Tastemaker Salon: An interview with Krissy Wallis (@books_and_biceps9155)
The perils of mislabeling a book's genre, why it's okay to DNF, and the mermaids of King Louis XIV's court
Editor’s note: I first met Krissy at a book event for Ashley Winstead’s book, Midnight is the Darkest Hour (which, if you haven’t read it yet, what are you doing with yourself?!) at Zibby’s Bookshop. We shared a lovely dinner over cheesy pasta, and then got to be Los Angeles Times Festival of Books buddies this year again, too! She’s an overall lovely human, with excellent takes on books, inspiring workouts, and more!
What's your bookstagram handle?
When did you start your bookstagram?
2019
How did you get started/what made you get started?
I always have friends ask for book recommendations and to know what I am reading so I thought this was the easiest way to track/remember and showcase my love for reading.
What are your favorite genres? How would you describe your taste/social media aesthetic?
I love thrillers/horror and recently, romantasy. My aesthetic is usually involving something to do with the novel I am posting about. If it has to do with a forest, I usually use a forest as a background.
Who are some of your favorite authors?
YOU [Editor’s note: Aww shucks!], Ashley Winstead, Mary Kubica, Jennifer Hillier, Karin Slaughter, Vanessa Lillie, Tiffany D. Jackson, SA Cosby, David Ellis, Philip Fracassi, and Dennis Lehane
What makes a book stand out to you?
Usually a great character or an extremely twisty plot that I can’t figure out.
What do you wish people knew about bookstagram/booktok/the book blogging community?
It is actually a lot of work and takes lots of time.
What's a thing you see publishers or authors do on social media that drives you CRAZY and not in a good way?
It’s always so frustrating when a book gets mislabeled in a certain genre. It can make you rate a book “lower” since you had certain expectations for it. It isn’t fair to the author or reader.
What's the book you recommend the most often and why?
Look Closer by David Ellis or Boys in the Valley by Philip Fracassi
What's a book you love that you don't see getting enough love on social media?
The Grace Year by Kim Liggett or House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig
Do you ever DNF books? And if so, at what point/what causes you to DNF?
I never used to, but since bookstagram I have learned its okay to DNF if you aren’t enjoying it. You may later. So many books and so little time lol
What question(s) do you wish people asked the bookstagram community more (and then answer it!)?
My question would be, what do you hope to accomplish with your bookstagram account? Why do you have one?
My answer would be to advocate for reading especially within the female demographic and I hope my posts help to inspire reading/future readers.
Backlist beauties
Recommending: The Moon and the Sun by Vonda N. McIntyre
Year published: 1997
I first became aware of this book when listening to my favorite podcast, How Did This Get Made?, which ridiculed the movie version of the book (retitled as The King’s Daughter, which I’m honestly not even going to link to, as the movie looks so bad it might steer you away from the book).
This book won the Nebula Award in 1997, beating out the first Game of Thrones book, and while I don’t know that it will live in my heart in the same way Westeros will (#JusticeForBrienne), I really, really enjoyed it. It’s an alternate history retelling of the court of King Louis XIV (the Sun King), who becomes obsessed with mermaids—specifically, the possibility that eating a mermaid’s heart might lend immortality. It’s impeccably researched, with a lovely, slow-burn romance, mermaids galore, and deeply principled characters, which, weirdly enough, is not usually my jam in literature, but it was lovely to connect with deeply flawed characters brimming with integrity.
If historical novels with a side of romance and the fantastical are your jam, I highly recommend!