Let me introduce myself...

(and you do the same!)

My name is Jennifer Caloyeras and I love all things book related!

I write books:

I’ve published a collection of short fiction and two young adult novels. I am currently writing my first suspense novel. click here to learn more about my writing life.

I have a book recommendation podcast

I read anywhere between 100 - 150 books a year and I recommend books on my podcast, BOOKS ARE MY PEOPLE, available wherever you catch your pods! I talk about bookish news, interview authors and other book lovers and, of course, pass along my favorite reads to listeners. click here to learn more about my podcasting life.

I am a creative writing instructor

I have been teaching for over twenty-five years. I teach creative writing at UCLA Extension’s Writers’ Program as well as private classes and I also work one-on-one with clients needing editorial work. click here to learn more about my teaching life.

I make books

It’s true! I recently opened an Etsy shop where I sell handmade uupcycled journals out of old book covers and collected papers, including architectural renderings, aerospace paper, vellum, colorful paper, vintage graph paper and more. I love creating these one of a kind gifts. click here to visit my Etsy store.

I make art

Last, but certainly not least, I make art. I started painting during the pandemic thanks to

Charlotte Hamilton

and her amazing online instruction. I hope to add some paintings and other works of art to my Etsy store this year.

You can follow me on Instagram at jennifercaloyeras

It’s always daunting to start fresh in a new online space, but I’m excited to be here! Feel free to reply and tell me a bit about yourself, especially what you’re currently reading!

What free subscribers will receive: I publish a weekly newsletter each Tuesday on new book release day, highlighting books I’ve read or books I am most excited to read. Additionally, I publish a bookish article each Thursday for paying subscribers. Topics can include anything related to books such as a sneak peek at my advanced review copies for a given month, book to film adaptations coming out, independent bookstore visits, bonus book recommendations and book news.

Once in a while, I offer a free “Cover Me” zoom, open to all, where I tell a story or two about book covers as we draw / paint / doodle a book cover and casually share what we are reading. Participants will receive a PDF featuring all books discussed.

What paying subscribers will receive:

• a Books Are My People bookmark

• For just $6.67 a month (If you pay for a full year) paying subscribers will receive the weekly newsletter.

• All Thursday posts including monthly Links I Love and Even More Bookish News.

• access to my monthly book read alongs:

• The bookclub works on a three (ish)-month rotating basis that includes:

  • one or two months of a Read-With-Me series: after a vote, we all read the same book over the course of the month. I include weekly short videos highlighting a different aspect of the novel as well as a companion online weekly discussion culminating in an end of the month live zoom.

  • one month of Book to Film Adaptations where we read a book and watch the film / tv adaptation then discuss over a culminating zoom.

  • and a casual Independent Reading Month where you read whatever you’d like and we zoom at the end of the month to share what we’ve read.

• Bookish Giveaways! (I give away one book at the end of each zoom. The giveaways are open to U.S. Mailing addresses only due to the postage being cost-prohibitive.

Love books? Then what are you waiting for?

Start Reading!

Be part of a bookish community that also lets me dabble in art.

What we have read / watched or will be reading / watching:

February 2024 Land of Milk and Honey by C Pam Zhang

March 2024 The Expatriates by Janice Y.K. Lee (The Expats on Prime)

April 2024 Book Club Social (Independently read, then share over zoom)

May 2024 The Book of Ayn by Lexi Freiman

June 2024 Book Club Social (Independently read, then share over zoom)

July 2024 The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith / The Talented Mr. Ripley movie / Ripley (Netflix)

August 2024 Book Club Social (Independently read, then share over zoom.)

September 2024 / October 2024 Read With Me Series: The Alternatives by Caoilinn Hughes

November 2024 Poor Things by Alistair Gray / Poor Things the film

January 2025 Read With Me: Faces in the Crowd Valeria Luiselli

February 2025 Book Club Social (Independently read, then share over zoom)

March 2025 The Nickel Boys / Nickel Boys movie

April / May Read With Me Series: Women’s Hotel by Daniel Lavery

June 2025 Book Club Social (Independently read, then share over zoom.)

July: Book to Film: We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

August / September Read With Me:

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