About - Literary Leanings

Welcome to Literary Leanings, a weekly newsletter about books and life here in Maine. Come and join the community of 5,000+ other readers who love books as much as you do!

Hi! I’m Michelle.

I’m a book-loving photographer living on the coast of Maine. I’ve been talking about books online for seven years now, and I love nothing more than thoughtfully curated book lists and connecting with fellow book lovers.

I’ve been an avid reader my entire life, but in 2015, after realizing I had read just two books in 2014, I made a goal of reading 25 books that year and rediscovered my love of reading. Since then, I started my book-focused Instagram in 2018 and this newsletter in 2021 and have been connecting with readers and sharing book recommendations.

After living in Boston and New York City, I settled down on the coast of Maine in 2021 with my husband and our two cats. When I’m not chatting about all things books, you can find me behind the camera as a full-time wedding and couples photographer.

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Featured in…

Downtime

Bookmarked with Michelle Martin

Welcome back to a new installment of Bookmarked, a series where our favorite authors, readers, and otherwise bookish people share their best book recommendations and reading rituals. If you’ve browsed bookstagram, you’ve likely come across Michelle Martin…

a year ago · 123 likes · 21 comments · Alisha Ramos

Olivia’s Substack

Desk Tour: Michelle Martin

Welcome to Desk Tour, a series where I interview creative folks about their desks and workspaces. In case you missed it: Marta Cavalho’s Desk Tour from last time. You can also browse the entire catalog of Desk Tours…

5 months ago · 139 likes · 13 comments · Olivia Muenter

Slow Stories

CHAPTERS: Michelle Martin

Every (life) chapter has at least one memorable moment, sentence, or story. What are yours? In Chapters, I ask creative people to reflect on the stories of their lives and respond to any of the below prompts (in whatever way they wish…

6 months ago · 34 likes · 2 comments · Rachel Schwartzmann and Michelle Martin

platonic love

Links we sent our friends #60

Hi! Aliza here. I didn’t know a political endorsement could make me cry — but last week, this one SURE DID. The kickoff to Harris’ presidential campaign has been a needed bright light the past few days. I’m brimming with hope again…

a year ago · 99 likes · 24 comments · Platonic Love, Aja Frost, Aliza Sir, and Michelle Martin

A reading life

Issue 82: The Reading Life of... Michelle Martin

When Rumi and I returned from the library this past Saturday, I retreated to indulge my Substack reading habit. Noticing an influx of new subscribers, my first thought was: I'VE BEEN HACKED. After a brief panic, I discovered Coleen Baik of The Line Between…

9 months ago · 71 likes · 33 comments

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