find myself adopting that not even really
11:12
intentionally. And I don't know if you do you
11:15
feel that pressure as well or do you are you good at like
11:18
sticking to kind of what you enjoy and what you do best?
11:20
No, I definitely am also guilty of that, especially recently.
11:24
I don't know about you guys, but I have literally seen people's
11:26
editing games. They feel like that.
11:29
Wild. I'm like, how are people?
11:32
Creating these and how do they have the time because they seem
11:34
like the detail in them is crazy and I'm in all of them.
11:38
But then I think, Oh yeah, I'll have a go at doing that.
11:40
I'll be there all day. I just, I just can't.
11:42
I think. I think editing is in particular
11:45
does come naturally to people more than others.
11:48
It's not my strong suit editing. It's it's not.
11:50
But at the same time I see people I'm like, oh, I want to
11:52
have a go at doing that. That looks really, yeah.
11:54
That's yeah, that's my issue as well.
11:57
It's like I actually love doing it.
11:59
So when I see these ideas that inspire me, I'll be like, no,
12:03
no, like you don't have the time to do that.
12:05
Like, just just ignore. Like, stick with what you know.
12:08
But I can't help but, like, try it because I'm naturally drawn
12:11
to editing. I love editing personally.
12:14
Once he edits all of our podcasts, guys, just so you know
12:17
who is the master behind the editing of the podcast is?
12:22
Or like the thumbnails and stuff like that.
12:24
And the editing is me. And then all of the planning and
12:28
the maintaining is cool. We can't talk about maintaining
12:34
socials because we've been non existent there recently.
12:36
I don't think on holiday guys, they'd give me a break.
12:39
Well, later on. OK, let's get into like actual
12:43
bookish chat now. So tell us what your favorite
12:48
book of 2025 has been so far. Oh my God, this is really.
12:52
This is literally like asking me to pick a favorite child if I
12:55
had children. I don't.
12:56
We will let you pick two or three if you really need to.
12:58
It's OK the. Ones, the ones that are at the
13:00
top of my head, that have really stood out for me this year have
13:04
been The Night in the Moth by Rachel Gethic.
13:07
Love it. Yeah, oh God, it's so good.
13:09
And honest to God, obviously spoiler free, Always, always
13:12
spoiler free. But when I think about the
13:14
gargoyle, I just want to cry every single.
13:16
Time. Yeah.
13:17
No, I actually just got a Jelly Cat and I named him Bob
13:20
Holloman. I love that.
13:22
Living in my head rent free. But no.
13:24
But why was it so funny and so sad at the same time?
13:27
Oh. My God, I didn't expect when I
13:29
started off that book, I was like, Oh yeah, the grumpy
13:30
gargoyle. Like, I don't know.
13:32
I didn't expect to have that kind of emotional character
13:35
development and kind of journey with him.
13:36
He like, took us on a roller coaster and not like, there's
13:41
like a bit on the last page and every time, like I look over
13:43
there, I just want to cry. So that's like cemented deeply
13:47
in my brain as a favorite. And then Bed Town by Frederick
13:50
Batman again, another like emotionally impactful kind of
13:55
read that just really just yeah, it takes you on such a journey.
14:00
And I've had so many people as well, like friends that have
14:02
reached out and being like, oh, lose, I've started bat town and
14:05
I'm just not enjoying it. And I'm like, no, you need to
14:07
stick with it. You need to stick with it.
14:09
So initially it's very like you're getting different POV's.
14:12
It's kind of about a small town, ice hockey, all that kind of
14:14
stuff. But then all of a sudden, like
14:17
it just everything just catapults and starts snowballing
14:20
and you're like, whoa, I cannot put this down and I'm.
14:23
Just adding to TBR. Yeah, but I was just gonna say I
14:26
actually brought that book because of you.
14:29
I haven't. Yeah, Yeah, I haven't read it
14:30
yet, but you and then Destiny Bombery.
14:33
I think that's the name, isn't it?
14:34
Yeah. And I saw you both raving about
14:37
it. And I love like multi POV small
14:40
town things. And then also last week our
14:43
friend Jasmine actually messaged me and was like, oh, one of
14:46
them's on 99 P deals. So now I've got the whole
14:48
series, so I'm going to do it soon.
14:50
But yeah, I brought that. I brought them because of you.
14:53
Amazing. That actually makes me so happy
14:54
because as well, I think you'll really enjoy his writing style.
14:57
His writing style is very, very unique, but it got to the point
15:00
where I was like annotating like literally like about four things
15:04
on the page for every single page.
15:05
And that book is just full of tabs because it's like I was
15:08
like, how is he writing like this much amazing.
15:12
Oh, I don't know, I don't even have the words for like what
15:14
he's creating a book, but that is that's like 6 star and God
15:17
tier kind of read for me. And then as well, actually
15:21
another one. I know you asked for one book,
15:23
but. We love it.
15:25
Jenkins read. What was that?
15:28
Sorry, I thought I was talking over you.
15:31
Sorry Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins read.
15:37
I haven't read it, but again, same friend Jasmine brought in
15:40
me for my birthday because she was like you, someone.
15:43
And I think you especially will really like this because it's
15:46
kind of space oriented, isn't it?
15:48
Yeah, yeah. It's astronauts, NASA, I think
15:50
it's set in like the 1920s. And yeah, it's all about like,
15:56
it's just. I think you will love it, but
15:57
have the tissues at the ready because Oh my God.
16:00
Yeah. I mean, kind of, yeah, Doobie.
16:05
But at the same time, it's women books that hurts you but heals
16:07
you, which we love. But as you can tell, I'm the
16:11
kind of girl that loves the book that makes me feel.
16:13
If it's going to make me cry, great.
16:15
Well, I have seen what you have coming up on your TBR this month
16:20
and I think one of the books is going to be one of your top
16:22
reads of this year actually, which is Blood Over Bright
16:25
Haven. I think you are going to love
16:27
that book. So I'm very intrigued to hear
16:30
your review of that when you're done as well.
16:32
If you read that this year right and.
16:34
I read it, yeah. I read it in January and it's
16:36
still my top read of the year. Because you've read and liked
16:40
sort of Kaigen, right? Yeah.
16:42
Yeah, read that in January. Loved it, thought it was
16:44
amazing. But then apparently, have you
16:46
read sort of Kaigen? Yes, okay.
16:48
And which you prefer? Which is your favorite?
16:50
I think they're really different.
16:52
I think Sword of Kaigen I love like historical military based
16:56
fantasy anyway, but it was originally part of a series so I
17:00
did feel that it felt a little bit unfinished.
17:03
But obviously Blood Over Bright Haven is written as a standalone
17:07
and it's really complete start to finish.
17:09
It literally made me cry 9 pages in.
17:12
Oh no. And she never cries either.
17:15
Like I'm the crier. Yeah, two of us for sure.
17:17
Like I'm a crybaby. You hardly ever cry.
17:20
Yeah, my family calls me like ice hearted like I am.
17:24
I am not a crier. So I was like blown away by that
17:27
book. So I think slightly blood over
17:29
Bright Haven, but I'm also not sure if that's just because it
17:32
was, you know, the rest of the sort of Kaigen universe was
17:35
discontinued. But I'd be interested to see
17:38
what you. Think how did that happen when
17:40
it's such a popular book realistically now I wonder if
17:42
they regret that decision. Yeah, I mean, it was her
17:45
decision. It was when it was indie, so she
17:46
could bring it back out if she wanted to.
17:48
But moving on from that, on the opposite side, what is one book
17:54
that has kind of like either let you down this year or just a
17:57
general book talk book that you didn't vibe with?
18:00
Oh. Come on, shocker.
18:02
We love a shocker. I feel as though I feel as
18:06
though I'm trying to think as to whether you guys have read it
18:09
and what you thought of it. But I last month read and I
18:12
never know how you say it. So please correct me, but I
18:14
don't know whether it's anathema or anathema.
18:17
This is so funny because we were just literally talking a about
18:21
the book and the different pronunciations.
18:23
Like 10 minutes before this call I said to Tor this book is such
18:28
a weird one because I wanted to DNF.
18:30
When I got I think for the 1st 40% of the book I was like I'm
18:33
going to DNF. This is I'm not liking this.
18:36
Then the last half, particularly the last sort of 20 to 30%, I
18:41
was like, this feels like a completely different book.
18:45
Oh my God, I'm obsessed. So I had a really hard time with
18:48
that one and like knowing what to rate it and how to review it.
18:52
And so I decided to go straight on to book 2 when it came out,
18:55
which I'm reading right now, and I think that one's going to be a
18:57
5 star. Oh, OK.
19:01
And I was just saying, yeah, I was just saying to Tor that it
19:03
reminds me of a combination. The book 2 specifically reminds
19:07
me of a combination of A Court of Mist and Fury and Bone Island
19:12
by Nicole Fiorina and. Lucy's reading Hollow Heathens
19:15
at the moment. I actually was just about to say
19:17
and I saw you're reading that on your.
19:19
Instagram such a good series. Yeah, so Book 2 is like kind of
19:22
made for me in that way. I mean, I, I have like a strong
19:26
tendency towards gothic things anyway, but I know it, it does
19:29
have a lot of triggering things. There's a lot of body horror,
19:32
which is like, not for everyone. It's a very creepy book.
19:36
Yeah, it is really creepy. I also love a gothic read.
19:40
Like, I really, really do enjoy them.
19:41
But for me, one of the things, and it sounds ridiculous, but
19:44
one of the things I really struggled with is I've got like
19:46
a really big fear of spiders. Normally, like in fantasy books,
19:50
you see them pop up here, there, you know, you blink and it's
19:53
over and it's done with and you can move on with your life.
19:56
Oh my God, in Are we saying anathema or are we saying
19:59
anathema? I say anathema.
20:01
I don't know we. Don't know.
20:03
In Anathema, it is so heavily featured.
20:06
I was like, OK, And it gets to the point where I think it's
20:09
like 50 pages from the end. There's something that happens
20:12
with one of the characters and spiders literally end up
20:15
crawling out of her eyes. Yeah, I was like.
20:19
You're making me want to read it even more now just for the creep
20:24
factor in the different. I'm not.
20:26
Oh God, I'm going to have to read this now.
20:28
I am also terrified of spiders like she has had a lot of group
20:33
messages on the group chat about spiders from me because I live I
20:36
live like in the woods and we get bloody huge ones.
20:38
Anyway, I was I will agree that was actually quite terrifying
20:43
and they were very, very creepy. I will say book 2, they feature
20:47
a lot less so far, interestingly, but I won't say
20:51
any more than that just in case you do end up reading it.
20:54
OK, OK. I ended up giving, I ended up
20:56
giving enough my two stars and I was like, yeah, which is quite,
21:00
it's quite. Low, do you think you'll carry
21:01
on the series or is it like a two star?
21:03
I'm believing I'm putting in the series to bed.
21:06
I don't know, it took so much brain power from me like and
21:10
also, but then Kerry's writing is really beautiful.
21:13
Like the way that she writes is gorgeous.
21:15
So then part of me is like maybe and also you've done the hard
21:18
work with an asthma, like you've done all the legwork, you've
21:20
done all the well building. So you already know the story in
21:22
the setting is already established.
21:24
So I'm like, maybe I would enjoy but two more.
21:26
But then I also think I have a tendency of saying this, so I'm
21:29
just going to say actually no. Yeah.
21:32
I'm not. I'm not going to carry on.
21:34
And they're very long books for something you don't enjoy.
21:37
Do you know what I mean? It's not like you're going into
21:38
Book 2 and it's 300 pages. It's nearly 800 pages.
21:41
So it's. Yeah, yeah.
21:46
I feel like I've been reading it for a year.
21:50
Why I have such bad big big book fear as well, don't I?
21:54
I'm terrible for putting off a big book.
21:56
I'm even worse than you are. I've still not read Never Keep
21:59
and that was like 2 years ago. You need to read that.
22:03
I know. Sorry, I'm getting I'm getting
22:05
angry about it now. It's not even fucking funny.
22:08
I will read it, I've just been so slow with reading this year.
22:11
I've read like 2 books a month. That's so bad anyway.
22:14
Anyway, so do you think, do you think your reading taste has
22:22
changed at all since you joined book talk?
22:24
Like have you been opened up to new genres that you never would
22:27
have thought to read before? Or actually, has your taste
22:29
pretty much stayed the same? Yeah, it's definitely, I've
22:32
definitely been. I've definitely tried new genres
22:37
that I don't think I would have tried before.
22:38
It's like dark romance. Before I started Botox, I'd
22:41
never read a dark romance book before.
22:43
And now I love them. Now I really enjoy them and it's
22:46
the same. This is not a genre, but it's
22:48
the same for Christmas romance. I didn't think Christmas romance
22:50
would have been my cup of tea. And then I tried one last year
22:53
and I loved it. And I just read Good Spirits as
22:55
well by BK Morrison and have you guys read it?
22:58
Have you read Good? Stories.
22:59
I've just ordered it from Harper Collins, actually, because I've
23:02
been hearing such, but I've never actually read any BK
23:04
Borison. Really.
23:06
Yeah, no, I don't know why. I haven't read Good Spirits, but
23:10
Love Light Farms is one of my it's my favorite Christmas
23:13
romance book and it's one of my favorite romance books
23:15
generally. And obviously First Time Caller
23:17
is great as well, so I'm excited to read that one.
23:20
I haven't read Love Light Farms but now you're saying it's a
23:23
better Christmas? Christmas romance book one
23:25
maybe? I might do that in December
23:26
actually. Oh my God, do it.
23:28
You'll have such a good time. It's such a cozy like, and it's
23:32
friends to lovers, which I normally do not like at all, but
23:35
it's so good. It's really good.
23:37
I also feel like BK Barson has just got like this way of
23:39
writing that no matter what their initial relationship is,
23:43
she just makes it this. It always has like a spark.
23:46
They always have a special kind of chemistry.
23:48
I love it when an author can do that, when you just feel the
23:51
spark. There's nothing I hate more than
23:53
reading a romance and you're like, this is doing nothing for
23:57
me. I find it infuriating.
23:59
Soul searching. Don't.
24:02
I should be. I haven't read it.
24:04
Isn't not good. Isn't, not.
24:05
Good, No. I.
24:05
Loved it. She didn't like it.
24:07
It's like a typical tour on grunty fucking spat over romance
24:11
that yeah, it makes me feel like maybe I won't like love, like
24:14
farms. But I was just going to say, in
24:16
our group, Polly, Amy and Jasmine also didn't love soul
24:20
searching. So it's not just me just saying.
24:24
Really easily, please. OK, we know.
24:26
It he is easily pleased with romance, that's not a bad thing
24:28
because you're getting the good reads at the end of it.
24:30
Easy little slut. I mean, I wasn't going to say
24:34
that, but you, you weren't there.
24:37
Fine. OK, right.
24:39
Moving swiftly on. I feel like we have to ask this
24:45
for our listeners at home. If there was one book actually
24:48
that you could recommend that everybody should read, whether
24:50
it's from this year, five years ago, what would it be?
24:58
Oh, part of me wants to say something like the I'm going to
25:03
say a fantasy book because I'm staying true to my roots and I'm
25:06
going to say to bleed a crystal bloom just because I feel as
25:08
though obviously now it's been traditionally published, so
25:10
hopefully it's going to have its moment.
25:12
But that all three books, there's only three books out at
25:15
the moment, but all three books have been like 5 stars.
25:17
It as a God tier serious for me. And it is dark and it is
25:20
gorgeous. And I just love the way that
25:22
Sarah, Sarah A Parker writes. Like I just she just does
25:25
something to me with her writing.
25:26
It is just a work of art. And yeah, that series in
25:30
particular, like obviously everybody talks about when the
25:32
moon hatched. People love it or people hate
25:34
it. There's like a bit of a mixed,
25:36
mixed bag situation that whereas I feel as though to bleed a
25:39
crystal bloom is like, and you go on such a character
25:41
development journey. I love it where you're like
25:43
really invested in the characters and you're like, I
25:45
don't sometimes you're like, I don't quite understand why these
25:47
characters do what they're doing.
25:49
But by the end of it, you're like, whoa, they've grown as a
25:51
person or they've been through things.
25:53
They have their shit, all that kind of stuff.
25:55
Like, yeah. So I think I would have to say
25:57
it's a bleed, a crystal blue. You still need to read.
26:00
It I do still need to read that one.
26:02
I did love When the Moon hatched though.
26:05
That's actually been one of my top books of this year so I will
26:08
go on to bleed a crystal. Bleed Tor actually brought me
26:11
the indie version like a while ago.
26:13
Like 2 Christmases ago and I, the only reason I didn't read it
26:17
was because there was a little bit of like negativity around
26:20
their relationship at the time and I didn't want to go into it
26:24
with those preconceptions. Yeah.
26:27
So I'm, but now I'm glad because now I've read When the Moon
26:30
Hatched, I know what her writings like.
26:32
So I feel like I'm really gonna love it.
26:34
Yeah. Because I always said to you,
26:35
even before when the moon hatched, like her writing is so
26:38
well done and poetic. Like it just to me, it felt like
26:41
the type of writing style that you love, would love.
26:44
Yeah, absolutely you. Won't believe this.
26:47
I read the first two books and with the cliffhanger at the end
26:51
of book 2, I actually didn't go on to book 3 because I.
26:55
Feel like no. No, it wasn't even that.
26:58
It was that I knew that there had been no date for the for
27:01
book 4. I'm I read books one and two
27:04
easily 1218 months ago. It was ages ago, but I knew that
27:08
there was no release date for book 4 yet.
27:10
And I was just like, I am going to wait and I'm going to read
27:15
Book 3 at a later date when I know that there's another one to
27:19
go on to. Because I was just like, this is
27:22
wild. Yeah, the things she she, she's
27:26
taking like prisoners. She's literally like a man for
27:29
himself in this book. And I kind of wish I'd have done
27:31
the same because I feel as though imagine if you could just
27:34
like binge through the whole series, what kind of experience
27:37
you would have. But then it's the kind of series
27:39
that for me is just say it's like living rent free in my
27:41
head. And I think about it constantly.
27:43
I'm like, no, I need, I need to know what happens next for these
27:46
characters. Plus sometimes when you then
27:49
when the next one does come out and you reread the series, you
27:52
actually find things you loved even more.
27:54
Because I just did that with the Legend Born books and reread
27:57
Legend Born and Bloodmarked and then did Oath Mark Oath Bout and
28:01
loved them even more. Like they went Legend Born went
28:04
from a four-star to a five star. So that kind of reread that you
28:08
get to do when the new book comes out is so fun.
28:11
That's true. Any excuse to reread a favorite?
28:13
I'm here. Yeah.
28:14
Yeah. Plus, I guess, like, back then,
28:17
she was still an indie author as well.
28:19
So you were making sure by reading them as they came out
28:22
that she could continue to publish them.
28:24
Yeah. Yeah.
28:25
So really, you're just like doing your little bit for the
28:28
authors. Guy I.
28:28
Worry how long we will have to wait though, because obviously
28:31
she delayed the ballad of something or whatever it's going
28:36
to be called for book 2 of When the Moon Hatched.
28:38
I thought delayed by quite a while for book 2 of that.
28:41
So I'm like, how long are we going to have to wait for book
28:43
for? Like, what's the priority going
28:44
to be for her and Harper Voyager in terms of like the releases of
28:50
these books especially? But I hold some hope now that
28:53
they are tried publishing to bleed the Crystal Bloom.
28:55
I'm like, well, it's obviously on their radar and they're going
28:58
to, you know, prioritize it at some point.
29:00
Yeah, and you never know, like the delay on the Ballad of
29:03
Falling Dragons could have been because of production or
29:06
something. So she could have been right in
29:07
the other one. Who knows?
29:08
Or Edison, the other one in the background.
29:11
We'll have to wait and see. Next year I'm if we could get
29:15
like if we could get book 2 at the Moonfall series and then
29:18
book for a video course of the next year.
29:19
Can you imagine that would be so good?
29:21
I'm gonna, I'm gonna. Yeah, That's what I'm hoping
29:24
for. So we're going to go back to
29:25
talking about content creation a little bit now.
29:28
And I personally feel like people who don't do content
29:32
don't really understand how much work goes into it.
29:37
And I know you do TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, I think,
29:40
right? Those are the three, yeah.
29:42
So could you talk us through like what a normal day of
29:45
producing content or filming looks like for you?
29:49
Yeah, so I actually used to be a bit of like a wing it kind of
29:52
person and I'd just be like, I'd get up and I'd be like, oh, I
29:54
feel like creating this kind of content today.
29:56
And then since I've started YouTube, that's just not
29:59
sustainable in any way, shape or form.
30:01
And so I have started like on a Sunday, I will do like kind of
30:06
like I'll spend like a couple of hours, I'll do my prep for the
30:09
week and try and figure out, OK, these are the kind of content I
30:12
want to make. I'm going to like batch film tik
30:13
Toks on this day. I'm going to have an editing day
30:16
here. I'm going to have a day of like
30:17
filming Youtubes. And especially with YouTube, I
30:20
think it's quite, it's quite a tricky 1 to navigate sometimes
30:22
because especially if you're doing a vlog, you have to really
30:24
try and figure out and like mark out and carve out the time when
30:28
you're going to be able to do that.
30:29
And, and do it to a, because I think in the past, especially
30:32
when I first started, I would make a vlog for something and it
30:35
would, I just feel like I haven't, I haven't given it the
30:38
time that it deserves to have. And then you put out content
30:41
that you're not necessarily proud of.
30:42
And now I really, I'm really conscious that any kind of
30:45
YouTube content in particular I want to be really proud of.
30:48
So I'm trying to, I'm trying to really prioritize that one in
30:52
particular at the moment. And so like, if I, I think
30:56
typically I kind of tend to do like batch filming for Tik Toks
30:59
on a Monday. So I will, I'll be like, OK,
31:01
I've got this idea, I've got this idea, I've got this idea.
31:03
And then I will, I'll batch film them.
31:06
And then in the afternoon I'll try and do something different
31:08
because my brain tends to switch off a little bit if I try and do
31:11
like all of one thing in one day.
31:13
So I'm like, oh, I'm just going to film every single thing on
31:16
this day. My brain is like, it's, it's
31:18
drifting out the window, It's procrastinating.
31:19
It's like, I don't, I don't want to do this.
31:22
So if I do, if I, if I split up the day in half, like work
31:25
better for me. So like in the morning, I'll
31:27
answer emails, I'll do like any admin, all that kind of stuff.
31:31
And then like I'll do like, you know, a few hours of filming,
31:33
have a little bit of a breather. And then I will like edit
31:36
typically like into the into the evening.
31:39
But then again, it depends. So like if I am filming like a
31:42
vlog where it's like, you know, across a week, I'll try and like
31:45
add in like those bits and split that up across a few days just
31:48
so it's not all, all in one. But then like this this weekend,
31:52
for example, I think as well, this is a really long winded
31:56
answer to you guys, but especially in content creation,
32:00
it's difficult to try and like actively have time off for
32:03
yourself too. And so like, I don't know about,
32:06
yeah, I don't know about you guys, but I struggle to like
32:08
I'll get through the week and I'll be like, I actually haven't
32:10
had a day off. I haven't like actually, I
32:13
haven't had any time for myself. So I've also been trying to have
32:17
like Saturday and Sunday off. That hasn't been going too well
32:20
actually. But that's my, that's my, that's
32:22
my aim. I set out with that at the
32:23
beginning of the week and we see how it goes.
32:26
So yeah, so I try and I try and like batch do things and then I
32:29
try and also just like split it up.
32:30
So I'll do like, you know, half day, half day of different
32:33
things. And that seems to work quite
32:35
well for me I think. Yeah, we know how you feel
32:39
because we both work full time and Friday is our day off, and
32:44
we do this on Fridays, so we don't actually have a day off.
32:49
I'm, if you don't mind me asking, you can keep this to
32:52
yourself if you do. Do you do content full time now?
32:55
I do, yeah. So previously, before I got ill,
32:58
I worked in unscripted television.
33:01
Oh wow, that was what I did and I loved.
33:03
It what does that mean? So it's, it's so I was a
33:06
researcher for like, you know, shows like the Chase, that kind
33:10
of stuff. So it's like any entertainment
33:12
shows where it's not scripted. So that was what I did, but it
33:17
was very high stress like it was.
33:20
And I do think that has an impact on your health too.
33:23
And so then obviously I got ill. I had to literally like just
33:26
quit my job straight away and I had to move back home because I
33:30
just couldn't physically care for myself anymore.
33:33
So then obviously I've been taking time out for my health
33:36
and then I just fell into this as a hobby and now I'm trying to
33:40
make it into a full time career. And, but I think, I think it's,
33:45
it's a tricky one because especially when you are
33:47
self-employed and you're actively trying to pursue that,
33:51
like the only person you have to depend on is yourself, which is
33:54
a blessing and a curse. Like there's good things from
33:56
that and there's bad things from that.
33:58
And so trying to keep motivated as well can sometimes be a
34:01
little bit tricky. But then at the same time, I am
34:03
doing things that I love. I get to like, come up with the
34:05
content. I get to create the content.
34:07
I, you know, there's only myself to answer to, which is amazing.
34:10
But then sometimes I would love to have like be able to have
34:13
someone to like bounce ideas creatively off because I also
34:15
think that's really fun too. So.
34:18
So yeah. So that's my current situation
34:20
at the moment. I think that's how we really
34:22
ended up kind of doing stuff like this together as well,
34:24
isn't it? Because we love just like, like
34:27
we made friends through book talk originally, obviously, and
34:31
we were in a bigger group, but we would we both take content at
34:35
different periods in our lives quite seriously.
34:38
And having each other to just always be like bouncing ideas
34:41
off or if something had kind of gone a bit wrong or having it.
34:44
We both have different very different skill sets that we're
34:47
good at. So having each other for that
34:50
is. Yeah, it is definitely helpful.
34:52
100% So yeah, completely get what you're saying about the
34:56
hard part about being self-employed is just like also
34:59
just the physicalness of being alone.
35:02
Kind of like, you know, like one thing because I was
35:04
self-employed fully last year and one of the things that I did
35:08
miss was actually just like getting to chat to people
35:10
throughout the day because I would only be able to chat to
35:14
these guys on a WhatsApp group. That was it.
35:16
And I was just like blowing up. That wasn't.
35:18
Enough for you? So yeah, completely get how you
35:22
meet. And actually the reason I asked
35:23
whether you were doing content full time was because I was then
35:26
going to say like, if you are doing content full time, what
35:30
helps you stay consistent with it without it feeling like a
35:33
chore? Sometimes it does.
35:37
It definitely does feel like, I think, like I said, when you've
35:41
only got yourself to like rely on, sometimes it can be like,
35:44
OK, I've got an especially like if that creative well is empty
35:48
and you're trying to come up with ideas and you're like, I
35:50
need to put some content out here this week or next week or
35:54
whatever. Sometimes that can just feel
35:56
like a lot. But then I also do think one of
35:59
the ways that I do kind of manage that is even though like
36:03
I'm working by myself, I do need time by myself to like recharge
36:07
my batteries, if that makes sense.
36:08
But like time where I'm not doing like any form of content
36:11
creation, even if it's just doing like mindful things.
36:14
So like literally just like doing like a junk journal or I
36:17
don't know, something why you just don't have to think, but
36:19
you're by yourself. You've got like a really good
36:21
playlist on something that just doesn't involve creating for the
36:25
sake of other people, but maybe for yourself, I think.
36:29
Yeah, I love that because I literally said I can't remember
36:32
what episode it was. We did an episode about I think
36:35
it was about well-being and soft girl era.
36:38
And I was saying like I feel like everybody in the world,
36:41
whether they are a creative person or not, should have a
36:44
creative hobby because it's so therapeutic and so good for your
36:48
mental well-being. So like, I am exactly the same
36:51
as you. Like if I don't have some time
36:53
in the week to either, I don't know, like to do a colouring
36:56
book or just something like that that's completely no screen,
37:00
something that's really different to my day-to-day work
37:03
as well, then I just feel like burnt out.
37:07
So yeah, I completely agree. You need to get a creative
37:10
hobby. Content is my creative hobby.
37:15
Fair enough. And let's face it, we talk about
37:16
busy. I have a full time job content
37:19
podcast. Yeah, I've got two small
37:21
children, a teenager. I'm on the PTA.
37:23
I was just about to say, Oh my God.
37:25
Despite all that, somehow decided to join the PTA this
37:28
year, so that one's on you. I can't help it.
37:31
It's just I don't know how to. I'm not good.
37:34
I'm like you, I need space on my own to recharge for sure but I
37:40
just chronically suffer with anxiety and as soon as I stop
37:46
and slow down I feel anxious so I keep myself so unhealthy and
37:51
people shouldn't do this. I'm not advocating for this.
37:54
I would love it to be my full time job.
37:56
Like it's like the dream. I don't really give myself time
38:00
to make it the dream, unfortunately.
38:03
I think it's just that hard, like capitalist catch 22 of you
38:08
have to work to earn money, how do you fit the time in to do the
38:12
things you want to do? And you just go around in a
38:14
loop, don't you? But I mean, I think you'll get
38:17
there one day of making it full time.
38:19
We'll see. Who bloody knows?
38:21
Who knows? But talking about like
38:23
creativity, I've got like, we were just saying like, I feel
38:27
like that actually has been my creative outlet because I'm not
38:30
an artistic person in the slightest.
38:33
But over the last few years, there's definitely been a shift
38:37
in like content creation. We touched on this earlier with
38:40
like editing. And do you think that there is
38:45
like a push and pressure now to actually as a creator, not just
38:50
put the content out there, but have your own brand as a
38:53
creator? Yeah, I do.
38:55
I think there is and I don't know whether I'd love to like
38:59
hear your opinion on it too, because I don't know.
39:01
Obviously, like the majority of the time when you're consuming
39:03
content, you're by yourself or whatever.
39:05
So you've got all these opinions in your mind and you're like,
39:06
oh, I wonder whether anybody else thinks this.
39:08
But I do feel as though before you used to just be able to
39:11
create like a little video. It was very like easy and there
39:15
wasn't there wasn't a lot of of pressure for it to be any kind
39:20
of like polished, almost like a movie in a sense, like feel as
39:24
though people are like creating these kind of like, I don't
39:28
know, like there's just so much that goes into some people's
39:32
like content and I think it is amazing.
39:35
But at the same time then I think, you know, there's a lot
39:39
of pressure to maintain that as well.
39:41
And so I think it's important to and make sure that if you are
39:45
thinking about yourself as a brand, that you're making it
39:48
maintainable for you and your scope and your potential for
39:51
work. And because otherwise, I think
39:53
if you start on something, you're like, OK, I'm going to
39:55
create this, but it's like way out of my like my, my kind of
39:59
like time frame or I don't have enough time to do this, but I'm
40:01
going to. And you start doing that.
40:03
People then expect it If you don't, they.
40:05
And so then it's like you, you need to, it needs to be
40:07
realistic in terms of what you can manage and what you can do.
40:10
But yeah, I do think that a lot of.
40:14
Creators now are identifying themselves as a brand.
40:18
But then I do think it's also easy to navigate because in my
40:20
head, if I'm like, oh, you know, I am looking, I'm in a mood to
40:24
watch something particular. I'll go to a certain person
40:27
because it's part of their brand in a way.
40:29
I think it's a thing and a yeah, I think it's hard to strike a
40:33
balance sometimes. And I also think it can be
40:36
tricky because when you're with your content all the time,
40:39
you're the one person that is we are consuming our own content
40:43
24/7. And sometimes you get a bit
40:45
bored of the content you're putting out there.
40:47
And I think, know what, I feel as though I am having an
40:50
identity crisis. So I want to change my entire
40:53
content. And then I think, well, nobody
40:54
going to do that. But then also sometimes as well,
40:58
I feel as though like growth. I think one of the things that
41:00
one of the main things that I've learned in my content creation
41:03
journey is that growth isn't linear.
41:05
Like, you know, you see someone doing well and you expect it to
41:08
just carry on doing well, but it peaks it off the entire time.
41:12
And part of that is like knowing that everyone experiences that
41:17
no matter what level you're at, like even content creators that
41:19
are at like 2 million, they're going to have times where their
41:22
content dies and doesn't do it well or, you know, it's
41:26
everyone's going to experience that.
41:27
But then that also does have a knock on effect on your brand.
41:32
So yeah, it's it's interesting for sure.
41:36
Yeah. Out of all the platforms that
41:39
you create on SO like Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, I think your
41:44
three main platforms, right? What is your?
41:47
What is your favorite platform to create for and why?
41:52
My favorite platform to create for now is YouTube.
41:55
I really, yeah. Just the whole, the whole
42:00
concept of creating for that what you know, from like start
42:03
to finish, from coming up with the ideas for vlogs and for like
42:06
chatty videos and stuff to get in it, films and then to edit in
42:09
as well. It's just I really enjoy it and
42:12
I really enjoyed the final product of things too.
42:15
I think TikTok comes easier to me because, you know, we've been
42:19
doing it for a lot longer on that platform, but YouTube as a
42:23
whole is harder but more enjoyable.
42:26
Yeah 100% agree. I I think YouTube as well like
42:30
the community feels a little bit different there and I feel like
42:34
you also have more space to fully flesh out your thoughts
42:38
without feeling like you need a hook or a time limit.
42:42
So you can actually dive into something and make sure your
42:45
opinion and review is like well-rounded as opposed to maybe
42:49
TikTok. People are misinterpreting
42:51
things in the comments and you think, Oh yeah, I should have
42:54
said that, but I was on a time crunch, so I didn't.
42:56
And I just, I just love that element of it.
42:59
And it takes so much work, YouTube and I feel like you do
43:03
need more of like a better setup and things.
43:07
But it is, I agree. Like the the reward is much
43:10
higher after. Yeah, so true.
43:13
I wouldn't know. With TikTok, it can be difficult
43:17
because you feel as though you are constantly like, like you
43:20
said, under a time pressure. It's like, okay, you've got
43:23
like, I don't know, you want to do like a review about a book
43:25
you've loved, but people's engagement for the app turns off
43:28
after three seconds. So it's like, OK, I need to, I
43:30
need to hook them in. I need to try and find a way to
43:32
keep them captivated. But actually all I want to do is
43:34
just tell you how much I love this bloody book and you.
43:37
So with YouTube, you have the freedom to be able to just yap
43:40
and people kind of just like to sit down and get cozy and and do
43:43
that, which I think then makes it more enjoyable as a creator
43:46
because you're able to get your passion across a lot more.
43:49
So kind of carrying on in in this kind of like theme, but
43:52
moving more on to the book talk community, which is amazing, but
43:58
it definitely comes with its fair share of drama.
44:03
Do you think that what is your thoughts on creators
44:08
responsibility to use their platforms in the right the right
44:16
way? Do you think creators have like
44:18
a responsibility to use them? Yeah, I definitely, I feel as
44:23
though, I feel as though we, I was thinking about this and I
44:27
think we all have a responsibility, you know, to
44:29
treat our platforms carefully. But I think regardless of like,
44:34
I think that transfers over to real life as well.
44:37
Do you know what I mean? So I feel as though, I feel as
44:40
though it's really, really important to try and have
44:44
responsibility for yourself and your actions and to try and like
44:47
research things to the best of your ability that are going to
44:50
really give your audience the best possible kind of
44:54
experience. But also like it is important
44:57
that the things that you are putting out there are are
45:01
protecting people at the same time.
45:03
And so I do feel like we do have a duty of care in that sense.
45:08
And then I also think, I think sometimes it can just be really
45:10
difficult because you go on, you go on book talk and in a sense,
45:14
like all you want to do is talk about books.
45:16
But then there's, there's, it's like you can't have one without
45:21
the other. Do you know what I mean?
45:22
There is you have to be very careful, I think about how you
45:25
go about things. And I also think that sometimes
45:30
it can be, it can be tricky because I feel as though,
45:32
especially in the last year, I've noticed a big difference in
45:36
terms of like there seems to be, there seems to be like a lot of
45:42
a lot of, I don't know about you, but when I first started on
45:45
book talk, and I don't know if that was just because it was new
45:47
or whatever, but people, people spoke about books.
45:50
And I feel as though maybe people will just automatically
45:54
like a little bit more careful. Or maybe we didn't.
45:57
And now I feel as though, especially if you have a larger
46:00
platform, I do think that you have to be, you have to be
46:03
careful. But then at the same time, if
46:04
you have a smaller platform, you have to be careful.
46:06
We all responsibility, don't we? And a duty of care.
46:09
Yeah, I mean, obviously, I guess if you have a bigger platform,
46:12
it's just more visible straight away.
46:14
But even if you have a small, a small account, things can blow
46:17
up and you don't, you know, you don't know how things are going
46:20
to be perceived. I completely agree with you.
46:24
I think it has changed a little bit in the last maybe year or
46:27
so. I think people are louder with
46:32
things, louder with their opinions, louder with what
46:36
they're doing online. And they want to.
46:38
Cancel culture is intense, which as a creator is scary.
46:43
Like, I don't. I always feel scared that I'm
46:46
going to stick my foot in it. And you know, people are going
46:50
to come down on me like a ton of bricks just because I don't
46:52
think before I speak. Yeah, it can be really inducing
46:56
trying to feel that every single thing that you say is like
47:00
appropriate. And yeah, and sometimes as well,
47:04
especially I'm naturally an overthinker.
47:07
And so I will produce a piece of content and in my head I'll be
47:09
like, yeah, it's fine. And then I'll think, wait a
47:10
minute, I just need to make sure it's fine for every single
47:13
person that's thinking from different angles.
47:16
So yeah, there is, there is that sort of things.
47:18
I do think people are definitely, definitely louder as
47:21
well. So yeah, it's hard sometimes to
47:23
strike a balance, isn't it, between being like, I, I feel as
47:30
though it's quite tricky sometimes to like, have your
47:31
opinion as well on these kinds of spaces and convey that in a
47:35
way that is authentic to you and protective of other people and
47:40
their opinions, feelings in all the different communities that
47:44
are so important to have a voice.
47:45
So it can be tricky. Oh, it definitely can be tricky.
47:50
And like, do you feel pressured to comment on things or to not
47:54
comment in things because of that?
47:56
Well, I've, I've thought a lot about this and I think because
47:59
of, because of what I have been through, I've worked really hard
48:03
to try and create like a cozy, safe space that people can watch
48:07
and they, you know, if they've had a crappy day, they can watch
48:11
a video. And I don't know, life just
48:13
doesn't seem as dark or as bleak.
48:15
And it's a bit of escapism for them too.
48:18
And so I, I, I try and keep that kind of, I try and keep that.
48:22
And then I think anything that I want to do in my personal life
48:25
to make a difference, I can do. But in terms of my content and
48:28
the stuff that I put out, I'm just going to try and keep it
48:30
cozy and safe. That that's my kind of view.
48:33
Yeah, that makes sense. And I don't know if you've ever
48:37
gotten any, so maybe we don't have to answer this if not.
48:40
But if you do get negativity online, how have you dealt with
48:44
it? I definitely do.
48:46
Yeah, I do. That's the point that really
48:49
surprised me. Too, actually.
48:50
Like, yeah, I get some absolute, some really interesting
48:54
comments, but comments that are like, so the majority of people,
48:57
I will say like 98% of people, a lovely, super supportive,
49:01
gorgeous, you know, here for that.
49:03
But then there are people that just love to hate on any,
49:06
anything that you do. And when I first started out, I
49:09
was like, oh crap, this, this is a bit, this is, I don't quite
49:13
like this. And then you know what, I'll be
49:16
completely honest, like I, I'm just, I need to protect my peas
49:20
And the block burn is my best friend.
49:21
If someone, if someone comments something that is nasty and
49:25
hateful, I'm not even going to give you the time of day.
49:27
I'm just going to block you. That's top and bottom of it.
49:29
Because at the end of the day, like, if you are that hateful
49:32
and you are that nasty, you do not deserve an inch of my, of my
49:35
mental space. So I'm just going to block you
49:38
and I'm never going to think about.
49:40
She's she's laughing at me because we were just talking
49:43
about this as well, actually. And I said Tor is good at
49:47
blocking and moving on. I am not I will do a video Yeah
49:52
you. I will reply.
49:53
I can't help it. I'm a Leo guys, it's the fire
49:57
and actually. It really it really I mean
49:59
typical Gemini as well. It really really depends on
50:03
where I am and in the month and like if you catch me while I'm
50:06
PNT and you are fucked if you catch me maybe right from of you
50:10
let him like I'm a lover not a fighter.
50:12
Let's just get rid of you and forget about it.
50:14
Like it really does depend. Unfortunately my reaction is
50:18
pretty consistent and is to flap back as the kids with typical.
50:23
Fire sign as the kids with what the kids.
50:27
Would say no, but like no, I'm really bad for it.
50:32
Like I actually just and it will like play on my mind.
50:35
Even if I do block and move on, it will I'll be thinking about
50:38
it like how dare they. But anyway, do what Loosen Tour
50:45
does and not what I do is the money.
50:48
The temptation though, the temptation to reply something
50:52
like, Oh yeah, the temptation I physically have to like restrain
50:55
my hands. I'm like, no, just block, just
50:56
block. But really, I want to reply to
50:58
you because like, you know, yeah.
51:01
So there is, there is a huge temptation there to reply.
51:04
But then I think I'm not even going to give you the time of
51:05
day. See you later.
51:06
I think for you as well it must be when it is your full time job
51:10
and it is what brings you income.
51:11
You have to have more of business mind with it.
51:13
I think like in my job, I'm very good because my natural
51:17
inclination is to snap back at people.
51:19
Isn't it like I'm a fiery person, like don't fuck with me
51:22
kind of energy. But my job obviously makes me
51:27
become more mindful and to take that pause and think about how I
51:31
would respond to things. And I think when it is your full
51:34
time job, you of course have to, because anything you say or do
51:38
can impact, you know, your future earnings.
51:42
And when that is your sole, you know, income, you have to be
51:45
mindful of that. So it makes sense that you would
51:48
manage it like that, even if you wouldn't necessarily deal with
51:52
it like that in the outside world.
51:54
Yeah, that's that's a really good point actually.
51:56
And to kind of round off this little section, do you
52:00
personally think there is a way for book talk to stay or become
52:04
like a positive place, but also remaining honest with like
52:09
critical reviews and things like that?
52:11
Yeah, I think. I think sometimes it's like,
52:16
have you seen, have you seen the bean soup?
52:18
The bean soup theory about how so this this girl.
52:22
Illustrated A. Video about bean soup and I
52:26
think somebody commented saying but what if you don't like
52:28
beans? And then this other creator like
52:31
made a video basically being about and how everybody, we're
52:34
kind of living in the culture where every, everybody feels
52:36
like they have to make it about themselves.
52:38
Oh my God, yeah I've seen a few different like spins on this
52:41
actually. Yes, like someone makes a
52:43
blueberry that they're sharing a blueberry pie recipe and
52:45
someone's like, but what if I'm alleged to blueberries and it's
52:47
like, but it's not about you if you don't like blueberry scroll
52:50
like you know what I mean? So sometimes I I think it's it's
52:55
yeah, I don't know. I guess I don't know is the
52:58
answer. I don't know how how to because
53:03
I think it would be really nice for it to be more of a positive
53:05
space, but I don't know. I don't what do you guys?
53:12
I'd love to know what you guys think on that one.
53:15
I, I don't think it is possible because I think it's, this is
53:21
going to get very deep now, but I think it speaks to the way the
53:25
world is and the culture is wider than book talk.
53:28
Like I just think it's an issue all round of people being a bit
53:32
more filled with hatred and anger.
53:34
And like the state of the world reflects that.
53:37
And I think for the up and coming generations, Genzi and
53:42
what's below Genzi can't remember, don't know.
53:45
Jen Alfred, I think you might be right.
53:47
They all they have known is social media and online spaces,
53:52
whereas it probably came in your early teens for us.
53:54
So I think for them they don't see it as a big deal.
53:59
It's almost normalized for this like bad behaviour and like
54:02
strong opinions to be in your face all the time.
54:06
So I do worry a little bit about that because I do think people
54:11
don't, I mean, we've talked about this before as well.
54:12
People don't really understand the repercussions of what
54:15
they're doing online and how that can affect very real things
54:17
like your relationships and your jobs and etcetera.
54:22
But I think until the world becomes a little bit more
54:26
tolerant and a bit of a nicer place, online spaces won't
54:29
either. I don't know if you.
54:31
Agree, very similar thought processes I think that whether
54:36
social media had happened now or years ago or whatever I think.
54:40
There are always good and bad. People in the world and
54:44
unfortunately the bigger book talk has become, and there is no
54:50
denying it, that the book talk space specifically, not even
54:53
like Bookstagram and Booktube, they have blown up publishing to
54:57
a ridiculous degree over the last few years.
55:00
And unfortunately they are there are people in the space and in
55:03
the community now that are just there to have a piece of the
55:06
pie. That is just the reality of it
55:08
in my opinion. Because three years ago, the the
55:12
culture was for people to book fairy each other and just send
55:16
each other gifts online and just support each other and, and it
55:21
was such a lovely space to be in.
55:24
And now that isn't, that isn't the case.
55:26
And it's not everyone. There are so many lovely,
55:28
genuine people online. And you kind of get to a point
55:32
where you think, oh, like, you know, I've made my kind of like
55:35
book friends now. But then you come across new
55:37
people. You're like, Oh my, like this
55:39
year's really the year that I don't know if you know her gem
55:41
Preston. She's an author and a creator
55:45
and she's just become like one of my like closest little online
55:49
friends this year. And I think there is still good
55:51
to be had in it, but as a creator, I feel a responsibility
55:57
to constantly push for that more positive dynamic because the
56:01
more you feed into the negative, you're just feeding the
56:05
negative. It's the age of like, war begets
56:07
war, peace begets peace kind of thing.
56:09
So I don't ever really truly think that it will be a
56:12
completely positive space. But we know all we can do is
56:17
hope and, you know, try and do better ourselves, I guess.
56:21
Yeah. I agree.
56:23
I actually do think though, one thing I've changed my mind on to
56:26
do with this is that I used to be like in the camp of like, oh,
56:31
reading is just reading. It's not that deep, you know,
56:35
it's just a hobby that people do for fun.
56:37
And now I am much more like, no, reading is knowledge.
56:41
Reading is power. Like think critically about the
56:44
books you're reading and think critically about what you're
56:47
consuming and think critically about how you review it.
56:50
So now I almost kind of like try harder to do these in depth,
56:56
well thought out reviews that also encourage other people to
57:00
really think about what they're reading and, and what that means
57:03
to them and what the themes are within the books.
57:05
And I do think the more people do that, the less these kinds of
57:10
rage bait reviews or rage bait opinions will occur.
57:15
But I mean, we went on very deep.
57:22
Typical me that. I mean, we all do.
57:25
I feel like that sometimes. The thing with these interviews,
57:28
you kind of forget that this is going to go to YouTube and
57:31
Spotify as a podcast and we're just like, we're just having a
57:33
normal fucking gym wag. Yeah, it's just, I mean, have a.
57:36
Cocktail. We're yappers at the best of
57:38
times, let alone on a podcast, but I feel like now is the
57:42
perfect time to dive into some fun and go back light hearted
57:46
again. So we're going to do a quick
57:48
fire round of options and I don't know do we want to do
57:52
context or no context? We'll just do.
57:56
No, I mean, I feel like they're all pretty self-explanatory
57:58
really, aren't they? True.
57:59
OK, OK, these are for you and you have to ask as quickly as
58:03
possible. If you watch Friends, you'll
58:05
know you'll get it straight away.
58:07
Coffee. Coffee, Kindle or physical?
58:11
Physical. Ha back or paperback?
58:14
Paperback. Grumpy sunshine or enemies to
58:16
lovers? Sarah A Parker or Rachel Gillig
58:23
Sarah A Parker. Acatar or Throne of Glass?
58:28
Throne of Glass. Zaden or Kingfisher.
58:32
Kingfisher. No.
58:33
I'll. Take it back.
58:37
I was going to say that's a. Controversial one.
58:41
Amazing. Amazing.
58:43
OK, OK. But as you can tell, we could
58:46
yap all day, but we probably should stop here.
58:49
But we've had such a lovely time.
58:51
Luce, thank you so much for joining us.
58:53
If you're listening back home, make sure you follow and
58:56
subscribe to us. But also make sure you follow
58:58
and subscribe to loose. Luce, do you want to shout about
59:00
where people can find you? I'd love to, yeah.
59:03
Thank you so much for having me, first of all.
59:05
But the places you can find me on are TikTok, Instagram and
59:09
YouTube. And my handle is Loose A's
59:11
library, LUCEAS library. Yeah, that's where you can find
59:16
me. We'll make sure that we
59:17
obviously tag it in our. In our in our description, in
59:20
our captions, it'll be in the description below.
59:23
But yes, thank you so much for listening guys, and make sure to
59:25
tune in in another two weeks for another episode.
59:28
Bye bye.