Conversations with Brea Wade

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brea Wade.

Hi Brea, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Although reading has always been prevalent to me, having an Instagram dedicated to the books I read is not something I would have imagined having such a great impact on my life. I originally stumbled onto ‘Bookstagram’ when I was attending a book signing in NYC and a fellow attendee mentioned she was documenting the signing for her account. My Bookstagram, @tellsoftales__, has become a creative outlet, an extended community, and a way for me to help spread my purpose of trying to get people to read more. When I was first starting out, I was curating my page based on what everyone else was doing, even though I felt like the style didn’t suit me. However, once I made the decision to create what I enjoy, my account began to take off. Others seemed to enjoy my lifestyle photos and casual captions, and my page ended up catching the eye of the team from Buzzfeed. They featured me, along with about 20 other black bookstagrammers in an article that went viral. That exposure turned into partnerships and PR relationships with multiple publishers and book companies that I still continue to grow today.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Finding my voice on my platform has been a struggle that is continuously evolving for me. In a society where people put your online presence under a microscope, there is always a feeling of sharing too much and not sharing enough, being too progressive and not being progressive enough. While I continue to find how to share my voice, I always remember that staying true to my core beliefs and values will keep me on the right path. There has also been a struggle in sharing my goals with other people. When I mention that part of my passion includes Instagram, there tends to be a slight pause as some people have a negative association with being an “influencer.” However, I view it as more than that. I view it as a platform that will create a foundation for me to spread a more meaningful message around literature.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
In contrast to the flat lay photos most people on “Bookstagram” post, I am known for my creative photoshoots, lifestyle imagery and unique ways I incorporate books into my photos. For example, I recently created a spooky Halloween series where the images ranged from being in a bathtub of milk to being dressed up as a mourning bride. The posts ended up being some of the most successful posts on my platform and some of my proudest work, as I was able to push my creative limits, and it was the first time I saw my visions come to life from inception to execution.

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
The most important lesson I’ve learned along my journey has been one of perseverance and how success doesn’t come overnight. It’s easy to compare yourself to other people who are doing something similar to you, especially in the age of social media. Comparing followers, likes, and growth to my peers is something I still struggle with sometimes, but I now remind myself that not all roads to success are linear and that my journey is uniquely mine.

Contact Info:

• Email: tellsoftales@gmail.com
• Instagram: @tellsoftales__