The Bookish Hour

Interview with Publicity & PR Coordinator: Tanaka

• Jor & Fab • Season 1 • Episode 52

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Books, Formula One and Dreams!!

Tanaka shares her journey from aspiring chef to successful publicity coordinator for indie presses, emphasizing the personal and emotional connections in book marketing. Her insights on working in the publishing industry, along with heartfelt discussions about favorite books and relationships with authors, provide valuable lessons for aspiring professionals.

• Overview of Tanaka's work as a publicity coordinator
• Insights on the indie press versus traditional publisher landscape
• Day-to-day responsibilities and challenges in book marketing
• Encouragement for aspiring publishing professionals
• Discussion of favorite books and literary influences
• Future aspirations, including starting her own podcast and literary service

If you ever wanted to know more about the bookish industry then come join us discuss!

If you want to reach out to Tanaka
Email: tanakakangaraprcoordinator@gmail.com
IG: https://www.instagram.com/heyy_tanakalovesbooks/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1089610575

Cover Art by: Fabienne and Jordan
Contact email: thebookishhourpod@gmail.com
Intro/Outro music: Season Two: Ramaramaray by Aiyo via Epidemic Sound Season One: Sweet Psycho via TikTok’s Offical Sound Studio on Capcut
Follow Us:
Podcast: @thebookishhourpod
Fabienne: @oxonheart
Jordan: @sipsoffiction

Jordan:

Welcome to the bookish hour with JustJour. With over six years of industry experience, she serves as a publicity coordinator for a small indie press, traditional publisher, as well as a PR coordinator in charge of PR and marketing for authors, managing a diverse array of responsibilities, including distributing advanced reader copies for upcoming releases, issuing press releases, collaborating with influencers to amplify book news, organizing live chats and interviews and devising effective marketing strategies to promote books. Welcome to the podcast Tanaka Hi Hi. How are you Good? How are you? Thank you so much for coming on and for letting me interview you.

Tanaka:

Welcome. Thank you so much for having me.

Jordan:

I'm very excited to be here and to answer all your questions that you have for me. I'm so excited it's somebody in the book world, so thank you so much. I like to start off every episode with something good that has happened Do you have anything that you would like to share.

Tanaka:

I think for me personally, like on a personal life, I've got a concert that's happening on Saturday. It's one of my favorite like artists and I don't really go out that much. I'm always at home reading like every weekend, like I just put on my pjs and just not do anything and just read the whole day. So it's very exciting that I just get like I go, I get to go out and dress up and listen to one of my favorite like artists.

Jordan:

I'm very excited oh my gosh, that is so exciting. Who's the artist? I want to know.

Tanaka:

Yeah, his name is Loiso Two L's O-Y-I-S-O and he, like his music is like very emotional, like he sings songs about heartbreak, about falling in love, love about life, and like I know every single song. So I'm actually so excited to get to, like I get to go, I'm excited to like sing all his music and just have a good time and just be that person who just like cries over his songs, and so I'm very, I'm like I'm very excited about that, like I can't wait.

Tanaka:

um, like he's one of my top fives if, if and yep, he's in like where Taylor Swift is, because I'm like, okay, this is this black girl who loves Taylor Swift, but I really like, I really love Taylor Swift's music, so like he's up there with Taylor Swift, which, which is also exciting.

Jordan:

Oh, that's good. Oh, that's going to be so awesome, that's going to be so great. I'm so excited for you. I love concerts, so I, I, just I always want to go to concerts, and when you, when it's an artist where you know all the songs too, those are even better, because then you're just dancing and singing the whole time.

Tanaka:

Exactly, and you're just having a good time. So I'm very, I'm very excited. Maybe it's because when a new book comes out, that's when I'm like, okay, yeah, I'm excited. But then this is like, okay, it's a new art, it's like an artist that I really like, admire and really love the music, and I'm always blown away by like the music that they write.

Jordan:

So it's, it's, it's. I'm very, I'm very, very stoked about it. No, that's, that's awesome. That's awesome. My, my good week is definitely not as exciting. I just I got an art, like a physical art, in the mail yesterday and it's a book that I really, really want to read. So I'm super excited, but it's not like want to read.

Tanaka:

So I'm super excited, but it's not like concert level, but I'm still excited and it's like it's a book, like I mean books you can get excited for, like books as well Like it's even getting a physical, getting physical mail and it's something that you read. That's like the most exciting thing. I'm always. I mean, I don't get mail here because I live on the other side of the world, so I try to like at least if I get an art from somewhere or if it's like one of the publications in the arc I really want and I get it. I'm like, oh my gosh, I just got so happy. But then, like when I used to get like mail, I used to be like so excited because it's like an author is sending me all the way to like Zimbabwe. That's like the other side of the world. So I'm always that should be an exciting thing. I always reach up high getting like especially books. I mean you never go wrong with books.

Jordan:

You really can't. You really can't. Um. Okay, so to dive into the interview, um, I have it broken down into three parts so I have like more of your job as like a publicity coordinator type questions, and then I have reading and personal so like. So the first question is do you want to explain a little about what you do working for an indie press?

Tanaka:

traditional publisher so okay for an indie press, because I work for 1001 Dark Nights and Blue Box Press, so it's two press. They have 1001 Dark Nights and Blue Bookspress, so it's two press. They have 1001 Dark Nights, which is like novella style books, like around 100 to like 200 pages and it's like a list of authors and they release like novellas. Sometimes the novella could be like a start of a series or it could be a continue. It could be um based on like a character or a side character and they release like um sort of like novellas just to like entice the reader to like read like the full series. So usually like it could be um a side character in a book, in an author's book. So, for example, like if it's one of the authors that I know, dylan Allen, she has a side character and then most readers want to okay, can we have a book from this side character? And then she then writes a story story for one thousand one dark nights and then one thousand one dark nights then get to like publish it. So it's like and it's also there's a storyline about it, although the storyline is quite like, it's quite long, but they have a storyline about like um releasing like those one thousand one dark nights based is based on like an Arabian type of story. It's quite long so you can check it on the website. And then for Blue Box Press it's the full-length books and most of them are stand-alones. Some of it could be like a series, but then it's like different characters so they treat it as like stand-alones. So it could be like for, for example, like we've got a series where um it's three women and they make a pact and the author like that's Lexi Blake. She writes um a story for each, or for each, three women who find like um love and also like careers and all that.

Tanaka:

So my job as um publicity coordinator is, I sort of like send out. I have signups for each release. So for every year there'll be like certain books they're gonna like release for a year, and then I make signups for that, and for those signups I then send out like an email or I send out like a newsletter. We're like, oh, there's a new release coming up, if you're interested, and then I list the tropes, I list like the genres, at least I list out the release date.

Tanaka:

I also list out like what the book is about. And then people sign up and then when they sign up, I then ask for that and then after that I also make like press releases. So I like make a bookstagram list for bookstagrammers. So it's generally like with the indie press I work closely with influencers. Like with the indie press I I work closely with influencers. I like work um more on trying to like find ways to like promote, like both on 1001 dark nights side and also blue box press site, to also come up with like ways, different ways to like, you know, promote all these books oh, so is uh 1001 dark nights.

Jordan:

Is that only novellas?

Tanaka:

there's no full-length novels in there that is no full-length novels, it's just novellas.

Jordan:

Oh, that's really cool. Is this something you've always wanted to do, or did you want to do something else before?

Tanaka:

So when I started out I never knew that my career would be in books. I started out when I started out I did my high school, but then I was like okay, I want to be a chef. That was initially. My dream was to work at a restaurant and also then open up my own restaurant in the future. So I did my diploma in South Africa and in the future, so I did my. I did my diploma in South Africa and I came back home and then I thought like things would work out.

Tanaka:

But then things didn't work out with the whole chefing thing and there were some problems and after that I went into some you know, depressive. You know, sometimes when you don't like find a job and you don't like find a job and you don't find what you're looking for and you feel kind of lost, you end up being depressed. I was depressed a little bit and then I then discovered, okay, I love, because I was still reading books and like I was into, like Stephen King and James James Patterson, you know, crime and horror and all those things. And then when I picked up Fifty Shades of Grey in 20, like when it like blew up and then I was reading books. And then after that I was like, okay, why should? Okay, let me just be a blogger, let me review books, since, like, this whole chef thing is not working, I'm not getting a job and none of it.

Tanaka:

And the thing is, all of those things were my fault. I just had the credentials and everything. I graduated, all those things. It's just that things were just like maybe it just happens, or the season changed or that sort of thing. So for me to like get over, me not being depressed or me like just like sitting at home doing nothing, I was like, ok, let me just come up with a blog and let me like review books. So yeah, I don't know, it was always what I wanted books. So yeah, I don't know, it was always what I wanted. But then, finally, now being where I'm at and like how things have happened and like where I'm supposed to be, Wow, it's like life led you in this direction and now you're very happy where you are.

Tanaka:

Very happy and the thing thing is, it's just, it's very weird because as soon as I started like my blog and as soon as I was reviewing and I also got to like, befriend, like different authors from like different backgrounds and I got to be on review teams and and I also got an opportunity to PA for an author, that's when everything just started to align.

Jordan:

Oh, okay, um, so what is one thing that is the most fun, exciting about working for like an indie press, traditional publisher, and what is the most challenging?

Tanaka:

the fun thing, what can I say, is working for one thought. Well, working with women, like especially these three co-founders, um jillian stein, um elizabeth perry and jay rose, working for them and also working for the team, it feels like you're a part of a sisterhood and like when you, we support each other. We also, like, when there's like challenges and when there's things happening like I'm able to like approach them or I'm I'm struggling in something, or like, oh, there's this marketing idea that I've come up with. Um, what do you think that sort of thing I'm able to like approach them and I'm able to like go to them and say, oh, hey, this is, I've got this going on. What should I? Oh? Like, oh, I thought of something. Wow, oh, I thought of something like.

Tanaka:

Usually I always come up with like ideas at three in the morning and I like, when I wake up and then I write them down, and then I'm like, oh, I just came up with this fun idea at three in the morning. What do you think? That sort of thing, it's just. It's just, I'm a, I'm part of a team that, like, who will support you like 100 percent, like, um, who? Um are there for you, especially when you're going through things, or like also who accept, um, who you are Like.

Tanaka:

I mean, I'm from Zimbabwe and my what can I say? My time zone is not ideal sometimes, and sometimes I have days where I have to like work through the night, but they accept, like I'm from this side of the world and they accept also my time zone as well, and they accept me. For me, which is one of the most amazing things working for 1001 Dark Nights and People Express is they really are there for you in a way, for everyone who's yeah, everyone who's a part of the team, from the others, from like everyone, like they make you feel like, um, you're like a part of, like a sisterhood that's like really nice and that's like something that I feel like people want and like want to strive for being part of, like a team whatever, in whatever aspect.

Jordan:

So do you think like the most challenging is the time difference, since you are anywhere from, like I know for me is six, seven hours. Then you go farther west, you're just getting farther and farther into the night. So is that feel like that's got to be challenging.

Tanaka:

Yeah, I think it's these days where I OK, I'm sort of like used to it because when I was starting out like when I was starting out working because I worked for two PR companies when I was starting out like when I was starting out working because I worked for two PR companies when I was starting out, I had to like adjust my times a bit because everyone in the team had like different times. It's the same thing with the team members in 1,000 Wonder Packs Everybody's in the different time zones. So I had to like really adjust to it. Sometimes zone, so I had to like really adjust to it.

Tanaka:

Sometimes it does tend to get like really challenging where like, okay, I have to like wake up and then see all the emails and everything. I'm like, oh, these are the emails I was supposed to like answer, like you know, at night. I was supposed to answer like a day before or something. I'm now seeing them in in in the next day. So I think for me, yeah, the challenging is the time is on everything. I don't see any challenges with anything. I love what I do With Liz, jillian and MJ Rose. They are the real deal.

Jordan:

It's just so great, yeah, yeah, you just can't. There's like it's all good things so it's that, but that's awesome. There's people out there that don't have that, so that's really awesome. Um, how is being a PR coordinator in charge of PR and marketing for authors Is? Is it different or similar to your job at the Indie Press?

Tanaka:

traditional publisher um, okay, some of it it's similar, like press releases, um, sending out arcs, that sort of thing. It's and and it's similar. But then there's also more things so I have to like put in into effect, like backlist promotion. So when the book goes on sale, I have to also come up with ideas sometimes. Or there's there's certain things, okay it, okay it's a one-day sale, you know you can't do anything about it. But for like a one-week sale or one-month sale, you have to come up with different like marketing strategies for that. I also like. There's times where I come up with for each release or for each book and usually it's like a different genre I try to come up with a marketing plan centered around that genre. So it could be small-town romance. You know, come up with a plan for like marketing plan for a small-town romance book. If it's paranormal fantasy, all that, I have to at least come up with something unique and something totally like. That's not the norm and that's also not the same.

Tanaka:

I also prepare live a book, live chats, podcasts, because I'm also for podcasts, it's. I love podcasts. I listen to a lot of podcasts, book one and also cause. I also like watch Formula One. I also listen to like F1 podcasts as well. So, like I've seen the value of podcasts, so I at least try to, like you know, put a list of like different podcasts and then book an interesting one Live chat with like bookstagrammers. Like I, as I said, like I always try to come up with something unique, something different, something that would be like. So, out there, like people would be like oh, you know, you came up with this, you came up with that. Yeah, all sorts of like different things.

Jordan:

What does a typical day look like for you, from the moment you wake up to the moment you close your eyes?

Tanaka:

So when I wake up, so, first of all, I eat breakfast, most important meal of the day.

Jordan:

So first of all, I eat breakfast.

Tanaka:

Most important meal of the day. Most important meal of the day. So I have to have coffee Like it's a must, Because sometimes I work until 3 am. So I have to have like coffee. This is just me. No one knows that I work until 3 am. Like if Jillian and you were to find out I work through the night, they'll be like okay, she works through the night.

Tanaka:

If Jillian and Jules were to find out I work through the night, they'll be like, okay, she works through the night, I just hope they won't find this podcast. And then like, oh, she works through the night. Yeah, I sometimes work at 3 am and without anybody knowing that I'm also working at 3 am. So I do like wake up kind of late, so around like 11,. When I wake up, then late, so around like 11. When I wake up, then I have coffee and then I usually check my emails on my phone, um, so if there's anything important that needs me to do it on my laptop, I put that aside. If there's anything, okay, I can answer this. I can answer.

Tanaka:

Usually, sometimes I get, like, for example, if I send out an arc the next day, I get an email like, oh, I didn't receive it, that sort of thing. So I like, try to do it on my phone, try to send it on, like, try to send the arc through my phone and then afterwards, you know, prepare for the day and then I go to my laptop so I write down a list of things I need to do for the day, um, which is, if it's because I try to do things early, I try to do things well in advance for both 1001 Dark Nights at Blue Book Space and for Kristen Ashley, which is who's the worker I work, who's the author I work for. So I try to like to do a separate when I'm writing down tasks for 1,000 one-top nights I need to do, and tasks for Blue Box Press that I need to do, and then tasks for Kristen Ashley I need to do, and then I half it. So I say the first hour or the first two hours, I'm doing it for 1000 One Tough Nights and Blue Box Press, and then for the next two hours I'm doing things for Kristen Ashley and I try to balance things. As the day winds up, I have to also eat dinner as well. So while I'm eating dinner, also working, I'm also looking at things as well.

Tanaka:

I tend to like working according to to us time. It's where, like, I'm most productive and it's where, like, people can catch me more if I work in the morning, or people won't catch me if I work in. If I work like, let's say, like I finish working like 5 pm, my time, which is like 12 noon, they won't catch me. So the best time for me is I start out at like 8 am, 9 am, which is like 3, 4 in the afternoon my time.

Jordan:

It's like you're working that second shift of like three to four to basically late for you.

Tanaka:

Late for me and the thing is I don't have a day where, like, okay, this is where the day ends, because I'm that person where, like, if I haven't completed like the task, I've completed, that I've written for the day, I have to like complete it. Like I'm that point where, like, I have to like I can't leave it hanging and with most things, like press releases, I can do that in like a month, like a month before the release. Press releases are not a problem. A month, like a month before the release, first release is another problem. But on the other side, there's some things, especially like for authors. On my side there's like things where, because I'm also like communicating with other people as well, outside, like outside Christian, outside 1000, I'm communicating with other people and other people.

Tanaka:

There's certain people that don't even know I live in Zimbabwe, because I had a funny thing where one of the bookstagrammers they're like oh, you're from Zimbabwe, which is like Zimbabwe, oh, I didn't know. Because people literally thought I live in the US, but I don't live in the US, I live in Zimbabwe. So it's like it was a culture shock for them that I live on the other side of the world. But I'm also working for US, like I'm working for a US-based indie press and I also work for an author who lives in the US, so it's always that sort of thing. But yeah, I think that's how my day goes, with how it ends. It ends when I say, okay, I'm going to bed. That's how you do it.

Jordan:

Yeah, especially if you're up until like 3 am. It's like, okay, I'm done working, I'm going to go to bed now.

Tanaka:

Go to bed now. Go to bed now, and I'm so like I'm kind of strict on myself Because sometimes I don't even know, like there's certain times that I don't even know what time it is, and I'm so into like the release, and I'm so into something and I want to solve it, and I just and the time just flies by and I don't even know, it's not like 1 am. I'm like, is it 1 am already? And I just don't even because I get so like engrossed in things and I get so like I like things to be when I start something, I like want things to be sort of like resolved. Oh, I want things to be resolved, I want things to be done. Yeah, you don't want anything hanging over you.

Jordan:

You want it to be done. I feel like that's a good thing.

Tanaka:

And maybe it's because I'm an I'm I'm, my qualities are American, very I'm, I'm, I'm an overachiever, and I tend to like cause. There's certain things where like, okay, some people will say, okay, you can do this the next day, or to be done now, and then I need to move on to the next thing, and most of the people some people always work things in advance. I do things like even two months before I'm supposed to do the thing, and that's that's how I am. Um, that's that's my personality.

Jordan:

I like to be yeah, but that's like not a bad thing, if you ask me. That's like not a bad thing.

Tanaka:

If you ask me that's like a very good thing. Yeah, it's got its moments. And then there's sometimes when I do slack a bit, because usually there's days where it's like there's nothing releasing, because we get months where like, okay, it's one book releasing in a month and I'm just like I tend to like then do the things last minute because it's just one release and um, okay.

Jordan:

So do you have any advice for people that want to get in the book industry or to like to work for either an indie press, traditional publisher or an author?

Tanaka:

do you have any advice I mean my only advice is like, do it because you love books. Like, don't do it because, okay, um, it's the trend, it's like trendy, because now, yes, we have books where like, okay, it's not trendy, like especially with what happened with covid, and now we have this new wave of readers and everybody just wants to okay, let, I want to work and I want to be part of an indie press, because it's like trendy and you know that sort of thing. So the only thing I can say is just do it because you love it, do it because you have an interest in working and promoting books and being and working for authors. Being and working for authors because authors like for me, I'm always like in awe of authors who come up with all these ideas like I can't even write. I can't even write a book to like save myself or anything. So I'm always in awe of authors who like write these amazing books, especially for fantasy. I'm always amazed, like I could take, for example, jennifer L Amundsjok. I'm always like amazed in how she created like Blood and ash series and fleshify. I'm always like like. I'm always like, okay, how did you come up with something so genius like that, something so like wonderful and and beautiful and just like you know, like original and something just just magical in a way. How did you come up with something?

Tanaka:

And for me personally, like also like treat, like I always say, like other advisors, always treat authors with respect because, like, when you're going into this industry, into this industry like, you have to set aside like your own ideas, your own opinions and sometimes you have to like really be for the author and you have to be also like respectful of what they like writing, um, what they are producing, like you have to like treat it with respect. Like, if you don't treat it respect, why are you working for the author, why you want to be part of an indie press if you're not going to be respect, respectful, or if you're not gonna like be kind or um, or you're not gonna like feel for the author and also like also also be understanding that sort of thing. My other advice as well is um, be ready to do your research, um, you are required to do it. Like and any are required to do a job, like when you see an ad, oh, we're looking for someone, like a peer company posted an ad, we're looking for someone to join our team, and that sort of thing. So, when you apply, do your research. What you are applying for Books, read books.

Tanaka:

Obviously, there are no books about like being part of this industry, but I mean for me, I'm somebody, like, if anyone wants to be, wants to work for an indie press, wants to even working for a trade, or even working for one of the big five, like Simon Schuster, random House the big five I am the type of person where you can approach me and if you have questions, if you need something or advice or more advice that I can't give on here because I probably ramble a lot, but, like, if you need like one-on-one advice, like you can approach me. I can, like you know, try and give like advice as much as I can from my experience, but I think, yeah, so the number one thing be respectful research, research, research, research, research, research, like. Also, like when you do get the job, like try and be assertive, like work yes, you're working part of a team, which is very important, but also, like be assertive in yourself. So if there's certain things where like, okay, there's this one team member, they're saying, okay, is there anyone who can do this? Do this, like some of those things you can research and you can.

Tanaka:

You can practice on your own, like the certain things when I was working I had to do on my own. I had to figure out, like, how to do it myself, because there's there's times where, like people are so like people are so into their work, um, and then you come to someone and you say, oh, how can I do this, how can I do this? How can I do that? Yes, there are people who would help you, but initially, like, be that assertive way, like okay, you're confident you've done, you've done your own thing, you've practiced, you're confident you can do it.

Jordan:

I like that advice. I feel like that's very good advice. And then what we can do, too, is like we'll put your Instagram handle, we can put your email, whatever you're willing to share, in the show notes. So then that way, if anybody's listening and wants to reach out for more advice, they can do that. So we'll definitely put that in there.

Tanaka:

Okay. So, looking back at your six years of working in the book industry, is there anything that you would have done differently to make your life easier either now or then go to signing other things is I should have been more transparent with certain things like my abilities, cause there was, there was days where I could get overworked and that's me being an overachiever. It's like, oh, I can do this, I can, I can do this, I can. You know I can finish this in an hour, I can you know I. Just I just feel like I should have been transparent more on my capabilities um to spare of like okay, um, I'm very much overworked. I need help, like I should have been more assertive on I need help, to be able to ask for help like when you needed it.

Jordan:

Yeah, I get that. Okay, so that was all the questions for your job, and now we dive into reading. What is your favorite book and or series, a book that you would recommend to anyone and everyone?

Tanaka:

My gosh, that's very hard to take. Have one book okay, okay, like the one book I'll always say okay, even though it's very angsty and it's in this time where it does, you did a lot, but it's like that book very, it impacted me a lot and, um, like those things that I could relate to and it's called um, the Sound of Temptation by Dylan Allen. Yeah, it's, the story is quite like, it's very, it's very angsty and there's also like some drama and like there was like things I could relate to, things that are like, okay, these are things that happen in my life, you know, and things that touched on certain topics that, okay, I cried for like five hours and then and not because like okay, not because like okay, well, the author is close or anything close or anything no, if I was not close with the author, that's the book I would recommend because it touched me in such a way where I was crying. I was crying like ugly sobs, I was crying so hard on the floor and there were even times where I thought, okay, is my kingdom broken? Because I was so angry and frustrated and I was going through a lot of emotions.

Tanaka:

But that book for me, like, really like made me like, okay, I'm actually, I love romance, this is what I love. This is why I love reading romance. It's to feel like that. Yeah, it's to feel those, those big emotions and then, of course, yes, there's a happily ever after at the end. But then to also feel like, to feel like it can touch you so deeply, like that.

Tanaka:

And then I'm kind of going to yeah, no, I'm also of gonna, yeah, no, I'm also gonna cheat a little bit and say like, oh for fantasy, because I have to like cheat a little bit for fantasy. I think it's the kindred, the kindred's curse, sagopa pen call. I love that one. I think the spark of the spark of it's it's quite as well, it's, it's huge right now. But then I read it before it was like really like big and um, the spark of the ever flame, which is the first book, um, glow of the glow of the ever flame, and then heat of the ever flame, and then the last book is burn of the Everflame, and then the last book is Burn of the Everflame, which is still it hasn't been released yet, but the third book has 1,000 pages. And this is when I felt like this is when I felt like, okay, 1,000 pages, I mean that would take me a month. It took me seven days.

Jordan:

You flew through it, yeah.

Tanaka:

I flew, like, flew through it Like I was, I was not sleeping, Like there was times it was during the, because usually I tend to like, want to read during the weekend and then like for other books, like if it's like a 1,100 Nights of Chris Christian, I try to like to like at least read it, like after I'm done with work, but in general like, or when I'm beginning the day, but in general like over the weekend, like those fantasies where I read all those fantasies, those 600-page, 700-page books. That's how I want to read them. So I flew 1,000, like I was even shocked it was 1,000 pages and then I was like, okay, I was done Seven days.

Jordan:

Dang, but like you know, it's a good book. You know it's a good book when that happens.

Tanaka:

Because I always have a list. Okay, this is my top fantasy list, this is my top contemporary list. Because when you say, okay, what's your favorite book? I'm like, oh, I have a list and they're all separate because I don't want to like put everything together because I love. I'm the sort of person who loves everything. If a book were to like grab me, I would love it. That's how I am, like I love anything.

Jordan:

Yeah, that makes perfect, that makes perfect sense. So then, what is one line of writing, poetry or quote that lives in your head? Rent free.

Tanaka:

I kind of have to like it. Oh yeah, because like, because, um, well, read, like because it's very long, but it's for me, I feel like with romance, because I wasn't really into romance books. I was into, like Stephen King, james Herbert, like horror, like crazy, like rats eating people.

Tanaka:

Yeah, rats eating people, okay, that's the thing. So when I picked up my like Fifty Shades of, like, okay, twilight, when I picked up Twilight, because it started with Twilight, and then the history is this but then there is this quote on the Pride and Prejudice movie, the 2005 one. It's one of my favorite movies and I watch it all the time. The good thing is it's on Netflix. So the line was super long, so I just was super long.

Tanaka:

So, but just to this point, okay, I will have to tell you you have bewitched me body and soul, and I love, I love, I love you. I never wish to be parted from you from this day on. And it's like the scene in itself is because he comes in, he walks and it's like I think it was like like for me it's like 4 am before before the sun rises, and then he says those words and then she like kisses him, um, on the, on the hand, or something like that, and then, as soon as the light comes, like the sunrise comes up and it's got that shot that I swooned so hard. But basically that quote when you walk in and it says those words that is a great quote.

Jordan:

As soon as I heard the, you bewitched me. I was like oh, I know exactly what you're talking about, because that is that. It's just that whole scene.

Tanaka:

That quote, that scene is just epic yeah, and the thing is there's more, because I didn't want to say the long thing, but there's more, like before the whole piece, but it's the part that like, really like, oh yep, I get it, I get it and the whole Sunuma talk, with the sunrise and it being like I think for me it was like 4 am and then coming like it's dark.

Tanaka:

It's a little bit dark, and then he's walking, and then he's saying those words and then there's the sun. I mean, whoever did that, whoever captured that moment, like he's a genius. Like he's a genius and I feel like the person kind of read romance books and knew what they were doing. So I give my ass to that person like you're a genius genius, um, okay.

Jordan:

So what if you could have a literary dinner party with three authors, living or dead? Who would you invite and why?

Tanaka:

Wow, that's a good question and I love a lot of authors Like. I love a lot of them. So I'm going to like choose my three Black sisters because I like really support them and I love their books. So first of all is Dylan Allen. I mean, I've read like every single book from her. There's no book I have not read from her.

Tanaka:

And the thing is, she's from, she's from, she's from, she's from well, she's from Ghana and I kind of feel like the familiarity. Okay, she's from, like, she knows about Africa, like she has parents who are from Ghana and she's from Ghana, she's from Ghana. So I feel like that African sort of like how can I say closeness with her? And then the second one is Nana Malone. She writes how can I say she writes?

Tanaka:

She's also from Ghana as well, but like she writes like these, like some of her international like romances I'm like my fave. So she has this series that some of her international like romances I'm like my fave. So she has this series that I really, really love a lot and I'll probably read it again. If I had more time to read four hours to read I'll probably like read again. And then the third one is BB Reid, she writes dark romance and also she also writes like why choose romances? But she's basically like it's a dark romance, but our dark romances are so unhinged. She's like speaking to me sometimes because I also. I'm like okay, why do I like this? This is so unhinged, but why do I like this?

Tanaka:

but those are the three like those are the three I would like, in fact, and those are the three I would like want to pick. Yeah, I want to pick the brains more, want to know certain things like, for example, bb reader. I'll be like I want to know, like these scenes like how did you come up with these scenes?

Jordan:

they're so obvious yeah, yeah, I mean, we all like we love a good, unhinged male main character, so I feel you there. I feel you there, yeah.

Tanaka:

So those are the three Dylan Allen, nana Malone and Bebe Reid.

Jordan:

I feel like that would be a very cool dinner party. Okay, so personal. We're on the last two questions. Outside of reading, what are some of your other hobbies you like to do?

Tanaka:

Okay.

Tanaka:

So I love one of the like. My main hope is is watching Formula One. So I started watching Formula One when I was I think I was 16, 17. Yeah, it should be 17, I'm not sure 16, 17 and it's it's. It has grown, like from where I started watching it back then, because I started watching it in 2000 and it's 2007, I was still in, I was in high school and when I started I was like, okay, I'm in there because it's like there's the first ever black person. You know I'm supporting, I'm supporting my fellow, you know, a black person. You know, first ever black, black formula one driver. You know, I mean, I'm all about those stories, I love like those stories. So it was initially that and then I'm still a fan of him, always gonna be a fan of, because he's the one who introduced. Name is Lewis Hamilton. One introduced me to the sport. But then now it's like, okay, I've gone into the technical side of things.

Tanaka:

I like listen to podcasts and f1 podcast and I'm very like this is it with races. I'm very like. You're like into it loud, I'm into it and I'm very loud, I'm into it and I'm very loud and I'm very animated. And when I'm frustrated, when I want to cry, I cry. When I'm angry, I want to throw things against the wall. That type of crazy. I'm crazy when it comes to Formula 1. I love it so much. I follow a lot of f1 drivers because I only have one account, which is still as a book account, slash personal, slash f1. So most of the people that follow me they like I'm always trying to think myself okay, are they? Are they not like you're bored over, like me posting f1 news and reposting weird things about Formula One, like memes and all that stuff, and I get so like, really like so into it, like I love it so much.

Tanaka:

Um, another hobby is cooking. I love cooking. I mean I have a chefing, I've got a chef diploma that I have to use, so I love like I don't really cook that much, but there's days where like, okay, okay, I have to cook, I want to cook something. Wow, I want to, like you know, be like to act as if I'm at a restaurant, that type of vibe, and I always come up with like weird, fun ideas and I usually post it on my Instagram sometimes. Sometimes I don't, and yeah, I think those are those. And then also like watching. Like I love watching k-dramas. Um, I didn't know I would love k-dramas. I thought I would hate it, but I mean it was 2018.

Tanaka:

And a certain author, penelope Douglas, like she created a group for like people who love K-dramas and Chinese dramas, like Korean dramas, chinese dramas, thai dramas and all that. I was like, okay, let me just join because you know, penelope Douglas, she's like one of my like, she's like I read, I love her books, you know, and I mean, let me just join. So it was just a community of people who love dramas and who love K-dramas and C-dramas. And then I was losing sleep because there's times where, like there was times where I would watch through the night until like 5am and the sun is out and I'm on episode 11, because it's like 60 episodes and it's episode 11 and the sun is out and the birds are like chirping and everything. I'm like, oh my gosh, gosh, is it really? Is the sun out?

Jordan:

Like I really should go to bed, but I can't stop.

Tanaka:

Stop watching, like I have to like finish. And there's times where, like I was watching it, like I was watching, like I was watching the whole night until I finished. Like there was times where I was just crazy now okay, now I'm still crazy over like K-dramas, but then like it's no more, as it was back in 2018, where I was like, okay, I need to like spend my night and hours watching that show. Now I can okay, now I can try just watch five episodes and I'm like okay, I'm done. And usually because I like when I'm doing work is that I usually take breaks when I'm about to eat dinner and then that's when I get to like watch at least like one episode. Like when I finish eating, then I go back to work. That's usually like try to like, listen more to myself and try not to like at least. Sometimes I fail and I end up watching like nine episodes in one night.

Jordan:

It's either one episode or it's all of them.

Tanaka:

And some of these have, because, for example, chinese dramas, they have 40 episodes and sometimes I'll be like, okay, oh, they're like 45 minutes, that's not too long, I can watch that. And then next thing you see you're on episode 15.

Jordan:

Can't stop, can't stop, can't stop, won't stop.

Tanaka:

You can't stop. You can't stop and yeah, and then I think those are like the two. Those are the like the two of these where I'm like crazy over which is Formula One and Asian dramas, because I watch like like a wide variety Korea, chinese, thai, japanese, philippines, anything that would like. Okay, I like it, and this is a drama that would like grab me and I'll be watching 15 episodes in one night. I'll watch it.

Jordan:

Oh, okay, okay, so we are on the last question. What is one future goal that you would like to achieve, either long term, short term, and this could be with work or anything bookish, or your personal life too. What's a future goal?

Tanaka:

Then this is the one I'm like really working on. Well, I'm trying my best to work on is to do a podcast, but it's like books and Formula One, so it's like both of the things, like putting together the things that I love. Yes, I love books, I love talking about books. Usually, I just like I usually I talk books with a few people that I'm friends with and I mean I always get so excited, right like like when I was blogging, I could write like a long paragraph of like how much I loved the book, like I would go like full dip, as if I'm like a journalist or something and I talk about the characters, I talk about the writing. Sometimes I talk about the writing and sometimes I just go off topic and say, oh, this book was so amazing. I felt this. I felt this. I felt that I felt all these emotions.

Tanaka:

I just that sort of thing I like. I actually like when I used to like. When I used to like sometimes, because I usually go on my Goodreads and I like check, okay, the reviews. I used to like the essays, I used to write on my Goodreads and I'm like what the hell, what is this? And then I get to like. And then the thing is, I'm also excited because I also get to talk about books with friends. I got like a few book friends that I talk to and like I always talk about books with friends. Um, I got like a few book friends that I talk to and like I always talk about the books I'm reading and they also introduce me to books and I end up falling in love with those books as well that they recommend and it's just a whole cycle. So I just love.

Tanaka:

I just want to like do like a podcast where I just get to talk about books and get to talk about also get to talk about formula, because it's like two things books and formula one. And I get to talk about formula one and I'm because I'm really like deep into, like I'm when it comes to books and formula one, I'm like very excited. I'm very like I'm a fan, like a fan fan, I can even all these authors like, because there's some authors where, okay, back then, because I'm very, I'm a very quiet person and I try like to on social media, it's when like all better off, I'm like very hyperactive. When there's an author that I love, they leave something, I comment, I, I share things.

Tanaka:

I try not to share a lot of things, but I end up just sharing like 15 or 16 things and my instagram and my story is all looking like 15 or 16 things and my Instagram and my stories all looking like there's 16 different things going on. There's K-dramas, there's Formula One, there's stuff about I don't know, there's memes about books, there's there's all sorts of things that happen. So, like, I really like the podcast, I really I really want to do one Like I really want to start one. You should.

Tanaka:

You totally should I'm always cause I'm always, yeah, I and I'm always in awe with people who like do, especially you, like you're doing like amazing things on your podcast and it's always like, I'm always amazed. You know the dedication and um, you know the dedication and um, obviously, for me, just be one person and just be me talking and rambling and just being my awkward self, but you could also.

Jordan:

You could get like other people on too, so like you could talk like about books with somebody else or you just do it yourself. Like there's so many possibilities.

Tanaka:

Yeah, yeah, that's that's, that's that's, that's good advice, that's that's good. I love that. Yeah, there's so many, but who knows, when things, when things like I mean when things are good, like next year, and I'm very like settled in with certain like certain things, that's when I'll be like, okay, yeah, I want to do this, and then another, another goal, and then another goal of mine is somewhere in the future four or five years, I want to open up my own, like, literally, service thing. Oh, like it won't be like full PR. Okay, yeah, just want to help, because for me, in general, I love working with authors and I've worked with like different, like when I started out, I and it's just like I just loved working with authors and I love, like you know, just you know, being able to see like the process of like writing a book and then coming up with marketing ideas for the book and you know, like just the whole process in itself.

Tanaka:

I just I'm just so like into it, I'm so into, like you know, coming up like just helping promote books in my own unique way that I do things and it just brings me joy in life and it just makes me happy that I'm making someone happy with their dreams. That's something, you know. That's very important to me is to make that author feel like, okay, their dreams have come true, you know.

Jordan:

I like that. Yeah, so this it's make that author feel like, okay, dreams have come true, you know. Yeah, so this it's gonna happen. You'll open your own literary pr and you'll have your own podcast. This will happen. Manifesting yes yeah, I'm putting it out there yes, um, so that was all the questions I had for you. Is there anything you want to mention? You can have the floor. I don't know if you want to plug your Instagram handle. I don't know if you have a website, anything like that, that you wanted to mention.

Tanaka:

You can follow me on hey__. Underscore tanaka loves books on instagram. Um, if you, if you use facebook, you can also like friend me on facebook. Like I accept anyone um, tanaka kangara, k-a-n-g-a-r-a. And yeah, I'm basically like I'm more active on instagram, so that's why I'm like I'm very more vocal there. I do all sorts of crazy, crazy things there. But yes, hey, um h e double y are two y's. Yeah, underscore tanaka loves books also like.

Jordan:

I'll share your Instagram handle in the show notes too, so then that way people can just go right on and see it there too. But, oh my gosh, thank you so much for coming on the podcast.

Tanaka:

Thank you so much for having me Like. This was amazing. I had so much fun, Although, yes, I was just grumpying a lot.

Jordan:

All we want to do is just like talk about books. So like, thank you for talking about books with me um, I'm truly honored.

Tanaka:

Like I said, I'm truly honored to to have um to talk with you and to chat with you, and also, like those are amazing questions, because there's some questions I was like, oh, I really had to think I had to. Really amazing questions, cause there's some questions I was like, oh, I really had to think I had to really think about that and there's something probably I would have said, cause I feel like I also have said the wrong things as well, but oh well, oh, oh, my gosh.

Jordan:

No, not at all, but all right, well, thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you so much for listening. I hope you enjoyed this episode. Please feel free to rate and review us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen, and if there's any interviews or conversations you would like me to have with someone specific, please reach out either email or through our Instagram, available in the show notes and happy reading.