Conversations with Angie Haddock

Today we’d like to introduce you to Angie Haddock. 

Hi Angie, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
The blog Reading Our Shelves began in 2019, with two reviewers and the idea that writing book reviews online would entice them to read all the books they had already acquired but not read. I joined as an additional reviewer in June 2020. I guess you can say this started as a “lockdown project” for me, but it’s one that has kept going. 

I had been reading a lot, anyway, so it wasn’t a huge leap for me to start reviewing some of the books I read. My favorite genres include non-fiction and science fiction, although I’ve also read and reviewed others. 

Since joining, I’ve made over 50 posts on the main blog, and have been largely responsible for our social media presence (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram). Most of my posts were book reviews, but they also include some interviews and other things. 

Among my “other” projects related to our blog was one I did this summer with Libi’s Library, in which I helped distribute 48 paperbacks (mostly thrillers and mysteries) into Little Free Libraries in Middle Tennessee. This was a really fun project and a great way to spread our love of reading! 

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
We review books. The initial idea was to read ones we already owned, but I personally have not kept to that. We get approached regularly by authors to review their books, which I love! I read a few Advanced Reader Copies a quarter, and try to mix in big releases and independent or self-published authors who reach out to us. Reading new and upcoming releases, sometimes before everyone else gets their hands on them, is fun. Supporting authors, other readers, local libraries, and local bookstores are all amazing perks of this project. 

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
The publishing industry is definitely changing, with more and more previously under-represented stories and authors coming to the forefront. It’s great to see such vibrant diversity in storytelling. 

Contact Info:

• Email: readingourshelves@gmail.com
• Website: http://readingourshelves.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/readingourshelves/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/readingourshelves
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/our_shelves

Image Credits:
Angie Haddock