A New Direction in 2017

I was preparing for another year of reviews earlier this week by spicing up the look of this blog, when I randomly decided to add a subtitle... and in turn created an entirely new direction for it to go in. Now, rather than "Alexis Lampley's Read-Along Blog" it is "Ramblings & Reviews of a Reader, Author, Bookstagrammer & Momtrepeneur." What I realized in writing this new subtitle was that there's so much else that goes on in my life that could be interesting to readers. And I wanted a chance to expand on that, while also hopefully creating a way to be more active here than a couple reviews a month. 

I love staging those review shots. I also love sharing them on Instagram. I have for many years. And it was that love that brought me to the world of bookstagram. Bookstagram is a little corner of the IG community that I found about a year and a half ago {just a couple months after having my daughter, who plays a large role in my IG presence(s)} where readers share not just reviews, but their love of books and fandoms and all the bookish merch your nerdy heart desires. These, I quickly came to find, were most definitely my people. 

In the time since I began my bookstagram account, I have gained over 45,000 followers, become such close friends with some of them that I send them Christmas gifts, started a bookish art Etsy business, quit my job to be a stay at home mom, morphed the Etsy business into a fandom subscription box {Nerdy Post. Its own IG account currently sitting at just under 75,000 followers}, and published my own book {ebook already available. Paperback version will be available at the end of the month}. I'm busy, to say the least. But I have never felt more creatively fulfilled in my life.

I always mention in my recaps and reviews how busy I am, and my followers all know it, too. But despite being an open book on IG, I have never really thought about translating that feeling onto here until now, when I changed the subtitle and had a flash of inspiration. 

The Ramblings and Reviews of a Reader, Author, Bookstagrammer & Momtrepeneur

I really enjoy reading about other people's lives. Especially those who do so much and seem to have themselves {and their beautiful, spotless, how-can-you-have-so-much-white-furniture-but-also-a-gaggle-of-children houses} so incredibly together. I love hearing about the pains they went through to make an incredible shot happen despite the craziness of life with their seven kids {I made that number up, but you get the idea}. And I know that so many of my followers, because of everything that I do, often consider me as similar to the way I view those IG moms: someone who has everything together. So I figured, hey, maybe they'd be interested in getting a more behind-the-scenes take on my life and how well {or terribly, depending} I balance it all. 

So here's what I intend to focus on:

Book Reviews: These will of course continue to be posted for both myself, and, once she decides cooperating is fun again, with my daughter Madeline. My reading schedule can't be set in stone, but I really enjoyed the Monday "Maddie Moo Baby Book Review" posts, so this is something I hope to implement again. Kids books are a big part of our life and my bookstagram, and I want those things included here. 

Momtrepeneur: I want to talk about the thing that dominates my days and nights. I want to make time each week to recap the stresses and successes and give you an inside look at my process, and how that process is affected by also having to care for a hyperactive, clingy, adorable toddler. This will mean Nerdy Post spoilers sometimes, and sometimes stories about the kid. 

Bookstagrammer: Here I will include the trials and tribulations of maintaining a large bookstagram account. Again, it will probably include the struggles of doing so while attending to a child. And lastly...

Author: With my paperback being released this month, and this year dedicated to finishing the second book from plot to final draft, I want to include writerly posts about my progress, because I think it's something interesting, to watch people progress and to see their stumbles. {Much like reading a story, actually. Hi. I'll be your protagonist for this blog}.


Anyway, that's about it. I sincerely hope you'll join me in this new journey. Otherwise, I'll just have a very public journal no one reads, which will be awkward. 


I am still in the process of working up a schedule for all of these posts, but I hope to at least start with a weekly recap. So expect that soon!