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Writing a New Chapter

Alumna Miracle Martin creates BookBlend, an app that connects readers and spotlights underrepresented authors

Miracle Martin

Miracle Martin showing off her app she created.

Miracle Martin wants to make you a better reader — and she has an app for that. Martin, who earned a technical diploma in Entrepreneurship in May, has created BookBlend, a unique book community that combines reading physical books, digital journaling, interacting with authors and collecting data. BookBlend also emphasizes works by diverse content creators and underrepresented authors. “It’s like Spotify Blend, but for books,” said Martin, describing a feature of Spotify, the world’s largest audio streaming service, that creates shared, automatically updated playlists for users and up to 10 friends. “It blends the reading experience of Kindle with the social connection of Instagram and the discovery style of Tinder,” she added. “I see BookBlend as a space for both underrepresented authors and readers; a community where readers can connect, find like-minded people, and build real relationships; a space where readers can relax and enjoy the experience.”

Here’s how BookBlend works: Subscribers who opt for the full experience get a clear plastic tote bag that typically includes one of 20 books in a number of genres that they can choose, a spiral-bound journal, and a handful of stickers and bookmarks. Nearly all the books are written by Black authors and other people of color — books that get lost in the shuffle or overlooked, according to Martin. “I want to help readers expand their knowledge and read books of different styles,” she said. “There’s a lot of great books by Black authors.” In the journals, readers can jot down their progress, review each chapter of the book and add drawings or stickers. Then readers can use the accompanying app to track their progress, see new book suggestions and swipe to like them, engage with other readers, and someday link with the authors, Martin said. Eventually, readers could create their own digital discussions groups around the country that lead to in-person events, Martin said. The app also can be used to collect data from readers so authors know where their books are having a real impact, she said.

The concept, which Martin developed after other digital book clubs left her unmoved, was on her mind when she started at MATC in the Audio Engineer program. She changed her focus to the Entrepreneurship program after meeting its lead faculty member, Armen Hadjinian, and sharing her concept with him. “I had the idea ... of what I wanted to do but had no idea where to begin,” Martin said. In November 2024, she pitched her idea at an entrepreneur competition for students held at Marquette University. BookBlend won second place, and she earned $5,000 toward the project. Using artificial intelligence and what she learned in class, Martin shaped and refined the concept, designed and developed the app, and built a website. “Miracle is very persistent, she’s a self-learner and she’s not afraid to try new things,” Hadjinian said. “She used AI to build an app and a website. This is something that would have cost $50,000 or $60,000 10 years ago. Now you can do it for almost nothing.” The BookBlend app is nearly ready, said Martin, who is performing last-minute testing to ensure there are no bumps. Martin graduated in May and began selling her BookBlend packages at city parks. She also promotes and markets her products on social media. “I want to keep moving forward,” she said. “I don’t want to wait or stop. I feel like I have some great momentum.”