Introducing Tastemaker Salon: An interview with Kate Hergott (@imbookwild)
The beauty of the Bookstagram community, what marketers get wrong about Gone Girl, and some love for Ella Enchanted
An introduction to a new monthly series
When I first started this newsletter, I wanted to find new ways to explore creativity and craft, and build deeper roots in the book community. I’ve loved doing that for the last year; hopefully, you’ve enjoyed it, too.
A lot has happened since I started this newsletter, including the publication of my second book, The Hurricane Blonde. That publication got so much nice reception in the Bookstagram world, and it made me realize that I’ve been neglecting a big piece in these conversations—the perspectives of the readers.
I believe that Bookstagrammers/BookTokkers/book bloggers are really the tastemakers of the book world—if you think I’m wrong, just check out these statistics about how much BookTok has changed the face of publishing. I think there’s a lot anyone in the book community (and in particular, writers!) can glean from the experience of people in the Bookstagram/BookTok space.
With that in mind, I’m going to be adding a new monthly email to my author newsletter, which I’m calling Tastemaker Salon. I’ll be interviewing Bookstagrammers/BookTokkers/Book bloggers about their experience in the book world, what draws them in about books, what they love (and hate!) that authors do on social media, and more. And I am so excited that I’ve found a way that I can put writers I love directly in conversation with readers I love, too.
Here we go!
Kate Hergott is a reader, writer, and the host of the Bookwild podcast (of which I’ve been lucky enough to be a guest and occasional cohost!). She agreed to speak with me for the inaugural issue of Tastemaker Salon about her experience and perspective in the Bookstagram community.
What's your bookstagram handle?
When did you start your bookstagram?
December 2021
How many books per year do you read?
About 80.
How did you get started/what made you get started?
My husband and I produce podcasts and other media for our clients, and I realized I had everything I needed to start a podcast for myself. Since I read so much, I always thought it would be cool to be able to talk with authors about their books, so I decided to start a podcast about books and authors. That is what also brought me to Bookstagram.
What are your favorite genres? How would you describe your taste/social media aesthetic?
I mostly read mysteries and thrillers. Every now and then I read contemporary fiction, and I love Taylor Jenkins Reid’s big four.
My Instagram is full of book reviews, bookish memes, podcast clips, and book recommendations.
Who are some of your favorite authors?
Ashley Winstead, Audra McElyea, Yasmin Angoe, Halley Sutton [Editor’s note: Awww], May Cobb, Charlie Donlea, Rob Hart.
What makes a book stand out to you?
Voice - In general I love a strong voice in books, but I especially love a snarky, sardonic voice in thrillers.
Pacing - I can’t help how much I love a fast-paced story, so pacing that keeps things going is a must for me.
Ending - Books stick in my mind when their endings feel inevitable. I love it when the conclusion feels like it was almost the only natural way it could have played out. I think that also tends to mean that all of the plot was well thought out, because it’s like every scene knew it was headed toward this ending.
What do you wish people knew about the bookstagram community?
It’s such a warm feeling to be surrounded by bookish friends on Bookstagram. I’ve made so many great friends through it.
What kind of book are you dying to read? (I don't mean a book that exists—but if you could design the perfect book you're dying to read, what would it be/what kind of elements would it have?)
A pop star uses her wealth to be the first person with a true-to-life AI robot version of herself that can perform on days she’s tired, and do public appearances when she isn’t feeling it. But the pop star has a secret that she told no one about, and does the AI version of her, supposedly created from all of her memories, know what she did that night?
Touching on themes of how artificial intelligence is created in our image, so what does that mean if it doesn’t go the way we want it to, parasocial relationships and the age-old question of what makes you you. [Editor’s note: Write this book NOW!]
What's a thing you see publishers or authors do on social media that drives you CRAZY and not in a good way?
Comparing too many books to Gone Girl.
[Editor’s note: 😱😱😱]
What's the book you recommend the most often and why?
For people in my life who want thrillers, The Last Housewife by Ashley Winstead. I love a thriller that dips into female rage, challenges the patriarchy, restores agency to women, and ends with a perfectly satisfying meting of revenge.
For people in my life who aren’t fans of thrillers, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I love it for its exploration of old Hollywood, gender roles, morality and sexuality, but even more memorable are the important people in Evelyn’s life that the reader grows to love as much as Evelyn does.
What's a book you love that you don't see getting enough love on social media?
Lay Your Body Down by Amy Suiter Clarke
Do you ever DNF books? And if so, at what point/what causes you to DNF?
I do DNF books. I typically try to get to 25-30% of the book before I choose to DNF it. My most common reasons for DNF-ing are:
Slow pacing - if it feels like not much has happened and I’ve made it to 30%, I feel like it’s not going to miraculously pick up and become a book I love.
Lack of nuance - some books feel aggressively on the nose with some topics and it distracts me from where the plot is trying to go. I feel like this sometimes falls into the category of show don’t tell; it feels like they’re just telling me really direct points.
What question(s) do you wish people asked the bookstagram community more (and then answer it!)?
What book(s) do you vividly remember reading as a kid?
The Uglies Series by Scott Westerfield | Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
[Editor’s note: This great question from Kate sparked a conversation between us on the Bookwild podcast, which will drop April 16—check out her podcast, linked above, to find it!]
this is so smart. as someone who has been running an informal (and now formal) book club for a decade i totally agree, bookstagram is fascinating!
Okay I love the idea of interviewing the Bookstagram community rather than the writers! They really are the tastemakers. Thank you for this! And thank you to Leigh Stein for leading me here! I'm looking forward to future posts.