February 10, 2025 • 59 mins
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
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Jordan (00:09):
Welcome to the bookish hour with JustJour.
With over six years of industryexperience, she serves as a
publicity coordinator for asmall indie press, traditional
publisher, as well as a PRcoordinator in charge of PR and
marketing for authors, managinga diverse array of
(00:32):
responsibilities, includingdistributing advanced reader
copies for upcoming releases,issuing press releases,
collaborating with influencersto amplify book news, organizing
live chats and interviews anddevising effective marketing
strategies to promote books.
Welcome to the podcast TanakaHi Hi.
(00:56):
How are you Good?
How are you?
Thank you so much for coming onand for letting me interview
you.
Tanaka (01:05):
Welcome.
Thank you so much for having me.
Jordan (01:14):
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 inthe book world, so thank you so
much.
I like to start off everyepisode with something good that
has happened Do you haveanything that you would like to
(01:35):
share.
Tanaka (01:38):
I think for me personally, like on a personal
life, I've got a concert that'shappening on Saturday.
It's one of my favorite likeartists and I don't really go
out that much.
I'm always at home reading likeevery weekend, like I just put
on my pjs and just not doanything and just read the whole
day.
So it's very exciting that Ijust get like I go, I get to go
out and dress up and listen toone of my favorite like artists.
Jordan (02:00):
I'm very excited oh my gosh, that is so exciting.
Who's the artist?
I want to know.
Tanaka (02:07):
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 inlove, love about life, and like
(02:28):
I know every single song.
So I'm actually so excited toget to, like I get to go, I'm
excited to like sing all hismusic and just have a good time
and just be that person who justlike cries over his songs, and
so I'm very, I'm like I'm veryexcited about that, like I can't
wait.
um, like he's one of my topfives if, if and yep, he's in
(02:50):
like where Taylor Swift is,because I'm like, okay, this is
this black girl who loves TaylorSwift, but I really like, I
really love Taylor Swift's music, so like he's up there with
Taylor Swift, which, which isalso exciting.
Jordan (03:04):
Oh, that's good.
Oh, that's going to be soawesome, that's going to be so
great.
I'm so excited for you.
I love concerts, so I, I, justI always want to go to concerts,
and when you, when it's anartist where you know all the
songs too, those are even better, because then you're just
dancing and singing the wholetime.
Tanaka (03:22):
Exactly, and you're just having a good time.
So I'm very, I'm very excited.
Maybe it's because when a newbook 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 bylike the music that they write.
Jordan (03:47):
So it's, it's, it's.
I'm very, I'm very, very stokedabout it.
No, that's, that's awesome.
That's awesome.
My, my good week is definitelynot as exciting.
I just I got an art, like aphysical art, in the mail
yesterday and it's a book that Ireally, really want to read.
So I'm super excited, but it'snot like want to read.
Tanaka (04:05):
So I'm super excited, but it's not like concert level,
but I'm still excited and it'slike it's a book, like I mean
books you can get excited for,like books as well Like it's
even getting a physical, gettingphysical mail and it's
something that you read.
That's like the most excitingthing.
I'm always.
(04:26):
I mean, I don't get mail herebecause I live on the other side
of the world, so I try to likeat least if I get an art from
somewhere or if it's like one ofthe publications in the arc I
really want and I get it.
I'm like, oh my gosh, I justgot so happy.
But then, like when I used toget like mail, I used to be like
(04:47):
so excited because it's like anauthor is sending me all the
way to like Zimbabwe.
That's like the other side ofthe world.
So I'm always that should be anexciting thing.
I always reach up high gettinglike especially books.
I mean you never go wrong withbooks.
Jordan (05:04):
You really can't.
You really can't.
Um.
Okay, so to dive into theinterview, um, I have it broken
down into three parts so I havelike more of your job as like a
publicity coordinator typequestions, and then I have
(05:25):
reading and personal so like.
So the first question is do youwant to explain a little about
what you do working for an indiepress?
Tanaka (05:35):
traditional publisher so okay for an indie press,
because I work for 1001 DarkNights and Blue Box Press, so
it's two press.
They have 1001 Dark Nights andBlue Bookspress, so it's two
press.
They have 1001 Dark Nights,which is like novella style
books, like around 100 to like200 pages and it's like a list
(06:06):
of authors and they release likenovellas.
Sometimes the novella could belike a start of a series or it
could be a continue.
It could be um based on like acharacter or a side character
and they release like um sort oflike novellas just to like
entice the reader to like readlike the full series.
So usually like it could be uma side character in a book, in
(06:27):
an author's book.
So, for example, like if it'sone of the authors that I know,
dylan Allen, she has a sidecharacter and then most readers
want to okay, can we have a bookfrom this side character?
And then she then writes astory story for one thousand one
dark nights and then onethousand one dark nights then
(06:48):
get to like publish it.
So it's like and it's alsothere's a storyline about it,
although the storyline is quitelike, it's quite long, but they
have a storyline about like umreleasing like those one
thousand one dark nights basedis based on like an Arabian type
of story.
It's quite long so you cancheck it on the website.
And then for Blue Box Pressit's the full-length books and
(07:15):
most of them are stand-alones.
Some of it could be like aseries, but then it's like
different characters so theytreat it as like stand-alones.
So it could be like for, forexample, like we've got a series
where um it's three women andthey make a pact and the author
like that's Lexi Blake.
She writes um a story for each,or for each, three women who
(07:38):
find like um love and also likecareers and all that.
So my job as um publicitycoordinator is, I sort of like
send out.
I have signups for each release.
So for every year there'll belike certain books they're gonna
(07:59):
like release for a year, andthen I make signups for that,
and for those signups I thensend out like an email or I send
out like a newsletter.
We're like, oh, there's a newrelease coming up, if you're
interested, and then I list thetropes, I list like the genres,
at least I list out the releasedate.
(08:19):
I also list out like what thebook is about.
And then people sign up andthen when they sign up, I then
ask for that and then after thatI also make like press releases
.
So I like make a bookstagramlist for bookstagrammers.
So it's generally like with theindie press I work closely with
(08:43):
influencers.
Like with the indie press I Iwork closely with influencers.
I like work um more on tryingto like find ways to like
promote, like both on 1001 darknights side and also blue box
press site, to also come up withlike ways, different ways to
like, you know, promote allthese books oh, so is uh 1001
(09:11):
dark nights.
Jordan (09:12):
Is that only novellas?
Tanaka (09:14):
there's no full-length novels in there that is no
full-length novels, it's justnovellas.
Jordan (09:22):
Oh, that's really cool.
Is this something you've alwayswanted to do, or did you want
to do something else before?
Tanaka (09:33):
So when I started out I never knew that my career would
be in books.
I started out when I startedout I did my high school, but
then I was like okay, I want tobe a chef.
That was initially.
My dream was to work at arestaurant and also then open up
(09:58):
my own restaurant in the future.
So I did my diploma in SouthAfrica and in the future, so I
did my.
I did my diploma in SouthAfrica and I came back home and
then I thought like things wouldwork out.
But then things didn't work outwith the whole chefing thing and
there were some problems andafter that I went into some you
(10:22):
know, depressive.
You know, sometimes when youdon't like find a job and you
don't like find a job and youdon't find what you're looking
for and you feel kind of lost,you end up being depressed.
I was depressed a little bitand then I then discovered, okay
, I love, because I was stillreading books and like I was
(10:43):
into, like Stephen King andJames James Patterson, you know,
crime and horror and all thosethings.
And then when I picked up FiftyShades of Grey in 20, like when
it like blew up and then I wasreading books.
And then after that I was like,okay, why should?
Okay, let me just be a blogger,let me review books, since,
(11:06):
like, this whole chef thing isnot working, I'm not getting a
job and none of it.
And the thing is, all of thosethings were my fault.
I just had the credentials andeverything.
I graduated, all those things.
It's just that things were justlike maybe it just happens, or
the season changed or that sortof thing.
So for me to like get over, menot being depressed or me like
(11:32):
just like sitting at home doingnothing, I was like, ok, let me
just come up with a blog and letme like review books.
So yeah, I don't know, it wasalways what I wanted books.
So yeah, I don't know, it wasalways what I wanted.
But then, finally, now beingwhere I'm at and like how things
(11:52):
have happened and like whereI'm supposed to be, Wow, it's
like life led you in thisdirection and now you're very
happy where you are.
Very happy and the thing thingis, it's just, it's very weird
(12:16):
because as soon as I startedlike my blog and as soon as I
was reviewing and I also got tolike, befriend, like different
authors from like differentbackgrounds and I got to be on
review teams and and I also gotan opportunity to PA for an
author, that's when everythingjust started to align.
Jordan (12:33):
Oh, okay, um, so what is one thing that is the most fun,
exciting about working for likean indie press, traditional
publisher, and what is the mostchallenging?
Tanaka (12:45):
the fun thing, what can I say, is working for one
thought.
Well, working with women, likeespecially these three
co-founders, um jillian stein,um elizabeth perry and jay rose,
working for them and alsoworking for the team, it feels
like you're a part of asisterhood and like when you, we
(13:10):
support each other.
We also, like, when there'slike challenges and when there's
things happening like I'm ableto like approach them or I'm I'm
struggling in something, orlike, oh, there's this marketing
(13:31):
idea that I've come up with.
Um, what do you think that sortof thing I'm able to like
approach them and I'm able tolike go to them and say, oh, hey
, this is, I've got this goingon.
What should I?
Oh?
Like, oh, I thought ofsomething.
Wow, oh, I thought of somethinglike.
Usually I always come up withlike ideas at three in the
(13:53):
morning and I like, when I wakeup and then I write them down,
and then I'm like, oh, I justcame 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 ateam that, like, who will
support you like 100 percent,like, um, who?
(14:14):
Um are there for you,especially when you're going
through things, or like also whoaccept, um, who you are Like.
I mean, I'm from Zimbabwe and mywhat can I say?
My time zone is not idealsometimes, and sometimes I have
(14:34):
days where I have to like workthrough the night, but they
accept, like I'm from this sideof the world and they accept
also my time zone as well, andthey accept me.
For me, which is one of themost amazing things working for
1001 Dark Nights and PeopleExpress is they really are there
(15:03):
for you in a way, for everyonewho's yeah, everyone who's a
part of the team, from theothers, from like everyone, like
they make you feel like, um,you're like a part of, like a
sisterhood that's like reallynice and that's like something
that I feel like people want andlike want to strive for being
(15:28):
part of, like a team whatever,in whatever aspect.
Jordan (15:32):
So do you think like the most challenging is the time
difference, since you areanywhere 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 gotto be challenging.
Tanaka (15:53):
Yeah, I think it's these days where I OK, I'm sort of
like used to it because when Iwas starting out like when I was
starting out working because Iworked for two PR companies when
I was starting out like when Iwas starting out working because
I worked for two PR companieswhen I was starting out, I had
(16:13):
to like adjust my times a bitbecause everyone in the team had
like different times.
It's the same thing with theteam members in 1,000 Wonder
Packs Everybody's in thedifferent time zones.
So I had to like really adjustto it.
Sometimes zone, so I had tolike really adjust to it.
Sometimes it does tend to getlike really challenging where
like, okay, I have to like wakeup and then see all the emails
and everything.
I'm like, oh, these are theemails I was supposed to like
(16:35):
answer, like you know, at night.
I was supposed to answer like aday before or something.
I'm now seeing them in in inthe next day.
So I think for me, yeah, thechallenging is the time is on
everything.
I don't see any challenges withanything.
I love what I do With Liz,jillian and MJ Rose.
(16:56):
They are the real deal.
Jordan (17:00):
It's just so great, yeah , yeah, you just can't.
There's like it's all goodthings so it's that, but that's
awesome.
There's people out there thatdon't have that, so that's
(17:27):
really awesome.
Um, how is being a PRcoordinator in charge of PR and
marketing for authors Is?
Is it different or similar toyour job at the Indie Press?
Tanaka (17:42):
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 morethings so I have to like put in
into effect, like backlistpromotion.
(18:03):
So when the book goes on sale,I have to also come up with
ideas sometimes.
Or there's there's certainthings, okay it, okay it's a
one-day sale, you know you can'tdo anything about it.
But for like a one-week sale orone-month sale, you have to
come up with different likemarketing strategies for that.
I also like.
(18:25):
There's times where I come upwith for each release or for
each book and usually it's likea different genre I try to come
up with a marketing plancentered around that genre.
So it could be small-townromance.
(18:45):
You know, come up with a planfor like marketing plan for a
small-town romance book.
If it's paranormal fantasy, allthat, I have to at least come
up with something unique andsomething totally like.
That's not the norm and that'salso not the same.
I also prepare live a book, livechats, podcasts, because I'm
(19:12):
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 F1podcasts as well.
So, like I've seen the value ofpodcasts, so I at least try to,
like you know, put a list oflike different podcasts and then
(19:34):
book an interesting one Livechat with like bookstagrammers.
Like I, as I said, like Ialways try to come up with
something unique, somethingdifferent, something that would
be like.
So, out there, like peoplewould be like oh, you know, you
came up with this, you came upwith that.
Yeah, all sorts of likedifferent things.
Jordan (19:57):
What does a typical day look like for you, from the
moment you wake up to the momentyou close your eyes?
Tanaka (20:03):
So when I wake up, so, first of all, I eat breakfast,
most important meal of the day.
Jordan (20:07):
So first of all, I eat breakfast.
Tanaka (20:11):
Most important meal of the day.
Most important meal of the day.
So I have to have coffee Likeit'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 until3 am.
Like if Jillian and you were tofind out I work through the
night, they'll be like okay, sheworks through the night.
If Jillian and Jules were tofind out I work through the
(20:32):
night, they'll be like, okay,she works through the night, I
just hope they won't find thispodcast.
And then like, oh, she worksthrough the night.
Yeah, I sometimes work at 3 amand without anybody knowing that
I'm also working at 3 am.
So I do like wake up kind oflate, so around like 11,.
(20:54):
When I wake up, then late, soaround like 11.
When I wake up, then I havecoffee and then I usually check
my emails on my phone, um, so ifthere's anything important that
needs me to do it on my laptop,I put that aside.
If there's anything, okay, Ican answer this.
I can answer.
Usually, sometimes I get, like,for example, if I send out an
arc the next day, I get an emaillike, oh, I didn't receive it,
(21:15):
that sort of thing.
So I like, try to do it on myphone, try to send it on, like,
try to send the arc through myphone and then afterwards, you
know, prepare for the day andthen I go to my laptop so I
write down a list of things Ineed to do for the day, um,
which is, if it's because I tryto do things early, I try to do
(21:36):
things well in advance for both1001 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 aseparate when I'm writing down
tasks for 1,000 one-top nights Ineed to do, and tasks for Blue
(21:57):
Box Press that I need to do, andthen tasks for Kristen Ashley I
need to do, and then I half it.
So I say the first hour or thefirst two hours, I'm doing it
for 1000 One Tough Nights andBlue Box Press, and then for the
next two hours I'm doing thingsfor Kristen Ashley and I try to
(22:18):
balance things.
As the day winds up, I have toalso eat dinner as well.
So while I'm eating dinner,also working, I'm also looking
at things as well.
I tend to like working accordingto to us time.
It's where, like, I'm mostproductive and it's where, like,
people can catch me more if Iwork in the morning, or people
(22:42):
won't catch me if I work in.
If I work like, let's say, likeI finish working like 5 pm, my
time, which is like 12 noon,they won't catch me.
So the best time for me is Istart out at like 8 am, 9 am,
which is like 3, 4 in theafternoon my time.
Jordan (23:06):
It's like you're working that second shift of like three
to four to basically late foryou.
Tanaka (23:17):
Late for me and the thing is I don't have a day
where, like, okay, this is wherethe day ends, because I'm that
person where, like, if I haven'tcompleted like the task, I've
completed, that I've written forthe day, I have to like
complete it.
Like I'm that point where, like, I have to like I can't leave
(23:40):
it hanging and with most things,like press releases, I can do
that in like a month, like amonth before the release.
Press releases are not aproblem.
A month, like a month beforethe release, first release is
another problem.
But on the other side, there'ssome things, especially like for
authors.
On my side there's like thingswhere, because I'm also like
communicating with other peopleas well, outside, like outside
(24:04):
Christian, outside 1000, I'mcommunicating with other people
and other people.
There's certain people thatdon't even know I live in
Zimbabwe, because I had a funnything where one of the
bookstagrammers they're like oh,you're from Zimbabwe, which is
like Zimbabwe, oh, I didn't know.
Because people literallythought I live in the US, but I
(24:27):
don't live in the US, I live inZimbabwe.
So it's like it was a cultureshock 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 foran author who lives in the US,
so it's always that sort ofthing.
(24:50):
But yeah, I think that's how myday goes, with how it ends.
It ends when I say, okay, I'mgoing to bed.
That's how you do it.
Jordan (25:01):
Yeah, especially if you're up until like 3 am.
It's like, okay, I'm doneworking, I'm going to go to bed
now.
Tanaka (25:09):
Go to bed now.
Go to bed now, and I'm so likeI'm kind of strict on myself
Because sometimes I don't evenknow, like there's certain times
that I don't even know whattime it is, and I'm so into like
the release, and I'm so intosomething and I want to solve it
, and I just and the time justflies by and I don't even know,
(25:34):
it's not like 1 am.
I'm like, is it 1 am already?
And I just don't even because Iget so like engrossed in things
and I get so like I like thingsto be when I start something, I
like want things to be sort oflike resolved.
Oh, I want things to beresolved, I want things to be
done.
(25:54):
Yeah, you don't want anythinghanging over you.
Jordan (25:59):
You want it to be done.
I feel like that's a good thing.
Tanaka (26:06):
And maybe it's because I'm an I'm I'm, my qualities are
American, very I'm, I'm, I'm anoverachiever, and I tend to
like cause.
There's certain things wherelike, okay, some people will say
, okay, you can do this the nextday, or to be done now, and
then I need to move on to thenext thing, and most of the
(26:32):
people some people always workthings in advance.
I do things like even twomonths before I'm supposed to do
the thing, and that's that'show I am.
Um, that's that's mypersonality.
Jordan (26:44):
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 (26:50):
If you ask me that's like a very good thing.
Yeah, it's got its moments.
And then there's sometimes whenI do slack a bit, because
usually there's days where it'slike there's nothing releasing,
because we get months where like, okay, it's one book releasing
in a month and I'm just like Itend to like then do the things
(27:11):
last minute because it's justone release and um, okay.
Jordan (27:12):
So do you have any advice for people that want to
get in the book industry or tolike to work for either an indie
press, traditional publisher oran author?
Tanaka (27:21):
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, wehave books where like, okay,
it's not trendy, like especiallywith what happened with covid,
and now we have this new wave ofreaders and everybody just
(27:44):
wants to okay, let, I want towork and I want to be part of an
indie press, because it's liketrendy and you know that sort of
thing.
So the only thing I can say isjust do it because you love it,
do it because you have aninterest in working and
promoting books and being andworking for authors.
(28:06):
Being and working for authorsbecause authors like for me, I'm
always like in awe of authorswho come up with all these ideas
like I can't even write.
I can't even write a book tolike save myself or anything.
So I'm always in awe of authorswho like write these amazing
(28:35):
books, especially for fantasy.
I'm always amazed, like I couldtake, for example, jennifer L
Amundsjok.
I'm always like amazed in howshe created like Blood and ash
series and fleshify.
I'm always like like.
I'm always like, okay, how didyou come up with something so
(28:56):
genius like that, something solike wonderful and and beautiful
and just like you know, likeoriginal and something just just
magical in a way.
How did you come up withsomething?
And for me personally, like alsolike treat, like I always say,
(29:17):
like other advisors, alwaystreat authors with respect
because, like, when you're goinginto this industry, into this
industry like, you have to setaside like your own ideas, your
own opinions and sometimes youhave to like really be for the
(29:43):
author and you have to be alsolike respectful of what they
like writing, um, what they areproducing, like you have to like
treat it with respect.
Like, if you don't treat itrespect, why are you working for
the author, why you want to bepart of an indie press if you're
(30:04):
not going to be respect,respectful, or if you're not
gonna like be kind or um, oryou're not gonna like feel for
the author and also like alsoalso be understanding that sort
of thing.
My other advice as well is um,be ready to do your research, um
(30:28):
, you are required to do it.
Like and any are required to doa 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 tojoin our team, and that sort of
thing.
So, when you apply, do yourresearch.
What you are applying for Books, read books.
(30:52):
Obviously, there are no booksabout like being part of this
industry, but I mean for me, I'msomebody, like, if anyone wants
to be, wants to work for anindie press, wants to even
working for a trade, or evenworking for one of the big five,
like Simon Schuster, randomHouse the big five I am the type
(31:17):
of person where you canapproach me and if you have
questions, if you need somethingor advice or more advice that I
can't give on here because Iprobably ramble a lot, but, like
, if you need like one-on-oneadvice, like you can approach me
(31:41):
.
I can, like you know, try andgive like advice as much as I
can from my experience, but Ithink, yeah, so the number one
thing be respectful research,research, research, research,
research, research, like.
(32:01):
Also, like when you do get thejob, like try and be assertive,
like work yes, you're workingpart of a team, which is very
important, but also, like beassertive in yourself.
So if there's certain thingswhere like, okay, there's this
one team member, they're saying,okay, is there anyone who can
(32:24):
do this?
Do this, like some of thosethings you can research and you
can.
You can practice on your own,like the certain things when I
was working I had to do on myown.
I had to figure out, like, howto do it myself, because there's
there's times where, likepeople are so like people are so
into their work, um, and thenyou come to someone and you say,
(32:45):
oh, how can I do this, how canI do this?
How can I do that?
Yes, there are people who wouldhelp 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 (33:03):
I like that advice.
I feel like that's very goodadvice.
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'slistening and wants to reach out
for more advice, they can dothat.
So we'll definitely put that inthere.
Tanaka (33:40):
Okay.
So, looking back at your sixyears of working in the book
industry, is there anything thatyou would have done differently
to make your life easier eithernow or then go to signing other
things is I should have beenmore transparent with certain
things like my abilities, causethere was, there was days where
(34:00):
I could get overworked andthat's me being an overachiever.
It's like, oh, I can do this, Ican, I can do this, I can.
You know I can finish this inan hour, I can you know I.
Just I just feel like I shouldhave been transparent more on my
capabilities um to spare oflike okay, um, I'm very much
(34:24):
overworked.
I need help, like I should havebeen more assertive on I need
help, to be able to ask for helplike when you needed it.
Jordan (34:33):
Yeah, I get that.
Okay, so that was all thequestions for your job, and now
we dive into reading.
What is your favorite book andor series, a book that you would
recommend to anyone andeveryone?
Tanaka (34:52):
My gosh, that's very hard to take.
Have one book okay, okay, likethe one book I'll always say
okay, even though it's veryangsty 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, likethose things that I could
(35:15):
relate to and it's called um,the Sound of Temptation by Dylan
Allen.
Yeah, it's, the story is quitelike, it's very, it's very
angsty and there's also likesome drama and like there was
(35:39):
like things I could relate to,things that are like, okay,
these are things that happen inmy life, you know, and things
that touched on certain topicsthat, okay, I cried for like
five hours and then and notbecause like okay, not because
like okay, well, the author isclose or anything close or
(36:01):
anything no, if I was not closewith the author, that's the book
I would recommend because ittouched me in such a way where I
was crying.
I was crying like ugly sobs, Iwas crying so hard on the floor
and there were even times whereI thought, okay, is my kingdom
broken?
Because I was so angry andfrustrated and I was going
(36:30):
through a lot of emotions.
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 readingromance.
It's to feel like that.
Yeah, it's to feel those, thosebig emotions and then, of
course, yes, there's a happilyever after at the end.
(36:51):
But then to also feel like, tofeel like it can touch you so
deeply, like that.
And then I'm kind of going toyeah, no, I'm also of gonna,
yeah, no, I'm also gonna cheat alittle bit and say like, oh for
fantasy, because I have to likecheat a little bit for fantasy.
I think it's the kindred, thekindred's curse, sagopa pen call
(37:14):
.
I love that one.
I think the spark of the sparkof it's it's quite as well, it's
, it's huge right now.
But then I read it before itwas like really like big and um,
the spark of the ever flame,which is the first book, um,
glow of the glow of the everflame, and then heat of the ever
(37:39):
flame, and then the last bookis burn of the Everflame, and
then the last book is Burn ofthe Everflame, which is still it
hasn't been released yet, butthe third book has 1,000 pages.
And this is when I felt likethis is when I felt like, okay,
1,000 pages, I mean that wouldtake me a month.
It took me seven days.
Jordan (38:00):
You flew through it, yeah.
Tanaka (38:04):
I flew, like, flew through it Like I was, I was not
sleeping, Like there was timesit was during the, because
usually I tend to like, want toread during the weekend and then
like for other books, like ifit's like a 1,100 Nights of
Chris Christian, I try to liketo like at least read it, like
after I'm done with work, but ingeneral like, or when I'm
(38:27):
beginning the day, but ingeneral like over the weekend,
like those fantasies where Iread all those fantasies, those
600-page, 700-page books.
That's how I want to read them.
So I flew 1,000, like I waseven shocked it was 1,000 pages
and then I was like, okay, I wasdone Seven days.
Jordan (38:43):
Dang, but like you know, it's a good book.
You know it's a good book whenthat happens.
Tanaka (38:49):
Because I always have a list.
Okay, this is my top fantasylist, this is my top
contemporary list.
Because when you say, okay,what's your favorite book?
I'm like, oh, I have a list andthey're all separate because I
don't want to like puteverything together because I
love.
I'm the sort of person wholoves everything.
If a book were to like grab me,I would love it.
That's how I am, like I loveanything.
Jordan (39:11):
Yeah, that makes perfect , that makes perfect sense.
So then, what is one line ofwriting, poetry or quote that
lives in your head?
Rent free.
Tanaka (39:27):
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 intoromance books.
I was into, like Stephen King,james Herbert, like horror, like
crazy, like rats eating people.
(39:49):
Yeah, rats eating people, okay,that's the thing.
So when I picked up my likeFifty Shades of, like, okay,
twilight, when I picked upTwilight, because it started
with Twilight, and then thehistory is this but then there
is this quote on the Pride andPrejudice movie, the 2005 one.
(40:11):
It's one of my favorite moviesand I watch it all the time.
The good thing is it's onNetflix.
So the line was super long, soI just was super long.
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.
(40:31):
I never wish to be parted fromyou from this day on.
And it's like the scene initself is because he comes in,
he walks and it's like I thinkit was like like for me it's
like 4 am before before the sunrises, and then he says those
words and then she like kisseshim, um, on the, on the hand, or
(40:57):
something like that, and then,as soon as the light comes, like
the sunrise comes up and it'sgot that shot that I swooned so
hard.
But basically that quote whenyou walk in and it says those
words that is a great quote.
Jordan (41:15):
As soon as I heard the, you bewitched me.
I was like oh, I know exactlywhat you're talking about,
because that is that.
It's just that whole scene.
Tanaka (41:23):
That quote, that scene is just epic yeah, and the thing
is there's more, because Ididn't want to say the long
thing, but there's more, likebefore 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 thesunrise and it being like I
(41:46):
think for me it was like 4 amand then coming like it's dark.
It's a little bit dark, and thenhe's walking, and then he's
saying those words and thenthere's the sun.
I mean, whoever did that,whoever captured that moment,
like he's a genius.
Like he's a genius and I feellike the person kind of read
romance books and knew what theywere doing.
(42:06):
So I give my ass to that personlike you're a genius genius, um
, okay.
Jordan (42:14):
So what if you could have a literary dinner party
with three authors, living ordead?
Who would you invite and why?
Tanaka (42:22):
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 mythree Black sisters because I
like really support them and Ilove their books.
(42:45):
So first of all is Dylan Allen.
I mean, I've read like everysingle book from her.
There's no book I have not readfrom her.
And the thing is, she's from,she's from, she's from, she's
from well, she's from Ghana andI kind of feel like the
familiarity.
Okay, she's from, like, sheknows about Africa, like she has
(43:07):
parents who are from Ghana andshe's from Ghana, she's from
Ghana.
So I feel like that Africansort of like how can I say
closeness with her?
And then the second one is NanaMalone.
She writes how can I say shewrites?
(43:36):
She's also from Ghana as well,but like she writes like these,
like some of her internationallike romances I'm like my fave.
So she has this series thatsome of her international like
romances I'm like my fave.
So she has this series that Ireally, really love a lot and
I'll probably read it again.
If I had more time to read fourhours to read I'll probably
like read again.
And then the third one is BBReid, she writes dark romance
(44:05):
and also she also writes likewhy choose romances?
But she's basically like it's adark romance, but our dark
romances are so unhinged.
She's like speaking to mesometimes because I also.
I'm like okay, why do I likethis?
This is so unhinged, but why doI like this?
but those are the three likethose are the three I would like
, in fact, and those are thethree I would like want to pick.
(44:25):
Yeah, I want to pick the brainsmore, want to know certain
things like, for example, bbreader.
I'll be like I want to know,like these scenes like how did
you come up with these scenes?
Jordan (44:39):
they're so obvious yeah, yeah, I mean, we all like we
love a good, unhinged male maincharacter, so I feel you there.
I feel you there, yeah.
Tanaka (44:53):
So those are the three Dylan Allen, nana Malone and
Bebe Reid.
Jordan (44:57):
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 aresome of your other hobbies you
like to do?
Tanaka (45:10):
Okay.
So I love one of the like.
My main hope is is watchingFormula One.
So I started watching FormulaOne when I was I think I was 16,
17.
Yeah, it should be 17, I'm notsure 16, 17 and it's it's.
It has grown, like from where Istarted watching it back then,
(45:33):
because I started watching it in2000 and it's 2007, I was still
in, I was in high school andwhen I started I was like, okay,
I'm in there because it's likethere's the first ever black
person.
You know I'm supporting, I'msupporting my fellow, you know,
a black person.
You know, first ever black,black formula one driver.
You know, I mean, I'm all aboutthose stories, I love like
(45:56):
those stories.
So it was initially that andthen 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.
I like listen to podcasts and f1podcast and I'm very like this
is it with races.
(46:17):
I'm very like.
You're like into it loud, I'minto it and I'm very loud, I'm
into it and I'm very loud andI'm very animated.
And when I'm frustrated, when Iwant to cry, I cry.
When I'm angry, I want to throwthings against the wall.
That type of crazy.
I'm crazy when it comes toFormula 1.
(46:39):
I love it so much.
I follow a lot of f1 driversbecause I only have one account,
which is still as a bookaccount, slash personal, slash
f1.
So most of the people thatfollow me they like I'm always
trying to think myself okay, arethey?
Are they not like you're boredover, like me posting f1 news
(47:03):
and reposting weird things aboutFormula One, like memes and all
that stuff, and I get so like,really like so into it, like I
love it so much.
Um, another hobby is cooking.
I love cooking.
I mean I have a chefing, I'vegot a chef diploma that I have
to use, so I love like I don'treally cook that much, but
(47:28):
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 usuallypost it on my Instagram
sometimes.
Sometimes I don't, and yeah, Ithink those are those.
(47:50):
And then also like watching.
Like I love watching k-dramas.
Um, I didn't know I would lovek-dramas.
I thought I would hate it, butI mean it was 2018.
And a certain author, penelopeDouglas, like she created a
(48:10):
group for like people who loveK-dramas and Chinese dramas,
like Korean dramas, chinesedramas, thai dramas and all that
.
I was like, okay, let me justjoin because you know, penelope
Douglas, she's like one of mylike, she's like I read, I love
her books, you know, and I mean,let me just join.
(48:32):
So it was just a community ofpeople who love dramas and who
love K-dramas and C-dramas.
And then I was losing sleepbecause there's times where,
like there was times where Iwould watch through the night
until like 5am and the sun isout and I'm on episode 11,
(48:53):
because it's like 60 episodesand it's episode 11 and the sun
is out and the birds are likechirping and everything.
I'm like, oh my gosh, gosh, isit really?
Is the sun out?
Jordan (49:05):
Like I really should go to bed, but I can't stop.
Tanaka (49:09):
Stop watching, like I have to like finish.
And there's times where, like Iwas watching it, like I was
watching, like I was watchingthe whole night until I finished
.
Like there was times where Iwas 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 waslike, okay, I need to like
(49:33):
spend my night and hourswatching that show.
Now I can okay, now I can tryjust watch five episodes and I'm
like okay, I'm done.
And usually because I like whenI'm doing work is that I
usually take breaks when I'mabout to eat dinner and then
that's when I get to like watchat least like one episode.
Like when I finish eating, thenI go back to work.
That's usually like try to like, listen more to myself and try
(49:56):
not to like at least.
Sometimes I fail and I end upwatching like nine episodes in
one night.
Jordan (50:04):
It's either one episode or it's all of them.
Tanaka (50:09):
And some of these have, because, for example, chinese
dramas, they have 40 episodesand 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 seeyou're on episode 15.
Jordan (50:25):
Can't stop, can't stop, can't stop, won't stop.
Tanaka (50:28):
You can't stop.
You can't stop and yeah, andthen I think those are like the
two.
Those are the like the two ofthese where I'm like crazy over
which is Formula One and Asiandramas, because I watch like
like a wide variety Korea,chinese, thai, japanese,
philippines, anything that wouldlike.
(50:50):
Okay, I like it, and this is adrama that would like grab me
and I'll be watching 15 episodesin one night.
I'll watch it.
Jordan (50:59):
Oh, okay, okay, so we are on the last question.
What is one future goal thatyou would like to achieve,
either long term, short term,and this could be with work or
anything bookish, or yourpersonal life too.
What's a future goal?
Tanaka (51:18):
Then this is the one I'm like really working on.
Well, I'm trying my best towork 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 thethings that I love.
Yes, I love books, I lovetalking about books.
(51:39):
Usually, I just like I usuallyI talk books with a few people
that I'm friends with and I meanI always get so excited, right
like like when I was blogging, Icould write like a long
paragraph of like how much Iloved the book, like I would go
like full dip, as if I'm like ajournalist or something and I
(52:04):
talk about the characters, Italk about the writing.
Sometimes I talk about thewriting and sometimes I just go
off topic and say, oh, this bookwas so amazing.
I felt this.
I felt this.
I felt that I felt all theseemotions.
I just that sort of thing I like.
I actually like when I used tolike.
When I used to like sometimes,because I usually go on my
Goodreads and I like check, okay, the reviews.
(52:26):
I used to like the essays, Iused to write on my Goodreads
and I'm like what the hell, whatis this?
And then I get to like.
And then the thing is, I'm alsoexcited because I also get to
talk about books with friends.
I got like a few book friendsthat I talk to and like I always
talk about books with friends.
(52:46):
Um, I got like a few bookfriends that I talk to and like
I always talk about the booksI'm reading and they also
introduce me to books and I endup falling in love with those
books as well that theyrecommend and it's just a whole
cycle.
So I just love.
I just want to like do like apodcast where I just get to talk
about books and get to talkabout also get to talk about
formula, because it's like twothings books and formula one.
And I get to talk about formulaone and I'm because I'm really
(53:06):
like deep into, like I'm when itcomes to books and formula one,
I'm like very excited.
I'm very like I'm a fan, like afan fan, I can even all these
authors like, because there'ssome authors where, okay, back
then, because I'm very, I'm avery quiet person and I try like
(53:27):
to on social media, it's whenlike all better off, I'm like
very hyperactive.
When there's an author that Ilove, they leave something, I
comment, I, I share things.
I try not to share a lot ofthings, but I end up just
sharing like 15 or 16 things andmy instagram and my story is
all looking like 15 or 16 thingsand my Instagram and my stories
all looking like there's 16different things going on.
(53:47):
There's K-dramas, there'sFormula One, there's stuff about
I don't know, there's memesabout books, there's there's all
sorts of things that happen.
So, like, I really like thepodcast, I really I really want
to do one Like I really want tostart one.
You should.
You totally should I'm alwayscause I'm always, yeah, I and
(54:10):
I'm always in awe with peoplewho like do, especially you,
like you're doing like amazingthings 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 oneperson and just be me talking
and rambling and just being myawkward self, but you could also
(54:31):
.
Jordan (54:31):
You could get like other people on too, so like you
could talk like about books withsomebody else or you just do it
yourself.
Like there's so manypossibilities.
Tanaka (54:42):
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 whoknows, when things, when things
like I mean when things are good, like next year, and I'm very
like settled in with certainlike certain things, that's when
(55:04):
I'll be like, okay, yeah, Iwant to do this, and then
another, another goal, and thenanother goal of mine is
somewhere in the future four orfive years, I want to open up my
own, like, literally, servicething.
Oh, like it won't be like fullPR.
Okay, yeah, just want to help,because for me, in general, I
(55:25):
love working with authors andI've worked with like different,
like when I started out, I andit's just like I just loved
working with authors and I love,like you know, just you know,
being able to see like theprocess of like writing a book
and then coming up withmarketing ideas for the book and
(55:46):
you know, like just the wholeprocess in itself.
I just I'm just so like into it,I'm so into, like you know,
coming up like just helpingpromote books in my own unique
way that I do things and it justbrings me joy in life and it
just makes me happy that I'mmaking someone happy with their
(56:10):
dreams.
That's something, you know.
That's very important to me isto make that author feel like,
okay, their dreams have cometrue, you know.
Jordan (56:27):
I like that.
Yeah, so this it's make thatauthor feel like, okay, dreams
have come true, you know.
Yeah, so this it's gonna happen.
You'll open your own literarypr and you'll have your own
podcast.
This will happen.
Manifesting yes yeah, I'mputting it out there yes, um, so
that was all the questions Ihad for you.
Is there anything you want tomention?
(56:48):
You can have the floor.
I don't know if you want toplug your Instagram handle.
I don't know if you have awebsite, anything like that,
that you wanted to mention.
Tanaka (57:00):
You can follow me on hey__.
Underscore tanaka loves bookson instagram.
Um, if you, if you use facebook, you can also like friend me on
facebook.
Like I accept anyone um, tanakakangara, k-a-n-g-a-r-a.
And yeah, I'm basically likeI'm more active on instagram, so
(57:25):
that's why I'm like I'm verymore vocal there.
I do all sorts of crazy, crazythings there.
But yes, hey, um h e double yare two y's.
Yeah, underscore tanaka lovesbooks also like.
Jordan (57:41):
I'll share your Instagram handle in the show
notes too, so then that waypeople can just go right on and
see it there too.
But, oh my gosh, thank you somuch for coming on the podcast.
Tanaka (57:57):
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 (58:05):
All we want to do is just like talk about books.
So like, thank you for talkingabout books with me um, I'm
truly honored.
Tanaka (58:13):
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 somequestions I was like, oh, I
really had to think I had to.
Really amazing questions, causethere's some questions I was
like, oh, I really had to thinkI had to really think about that
and there's something probablyI would have said, cause I feel
like I also have said the wrongthings as well, but oh well, oh,
oh, my gosh.
Jordan (58:34):
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 andreview us on Spotify and Apple
Podcasts or wherever you listen,and if there's any interviews
(58:55):
or conversations you would likeme to have with someone specific
, please reach out either emailor through our Instagram,
available in the show notes andhappy reading.
Welcome to the bookish hour with JustJour.
With over six years of industryexperience, she serves as a
publicity coordinator for asmall indie press, traditional
publisher, as well as a PRcoordinator in charge of PR and
marketing for authors, managinga diverse array of
(00:32):
responsibilities, includingdistributing advanced reader
copies for upcoming releases,issuing press releases,
collaborating with influencersto amplify book news, organizing
live chats and interviews anddevising effective marketing
strategies to promote books.
Welcome to the podcast TanakaHi Hi.
(00:56):
How are you Good?
How are you?
Thank you so much for coming onand for letting me interview
you.
Tanaka (01:05):
Welcome.
Thank you so much for having me.
Jordan (01:14):
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 inthe book world, so thank you so
much.
I like to start off everyepisode with something good that
has happened Do you haveanything that you would like to
(01:35):
share.
Tanaka (01:38):
I think for me personally, like on a personal
life, I've got a concert that'shappening on Saturday.
It's one of my favorite likeartists and I don't really go
out that much.
I'm always at home reading likeevery weekend, like I just put
on my pjs and just not doanything and just read the whole
day.
So it's very exciting that Ijust get like I go, I get to go
out and dress up and listen toone of my favorite like artists.
Jordan (02:00):
I'm very excited oh my gosh, that is so exciting.
Who's the artist?
I want to know.
Tanaka (02:07):
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 inlove, love about life, and like
(02:28):
I know every single song.
So I'm actually so excited toget to, like I get to go, I'm
excited to like sing all hismusic and just have a good time
and just be that person who justlike cries over his songs, and
so I'm very, I'm like I'm veryexcited about that, like I can't
wait.
um, like he's one of my topfives if, if and yep, he's in
(02:50):
like where Taylor Swift is,because I'm like, okay, this is
this black girl who loves TaylorSwift, but I really like, I
really love Taylor Swift's music, so like he's up there with
Taylor Swift, which, which isalso exciting.
Jordan (03:04):
Oh, that's good.
Oh, that's going to be soawesome, that's going to be so
great.
I'm so excited for you.
I love concerts, so I, I, justI always want to go to concerts,
and when you, when it's anartist where you know all the
songs too, those are even better, because then you're just
dancing and singing the wholetime.
Tanaka (03:22):
Exactly, and you're just having a good time.
So I'm very, I'm very excited.
Maybe it's because when a newbook 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 bylike the music that they write.
Jordan (03:47):
So it's, it's, it's.
I'm very, I'm very, very stokedabout it.
No, that's, that's awesome.
That's awesome.
My, my good week is definitelynot as exciting.
I just I got an art, like aphysical art, in the mail
yesterday and it's a book that Ireally, really want to read.
So I'm super excited, but it'snot like want to read.
Tanaka (04:05):
So I'm super excited, but it's not like concert level,
but I'm still excited and it'slike it's a book, like I mean
books you can get excited for,like books as well Like it's
even getting a physical, gettingphysical mail and it's
something that you read.
That's like the most excitingthing.
I'm always.
(04:26):
I mean, I don't get mail herebecause I live on the other side
of the world, so I try to likeat least if I get an art from
somewhere or if it's like one ofthe publications in the arc I
really want and I get it.
I'm like, oh my gosh, I justgot so happy.
But then, like when I used toget like mail, I used to be like
(04:47):
so excited because it's like anauthor is sending me all the
way to like Zimbabwe.
That's like the other side ofthe world.
So I'm always that should be anexciting thing.
I always reach up high gettinglike especially books.
I mean you never go wrong withbooks.
Jordan (05:04):
You really can't.
You really can't.
Um.
Okay, so to dive into theinterview, um, I have it broken
down into three parts so I havelike more of your job as like a
publicity coordinator typequestions, and then I have
(05:25):
reading and personal so like.
So the first question is do youwant to explain a little about
what you do working for an indiepress?
Tanaka (05:35):
traditional publisher so okay for an indie press,
because I work for 1001 DarkNights and Blue Box Press, so
it's two press.
They have 1001 Dark Nights andBlue Bookspress, so it's two
press.
They have 1001 Dark Nights,which is like novella style
books, like around 100 to like200 pages and it's like a list
(06:06):
of authors and they release likenovellas.
Sometimes the novella could belike a start of a series or it
could be a continue.
It could be um based on like acharacter or a side character
and they release like um sort oflike novellas just to like
entice the reader to like readlike the full series.
So usually like it could be uma side character in a book, in
(06:27):
an author's book.
So, for example, like if it'sone of the authors that I know,
dylan Allen, she has a sidecharacter and then most readers
want to okay, can we have a bookfrom this side character?
And then she then writes astory story for one thousand one
dark nights and then onethousand one dark nights then
(06:48):
get to like publish it.
So it's like and it's alsothere's a storyline about it,
although the storyline is quitelike, it's quite long, but they
have a storyline about like umreleasing like those one
thousand one dark nights basedis based on like an Arabian type
of story.
It's quite long so you cancheck it on the website.
And then for Blue Box Pressit's the full-length books and
(07:15):
most of them are stand-alones.
Some of it could be like aseries, but then it's like
different characters so theytreat it as like stand-alones.
So it could be like for, forexample, like we've got a series
where um it's three women andthey make a pact and the author
like that's Lexi Blake.
She writes um a story for each,or for each, three women who
(07:38):
find like um love and also likecareers and all that.
So my job as um publicitycoordinator is, I sort of like
send out.
I have signups for each release.
So for every year there'll belike certain books they're gonna
(07:59):
like release for a year, andthen I make signups for that,
and for those signups I thensend out like an email or I send
out like a newsletter.
We're like, oh, there's a newrelease coming up, if you're
interested, and then I list thetropes, I list like the genres,
at least I list out the releasedate.
(08:19):
I also list out like what thebook is about.
And then people sign up andthen when they sign up, I then
ask for that and then after thatI also make like press releases
.
So I like make a bookstagramlist for bookstagrammers.
So it's generally like with theindie press I work closely with
(08:43):
influencers.
Like with the indie press I Iwork closely with influencers.
I like work um more on tryingto like find ways to like
promote, like both on 1001 darknights side and also blue box
press site, to also come up withlike ways, different ways to
like, you know, promote allthese books oh, so is uh 1001
(09:11):
dark nights.
Jordan (09:12):
Is that only novellas?
Tanaka (09:14):
there's no full-length novels in there that is no
full-length novels, it's justnovellas.
Jordan (09:22):
Oh, that's really cool.
Is this something you've alwayswanted to do, or did you want
to do something else before?
Tanaka (09:33):
So when I started out I never knew that my career would
be in books.
I started out when I startedout I did my high school, but
then I was like okay, I want tobe a chef.
That was initially.
My dream was to work at arestaurant and also then open up
(09:58):
my own restaurant in the future.
So I did my diploma in SouthAfrica and in the future, so I
did my.
I did my diploma in SouthAfrica and I came back home and
then I thought like things wouldwork out.
But then things didn't work outwith the whole chefing thing and
there were some problems andafter that I went into some you
(10:22):
know, depressive.
You know, sometimes when youdon't like find a job and you
don't like find a job and youdon't find what you're looking
for and you feel kind of lost,you end up being depressed.
I was depressed a little bitand then I then discovered, okay
, I love, because I was stillreading books and like I was
(10:43):
into, like Stephen King andJames James Patterson, you know,
crime and horror and all thosethings.
And then when I picked up FiftyShades of Grey in 20, like when
it like blew up and then I wasreading books.
And then after that I was like,okay, why should?
Okay, let me just be a blogger,let me review books, since,
(11:06):
like, this whole chef thing isnot working, I'm not getting a
job and none of it.
And the thing is, all of thosethings were my fault.
I just had the credentials andeverything.
I graduated, all those things.
It's just that things were justlike maybe it just happens, or
the season changed or that sortof thing.
So for me to like get over, menot being depressed or me like
(11:32):
just like sitting at home doingnothing, I was like, ok, let me
just come up with a blog and letme like review books.
So yeah, I don't know, it wasalways what I wanted books.
So yeah, I don't know, it wasalways what I wanted.
But then, finally, now beingwhere I'm at and like how things
(11:52):
have happened and like whereI'm supposed to be, Wow, it's
like life led you in thisdirection and now you're very
happy where you are.
Very happy and the thing thingis, it's just, it's very weird
(12:16):
because as soon as I startedlike my blog and as soon as I
was reviewing and I also got tolike, befriend, like different
authors from like differentbackgrounds and I got to be on
review teams and and I also gotan opportunity to PA for an
author, that's when everythingjust started to align.
Jordan (12:33):
Oh, okay, um, so what is one thing that is the most fun,
exciting about working for likean indie press, traditional
publisher, and what is the mostchallenging?
Tanaka (12:45):
the fun thing, what can I say, is working for one
thought.
Well, working with women, likeespecially these three
co-founders, um jillian stein,um elizabeth perry and jay rose,
working for them and alsoworking for the team, it feels
like you're a part of asisterhood and like when you, we
(13:10):
support each other.
We also, like, when there'slike challenges and when there's
things happening like I'm ableto like approach them or I'm I'm
struggling in something, orlike, oh, there's this marketing
(13:31):
idea that I've come up with.
Um, what do you think that sortof thing I'm able to like
approach them and I'm able tolike go to them and say, oh, hey
, this is, I've got this goingon.
What should I?
Oh?
Like, oh, I thought ofsomething.
Wow, oh, I thought of somethinglike.
Usually I always come up withlike ideas at three in the
(13:53):
morning and I like, when I wakeup and then I write them down,
and then I'm like, oh, I justcame 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 ateam that, like, who will
support you like 100 percent,like, um, who?
(14:14):
Um are there for you,especially when you're going
through things, or like also whoaccept, um, who you are Like.
I mean, I'm from Zimbabwe and mywhat can I say?
My time zone is not idealsometimes, and sometimes I have
(14:34):
days where I have to like workthrough the night, but they
accept, like I'm from this sideof the world and they accept
also my time zone as well, andthey accept me.
For me, which is one of themost amazing things working for
1001 Dark Nights and PeopleExpress is they really are there
(15:03):
for you in a way, for everyonewho's yeah, everyone who's a
part of the team, from theothers, from like everyone, like
they make you feel like, um,you're like a part of, like a
sisterhood that's like reallynice and that's like something
that I feel like people want andlike want to strive for being
(15:28):
part of, like a team whatever,in whatever aspect.
Jordan (15:32):
So do you think like the most challenging is the time
difference, since you areanywhere 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 gotto be challenging.
Tanaka (15:53):
Yeah, I think it's these days where I OK, I'm sort of
like used to it because when Iwas starting out like when I was
starting out working because Iworked for two PR companies when
I was starting out like when Iwas starting out working because
I worked for two PR companieswhen I was starting out, I had
(16:13):
to like adjust my times a bitbecause everyone in the team had
like different times.
It's the same thing with theteam members in 1,000 Wonder
Packs Everybody's in thedifferent time zones.
So I had to like really adjustto it.
Sometimes zone, so I had tolike really adjust to it.
Sometimes it does tend to getlike really challenging where
like, okay, I have to like wakeup and then see all the emails
and everything.
I'm like, oh, these are theemails I was supposed to like
(16:35):
answer, like you know, at night.
I was supposed to answer like aday before or something.
I'm now seeing them in in inthe next day.
So I think for me, yeah, thechallenging is the time is on
everything.
I don't see any challenges withanything.
I love what I do With Liz,jillian and MJ Rose.
(16:56):
They are the real deal.
Jordan (17:00):
It's just so great, yeah , yeah, you just can't.
There's like it's all goodthings so it's that, but that's
awesome.
There's people out there thatdon't have that, so that's
(17:27):
really awesome.
Um, how is being a PRcoordinator in charge of PR and
marketing for authors Is?
Is it different or similar toyour job at the Indie Press?
Tanaka (17:42):
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 morethings so I have to like put in
into effect, like backlistpromotion.
(18:03):
So when the book goes on sale,I have to also come up with
ideas sometimes.
Or there's there's certainthings, okay it, okay it's a
one-day sale, you know you can'tdo anything about it.
But for like a one-week sale orone-month sale, you have to
come up with different likemarketing strategies for that.
I also like.
(18:25):
There's times where I come upwith for each release or for
each book and usually it's likea different genre I try to come
up with a marketing plancentered around that genre.
So it could be small-townromance.
(18:45):
You know, come up with a planfor like marketing plan for a
small-town romance book.
If it's paranormal fantasy, allthat, I have to at least come
up with something unique andsomething totally like.
That's not the norm and that'salso not the same.
I also prepare live a book, livechats, podcasts, because I'm
(19:12):
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 F1podcasts as well.
So, like I've seen the value ofpodcasts, so I at least try to,
like you know, put a list oflike different podcasts and then
(19:34):
book an interesting one Livechat with like bookstagrammers.
Like I, as I said, like Ialways try to come up with
something unique, somethingdifferent, something that would
be like.
So, out there, like peoplewould be like oh, you know, you
came up with this, you came upwith that.
Yeah, all sorts of likedifferent things.
Jordan (19:57):
What does a typical day look like for you, from the
moment you wake up to the momentyou close your eyes?
Tanaka (20:03):
So when I wake up, so, first of all, I eat breakfast,
most important meal of the day.
Jordan (20:07):
So first of all, I eat breakfast.
Tanaka (20:11):
Most important meal of the day.
Most important meal of the day.
So I have to have coffee Likeit'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 until3 am.
Like if Jillian and you were tofind out I work through the
night, they'll be like okay, sheworks through the night.
If Jillian and Jules were tofind out I work through the
(20:32):
night, they'll be like, okay,she works through the night, I
just hope they won't find thispodcast.
And then like, oh, she worksthrough the night.
Yeah, I sometimes work at 3 amand without anybody knowing that
I'm also working at 3 am.
So I do like wake up kind oflate, so around like 11,.
(20:54):
When I wake up, then late, soaround like 11.
When I wake up, then I havecoffee and then I usually check
my emails on my phone, um, so ifthere's anything important that
needs me to do it on my laptop,I put that aside.
If there's anything, okay, Ican answer this.
I can answer.
Usually, sometimes I get, like,for example, if I send out an
arc the next day, I get an emaillike, oh, I didn't receive it,
(21:15):
that sort of thing.
So I like, try to do it on myphone, try to send it on, like,
try to send the arc through myphone and then afterwards, you
know, prepare for the day andthen I go to my laptop so I
write down a list of things Ineed to do for the day, um,
which is, if it's because I tryto do things early, I try to do
(21:36):
things well in advance for both1001 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 aseparate when I'm writing down
tasks for 1,000 one-top nights Ineed to do, and tasks for Blue
(21:57):
Box Press that I need to do, andthen tasks for Kristen Ashley I
need to do, and then I half it.
So I say the first hour or thefirst two hours, I'm doing it
for 1000 One Tough Nights andBlue Box Press, and then for the
next two hours I'm doing thingsfor Kristen Ashley and I try to
(22:18):
balance things.
As the day winds up, I have toalso eat dinner as well.
So while I'm eating dinner,also working, I'm also looking
at things as well.
I tend to like working accordingto to us time.
It's where, like, I'm mostproductive and it's where, like,
people can catch me more if Iwork in the morning, or people
(22:42):
won't catch me if I work in.
If I work like, let's say, likeI finish working like 5 pm, my
time, which is like 12 noon,they won't catch me.
So the best time for me is Istart out at like 8 am, 9 am,
which is like 3, 4 in theafternoon my time.
Jordan (23:06):
It's like you're working that second shift of like three
to four to basically late foryou.
Tanaka (23:17):
Late for me and the thing is I don't have a day
where, like, okay, this is wherethe day ends, because I'm that
person where, like, if I haven'tcompleted like the task, I've
completed, that I've written forthe day, I have to like
complete it.
Like I'm that point where, like, I have to like I can't leave
(23:40):
it hanging and with most things,like press releases, I can do
that in like a month, like amonth before the release.
Press releases are not aproblem.
A month, like a month beforethe release, first release is
another problem.
But on the other side, there'ssome things, especially like for
authors.
On my side there's like thingswhere, because I'm also like
communicating with other peopleas well, outside, like outside
(24:04):
Christian, outside 1000, I'mcommunicating with other people
and other people.
There's certain people thatdon't even know I live in
Zimbabwe, because I had a funnything where one of the
bookstagrammers they're like oh,you're from Zimbabwe, which is
like Zimbabwe, oh, I didn't know.
Because people literallythought I live in the US, but I
(24:27):
don't live in the US, I live inZimbabwe.
So it's like it was a cultureshock 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 foran author who lives in the US,
so it's always that sort ofthing.
(24:50):
But yeah, I think that's how myday goes, with how it ends.
It ends when I say, okay, I'mgoing to bed.
That's how you do it.
Jordan (25:01):
Yeah, especially if you're up until like 3 am.
It's like, okay, I'm doneworking, I'm going to go to bed
now.
Tanaka (25:09):
Go to bed now.
Go to bed now, and I'm so likeI'm kind of strict on myself
Because sometimes I don't evenknow, like there's certain times
that I don't even know whattime it is, and I'm so into like
the release, and I'm so intosomething and I want to solve it
, and I just and the time justflies by and I don't even know,
(25:34):
it's not like 1 am.
I'm like, is it 1 am already?
And I just don't even because Iget so like engrossed in things
and I get so like I like thingsto be when I start something, I
like want things to be sort oflike resolved.
Oh, I want things to beresolved, I want things to be
done.
(25:54):
Yeah, you don't want anythinghanging over you.
Jordan (25:59):
You want it to be done.
I feel like that's a good thing.
Tanaka (26:06):
And maybe it's because I'm an I'm I'm, my qualities are
American, very I'm, I'm, I'm anoverachiever, and I tend to
like cause.
There's certain things wherelike, okay, some people will say
, okay, you can do this the nextday, or to be done now, and
then I need to move on to thenext thing, and most of the
(26:32):
people some people always workthings in advance.
I do things like even twomonths before I'm supposed to do
the thing, and that's that'show I am.
Um, that's that's mypersonality.
Jordan (26:44):
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 (26:50):
If you ask me that's like a very good thing.
Yeah, it's got its moments.
And then there's sometimes whenI do slack a bit, because
usually there's days where it'slike there's nothing releasing,
because we get months where like, okay, it's one book releasing
in a month and I'm just like Itend to like then do the things
(27:11):
last minute because it's justone release and um, okay.
Jordan (27:12):
So do you have any advice for people that want to
get in the book industry or tolike to work for either an indie
press, traditional publisher oran author?
Tanaka (27:21):
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, wehave books where like, okay,
it's not trendy, like especiallywith what happened with covid,
and now we have this new wave ofreaders and everybody just
(27:44):
wants to okay, let, I want towork and I want to be part of an
indie press, because it's liketrendy and you know that sort of
thing.
So the only thing I can say isjust do it because you love it,
do it because you have aninterest in working and
promoting books and being andworking for authors.
(28:06):
Being and working for authorsbecause authors like for me, I'm
always like in awe of authorswho come up with all these ideas
like I can't even write.
I can't even write a book tolike save myself or anything.
So I'm always in awe of authorswho like write these amazing
(28:35):
books, especially for fantasy.
I'm always amazed, like I couldtake, for example, jennifer L
Amundsjok.
I'm always like amazed in howshe created like Blood and ash
series and fleshify.
I'm always like like.
I'm always like, okay, how didyou come up with something so
(28:56):
genius like that, something solike wonderful and and beautiful
and just like you know, likeoriginal and something just just
magical in a way.
How did you come up withsomething?
And for me personally, like alsolike treat, like I always say,
(29:17):
like other advisors, alwaystreat authors with respect
because, like, when you're goinginto this industry, into this
industry like, you have to setaside like your own ideas, your
own opinions and sometimes youhave to like really be for the
(29:43):
author and you have to be alsolike respectful of what they
like writing, um, what they areproducing, like you have to like
treat it with respect.
Like, if you don't treat itrespect, why are you working for
the author, why you want to bepart of an indie press if you're
(30:04):
not going to be respect,respectful, or if you're not
gonna like be kind or um, oryou're not gonna like feel for
the author and also like alsoalso be understanding that sort
of thing.
My other advice as well is um,be ready to do your research, um
(30:28):
, you are required to do it.
Like and any are required to doa 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 tojoin our team, and that sort of
thing.
So, when you apply, do yourresearch.
What you are applying for Books, read books.
(30:52):
Obviously, there are no booksabout like being part of this
industry, but I mean for me, I'msomebody, like, if anyone wants
to be, wants to work for anindie press, wants to even
working for a trade, or evenworking for one of the big five,
like Simon Schuster, randomHouse the big five I am the type
(31:17):
of person where you canapproach me and if you have
questions, if you need somethingor advice or more advice that I
can't give on here because Iprobably ramble a lot, but, like
, if you need like one-on-oneadvice, like you can approach me
(31:41):
.
I can, like you know, try andgive like advice as much as I
can from my experience, but Ithink, yeah, so the number one
thing be respectful research,research, research, research,
research, research, like.
(32:01):
Also, like when you do get thejob, like try and be assertive,
like work yes, you're workingpart of a team, which is very
important, but also, like beassertive in yourself.
So if there's certain thingswhere like, okay, there's this
one team member, they're saying,okay, is there anyone who can
(32:24):
do this?
Do this, like some of thosethings you can research and you
can.
You can practice on your own,like the certain things when I
was working I had to do on myown.
I had to figure out, like, howto do it myself, because there's
there's times where, likepeople are so like people are so
into their work, um, and thenyou come to someone and you say,
(32:45):
oh, how can I do this, how canI do this?
How can I do that?
Yes, there are people who wouldhelp 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 (33:03):
I like that advice.
I feel like that's very goodadvice.
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'slistening and wants to reach out
for more advice, they can dothat.
So we'll definitely put that inthere.
Tanaka (33:40):
Okay.
So, looking back at your sixyears of working in the book
industry, is there anything thatyou would have done differently
to make your life easier eithernow or then go to signing other
things is I should have beenmore transparent with certain
things like my abilities, causethere was, there was days where
(34:00):
I could get overworked andthat's me being an overachiever.
It's like, oh, I can do this, Ican, I can do this, I can.
You know I can finish this inan hour, I can you know I.
Just I just feel like I shouldhave been transparent more on my
capabilities um to spare oflike okay, um, I'm very much
(34:24):
overworked.
I need help, like I should havebeen more assertive on I need
help, to be able to ask for helplike when you needed it.
Jordan (34:33):
Yeah, I get that.
Okay, so that was all thequestions for your job, and now
we dive into reading.
What is your favorite book andor series, a book that you would
recommend to anyone andeveryone?
Tanaka (34:52):
My gosh, that's very hard to take.
Have one book okay, okay, likethe one book I'll always say
okay, even though it's veryangsty 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, likethose things that I could
(35:15):
relate to and it's called um,the Sound of Temptation by Dylan
Allen.
Yeah, it's, the story is quitelike, it's very, it's very
angsty and there's also likesome drama and like there was
(35:39):
like things I could relate to,things that are like, okay,
these are things that happen inmy life, you know, and things
that touched on certain topicsthat, okay, I cried for like
five hours and then and notbecause like okay, not because
like okay, well, the author isclose or anything close or
(36:01):
anything no, if I was not closewith the author, that's the book
I would recommend because ittouched me in such a way where I
was crying.
I was crying like ugly sobs, Iwas crying so hard on the floor
and there were even times whereI thought, okay, is my kingdom
broken?
Because I was so angry andfrustrated and I was going
(36:30):
through a lot of emotions.
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 readingromance.
It's to feel like that.
Yeah, it's to feel those, thosebig emotions and then, of
course, yes, there's a happilyever after at the end.
(36:51):
But then to also feel like, tofeel like it can touch you so
deeply, like that.
And then I'm kind of going toyeah, no, I'm also of gonna,
yeah, no, I'm also gonna cheat alittle bit and say like, oh for
fantasy, because I have to likecheat a little bit for fantasy.
I think it's the kindred, thekindred's curse, sagopa pen call
(37:14):
.
I love that one.
I think the spark of the sparkof it's it's quite as well, it's
, it's huge right now.
But then I read it before itwas like really like big and um,
the spark of the ever flame,which is the first book, um,
glow of the glow of the everflame, and then heat of the ever
(37:39):
flame, and then the last bookis burn of the Everflame, and
then the last book is Burn ofthe Everflame, which is still it
hasn't been released yet, butthe third book has 1,000 pages.
And this is when I felt likethis is when I felt like, okay,
1,000 pages, I mean that wouldtake me a month.
It took me seven days.
Jordan (38:00):
You flew through it, yeah.
Tanaka (38:04):
I flew, like, flew through it Like I was, I was not
sleeping, Like there was timesit was during the, because
usually I tend to like, want toread during the weekend and then
like for other books, like ifit's like a 1,100 Nights of
Chris Christian, I try to liketo like at least read it, like
after I'm done with work, but ingeneral like, or when I'm
(38:27):
beginning the day, but ingeneral like over the weekend,
like those fantasies where Iread all those fantasies, those
600-page, 700-page books.
That's how I want to read them.
So I flew 1,000, like I waseven shocked it was 1,000 pages
and then I was like, okay, I wasdone Seven days.
Jordan (38:43):
Dang, but like you know, it's a good book.
You know it's a good book whenthat happens.
Tanaka (38:49):
Because I always have a list.
Okay, this is my top fantasylist, this is my top
contemporary list.
Because when you say, okay,what's your favorite book?
I'm like, oh, I have a list andthey're all separate because I
don't want to like puteverything together because I
love.
I'm the sort of person wholoves everything.
If a book were to like grab me,I would love it.
That's how I am, like I loveanything.
Jordan (39:11):
Yeah, that makes perfect , that makes perfect sense.
So then, what is one line ofwriting, poetry or quote that
lives in your head?
Rent free.
Tanaka (39:27):
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 intoromance books.
I was into, like Stephen King,james Herbert, like horror, like
crazy, like rats eating people.
(39:49):
Yeah, rats eating people, okay,that's the thing.
So when I picked up my likeFifty Shades of, like, okay,
twilight, when I picked upTwilight, because it started
with Twilight, and then thehistory is this but then there
is this quote on the Pride andPrejudice movie, the 2005 one.
(40:11):
It's one of my favorite moviesand I watch it all the time.
The good thing is it's onNetflix.
So the line was super long, soI just was super long.
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.
(40:31):
I never wish to be parted fromyou from this day on.
And it's like the scene initself is because he comes in,
he walks and it's like I thinkit was like like for me it's
like 4 am before before the sunrises, and then he says those
words and then she like kisseshim, um, on the, on the hand, or
(40:57):
something like that, and then,as soon as the light comes, like
the sunrise comes up and it'sgot that shot that I swooned so
hard.
But basically that quote whenyou walk in and it says those
words that is a great quote.
Jordan (41:15):
As soon as I heard the, you bewitched me.
I was like oh, I know exactlywhat you're talking about,
because that is that.
It's just that whole scene.
Tanaka (41:23):
That quote, that scene is just epic yeah, and the thing
is there's more, because Ididn't want to say the long
thing, but there's more, likebefore 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 thesunrise and it being like I
(41:46):
think for me it was like 4 amand then coming like it's dark.
It's a little bit dark, and thenhe's walking, and then he's
saying those words and thenthere's the sun.
I mean, whoever did that,whoever captured that moment,
like he's a genius.
Like he's a genius and I feellike the person kind of read
romance books and knew what theywere doing.
(42:06):
So I give my ass to that personlike you're a genius genius, um
, okay.
Jordan (42:14):
So what if you could have a literary dinner party
with three authors, living ordead?
Who would you invite and why?
Tanaka (42:22):
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 mythree Black sisters because I
like really support them and Ilove their books.
(42:45):
So first of all is Dylan Allen.
I mean, I've read like everysingle book from her.
There's no book I have not readfrom her.
And the thing is, she's from,she's from, she's from, she's
from well, she's from Ghana andI kind of feel like the
familiarity.
Okay, she's from, like, sheknows about Africa, like she has
(43:07):
parents who are from Ghana andshe's from Ghana, she's from
Ghana.
So I feel like that Africansort of like how can I say
closeness with her?
And then the second one is NanaMalone.
She writes how can I say shewrites?
(43:36):
She's also from Ghana as well,but like she writes like these,
like some of her internationallike romances I'm like my fave.
So she has this series thatsome of her international like
romances I'm like my fave.
So she has this series that Ireally, really love a lot and
I'll probably read it again.
If I had more time to read fourhours to read I'll probably
like read again.
And then the third one is BBReid, she writes dark romance
(44:05):
and also she also writes likewhy choose romances?
But she's basically like it's adark romance, but our dark
romances are so unhinged.
She's like speaking to mesometimes because I also.
I'm like okay, why do I likethis?
This is so unhinged, but why doI like this?
but those are the three likethose are the three I would like
, in fact, and those are thethree I would like want to pick.
(44:25):
Yeah, I want to pick the brainsmore, want to know certain
things like, for example, bbreader.
I'll be like I want to know,like these scenes like how did
you come up with these scenes?
Jordan (44:39):
they're so obvious yeah, yeah, I mean, we all like we
love a good, unhinged male maincharacter, so I feel you there.
I feel you there, yeah.
Tanaka (44:53):
So those are the three Dylan Allen, nana Malone and
Bebe Reid.
Jordan (44:57):
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 aresome of your other hobbies you
like to do?
Tanaka (45:10):
Okay.
So I love one of the like.
My main hope is is watchingFormula One.
So I started watching FormulaOne when I was I think I was 16,
17.
Yeah, it should be 17, I'm notsure 16, 17 and it's it's.
It has grown, like from where Istarted watching it back then,
(45:33):
because I started watching it in2000 and it's 2007, I was still
in, I was in high school andwhen I started I was like, okay,
I'm in there because it's likethere's the first ever black
person.
You know I'm supporting, I'msupporting my fellow, you know,
a black person.
You know, first ever black,black formula one driver.
You know, I mean, I'm all aboutthose stories, I love like
(45:56):
those stories.
So it was initially that andthen 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.
I like listen to podcasts and f1podcast and I'm very like this
is it with races.
(46:17):
I'm very like.
You're like into it loud, I'minto it and I'm very loud, I'm
into it and I'm very loud andI'm very animated.
And when I'm frustrated, when Iwant to cry, I cry.
When I'm angry, I want to throwthings against the wall.
That type of crazy.
I'm crazy when it comes toFormula 1.
(46:39):
I love it so much.
I follow a lot of f1 driversbecause I only have one account,
which is still as a bookaccount, slash personal, slash
f1.
So most of the people thatfollow me they like I'm always
trying to think myself okay, arethey?
Are they not like you're boredover, like me posting f1 news
(47:03):
and reposting weird things aboutFormula One, like memes and all
that stuff, and I get so like,really like so into it, like I
love it so much.
Um, another hobby is cooking.
I love cooking.
I mean I have a chefing, I'vegot a chef diploma that I have
to use, so I love like I don'treally cook that much, but
(47:28):
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 usuallypost it on my Instagram
sometimes.
Sometimes I don't, and yeah, Ithink those are those.
(47:50):
And then also like watching.
Like I love watching k-dramas.
Um, I didn't know I would lovek-dramas.
I thought I would hate it, butI mean it was 2018.
And a certain author, penelopeDouglas, like she created a
(48:10):
group for like people who loveK-dramas and Chinese dramas,
like Korean dramas, chinesedramas, thai dramas and all that
.
I was like, okay, let me justjoin because you know, penelope
Douglas, she's like one of mylike, she's like I read, I love
her books, you know, and I mean,let me just join.
(48:32):
So it was just a community ofpeople who love dramas and who
love K-dramas and C-dramas.
And then I was losing sleepbecause there's times where,
like there was times where Iwould watch through the night
until like 5am and the sun isout and I'm on episode 11,
(48:53):
because it's like 60 episodesand it's episode 11 and the sun
is out and the birds are likechirping and everything.
I'm like, oh my gosh, gosh, isit really?
Is the sun out?
Jordan (49:05):
Like I really should go to bed, but I can't stop.
Tanaka (49:09):
Stop watching, like I have to like finish.
And there's times where, like Iwas watching it, like I was
watching, like I was watchingthe whole night until I finished
.
Like there was times where Iwas 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 waslike, okay, I need to like
(49:33):
spend my night and hourswatching that show.
Now I can okay, now I can tryjust watch five episodes and I'm
like okay, I'm done.
And usually because I like whenI'm doing work is that I
usually take breaks when I'mabout to eat dinner and then
that's when I get to like watchat least like one episode.
Like when I finish eating, thenI go back to work.
That's usually like try to like, listen more to myself and try
(49:56):
not to like at least.
Sometimes I fail and I end upwatching like nine episodes in
one night.
Jordan (50:04):
It's either one episode or it's all of them.
Tanaka (50:09):
And some of these have, because, for example, chinese
dramas, they have 40 episodesand 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 seeyou're on episode 15.
Jordan (50:25):
Can't stop, can't stop, can't stop, won't stop.
Tanaka (50:28):
You can't stop.
You can't stop and yeah, andthen I think those are like the
two.
Those are the like the two ofthese where I'm like crazy over
which is Formula One and Asiandramas, because I watch like
like a wide variety Korea,chinese, thai, japanese,
philippines, anything that wouldlike.
(50:50):
Okay, I like it, and this is adrama that would like grab me
and I'll be watching 15 episodesin one night.
I'll watch it.
Jordan (50:59):
Oh, okay, okay, so we are on the last question.
What is one future goal thatyou would like to achieve,
either long term, short term,and this could be with work or
anything bookish, or yourpersonal life too.
What's a future goal?
Tanaka (51:18):
Then this is the one I'm like really working on.
Well, I'm trying my best towork 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 thethings that I love.
Yes, I love books, I lovetalking about books.
(51:39):
Usually, I just like I usuallyI talk books with a few people
that I'm friends with and I meanI always get so excited, right
like like when I was blogging, Icould write like a long
paragraph of like how much Iloved the book, like I would go
like full dip, as if I'm like ajournalist or something and I
(52:04):
talk about the characters, Italk about the writing.
Sometimes I talk about thewriting and sometimes I just go
off topic and say, oh, this bookwas so amazing.
I felt this.
I felt this.
I felt that I felt all theseemotions.
I just that sort of thing I like.
I actually like when I used tolike.
When I used to like sometimes,because I usually go on my
Goodreads and I like check, okay, the reviews.
(52:26):
I used to like the essays, Iused to write on my Goodreads
and I'm like what the hell, whatis this?
And then I get to like.
And then the thing is, I'm alsoexcited because I also get to
talk about books with friends.
I got like a few book friendsthat I talk to and like I always
talk about books with friends.
(52:46):
Um, I got like a few bookfriends that I talk to and like
I always talk about the booksI'm reading and they also
introduce me to books and I endup falling in love with those
books as well that theyrecommend and it's just a whole
cycle.
So I just love.
I just want to like do like apodcast where I just get to talk
about books and get to talkabout also get to talk about
formula, because it's like twothings books and formula one.
And I get to talk about formulaone and I'm because I'm really
(53:06):
like deep into, like I'm when itcomes to books and formula one,
I'm like very excited.
I'm very like I'm a fan, like afan fan, I can even all these
authors like, because there'ssome authors where, okay, back
then, because I'm very, I'm avery quiet person and I try like
(53:27):
to on social media, it's whenlike all better off, I'm like
very hyperactive.
When there's an author that Ilove, they leave something, I
comment, I, I share things.
I try not to share a lot ofthings, but I end up just
sharing like 15 or 16 things andmy instagram and my story is
all looking like 15 or 16 thingsand my Instagram and my stories
all looking like there's 16different things going on.
(53:47):
There's K-dramas, there'sFormula One, there's stuff about
I don't know, there's memesabout books, there's there's all
sorts of things that happen.
So, like, I really like thepodcast, I really I really want
to do one Like I really want tostart one.
You should.
You totally should I'm alwayscause I'm always, yeah, I and
(54:10):
I'm always in awe with peoplewho like do, especially you,
like you're doing like amazingthings 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 oneperson and just be me talking
and rambling and just being myawkward self, but you could also
(54:31):
.
Jordan (54:31):
You could get like other people on too, so like you
could talk like about books withsomebody else or you just do it
yourself.
Like there's so manypossibilities.
Tanaka (54:42):
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 whoknows, when things, when things
like I mean when things are good, like next year, and I'm very
like settled in with certainlike certain things, that's when
(55:04):
I'll be like, okay, yeah, Iwant to do this, and then
another, another goal, and thenanother goal of mine is
somewhere in the future four orfive years, I want to open up my
own, like, literally, servicething.
Oh, like it won't be like fullPR.
Okay, yeah, just want to help,because for me, in general, I
(55:25):
love working with authors andI've worked with like different,
like when I started out, I andit's just like I just loved
working with authors and I love,like you know, just you know,
being able to see like theprocess of like writing a book
and then coming up withmarketing ideas for the book and
(55:46):
you know, like just the wholeprocess in itself.
I just I'm just so like into it,I'm so into, like you know,
coming up like just helpingpromote books in my own unique
way that I do things and it justbrings me joy in life and it
just makes me happy that I'mmaking someone happy with their
(56:10):
dreams.
That's something, you know.
That's very important to me isto make that author feel like,
okay, their dreams have cometrue, you know.
Jordan (56:27):
I like that.
Yeah, so this it's make thatauthor feel like, okay, dreams
have come true, you know.
Yeah, so this it's gonna happen.
You'll open your own literarypr and you'll have your own
podcast.
This will happen.
Manifesting yes yeah, I'mputting it out there yes, um, so
that was all the questions Ihad for you.
Is there anything you want tomention?
(56:48):
You can have the floor.
I don't know if you want toplug your Instagram handle.
I don't know if you have awebsite, anything like that,
that you wanted to mention.
Tanaka (57:00):
You can follow me on hey__.
Underscore tanaka loves bookson instagram.
Um, if you, if you use facebook, you can also like friend me on
facebook.
Like I accept anyone um, tanakakangara, k-a-n-g-a-r-a.
And yeah, I'm basically likeI'm more active on instagram, so
(57:25):
that's why I'm like I'm verymore vocal there.
I do all sorts of crazy, crazythings there.
But yes, hey, um h e double yare two y's.
Yeah, underscore tanaka lovesbooks also like.
Jordan (57:41):
I'll share your Instagram handle in the show
notes too, so then that waypeople can just go right on and
see it there too.
But, oh my gosh, thank you somuch for coming on the podcast.
Tanaka (57:57):
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 (58:05):
All we want to do is just like talk about books.
So like, thank you for talkingabout books with me um, I'm
truly honored.
Tanaka (58:13):
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 somequestions I was like, oh, I
really had to think I had to.
Really amazing questions, causethere's some questions I was
like, oh, I really had to thinkI had to really think about that
and there's something probablyI would have said, cause I feel
like I also have said the wrongthings as well, but oh well, oh,
oh, my gosh.
Jordan (58:34):
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 andreview us on Spotify and Apple
Podcasts or wherever you listen,and if there's any interviews
(58:55):
or conversations you would likeme to have with someone specific
, please reach out either emailor through our Instagram,
available in the show notes andhappy reading.
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