I started my very first bookstagram and tik tok account in 2023 because of gentle pushes from my friends and family that thought it would be something I would be good at and enjoy. Little did they know I would build a successful and ever growing business out of it, where I get to help authors achieve their goals and dreams. 

Starting small, I began helping authors with ARC teams and social media content creation and management. When the very first ARC team I did helped the author to reach Amazon Best Seller status I knew this was going to be life changing.

This caused me to stop the in-home daycare I was running permanently and do my author business full time. It took me about 6 months before I realized 16 hour days weren’t sustainable and I began to grow my team.

We now have an ever growing team of PA, PR, and marketing experts and we have no intentions of slowing down. I enjoy bringing in new services, connecting with past, current, and future clients, as well as keeping up with ever changing strategies .. so you don’t have to.

I pride myself on running a business that makes you feel like family, to provide you with the support, hand holding, expertise, knowledge, and ability to take your author career wherever you would like it to go. Don’t miss out on joining us for this awesome journey, where we will continue to bring authors and influencers together to help authors get back to what they enjoy most … writing.

Hi I'm Luke, accountant, Executive daddy, and all around silly guy. I'm here to support my wife with whatever she needs.
My passions include video games, DnD, Magic the Gathering, cooking, and being the best damn father/husband I can be. Things that bum me out are the unending tide of laundry and dishes, the trampling of human rights, and advertisements in the middle of a video(seriously I tolerate them at the beginning and end, but in the middle... piss off). 

Anyway I'm mostly in the back end of things, so you'll only hear from me in emails or impromptu kitchen karaoke before Hayley closes the office door.

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 loves to tell me is my responsibility if we ever move to a new house.

Since then, I’ve made lifelong friends, traveled to book cons across North America, 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 bookish folks 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.

Hey, I'm Nicole! I am the Social Media Manager at HBL, and while I may have fallen into the book and author space unexpectedly, I have always been an avid reader at heart. Turning my love of books especially romance into a role where I get to support authors and their brands through social media has been incredibly rewarding. I support HBL through engagement, scheduling, and caption writing, helping ensure their social media presence is consistent and intentional. I love being a part of author's stories and helping them share their books to the perfect readers is so rewarding! When I am not working, I am a mama to a little girl who is my world and in my free time, you can almost always find me binge reading on my kindle.