Sonali Sharma
@authorsonali · 2:32
💁🏻♀️All about books and blogging 📚Ft. Conversation with Vidhya Thakkar!
I am excited because somewhere down the line even I am an avid reader and I do share reviews, I do help authors at the back end in marketing their books but not much like not in the front end but definitely at the back end in the making of the book processes and other works. But when it comes to front end it has to do a lot with marketing the books in a proper way. So I am excited for tomorrow's willcast are you?
Sonali Sharma
@authorsonali · 3:04
A versatile personality who loves reading as well as traveling, a book reviewer and a blogger by passion turning into the profession, Vidya shares that her favorite genres are thriller, romance, mythology, mystery and biographies. She is a Mumbaiker soul and an avid reader which made her found Mumbai Bookstagram, a community of all Mumbai book bloggers and a Sudhamurthy fan. Wow. Well personally even I am a Sudha Murthy fan so definitely I can connect to you Vidya
Vidhya Thakkar
@reader_viddh · 0:15
Thank you, sonali, for this beautiful introduction. I look forward to this conversation with you, as this is the first time that I am on swell and talking about my journey. So, yes, thank you for this opportunity. Team Swell
Vidhya Thakkar
@reader_viddh · 0:44
So I used to bring books on rent and then I used to read and return back that book and pick another book. So yes, that's how my reading journey started. And I would like to thank the uncle who recommended me such interesting books like that developed my interest in reading more and more
Vidhya Thakkar
@reader_viddh · 0:41
So, yes, I love reading everything, but except fantasy, I can read anything and everything. And apart from that, the fact that my readers don't know is surely that I've not read Harry Potter. And yeah, I don't like reading fantasy
Sonali Sharma
@authorsonali · 0:46
And how did you find out that you can start sharing about your books online? So how did you discover this immense passion for reading and sharing about books, which ultimately led you to become one of the top book bloggers in India?
Vidhya Thakkar
@reader_viddh · 1:27
And I researched about it and I saw that Bookstagram is about adding book reviews, book recommendations, sharing what you read and how you feel about that book. So I already had almost 1015 books at my place during that time, but I've read more than 50 books by that time. So I just thought of starting it and adding all the books that I had, like writing reviews of the books that I had already read. And I started posting it on Instagram
Vidhya Thakkar
@reader_viddh · 0:45
When it comes to sharing, I always consider my Instagram account as my safe space. A space where I can express myself, my opinions, and I can add whatever I want. So yes, the day Reader With was born, it was like I will share what I feel, what I want. And so I always shared about what I loved, what I liked and how my life is, how I am
Sonali Sharma
@authorsonali · 0:45
Stories in the sense like there are different books and upon those book adaptions there are movies, right? So I've watched three, four movies, but I haven't read the book. So yes, with you on that
Swell Team
@Swell · 0:15
Vidhya Thakkar
@reader_viddh · 0:14
That's so amazing. Like, I have my friends who have read Harry Potter and who are like, I will make you read that one day. And I'm like, okay, we will see. So, yes, I'm looking forward to reading it one day. Hopefully
Sonali Sharma
@authorsonali · 0:56
No doubts and since you are a reader, I feel that even you believe in miracles and some random things that happen, happen really for the best. So yeah, talking about next, firstly, a bit curious to know how was your academic journey? I mean, since now that you are following the root of passion when it comes to academic x, what have you pursued? Whether it's somewhere relates to what you are currently doing?
Vidhya Thakkar
@reader_viddh · 2:47
Like, people saw me from a new light. Coming to academics again, that always helped me. It was like advertising has always been my calling. I loved marketing and promotions. So, yeah, I did my BMM and after that I pursued digital marketing as I have always been fascinated about social media, like for Facebook, Instagram, I was crazy during my college days about them. So I pursued it in a form of career later in my colleges as well, I was a social media head
Sonali Sharma
@authorsonali · 1:25
Because now that we know, once we start book blogging, there are a few books which we really want to read, but our audience might not like it. And there are some books which our audience like it. They want to know more about that particular genre, but you might not have that keen interest in. So how do you try to balance around both these aspects and do you find it difficult? And if yes, how do you try to overcome it?
Vidhya Thakkar
@reader_viddh · 0:48
Hello. So when it comes to balance between the books that I wish to read and the books that my audience wishes me to read, for me, it has always been like what I enjoy reading the most, and I share about that. So when it comes to choices, again, I pick up what I know I will read, and and I get that idea, like, okay, my audience will like that book or will not like that book
Vidhya Thakkar
@reader_viddh · 0:29
And when it comes to fitting both the choices, thanks to Instagram and everything, we have lots of options where we interact with our audience and know what they wish from us as a blogger. So, yes, I always do live sessions or Q A on my stories, or I'm always active on DMs. So, yes, I have a word with them and see how it goes
Sonali Sharma
@authorsonali · 0:53
Yeah, that sounds fair enough. Picking up with the right choices. So also the previously where you said that instagram DMs and Q A sessions are always open where we can directly chat and interact with our audience. I think yes, that's also a very good tool. So talking about book review because writing a book review, it is a process where you need to be very constructive and structured, also maintaining the flow. So can you share a process of yours?
Vidhya Thakkar
@reader_viddh · 1:15
So I try to keep my reviews simple battle so I start my reviews with giving a gist about what the story is and later talking about plot, narrative, characters, writing style, the flow of the event, the climax and then the conclusion. So this is the process that I always follow as I always read my reviews from a consumer perspective as well. Like, okay, what will I think after reading this review?
Sonali Sharma
@authorsonali · 0:58
So talking about any challenges in your book, blogging, journey that you have encountered and if yes, what were they and how did you overcome them and how was that journey like from starting to the point where you have reached today? What were the ups and downs that you have faced and what makes you stay consistent and motivated enough to keep going on?
Vidhya Thakkar
@reader_viddh · 2:07
It. So, yes, the journey has been full of ups and downs. Like, these seven years is no less than a roller coaster ride where I met new authors, made many friends, attended many events and everything. But, yeah, I faced my own set of challenges. So earlier, I loved doing giveaways. There was a giveaway, like a month full of giveaways. So people started questioning me, people started framing me in different things for doing many giveaways and everything
Sonali Sharma
@authorsonali · 1:48
And no doubt, yes, talking about bookstagram, it's been a great journey for me as well. Because there is a thing when we start reading books, we start connecting with more and more people and we start becoming closer to the people who have a similar kind of mindset. And slowly and gradually, all of us become friends
Vidhya Thakkar
@reader_viddh · 1:21
Apart from that, working with JLF, JCB, AKLF, all of them has been a great experience. I learn more and more as I work with all the brands and publishers. I have found my troupe. I founded Mumbai Bookstagram. I found many friends here. I love sharing my journey and listening to their journeys. When it comes to author, I have met many authors, interacted with them. Like this year in JLF, I interviewed anukriti upadhya. I met Namita Gokhale
Sonali Sharma
@authorsonali · 1:57
Let's start from book reviewers to book bloggers because book reviewing is a different thing and book blogging is a different thing. So how would you recommend the upcoming person who is planning to start book review journey versus what would you recommend to a person who is planning to start his book blog? And maybe anything from your journey, from your experiences, how you have grown, any top three tips that you would like to recommend to them so that they can get more confident while starting their journey?
Vidhya Thakkar
@reader_viddh · 2:42
Thank you so much sonali for this interview. I enjoyed talking with you and yes, looking forward for many such conversations, coming to tips regarding book reviewers and book bloggers. Well, from my experience, I would say first thing is start this journey if you are passionate about it, like don't go, don't run after review copies or money, don't expect that thing. Do it for the joy of reading rather than anything else. So yes, start this journey for the joy of reading