Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Becker.
Lauren, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I have been blogging at Shooting Stars Mag since August 2007. I actually started focusing mostly on music with a couple online friends of mine. We had met each other as part of the online Panic! at the Disco book club. As time went on, I started focusing more on books and the blog became my sole project. I’ve had help over the years, but it’s mostly been me running things. At the moment, I consider myself a lifestyle and entertainment blogger and social media influencer. I have the blog, Instagram, and TikTok that I focus on the most. I still have a large focus on books, but I like talking about music, and movies and products that I think are worth checking out. I also live in the Northern Kentucky/Cincinnati area and it’s always fun to talk about local events and opportunities.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It’s never a smooth road, but it’s always worth it. I’ve sometimes thought about not blogging anymore because it takes a lot of time and effort, but in the end, I love it. I love the connections I’ve made and the opportunities I’ve gotten. I do focus a lot on Instagram and TikTok now, but I still love the actual blog/website and I’m not sure what I could hang my hat up. Being one of the only people running the blog most years has definitely been a struggle sometimes. You really have to have time management skills, you’re often putting your own money into the website and growing an audience, and you constantly have to learn new ways of doing things, like adding in various social media. I don’t expect my “brand” if you will to ever be a full-time job, but I would like a measure of success and I do my best to keep up with it as much as I can.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
In my professional life, I have worked in higher education for years. I have a Master’s Degree in Library Science. I have always loved literature and I think studying it makes me a more interesting reader, which helps with my blog. I think I’m most proud to just be doing what I love still after all these years. I have tried to find opportunities for myself over the years, like doing promotion work for authors, working as an influencer manager, and now as a literary matchmaker for a subscription service.
What do you think about happiness?
Books make me happy. My cat, Charlie, who really is my baby. Being with the ones I love. I’m a pretty simple person and I like the things that make me comfortable and feel secure. I’ve definitely grown more and come out of my shell as a person as I’ve gotten older. In my early twenties, I even started adult dance classes, having never done so growing up. I’m proud of myself for trying it and I’m still doing them now.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://shootingstarsmag.net/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenashleybecker/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/shootingstarmag
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@laurenashleybecker?lang=en
