Today we’d like to introduce you to Deb Coco.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I started by Bookstagram account in 2017 after having moved from New York to Texas. We lived in Austin for two years before moving up to Dallas, and I was missing all the bookclubs and bookstores I’d had in New York. I have three grown daughters and when they came for a visit, they told me about a growing part of Instagram that was totally devoted to books and book reviews called “Bookstagram.” That weekend they helped me brainstorm my handle, @LoneStarWords, and my account was born! I have always adored reading and majored in English at the University of Massachusetts. I am originally from Boston, which is a very bookish city, and my passion for all things literature runs deep. Running @lonestarwords started as a little hobby and has grown into a relationship with publishers and writers alike; over the last year I was able to interview many best-selling authors – I find author accessibility to be one of the highlights of the IG community.
Dallas has been a great city for meeting other people who love reading and, via my account I’ve made friends all over the world.
My other passion is animals and they are a huge part of my account and my followers. We lived on a horse farm in Vermont for many years and our last horse is still living at the age of 29. Sterling frequently appears on my IG stories, as do our 3 dogs and 4 cats, all of whom bring joy to the people who follow me.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I would love to turn my book review hobby into my profession, but I’ve not found a way to do that yet. Keeping my account’s integrity is the what is most important to me – my reviews are honest and authentic – I won’t ever 5 star a book just because a publisher sent it to me. There are so many book accounts out there, it’s become very competitive. I try to stick to what I do best and not change – my followers tell me they look to me for quality and “off the beaten path” recommendations, so I just keep doing what I am doing, and bit by bit I grow. It’s slow but steady.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Professionally, I am a college admissions counselor with The College Advisor of New York. We shepherd families through the college admissions process, from finding the right school, to seeking out scholarships and crafting essays that matter. I began working for them when I lived in New York and was able to take the job with me to Texas. I work remotely with our distance families but also have clients in the DFW area. I love helping high school students present their “best selves” to colleges and universities. Writing has always been a personal hobby; I’ve attended many writing workshops since graduating from college and I enjoy being on the other side, helping students write about themselves for the college application process.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
Family and animals. We have three grown daughters, two in Texas and one in New York City. I love nothing more than spending time with them. We are a very close family and I believe that raising our daughters on a Vermont farm tightened our already strong bond. I have been rescuing animals since I have memory – I don’t recall a time that I wasn’t obsessed with the welfare of creatures who depend on us for food and shelter. Horses came into my life as an adult, but since that time not a day has gone by that they aren’t foremost in my routine. We no longer live on a farm but our last horse, Sterling, lives at a barn in McKinney and is still one of the biggest parts of my life. Our 4 cats were rescued as kittens in Dallas and 2 of our 3 dogs were also rescues. I am literally obsessed with animals and take great pride in both caring for them well and spreading awareness of how many animals are in need.
Contact Info:
- Email: lonestarwords@gmail.com
- Website: https://www.lonestarwords.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lonestarwords/
