Inside & Out #17: Laura from Scribbles & Wanderlust

Posted October 26, 2015 / Features, Inside and Out / 17 Comments

inside out

Admiring book covers and bookmarks, shared by you!

Welcome to INSIDE AND OUT. This feature includes two of my absolute favorite book-related things: bookmarks (inside) and book covers (out)! I’ve invited guest posters to share their favorite book covers and bookmarks here on the second and fourth Mondays of each month. Sign-ups are always open (see bottom of post)! Check out past posts here.


the reader2

Laura from Scribbles & Wanderlust

Twitter: @LECrockett| Instagram: @lauraecrock| Goodreads

Tell me a little about yourself: I’m a literary agent and bookseller by day, and blogger by night. Whenever my life isn’t consumed with books, music takes over. Also, if I meet someone who’s the least bit interested in Victorian literature, I chat their ears off for days.

Talk about your blog (what you blog about/kinds of books, features, etc.): Scribbles & Wanderlust mostly has book reviews, but I also participate in Top Ten Tuesday, A to Z book survey, End of Year book survey, #ReRead2015, Seasonal Rewind (my own take on the monthly recap), Advance Excitement at a Glance (a glimpse at ARC reviews coming up for the month), and the occasional discussion/observation post on book and reading preferences.

Favorite genre: All genres within Young Adult, though I also read and review whimsical Middle Grade and Adult historical fiction. I realize I mentioned categories more so than genres, but I’m across the board!

Three books you recommend most often and why:  Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (because it has everything),Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell (it’s that perfect upper-YA that even younger YA readers can appreciate and enjoy. Also, I think it’s easy for the Potter generation to connect to this book), The Likeness by Tana French (an undercover detective with a strange case in Dublin, full of subtle psychological shifts and ugh, I love the Dublin Murder Squad mysteries and this is the best)


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the cover2

What book do we have here?  Paula Brackston’s The Winter Witch

Have you read it yet? If so, how was it? I did read it! It was the first Brackston novel I ever read, and now I gravitate to her books — or at least the ones with Welsh settings. It’s historical fiction first and foremost, with a dash of fantasy. The magic is very earth-based, kind of like Juliet Marillier’s work (which I also adore). Read my full review here!

What makes this cover a favorite?  The cover matches the title. It’s cool, blue and white, whispery, hushed. It’s bold without having flashing colors. The typeface is wintery as well, with spidery, stick-like text. Overall, it’s simply seamless.

What kind/style of covers do you usually pine over (script fonts, bright colors, realistic, etc.)?  Honestly, it depends on the genre and category. I love contemporary YA covers that look sketched, mystical or otherworldly fantasy YA covers (likeSeraphina or Snow Like Ashes). Adult covers tend to have a faceless woman on them or an object (teacups, an estate, foliage), but the typeface is usually what grabs my attention on those. MG books that I enjoy are more gothic or have a dash of sparkle in them (Flights and Chimes and Mysterious Times comes to mind). While flashy colors and big dresses are certainly eye-catching, I’m drawn to the covers that can also tell the story with that cohesive art + typeface look.


Laura1the bookmark2

What bookmark did you chose?  A wooden quote bookmark.

What makes this one special to you? This bookmark was given to me by my Secret Santa last year. Not only was it a Harry Potter bookmark (without it blatantly appearing like a Potter bookmark), but the quote on it was directly from my favorite book of the series. Whether or not she knew that, I’ll never know — but it is perfect.

What kind of bookmarks do you prefer (paper, magnetic, quotes, etc.)? I love off-the-wall bookmarks. Magnetic ones are cute and I do use them, but another favorite is a typewriter pin (MARIE), a stretchy strap bookmark (NANA), a ribbon clip bookmark (HANNAH), and a set of Hogwarts Houses clip bookmarks (although I never use these, haha). Anything that does as little damage to the paper or spine as possible is the bookmark for me.


Thanks so much for joining Inside & Out, Laura! I think I’ve had that bookmark on my wishlist for a long time. I love it. Great picks!


Join in the fun!

Important: Sign-ups are always open and currently scheduled through the beginning of 2016.

17 responses to “Inside & Out #17: Laura from Scribbles & Wanderlust

  1. I love this feature! And I love your interview, Laura 🙂

    I’ve actually wanted to read The Winter Witch for some time! I’ve checked it out of the library once or twice but haven’t given it a go yet. Now I want to! The cover really is gorgeous for all the reasons you mentioned.

    I like similar covers. Typography is a big one for one and I’m really over the single symbol on a fantasy cover thing. I do fall for the pretty dress cover more than I’d like to admit but for me I just really like an aesthetically pleasing cover with the colors, fonts, and subject all coming together.

    Love that bookmark! I have lots of bookmarks but I’m not very good at using them haha.

    Morgan @ Gone with the Words recently posted: Review: The Virgin’s Daughter by Laura Andersen
    • Let me know when you check out the book, Morgan. I’d be curious to hear your thoughts!

      Single symbol on a cover, hahaha. I think there was a phase when publishers were trying to be gender neutral and make covers pleasing to all, but the object isn’t quite eye-catching. (Plus, what’s with all the magical objects in fantasy? What’s that about?)

      Haha I used to be the same! Now I just use the ones I mentioned…Almost nothing else.

      Laura @ Scribbles & Wanderlust recently posted: Mini Reviews IV
  2. I love the colors and photography in the cover Laura chose! It gives the book a more eerie feel. 😉 Not too sure about the fonts–they’re really underwhelming, but I like the cover as a whole.

    That bookmark is the CUTEST–I totally want to reach into my screen and just grab it. <3 Also, HECK YES to this: "Anything that does as little damage to the paper or spine as possible is the bookmark for me." This is exactly why I mostly just use scraps of paper and cardboard bookmarks. 🙂

    Aimee @ Deadly Darlings recently posted: Rambling Rundowns #2: The Excitement is Epic
  3. This is such a great idea! I love seeing other people’s bookmarks. The HP one is very cool. Generally, I find bookmarks that aren’t paper/cardboard annoying because they fall out, but I think I’d be perfectly happy if someone gave me that wooden one:P

    This is my first visit to your blog, and I’m enjoying it!

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