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Taylor Epperson

Good books + Good living (formerly Bookish Tay)

Categories: Blogging

The 10 Most Popular Posts On My Blog This Year

Bookish Tay has officially been around for 2 years! While I’ve been blogging longer than that, this blog has only been around that long and it’s here to stay!

I always love to see the posts that all of you love the most! Some of these surprised me, while others didn’t! A few from 2019 snuck up to the top thanks to Google + Pinterest!

If I haven’t said it enough, I’m so grateful to every single one of you who reads my blog. Whether you’re new around here or have been around since the beginning, I’m happy you’re here!

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The 10 Most Popular Posts on Bookish Tay in 2020

10 Fantasy Books to Read If You’re New to the Genre

This is by far my top post of the year! I shared it a few weeks after the world shut down back in March and everyone was looking for great books to read! This list is great, because if you might be like me and say “I never read fantasy” but then it turns out you actually like the genre. These books are a great place to start! And be sure to keep an eye out for part 2 coming next year!

5 Things I’ve Learned Since I Started Using a Menstrual Cup

I’m 99% sure that this was also a top post last year. While I’m not currently using a menstrual cup (I got an IUD earlier this year and my doc recommended I not use a cup) they are still one of my favorite things! And apparently people like this TMI post about using a period cup (but seriously, it was life-changing)!

Imagine Me by Tahereh Mafi Book Review

This one surprised me. I feel like book reviews don’t always get super high views, but I still love sharing them. Maybe this one was popular because this is the last book in the series and everyone wanted to see what people were saying about it? I’m not really sure, but I’ll keep sharing reviews, even if it’s not very frequently.

11 Contemporary Books When You Need a Distraction

I also shared this post back in March. I was craving books that were light, fluffy, and would take me away from what was happening in the real world. This list was born from looking and my shelves and finding some of my favorites to share with you!

When You’re Struggling to Find Purpose

This post was a letter I wrote sort of to myself and really to all new moms out there, because let’s be real, finding purpose as a new mom can be tough sometimes. I’m glad this one made the list and that people are still reading it. I hope it gives you a little bit of hope if you’re struggling!

13 Books to Read if You Loved To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before

With Netflix making the movies for the To All the Boys Trilogy, sharing this list was so much fun right after the second movie came out! I’m really looking forward to the 3rd movie, but if you’re looking for a good book that’s full of love (and probably some teenage angst) this list is for you!

My 2020 Goals + Theme

I haven’t shared many goal posts lately (hoping to change that in 2021), but they are always so fun to write. Seeing what other people’s goals are always pumping me up and makes me want to work even harder on my goals (and set them).

9 Mysteries to Binge Right Now

Looking for something with a little bit of thrill or wondering whodunit? These books will keep you wondering from page to page. They aren’t too creepy (cause let’s be real, I cannot handle creepy things) but they’re perfect when you want to curl up with a cozy mystery!

Taking a Little Break

Back in June, I shared this post about how it was time to take a step back from how I’d been blogging and focus on my book. Turns out though I love blogging and can’t walk away from it completely. While 2021 might look a bit different in terms of blogging (how often I post, what I share) I’m still excited to be here and am grateful for your continued support as I figure out what this space looks like!

7 Books My Toddler Loves

Earlier this year I planned to share more picture books I was reading with Von. While this ended up being the only post about that, there will be more in 2021 for all you mamas out there! Cause finding books to read with your kids is overwhelming! These are some of our favorites!

Thanks for being here! I’m grateful for you as a reader, whether you visit weekly or every few months. I’m so glad you’re here!

Categories: Blogging

9 Mistakes I Made As A New Blogger (and How You Can Avoid Them)


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This post contains affiliate links; see site footer for disclosure.

Today I wanted to talk about something near and dear to my heart. Blogging. I love blogging. I’ve been blogging for about 10 years now. I started out on Blogger just for fun, and now I do it because I love it and because I’m able to bring in some extra income to our family!

In all my years of blogging I’ve made a lot of mistakes. I’m sharing them with you today so that you can avoid them as a new blogger (or change what you have been doing so you don’t make these same mistakes!)

If I had done a lot of these things sooner, I could have started making money as a blogger sooner. I’m in a great place with my blog right now, and I’m grateful for all that I’ve learned along the way, I still wish I’d done some of these years ago!

Mistakes that I Made as a new blogger

Not having an email list

I’m just shaking my head about this right now. This is the first year that I’ve ever had an email list! It’s small but mighty and I am learning all about email marketing so that I can 1) grow my list and 2) share what I learn with you!

Why do I need an email list?

Maybe you’re asking yourself this question, I asked this for years!! You need an email list for several reasons but I’ll name a few right now. You need an email list because you don’t actually own your content or social media profiles; that means if was randomly shut down, would your followers still be able to find you?

With an email list you’ll always have a way to reach your subscribers! They’re in your circle and you’ve got an easy way to contact them.

Another reason to have a list is so that you can sell or share a product, course, or service that you’re providing! It’s one of the easiest ways to make a sale (affiliate or your own).

Not having an email list was a huge mistake I made as a blogger, thankfully I’ve been able to change that.

I used MailerLite when I first got started but I currently use (and LOVE) ConvertKit for managing and sending emails.

Only focusing on Instagram

I love Instagram. I always have, and even with the crappy algorithm half the time, I still love it.

It’s still my favorite platform, but for the longest time it was the only platform I used to drive traffic to my blog. And while I get a decent amount of readers from Instagram, I wasn’t using any other tools in my toolbox.

With Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest there are so many ways you can be sharing and promoting your blog.

I do think you should start by focusing on 1-2 platforms and really getting them down and growing before you try to do them all. Pick the social media platforms where your readers are hanging out and then show up consistently.

Right now I am now learning all I can about Pinterest and continuing to grow my Instagram account (are we friends yet?!)


Waiting to sign up for blog networks.

If you’re new to the blogging world you might be thinking “but Taylor, what the heck is a blog network?”

For the longest time I had no idea what a blog network was. A blog network a place where you sign up through the network to work with brands and create sponsored content.

I always thought I was too small or didn’t know how to work with brands so I was afraid to try and sign up, but it doesn’t hurt to sign up and try! Different companies have different requirements, but when you sign up for a blog network you’re able to see those requirements and apply to jobs that you know you and your audience will love.

A few networks that I’m a part of:

  • Activate

  • Acorn

  • Massive Sway

There are so many more too! Start looking around and don’t be afraid to sign up. Blog Networks were where I landed my first sponsored content. It gave me great footing before I started reaching out to brands myself, which leads me to the next point.

Not reaching out to brands directly.

This is one that still makes me a little nervous, but I’m going to be taking #BossPitch soon to learn how I can go about doing this better.

There are so many brands that I want to work with, but I still feel nervous about reaching out to them. I haven’t figured out what to say to them and how to pitch, hence me going to take that course!

When I first got serious about blogging and making it my job, I thought that brands would just come to me. While that does happen on occasion, as the blogger you should be reaching out to brands! I’ll be looking up some resources for you guys so that you can learn how to do this, once I do I’ll update this post.

Not monetizing my blog right away.

For almost 8 years I didn’t monetize my blog at all. Say What?! I was missing out on a great opportunity to make a living as a blogger.

A few ways you can make money directly through your blog are:

  • Affiliate Links

  • Ads

  • Selling your own product (physical or digital)

  • Courses

  • Services

  • Sponsored content

Making money as a blogger isn’t the easiest thing in the world, but it is possible. It takes work and time but it is worth it in the end.

Waiting to switch to Squarespace

A few weeks ago I wrote a blog post about why I switched to Squarespace as a blogger + why I’m loving it!

I’ve been wanting to use Squarespace for years but I kept seeing that in order to be a good blogger and make money I had to have a self-hosted site on WordPress (you don’t!) I’m glad I finally made the switch to what I wanted and now it’s never been easier to create exactly the blog I’ve always wanted.


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Believing that I needed to Niche down.

If you haven’t noticed, I talk about a lot of things here. Motherhood, mental health, blogging, books, and faith. While all of this technically falls under “Lifestyle blogger” I felt that because I wasn’t only a book blogger or a mental health blogger, I was never going to have anyone read my blog.

I don’t think you have to have a specific niche to be successful as a blogger. I brand myself as a faith + lifestyle blogger and all of my blog posts fall into one of the categories I just listed. People read my blog everyday and I am making more money than when I was only talking about one thing.

Don’t be afraid to talk about the things that you love, make it personal but relatable and informative for your readers.

Not sharing my blog posts after I wrote them

When I started blogging I sort of had the mentality of “if I build it they will come” so I wrote and hit publish and then… crickets.

You have to share your blog! Duh, Taylor (totally facepalming myself right now)

People aren’t going to come if they don’t know that you exist! Every time I publish a post I share it across social media + some of the blog groups that I’m a part of on Facebook!

Write great content, share, and share some more.

I didn’t connect with other bloggers

Working from home can be lonely at times. I didn’t have blogger friends for such a long time. It wasn’t until I joined blogging groups on Facebook that I really started to find blogging friends.

My favorite groups right now are Blog Passion Project and Show Your Blog Love.

You want to have a community of bloggers who know what you’re going through and will support you as a blogger.


These are some of the mistakes that I made as a new (and seasoned) blogger. What are some of the mistakes you’ve made as a blogger?


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Categories: Blogging, Lifestyle

Calling on God’s Grace

Maybe I should be writing this post for The Faith Project, but I’m writing it here instead.

The past few weeks I’ve really been thinking about what I want to accomplish specifically with this blog.

I love blogging and writing and creating new content, but I was reading my old blog this morning and I miss the blogger I used to be. The one I was when I just wanted to write and share goodness with the world.

Not the one concerned with numbers and followers and if I was creating the ‘right’ content. As I’ve mentioned in the past, I’ve loved Stephanie Nielson’s blog for years. I’ve been reading it fairly regularly since I returned home from my mission 5 years ago. (I even used the same font as her on my old blog, but well, I miss it so we’ll see how this goes).

I don’t want to be just like her in what I blog about, but I do love how she writes about what she wants to share. She writes an online journal (essentially) for her and her family and that’s why she does it, but I know so many people get inspiration from her every day and every week.

I had a very haunting dream last night.

One that could be all to real in this crazy and scary world we live in. When I woke up my first thought was to be afraid. My second was to share the light. Share the good. Make the world a little bit brighter through my words and my talents.

Yesterday I taught our Young Women all about God’s grace. What it is and how we are always worthy of His Grace. This morning, I got up and started reading old blog posts. While I’ve learned a lot since 2015 when I really started blogging, there are a few things I’ll be doing differently now that I did do back then. And to be honest, i’ll be calling on God’s grace to help me.

To give me guidance as I take the next steps in this journey.

I’m grateful for all that I’ve done as a blogger, I really have learned so much. But more and more this year I’ve learned my mission as a blogger. I want to live with faith and purpose and help women do the same.

We’ll still talk about great books, but there will be a lot more about life, goodness, motherhood, and God. I feel a calling greater than myself to talk about these things here. Somedays I want to run from it, but at the same time, I want to share them so that someday Von can know all the things we did in her childhood, so that she can find answers to her own questions as a wife and mother and daughter of God. And so that all the women who already read my blog, can find those answers too. And so I can find those answers along the way.

I mentioned a few months ago, how things are changing here. But then I slipped right back into my old habits of what I was doing before and what hasn’t been bringing me joy. Instead I’ve been stressed and anxious and lashing out on Von and Griffin and I know something has to actually change this time around.


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Categories: Blogging

Why I Switched to Squarespace As A Blogger


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This post is not sponsored and it does not contain affiliate links, all these thoughts are purely my own and I won’t be making money if you click!

Everywhere I look, bloggers are telling you and me to use WordPress when starting a blog.

And not WordPress.com, but having a self-hosted site and then using WordPress.org to create your website.

I’ve been blogging for 10+ years now. I started out with Blogger, then used Bluehost/Wordpress, then SiteGround/Wordpress, and now I use Squarespace.

Why did I switch from WordPress to Squarespace?

Honestly, there were a few things that played a role in my decision.

1) I don’t know how to code.

Now, this isn’t a huge deal if you have a WordPress site. You can still create a beautiful site on your own or buy a theme to make your site look like you want it. My problem was the amount of time that it took to get my website up and running. I wanted things that I didn’t know how to do in code + I didn’t have a huge budget starting out. Plus, I tend to change things on my blog fairly often and didn’t want to spend money on a theme that I didn’t absolutely love.

2) I know all the prices right up front.

Squarespace has all of their prices right up front. It’ straightforward and the prices have been the same for year, I think they are here to stay. Squarespace has 4 different levels for their pricing, depending on what you want. Everything is clear and straight forward. When I was with a self hosted site, it was great for the first year (or 2-3, depending on how much you pay when you initially sign up, but then the price goes up) I feel like this is talked about, but not enough.

I love how straight forward and easy it is to know exactly how much you’ll pay with Squarespace. You also have the option to pay month by month instead of yearly if that’s something you need. You can check out all of the pricing here.

3) The ultimate reason why I switched was because I’ve been thinking about it for years.

A good friend of mine LOVES Squarespace and every time I visited her site, I knew that I wanted the cleaner look that Squarespace offers. I also loved the idea of setting up my entire website before hitting publish so I could know exactly what it was going to look like before it was up and running. When you sign up with Squarespace you get a 14-day trial to set up your website before paying or launching it!

I am a few months into my switch and every day I’m grateful I took the leap. Moving over my content was a lot easier than I expected it to be (I’m working on a post right now about how you can switch to Squarespace too) and I truly do love my site. I’m still getting it to be exactly where I want it, but we’re on the way there and I couldn’t be happier.

Have you switched blogging platforms before? Which one do you use, and why do you like it?


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Hi there! I'm Taylor! I'm an aspiring author and book lover. On my blog, you'll find great book recommendations and tips for following your dreams! I'm so glad you're here!

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