Read the Damn Book – What Makes A Real Literary Influencer?
Let’s talk about what literary influence should actually mean—and who’s earning it.
There’s a phrase I came across recently that stopped me cold:
“I’m a non-reader reader.”
Yes, that’s real. And yes, it was said by someone positioned as a literary influencer.
We now live in a time where someone can proudly admit they don’t read, then still be handed the mic as an authority on books. They're curating reading lists, hosting author interviews, and being featured on industry panels—not because of their literary insight, but because of their aesthetic.
That’s not literary influence.
That’s branding—and it’s hurting the book world more than we admit.
Here’s what I believe:
Literary influence isn’t about how well you style a stack of books.
It’s not about how many followers you have, or how many ARCs you’re sent.
It’s definitely not about using “I haven’t read it yet, but I’m obsessed” as your default caption.
True literary influence comes from connection—from having a deep, personal relationship with the stories you're recommending and the authors you’re uplifting.
It comes from reading the book, feeling something, and translating that feeling in a way that moves someone else to read it too.
So what do Bookfakers look like?
They say things like:
“This book is so gorgeous… I haven’t read it yet but I’m sure it’s amazing.”
“I keep up to date on new book releases so I can be part of the conversation, but I don’t actually read those books. Who has the time?”
“This was gifted. Review to come! (Maybe. Eventually.)”
And don’t get me started on the fact that some of these people are also actually posting book reviews on the books they aren’t even reading. Granted, they’re mostly copy and paste from the back cover but that’s not a review. That’s a rehashing of what the book is about. I think it’s a big problem that this industry is giving more weight to these curated, passive interactions than to the people doing the real work: the readers, the reviewers, the indie booksellers, the podcasters who actually show up prepared.
Bookfluencers, to me, are the ones who…
Write honest reviews because they actually read the book.
Recommend books thoughtfully, not transactionally.
Show up for the story—not just the sponsorship.
Support authors because they believe in the message—not because they might be the next celebrity book club pick.
Have built trust, not just a timeline.
I’ve seen this firsthand.
As a podcast host and publicist, I’ve watched authors light up when I reference a specific line from chapter six. I’ve seen them pause and say, “Wow—you really read it.” That moment? That’s real influence. That’s the start of a conversation that moves beyond marketing.
So what do we do about all this?
We raise the bar.
We stop confusing performance with passion.
We stop handing the mic to people who are just here for free books, follower growth and the spotlight.
We choose slow, thoughtful voices over fast, flashy noise.
We build a literary world rooted in honesty and depth.
Because book culture deserves better.
Authors deserve better.
Readers deserve better.
Let’s redefine literary influence.
Steph and I released the first podcast episode that coincides with this Read The Damn Book series. My favorite moment was when Steph described the importance of integrity as a tree with deep roots. If you lack integrity, then your brand will fall with the first storm…
Talking Democracy
Our country continues to be in a constant state of chaos. I’m born and raised in California and am very grateful to call it my home. I’ve lived in 5 cities in this beautiful state, including Los Angeles. I was appalled to see one of my Senators, Alex Padilla, be manhandled and detained yesterday. I’m a part of various content creator teams and yesterday I was given the opportunity to interview Senator Cory Booker. For me, this was a moment I didn’t take lightly. I had less than 30 minutes to prepare and while I went live downstairs, my husband and kids watched live on YouTube upstairs. I’ve turned the 6 minutes into a podcast interview that you can listen to and watch.
I believe we need to keep showing up and speaking out however we can. Politics are a part of our lives, no matter who you are. We are all affected. It’s important to stay informed and my hope is that I can somehow help you be informed and also be politically active.
My Current Reads
I finished Our Last Vineyard Summer by
and the audiobook of Life is A Lazy Susan of Sh*t Sandwiches by Jennifer Welch and Angie Sullivan. Jen and Pumps, as Angie is known, are the hosts of the I’ve Had It podcast…highly recommend! I’m currently reading Our Last Resort by which is a thriller about a brother and sister who escape a cult!How To Get On Podcasts Audiobook Sale
My amazing audiobook publisher has put How To Get On Podcasts on sale! Now through July 15th, you can make my book your beach listen for only $10!
San Jose Event
Don’t forget that Shannon Watts is coming to San Jose. I’m mentioning this again because I am so excited to spend a couple hours out of the house and with Shannon! I actually interviewed her this week and we had a blast! Tickets can be found here.
My Simplified Life Podcast
Last year I interviewed Nora Dahlia, author of Pick Up, and she told me about her husband, Andrew Weiner, who is an author of children’s books. My kids and I have been enjoying Andrew’s books including his latest one!
#323 The Frog Daddy with Andrew Weiner
Steph and I do NOT hold back when it comes to how we feel about reading the books we recommend and those we interview!
#324 Booked & Unfiltered: Read the Damn Book: Why Integrity Matters in Book Recommendations
Erika Lucas and I had more in common than we thought! We both have corporate career backgrounds in aviation and are working hard to elevate the voices and success of others.
#322 PERSIST. Voices: From Corporate Escape to Community Power with Erika Lucas
If this resonates with you, stay tuned for next week’s post:
“My Curated Summer Reads List”. I’ve shared a podcast episode on it but I’m going to dive deeper into what I believe it takes to curate an actual what to read list.
Looking for Help
I’m looking to hire a virtual assistant to help us with podcast research, some social media, podcast scheduling types of things. If you or someone you know might be a good fit, I’ve created a Google Form to apply.
