I started my first bookstagram and tik tok account in July of 2023. I was already an ARC reader and was being told by all of my friends and family that I needed to get on social media, instead of only posting my reviews to goodreads.

    In the year of 2023 I read and reviewed over 200 books, the majority of those being the books of indie authors. I would help authors by promoting their books, reading and reviewing, as well as creating content and helping with instagram growth. In less than a year I was sitting at over 8000 followers, reading a book a day, creating daily content, and seeing a huge growth in my engagement, in a very short period of time. I was also a part of a lot of large PR company influencer lists and was learning how they operated, while participating in the ARCs they were putting out. While doing this I realized there was a huge disconnect between influencers and PR firms and I wanted to create something that could rectify this issue. 

    After endless hours of PR and marketing research and social media trends, I knew it was time to start up my Author PA, PR, & Marketing Services firm, because indie authors need the most help getting their books out there, with affordable services being key. I started my business on January 2nd, 2024 and since then I have worked with over 80 indie authors through my PR services and have run over 20 different author’s social media pages. I have found huge success with using my Master ARC List (currently sitting at over 3000 members), my first release day blast helped to create a #1 Amazon New Release, and I have seen my clients social media pages up over 100% in their follower growth and engagement. After the revamp of our socials at the beginning of January 2025 we have seen our review submission ratio grow to 75%-80%, one of the highest I have seen out there. This is because I am a firm believer in community engagement, taking care of our influencers, and giving them the recognition they deserve, for all that they do. 

    I only see our business expanding and growing from here! Hiring more staff, taking on more clients, offering more services, and managing more influencers, is just the start. Don’t miss out on joining us for this awesome journey, where we will continue to bring authors and influencers together to help indie authors get back to what they enjoy most … writing.

Hi, I’m Shay — professional romance reader, fantasy daydreamer, and chronic TBR builder. Like many, I rediscovered reading during the pandemic and quickly fell down the rabbit hole of Bookstagram (@shaysshelf), found my people, and accidentally created an ever-growing library of books that my husband repeatedly tells me is my responsibility if we ever move to a new house (in college he worked for a moving company lol).

Since then, I’ve made lifelong friends, traveled to book cons across the continent, and discovered how much I love supporting indie authors. Whether it’s devouring ARCs, hyping up new releases, or alpha/beta-reading WIPs, I’m always cheering for authors and helping them make their dreams come true in anyway I can.

Outside the book bubble, I spent years working in communications, social media, and design for nonprofits and government agencies. Translation: I know my way around branding, websites, and making things look good. Eventually, I combined those skills with my bookish obsession to launch Storyline Design & Branding — my little corner of the world where I help authors and small businesses create stunning brands and websites that actually feel like them.

Early in my new business venture, I teamed up with Hayley at HBL, where I’ve tackled everything from website makeovers, to book formatting, cover design, PR, and PA services. Basically, if it involves books, authors, or marketing, I’m in!

Forever in my romantasy era, I’ve always been captivated by stories that weave together romance and fantasy—tales that transport you to magical worlds while tugging at your heartstrings. Since moving to Canada, I’ve reignited my love for books and feel grateful that I can now merge my creative skills with this passion professionally. When Hayley shared she was looking to hire someone to join the team, I was beyond excited to apply. I love this community and the unique opportunity to support authors as they bring their creative visions to life.

With extensive experience in marketing and design, I bring a creative yet strategic approach to every project. My expertise ranges from content creation and social media management to graphic design and brand development. I’ve always enjoyed helping authors and small businesses develop authentic, engaging brands that truly resonate with their audiences. I regularly review ARCs, attend book signings to meet fellow book lovers, and share my reading journey on my Bookstagram, @overthinking.bibliophile. My Bookstagram reflects my quirky personality—part chaotic, part funny—with lots of genuine enthusiasm for the books I love. It’s a space where I can be myself while connecting with an amazing community of readers and authors.

In my role as Admin & Content Expert, I assist Hayley with a variety of PA and PR services, manage essential administrative tasks, and create compelling content that connects with both readers and authors. I thrive in this dynamic environment where I can combine my organizational skills with my love for storytelling and design. Being part of such a passionate and supportive community is incredibly rewarding, and I look forward to contributing to many exciting projects alongside the talented HBL team.

Reading has always been my greatest escape. It carried me through some of life’s hardest moments, and my spaces have always been filled with the beautiful chaos of books. When I left for college, I packed an entire tote full of all of my favourites, even though I hardly had time to read.

As I stepped into adulthood, and then into motherhood, my reading time became more scarce, replaced by textbooks and children’s bedtime stories. But my own novels were never far from my heart.

Then came BookTok. What started as a beloved doom scrolling pastime quickly turned into something unexpectedly meaningful, it brought my love of reading back to life. I began prioritizing my own books again, reviewing my reads on Goodreads, and slowly dipping a toe into the world of Bookstagram in 2024. I didn’t have a strategy, just vibes and a growing TBR.

Since I wasn’t posting personal content anymore, I filled my feed with reviews, favourite reads, and bookish excitement. Before long, I was offered my first ARC, and everything changed.

I discovered how approachable and engaging indie authors could be and how much they wanted to connect with readers. I joined street teams, PR teams, and beta teams. I fell in love with books and authors I might never have discovered otherwise. My Bookstagram grew not through curation, but through authenticity: I showed up as a book dragon who gets wildly excited when an author likes my post. And it resonated.

I first connected with Hayling Bookstorm as an ARC reader. When I saw they were expanding their team, I jumped at the opportunity to work more closely with indie authors. What started as a love of reading became a professional calling.

Now, I split my time between two deeply meaningful worlds: as a full-spectrum doula and as part of the Hayling Bookstorm team, helping authors connect with readers through social media, PR, and influencer engagement. I feel incredibly lucky to support stories, both the ones we live and the ones we read.