Podcasts about American Booksellers Association

When Sarina found Stephanie Pao on social media, she knew she had to interview her. Stephanie has the job we all want—she owns a bookstore on wheels. La Fleuria is L.A.'s first mobile romance bookstore, and we are here for it. Tune in to hear our interview with Stephanie. We're discussing how she got this idea, where she turned for advice, and how she figures out what to stock and where to park La Fleuria!Show links include: #YouAndYourBookstore episode with Mary Laura PhilpottLa Fleuria book truckStephanie on InstagramStephanie's LinktreeLa Fleuria's popup schedule Thrown for a Loop, Sarina's upcoming release (pub date 11/4/25)TropeTruck, a book truck whose owner generously contributed knowledgeIngram, the wholesale bookseller we discuss in some detail (because Jess needed to understand how this bookseller access to indie authors works!)Books Stephanie recommends and loves to sell at La Fleuria:Yes No Maybe by Jessica Sherry (La Fleuria's #2 bestseller!)Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid All Rhodes Lead Here by Mariana ZapataHey, Jess here to talk to you about a new series I have created just for supporters of the #AmWriting Podcast.I met an aspiring author and speaker who has an idea for a book that just knocked me over. I said, please, please write that book. This is someone who had an idea that has a place in the market. It's timely. She's the perfect person to write it, and I asked her, I begged her, if I could please mentor her through this process publicly on the podcast.So while we're not giving her full name and we're not giving the actual title of the book, because we don't want to hand those things away, I am coaching her through the entire process, from preparing her book proposal to querying an agent. I'm going through the whole thing with her. She knows nothing about the publishing industry, she knows very little about how one goes about writing a book—so essentially, this is as I mentioned before, from soup to nuts, From Authority to Author, and hopefully we'll get her there.But really, whether or not this book ends up selling, whether after this book she ends up having a speaking career, this is about the process of preparing to do that. I hope you'll join us.This series is for supporters only, so if you are a free subscriber right now, consider upgrading. Remember, if you upgrade, you'll also get the ability to submit for our First Pages Booklab, and lots of other fun stuff that we put out just for supporters—So come join us. It's a lot of fun.Transcript below!EPISODE 457 - TRANSCRIPTJess LaheyHey, Jess here to talk to you about a new series I have created just for supporters of the Hashtag AmWriting podcast. I met an aspiring author and speaker who has an idea for a book that just knocked me over. I said, please, please write that book. This is someone who had an idea that it has a place in the market. It's timely. She's the perfect person to write it, and I asked her—I begged her—if I could please mentor her through this process publicly on the podcast. So, while we're not giving her full name and we're not giving the actual title of the book, because we don't want to hand those things away, I am coaching her through the entire process—from preparing her book proposal to querying an agent. I'm going through the whole thing with her. She knows nothing about the publishing industry. She knows very little about how, you know, one goes about writing a book. And so she essentially—this is, as I mentioned before from soup to nuts, From Authority to Author, and hopefully we'll get her there. But really, whether or not this book ends up selling, whether this book—she ends up having a speaking career—this is about the process of preparing to do that. How do you write a book? How do you prepare to become a speaker on the back of that book? So I hope you join us. This is a series for supporters only. So if you are a free supporter, or if you're a free subscriber right now, consider upgrading. Remember, if you upgrade, you'll also get access to the ability to submit for our First Pages Book Lab and lots of other fun stuff that we put out just for supporters. So come join us. It's a lot of fun.Multiple Speakers:Is it recording? Now it's recording, yay. Go ahead. This is the part where I stare blankly at the microphone. I don't remember what I'm supposed to be doing. All right, let's start over. Awkward pause. I'm going to rustle some papers. Okay, now one, two, three.Jess LaheyWelcome to the Hashtag AmWriting podcast. This is the podcast about, oh, writing all the things—the short things, the long things, the nonfiction, the fiction, the poetry, the book proposals, the agent queries—all the things. In reality, though, this podcast is about two things. It is about getting the work done, and flattening the learning curve for other writers. I'm Jess Lahey. I am co-hosting today. I am the author of The Gift of Failure and The Addiction Inoculation, and you can find my journalism at The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Atlantic.Sarina BowenAnd I'm Sarina Bowen. I am the author of many romance novels. My next one is called Thrown for a Loop and it's coming from Forever in November, and I could not be more excited. And it is in the vein of romance, publishing, and readership that I have invited a guest to talk to us today because she has done something so outrageously cool that I needed to hear more in person. So please welcome Stephanie Pao, who has started Los Angeles' first romance book truck. She's become a bookseller, and I am here to hear all about it. Welcome, Stephanie.Stephanie PaoHi, thank you so much for having me.Sarina BowenMy pleasure. If you wouldn't mind, I would love to hear—how did this happen? Like, how did you decide that the world needed a book truck? Because that is just a cool idea and I never thought of it. And like, so how did you decide to actually make it a thing? And what did you do?Stephanie PaoYes, okay. The idea actually came to me—I lived by the beach, so I was walking by the beach and I saw a vintage Volkswagen truck for sale, and I just couldn't get it out of my mind. It isn't the truck that I have now, but I kept thinking, what could I do with it? And I've always loved books—romance in particular—and I've been looking for something that I could do that kind of took my previous experience, which is marketing, but melded it with something I really enjoyed. And I just thought maybe I could start a book truck. And I started to do research and I saw that there are many book trucks across the country. At the time, I think maybe there was just one or two romance ones and I was lucky enough to be able to speak with someone who had a romance book bus called Trope. She has a bookshop now and she really gave me a lot of confidence that I could probably do this too. I ended up taking a course on bookselling and started looking for a truck. The truck I ended up finding was actually the first truck I found on Facebook Marketplace. The man who was selling it had completely restored it. And he was so excited that I wanted to do this book shop in a truck idea, that he actually helped me and designed all the shelves, and he built it, and he didn't charge me for it.Sarina BowenOh my goodness!Stephanie PaoYeah. So it felt very serendipitous and almost meant to be. And now it's been like two months and I'm having so much fun.Sarina BowenWow. Wow. Oh my goodness. I feel like you should be teaching a class on how to live, right? You're like, "I'm good at this thing, but I'm really interested in this other thing, and I'm going to stick them together and it's going to be great."Stephanie PaoYeah, I feel like it was a little bit of like manifesting, I guess.Sarina BowenWell, wow, that's so great. So how many books does your truck hold at once? Like, what is the size of your store?Stephanie PaoYeah, so it holds about 350 books, and I've taken to also stacking books on top to display my favorite books. So I think it might hold almost 400.Sarina BowenOkay. And so of course, when we think about the bookstores that we grew up going to—you know, there are these giant cavernous Barnes & Nobles, there are smaller independent bookstores—and they're all numbering in the thousands. But by specializing in a category that you really love, like suddenly 400 is you know, it's a workable amount for what romance readers might be looking for on any given day. So, but still, there's a lot of good books in the world. How do you choose?Stephanie PaoYeah, I do a mix of like books that I've read and loved. I have been a voracious reader—I've read my whole life—but I've been a voracious reader for a couple of years. I also do a lot of books that I get recommendations from friends or that I just see are very popular online. So I think people will want to find those, but I think it is hard. I'm still figuring out the right balance of what types of romance to carry.Sarina BowenRight. Right. Because we all have our favorite you know, parts of the genre and they might not be the ones that are killing it.Jess LaheyBut the thing that I'm really excited to hear about is the thing that I love so much about independent booksellers. I get a sense for the bookseller when I go to the bookstore. Like, there are certain bookstores I rave about not necessarily because they're huge, not necessarily because they're beautiful—but because I can tell that when the bookseller recommends something to me; I know who that person is. Or I know the sense of the curation at the store. And that excites me because I feel like I'm in capable hands. So I'm really curious—especially to hear about your curation, and how you decide what you're going to carry—and then I'm also, and I know Sarina is going to ask this question, but in my head, I'm like, how do you find your readers? That's the part I'm so excited to hear about. Like, how do you know where to go? How do the people find you? Because I think that's the magic—is connecting the people with the books. And that's what I feel like a really great curation does. It says, "If you like this, try this," or, "Oh, you're new to this genre? Let me tell you where you should start with this genre." That's what's magic to me about independent booksellers, and the idea of you getting to do it in a very concentrated way with a particular genre is just—it makes me so happy. I'm just so happy you're out there doing this, Stephanie.Stephanie PaoThank you.Sarina BowenSo one time I was reading the listing of a literary agent, I think, and somebody had said, "What do you like about this job?" And the agent said, "I get to invest in my own taste." And I thought that was a really interesting way of looking at her job—but also of your job as well. And before we get to “How do you find the readers?”—because that is a really important chapter of this conversation—I just, from the listener standpoint: are you constantly deluged by authors who are like, “Pick me, pick me”? Like, what would you tell an author who is trying to navigate the bookselling world? What have you learned about your end of being a bookseller that an author might need to hear?Stephanie PaoYes. Okay. So first I want to say, like the curation part—My like number two best seller is actually an indie author's book who I love, and I can see from the book selling, like software that I use, that I'm the only bookstore of the 200 plus bookstores that carry her book, and it's the second best seller for me. Like. I've sold over 30 copies in like two months. So I think it really is like the passion of the bookseller, and I have had quite a few authors reach out to me, and they'll come to events. And I feel like it's, I don't have a good process on how I'm vetting all the authors, but I think it's like, if we make a personal connection, I will try to go out of my way to like read their book, because we've connected in some way, and I love reading, and I just feel like because we've like, either met in person or we've exchanged nice messages on social media, it does make me want to read someone's book more, because I have that personal connection, which is probably how people feel when they go shop at an indie books, or they have the personal connection with, like, a bookseller. So I think that's very similar. Um, I had people like, bring me their books, which does make it easier for me to, like, already have it ready. I don't have to look it up to read it or remember to look it up as well, but I know that, like, probably has a cost to it as well. But I had someone just bring me an F1 romance book yesterday at one of my pop ups, and I've been on an f1 kick. I don't know if she noticed that from my personal social but, like, I am very intrigued already, and now I have itSarina BowenThat's so lovely.Jess LaheyFor the listeners out there who are interested in this very specific topic, in our show notes I'm going to link to an episode we did with Mary Laura Philpott, who used to be at Parnassus, about making connections with booksellers. Because there are things you can do to go out of your way—before your book comes out, or when your book is coming out—to say, “Hey, I have this book coming out, would you be interested at all in getting a copy?” So it's something that can happen that authors can work on. And I'm going to definitely drop the link to that episode in the show notes.Sarina BowenYeah. I had this earlier this year. I was noticing—I started keeping track of how many romance bookstores are in the world. And now I have a list of 60, more than 60. And for a little while, when one just sort of popped up in my social, I was writing an email—because authors get a lot of publisher copies, you know, and sometimes after the launch of the book we end up with a box of like 15 copies still sitting here—and I was sending an email like, “Congratulations on your new store! That's amazing. Can I send you a signed author copy? Because I just have them here. It's a gift.” And the uptake of that is, you know, almost 100%. But I don't ever want to presume that a bookseller wants a copy, you know, unless I check first, because that just seems cheesy. You know, it's, it's, it's hard for authors to know, like, how to be a good partner and not irritating. And anyway, I just thought, you know what your thoughts about that are?Stephanie PaoYeah. I mean, I think for me, like, I am a new store and, like, a single-person business. So anyone that reaches out to me, I'm like, “Oh my gosh, what do you mean? How do you know about me? Why would you want to send me something?” So I'm sure, like, the like, weariness goes both ways, where we are, like, we're also—a lot of people are, like women—or maybe like, not used to promoting themselves more. So I think, like, just shoot your shot. I have an event coming up at like, a big, like, kind of mall, and they said they don't really do things like that with partners like this, but they were impressed that I shot my shot. So I have like, a summer series with them, and I think it's the same for, like, promoting your own book.Sarina BowenYeah, I guess this whole conversation is an exercise in trying.Stephanie PaoYeah, like the worst that could happen is, I think probably they would maybe say no or not respond to your request—which I do feel like I am guilty of that, because I get a lot and I don't know how to best, like, manage the flow of people saying that they want to send books. But that isn't because I don't want to reply. It's more like, I don't have a good system.Sarina BowenIt's hard. So I definitely want to hear how you figure out where to go. Like, where does the truck go? How do you know who to ask? Like, is that a lot of asking and hoping for the, for the best as well. Like, how does it come together?Stephanie PaoYeah, that has been a trial and error process. I think I started off applying to more markets, because they're looking for vendors anyways. But those usually have costs. And I found a few markets that I really enjoy going to, so I go to them monthly now. And…Sarina BowenWhat kind of markets, can I ask?Stephanie PaoYeah, they're like, one is like a night market. They do it like, a couple times a month in a city of LA called Lakewood, and there's like food, there's usually, like a theme, so like, there was an AAPI night, or they had— I don't know if you know those, like toys called Labubu — but the last event I did was a Labubu themed one. And then I do another market that is in Culver City, and it is similar—like, there's food and drinks and then there's, like, people selling different like, a lot of artisan-made things,Sarina BowenOkay.Stephanie PaoYeah, um, and then I reach out to local businesses as well. And I found, like, right away, I reached out to so many, and I didn't hear back from that many, because I was just starting out. I didn't have that many followers at the time. But the people who I found, and I did pop up set, they were so kind, and they let me dictate, like a day where I come back monthly, so I just have like places that I will go monthly, which makes it a lot easier to, like, have it like a set schedule, and then I just try to test new places and add on.Sarina BowenLike, what kind of business? What? What makes a good what's a good sort of connection?Stephanie PaoYeah, well, so the first place that said yes to me was another women-owned business. And I do feel like they are, like, more inclined to, like; take a chance on another woman-owned business. So she actually has a flower shop, and she does like high tea on the days that I go. So she has people going there for like, high tea— but it's on a very visible Street. It's on the Pacific Coast Highway, so I think it's—I'm not sure it's benefiting her in any way, because I'm not sure my customers are going to buy flowers, um, but she has a space for me to pop up, and it doesn't like detract from her business, and it adds something fun to her guests. And I also go to coffee shops and breweries, and I do want to start reaching out to restaurants as well.Jess LaheyI'm actually looking at her pop-up schedule on her site right now, and there's also—I wouldn't have even occurred to me—but these silent readings that I see every once in a while on social media that I'm like, "Oh, if I lived in a city, I would be going to those all the time," where people just get together to read together. I've also seen them—people getting together just to write together—and those? That's brilliant. Showing up for something like that is such a wonderful idea, and your pop-up schedule looks fantastic. I'll definitely be dropping that into the show notes as well.Sarina BowenWell, I just want to push back on the idea that the flower shop isn't getting anything out of you stopping there, because, like—so she runs a flower shop. I'm just certain she has a tiny core number of people who come every week and get fresh flowers because, you know, money is no object, and why not.But then there are other people who are on her list, maybe, who are only there when it's somebody's birthday three times a year. But if you're coming on a certain day, and she can tell her following, you know, that, "Oh, stop by on Tuesday because La Fleuria is going to be here, and it's, you know, the romance book truck, and you definitely want to check it out," it gives her a timely thing she can tell the people that do like flowers. And, you know, she's going to maybe have more foot traffic on that day than she otherwise might not have had.Stephanie PaoYeah, I think it's more maybe imposter syndrome, because she has like 800,000 followers.Sarina BowenWow!Stephanie PaoSo I'm like drop in your bucket.Sarina BowenWow. Well, maybe we should all be in the flower business.Stephanie PaoYeah.Jess LaheyWell, what did you have to sort of overcome with your own resistance in order to try this new thing? Because when writers have this same problem, we have an idea. It's a little glimmer, a sparkle, of an idea. It's so appealing in our minds. But, like, the commitment to actually, like, set aside six months of your life and write an entire book because you had this glimmer of an idea is a process, and that is why there aren't as many people who write complete books as you have ideas for them. So how did you convince yourself that, um, that this risky thing was—was something you ought to commit to? And how did you make that decision?Stephanie PaoYeah, I think I'm still convincing myself that...Jess LaheyOkay, fair, fair.Stephanie PaoUm, I think it's actually really—it's really hard, because I think we're really programmed, or at least I was, on, like, this typical metric of success, which is, like: go to college, get a job, keep climbing the corporate ladder. And so I just kind of thought I would be doing that my whole life. But I never once thought, like, does that make me happy? Like, I was in a marketing job, and I was like—I climbed up to, like, VP, but I didn't enjoy it at all. And I just thought that's what we were supposed to do. So I think for me, I have been freelancing for three years because I got really burnt out, and I've just slowly come to terms with, like, maybe what I build for myself, or what I want for my life, is different than what all my friends have. Because I still talk to my friends that I've had for a long time, and I don't think they understand what I'm doing. And I feel like you will get a lot of resistance from people that you know, because they just want you to do the thing that feels safe to them, which is not venturing and doing something completely unknown. So I think it's, like, being really comfortable with the idea yourself and that not everyone's going to get it—but that's okay, because the people who do will, like, really support you. And then, of course, like, I'm not going to sugarcoat it—it is like a big financial risk. I think if you're setting aside time to write and not doing, like, other work, like—it is a risk either way. So I am lucky enough to have support, and I think that's, like, really important to share; that, like, my parents supported me so that I could take this on. And I—I started taking less and less clients from my, like, freelancing work to prepare to do this. And, like, I am still not, like, super profitable, but I know that I can, like, push back into freelancing if I really need to. So I think it's—I'm comfortable knowing that there are other means of, like, income if I really need it. But I really want to give myself time to see where this goes.Sarina BowenRight, I love that. So, of course, you knew that freelancing was—that you had some connections there, which helps, so you have, like, a little bit of a cushion for yourself, which is amazing. You—you mentioned earlier that you took a course in bookselling, and I just wonder how you found that, and how—how you felt. Was it information that you already had? Did it just give you confidence? Or did you really learn a lot from that course?Stephanie PaoWell, I found it through the American Booksellers Association. It was, like, a linked course that they had on, like, how to get started with opening your own bookstore. And I did learn a lot. I think at the time, I was really debating whether I should do a bookstore or do something more mobile. And that course actually made me feel like—when we did all the calculations—the rent is so much in LA that it just seemed, like, much, much too risky to do a store first. Like, maybe building up a customer base before investing in a shop. So I think I did learn a lot. I also—there's—I get a lot of the same questions from people who want to start something similar. And I got all of that information through this course. Like, a lot of people ask me where you buy books from, and things that have to do with bookselling that aren't very well known. And I think the course provides that information.Jess LaheyNice. Do you do you use Ingram [Ingram Content Group], and so you have like a special account as a bookseller?Stephanie PaoYes. And I just started opening, like, accounts with the publishers, because I wasn't sure how much I was going to order, and you have to meet minimums to order through the publishers. I was like, I don't know how quickly my inventory is going to go, but now I think it will be more worth it, because you get a better, like, discount through the publishers.Jess LaheyAs someone who's not involved in the bookselling community or the independent publishing community—just for my knowledge—one of the things that I, you know, often lament is if I like an author that is an independent bookseller and their print books are hard to come by. How do you—is Ingram someone who helps you bridge that? Does Ingram do this, like, print on demand? Sorry, there—my husband's home. Could you explain how this works a little bit to me?Stephanie PaoSo I also—well, I'm not 100% sure—but yes, Ingram does the print-on-demand books, and they have books from a lot of independent authors on there. I have a friend who is an indie author, and she said that she first listed her book on Amazon, but then the bookstores couldn't buy it, so she had to do something to get it on Ingram. So I'm not sure how that works, but I've also bought directly from a few authors, like the author I mentioned, who is, like, my second best seller. I buy directly from her, and I'm not sure where she gets her copies, but it is a much better deal than through Ingram.Jess LaheyYeah. So, Ingram—their first and primary business was as a wholesaler for traditionally published books. So, you know, in the '90s, when I briefly worked at Random House, Ingram was—you know, when a new book is published, Ingram buys a certain amount of them, and Baker and Taylor buy a certain amount of them, and they stand as a middleman who is ready to wholesale those books to booksellers. And then, of course, they created their print-on-demand service so that, probably, when you log into Ingram, you can see indie titles and traditional titles sort of all together in their offered database. But I did learn something recently about indies and Ingram that was a real eye-opener for me, which is that an author who opens an IngramSpark account and uploads their files there—like, like an indie author that you buy from probably does—has to set a discount amount. And unfortunately, the number that the bookseller gets is not the same as what the author sets. So the author can set a discount to retail in a band between, I don't know, 40 and 60 or something like that. But, um, in order for a bookseller to get their maximum discount, I have to put 53% discount or greater—like 53 or 55—and if I put 52 instead, then the bookseller gets, often, a very bad discount that is not 52%; it's more like 30%. So there's this magic that happens at the 53% author discount that allows you and your colleagues to get the max discount in your Ingram account. And it took me only, like, eight years to learn this magic.Jess LaheySo Stephanie, this is why we keep Sarina around, because she knows how this stuff works.Stephanie PaoI figured it was there was something, because the range in discounts I see from indie offers is so wide from like 20 to 40% and at 20% it's almost not even worth it to carry.Sarina BowenRight. I bet it isn't.Stephanie PaoYeah.Sarina BowenSo you if somebody Well, but, and that's where the confusion comes in, because here's an author, and she's putting 45% in that box, and then you're seeing it at 20 and going, this isn't worth it. And of course, like both of you, could be frustrated because…Jess LaheyExactly!Sarina BowenBecause that doesn't make a whole lot of sense. So um, but I have learned that 53 is the magic number, and that if an author puts 53 and then you will get your max discount. And it took me way, way too long to understand this.Jess LaheyThis is like… this is, this is—these little random things that come up occasionally—are, you know, why I talk about flattening the learning curve for other authors or booksellers or whomever that listen to this podcast. Because how on earth would you know that? And then you're frustrated because you can't carry a book, because you can't make money on it. The author's incredibly frustrated because you can't—won't—carry the book, and then that piece of information never gets across. So thank you for diving into that dorky detail for me, because, again, I think that's such an important piece of information that no one would ever know unless someone somewhere is discussing it. So thank you.Sarina BowenUm…you're welcome. It's really just inside baseball—like picky junk that takes up my week. But here we are.Jess LaheyI know. But the people who listen to this podcast—in particular, the people who are fans of Sarina Bowen—are often people who are also writing within the indie space. And so how, you know—how are they going to find this stuff out?Sarina BowenWell okay.Jess LaheyOkay.Sarina BowenEven if it's not as you know, as joyful as the following your dreams and the flower shop stuff, but we're here to do all of it.Jess LaheyWell… But the big—this is also a big part of it, because there are also going to be people out there who are like, Oh, I don't want to open a brick-and-mortar store, but Oh, a truck? I mean, like, for me, that's the entry point. That's very, very exciting to me. So, the other reason I wanted to be on this podcast today is because I want to understand how that works, and is it a way into something that would really feed your soul and your heart—and not to mention your book… sell—your, your bookshelves.Sarina BowenOf course. So, Stephanie, before we go, I would love—since you're the expert here—I would love for you to recommend a couple romances that you're excited about right now. And if you wouldn't mind, I would be super thrilled to hear what your number two bestseller is—that you, that you are her best bookseller.Stephanie PaoYeah, okay. It's Yes No Maybe by Jessica Sherry, and it is a story of a woman who has, um, scars on her face from, like, an accident from when she was younger. And she's, like, always felt not worthy of, like, all the good things in life, and she's settling. And she moves next door to a romance writer who has writer's block, and she becomes basically his muse. And it's, like, very sweet but very emotional. Some other books I love—I recently finished Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid, and I've never cried so hard in a book. And it's, like, also such a beautiful love story. I, like, have chills thinking about it.Sarina BowenWow.Stephanie PaoYeah. And then, just like a favorite that I always recommend is All Rhodes Lead Here by Mariana Zapata. I'm in my late 30s, so I feel like I love when characters are in their 30s and still figuring things out, and I love a slow burn romance.Sarina BowenAll right. Thank you so much. I, um—I love those choices. Um, we've all walked into bookstores and seen, like, the same five books on the front table that we've seen in every other bookstore we've walked into that month. And it's really lovely to hear some different recommendations from you, and we really appreciate it. Thank you so much for spending some time with us today to talk about this super fun project that—that Jess and I are like, Ooh, we could just quit everything and get a...Jess LaheyYeah. Well, no. The other thing is, I'm like, Okay, when's my next speaking engagement in Los Angeles, and can I make it coincide with one of your pop-up dates so that I could come by?Stephanie PaoI will drive the truck to you.Jess LaheyThat… actually, we'll figure it out. Because I just, I'm dying to see your truck, dying to see how it works. I just, I'm loving the selections. And I'm just really happy for more than anything else, I'm really happy for someone who has found a way to turn something they love into a business that can work. So I'm just so happy for you.Stephanie PaoThank you. Thank you so much for having me. This was really fun.Sarina BowenIt was entirely our pleasure. And thank you listeners for tuning in once again to the am writing podcast, and until next week, keep your heads in the game and your butt's in the chair.Jess LaheyThe Hashtag AmWriting podcast is produced by Andrew Perrella. Our intro music, aptly titled Unemployed Monday, was written and played by Max Cohen. Andrew and Max were paid for their time and their creative output, because everyone deserves to be paid for their work. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amwriting.substack.com/subscribe

Kaya of the Ocean is a middle-grade fantasy novel by Gloria Lai Huang that explores themes of mental health, the immigrant experience, and self-acceptance. The story follows Kaya, a thirteen-year-old girl who struggles with anxiety and a fear of water, as she discovers her lineage as a descendant of the Chinese water goddess Mazu. This heartfelt adventure combines elements of friendship, humor, and Chinese mythology, set against the backdrop of the beautiful beaches of Hawaii. It has been named a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection and chosen by the American Booksellers Association as one of the best debuts on the Winter/Spring 2025 "Indies Introduce" list, as well as a great read on the January 2025 "Kids' Indie Next" list. www.glorialaihuang.com

Have you always considered yourself a 'storyteller' but don't consider yourself a writer? That was the conundrum Alyson Gerber found herself in when Molly Ringwald (yes, THE Molly Ringwald) convinced her she needed to write! After Alyson wrote several books which her inner self needed to read, she turned her attention to mystery! Alyson, today (no foolin'!) released the second book in her best-selling 'The Liars Society' series, 'A Risky Game'! Alyson goes into detail about The Liars Society, her writing process, and how her love of storytelling guiding her through all the impostor syndrome which tried to come home to roost. Enjoy!   About Alyson Gerber Alyson Gerber is the bestselling author of The Liars Society, a middle grade mystery set at a New England prep school. The Liars Society is a USA Today bestseller, Barnes & Noble Bookseller Favorite, B&N Most Anticipated Book of the Month, and B&N Best Book of the Year (So Far), as well as an American Booksellers Association's Best Books for Young Readers, Roku's Best Book of the Month, Bookshop's Favorite New Books. It's also a nominee for the Texas Bluebonnet Award and Indiana's Young Hoosier Award. The Liars Society #2: A Risky Game will be in stores April 1.   About 'The Liars Society: A Risky Game' Weatherby is a fish out of water. When she lands a scholarship to the prestigious Boston School, she's excited to be in the same world as her dad, whom she's never met, and make real friends. But Weatherby has a secret she'll risk everything to protect, one that could destroy her new life. Every member of Jack's wealthy and privileged family has made their mark at the Boston School. Everyone, that is, except for Jack, who is entirely mediocre. He's desperate to prove his worth to his influential father. But Jack has a secret of his own . . . one with the power to ruin everything. When the money for their school trip to a private island―exclusive to Boston students―is stolen, Jack and Weatherby are invited to play a high-stakes game and solve the mystery of the missing money. If they win, they'll be selected to join the oldest, most powerful secret society in the world―and they'll be Boston royalty forever. If they lose . . . well, they better not lose. Beloved author Alyson Gerber crafts an unforgettable mystery that asks―are some secrets and lies impossible to overcome?   Make sure to check out the Dtalkspodcast.com website! Thanks to Empire Toys for this episode of the podcast! Nostalgia is something everyone loves and Empire Toys in Keller Texas is on nostalgia overload.   With toys and action figures from the 70's, 80's, 90's, and today, Empire Toys is a one-stop-shop for a trip down memory lane and a chance to reclaim what was once yours (but likely sold at a garage sale)   Check out Empire Toys on Facebook, Instagram, or at TheEmpireToys.com AND Thanks to Self Unbound for this episode of the podcast: Your quality of life: physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually, is a direct reflection of the level of abundant energy, ease, and connection your nervous system has to experience your life!    At Self Unbound, your nervous system takes center stage as we help unbind your limited healing potential through NetworkSpinal Care.    Access the first steps to your Unbound journey by following us on Facebook, Instagram, or at www.selfunbound.com

Lisa Swayze has been the General Manager at Buffalo Street Books for 7 years and will transition to becoming the Executive Director of the bookstore's new literary nonprofit in 2025. Lisa is on the board of directors of the American Booksellers Association and the Downtown Ithaca Alliance. Jessica Stockton-Bagnulo is the owner and co-founder of Greenlight Bookstore in Brooklyn, New York, where she also currently serves as the Events & Marketing Manager (because she loves hosting parties). She has worked in independent bookstores in New York City since 2000, has served on the board of NAIBA and various other book industry boards and committees, and is currently on the board of the American Booksellers Association (along with lovely colleagues Lisa and Jake). She lives with her husband and daughter (both avid readers, thankfully) in Brooklyn. Lisa's Favorites:  James - Percival Everett The Sapling Cage - Margaret Killjoy Not for the Faint of Heart - Lex Croucher (YA) Swift River - Essie Chambers American Daughters - Maurice Carlos Ruffin God of the Woods - Liz Moore Where They Last Saw Her - Marcie Rendon Anita de Monte Laughs Last - Xochitil Gonzalez Blue Light Hours - Bruna Dantas Lobato Catalina - Karla Cornejo Villavicencio The Pairing - Casey Mcquiston Shred Sisters - Betsy Lerner A Day in the Life of Abed Salama: Anatomy of a Jerusalem Tragedy - Nathan Thrall Jessica's favorites: The Book of Love by Kelly Link — Best Literary Novel Featuring Complex Magic Systems, Diverse Love Stories, Unexpected Beauty, and Karaoke Hum by Helen Phillips — Best Near-Future Dystopia that is Also About Parenting Help Wanted to Adelle Waldman — Best Novel About Capitalism The Light Eaters by Zoe Schlanger — Best Science Writing / Best Book About Plant Intelligence and Scientist Drama The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman — Best Doorstop Literary/Historical Fantasy (With Philosophical Caveats) In Universes by Emet North — Best Queer Multiverse Novel Playground by Richard Powers — Best Nature Writing as Fiction Far Sector by N. K. Jemisin — Best Socially Aware Superhero Graphic Novel Orbital by Samantha Harvey — Best Sentences About Earth non-frontlist / rereads: Space Crone by Ursula LeGuin — Best Essays by Best Essayist The Privilege of a Happy Ending by Kij Johnson — Best Quest Narrative Berlin: City of Stones, City of Smoke, City of Light — Best Epic of Quotidian Life Before the Abyss Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lisa Swayze has been the General Manager at Buffalo Street Books for 7 years and will transition to becoming the Executive Director of the bookstore's new literary nonprofit in 2025. Lisa is on the board of directors of the American Booksellers Association and the Downtown Ithaca Alliance. Jessica Stockton-Bagnulo is the owner and co-founder of Greenlight Bookstore in Brooklyn, New York, where she also currently serves as the Events & Marketing Manager (because she loves hosting parties). She has worked in independent bookstores in New York City since 2000, has served on the board of NAIBA and various other book industry boards and committees, and is currently on the board of the American Booksellers Association (along with lovely colleagues Lisa and Jake). She lives with her husband and daughter (both avid readers, thankfully) in Brooklyn. Lisa's Favorites:  James - Percival Everett The Sapling Cage - Margaret Killjoy Not for the Faint of Heart - Lex Croucher (YA) Swift River - Essie Chambers American Daughters - Maurice Carlos Ruffin God of the Woods - Liz Moore Where They Last Saw Her - Marcie Rendon Anita de Monte Laughs Last - Xochitil Gonzalez Blue Light Hours - Bruna Dantas Lobato Catalina - Karla Cornejo Villavicencio The Pairing - Casey Mcquiston Shred Sisters - Betsy Lerner A Day in the Life of Abed Salama: Anatomy of a Jerusalem Tragedy - Nathan Thrall Jessica's favorites: The Book of Love by Kelly Link — Best Literary Novel Featuring Complex Magic Systems, Diverse Love Stories, Unexpected Beauty, and Karaoke Hum by Helen Phillips — Best Near-Future Dystopia that is Also About Parenting Help Wanted to Adelle Waldman — Best Novel About Capitalism The Light Eaters by Zoe Schlanger — Best Science Writing / Best Book About Plant Intelligence and Scientist Drama The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman — Best Doorstop Literary/Historical Fantasy (With Philosophical Caveats) In Universes by Emet North — Best Queer Multiverse Novel Playground by Richard Powers — Best Nature Writing as Fiction Far Sector by N. K. Jemisin — Best Socially Aware Superhero Graphic Novel Orbital by Samantha Harvey — Best Sentences About Earth non-frontlist / rereads: Space Crone by Ursula LeGuin — Best Essays by Best Essayist The Privilege of a Happy Ending by Kij Johnson — Best Quest Narrative Berlin: City of Stones, City of Smoke, City of Light — Best Epic of Quotidian Life Before the Abyss Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Lisa Swayze has been the General Manager at Buffalo Street Books for 7 years and will transition to becoming the Executive Director of the bookstore's new literary nonprofit in 2025. Lisa is on the board of directors of the American Booksellers Association and the Downtown Ithaca Alliance. Jessica Stockton-Bagnulo is the owner and co-founder of Greenlight Bookstore in Brooklyn, New York, where she also currently serves as the Events & Marketing Manager (because she loves hosting parties). She has worked in independent bookstores in New York City since 2000, has served on the board of NAIBA and various other book industry boards and committees, and is currently on the board of the American Booksellers Association (along with lovely colleagues Lisa and Jake). She lives with her husband and daughter (both avid readers, thankfully) in Brooklyn. Lisa's Favorites:  James - Percival Everett The Sapling Cage - Margaret Killjoy Not for the Faint of Heart - Lex Croucher (YA) Swift River - Essie Chambers American Daughters - Maurice Carlos Ruffin God of the Woods - Liz Moore Where They Last Saw Her - Marcie Rendon Anita de Monte Laughs Last - Xochitil Gonzalez Blue Light Hours - Bruna Dantas Lobato Catalina - Karla Cornejo Villavicencio The Pairing - Casey Mcquiston Shred Sisters - Betsy Lerner A Day in the Life of Abed Salama: Anatomy of a Jerusalem Tragedy - Nathan Thrall Jessica's favorites: The Book of Love by Kelly Link — Best Literary Novel Featuring Complex Magic Systems, Diverse Love Stories, Unexpected Beauty, and Karaoke Hum by Helen Phillips — Best Near-Future Dystopia that is Also About Parenting Help Wanted to Adelle Waldman — Best Novel About Capitalism The Light Eaters by Zoe Schlanger — Best Science Writing / Best Book About Plant Intelligence and Scientist Drama The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman — Best Doorstop Literary/Historical Fantasy (With Philosophical Caveats) In Universes by Emet North — Best Queer Multiverse Novel Playground by Richard Powers — Best Nature Writing as Fiction Far Sector by N. K. Jemisin — Best Socially Aware Superhero Graphic Novel Orbital by Samantha Harvey — Best Sentences About Earth non-frontlist / rereads: Space Crone by Ursula LeGuin — Best Essays by Best Essayist The Privilege of a Happy Ending by Kij Johnson — Best Quest Narrative Berlin: City of Stones, City of Smoke, City of Light — Best Epic of Quotidian Life Before the Abyss Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/literary-studies

Lisa Swayze has been the General Manager at Buffalo Street Books for 7 years and will transition to becoming the Executive Director of the bookstore's new literary nonprofit in 2025. Lisa is on the board of directors of the American Booksellers Association and the Downtown Ithaca Alliance. Jessica Stockton-Bagnulo is the owner and co-founder of Greenlight Bookstore in Brooklyn, New York, where she also currently serves as the Events & Marketing Manager (because she loves hosting parties). She has worked in independent bookstores in New York City since 2000, has served on the board of NAIBA and various other book industry boards and committees, and is currently on the board of the American Booksellers Association (along with lovely colleagues Lisa and Jake). She lives with her husband and daughter (both avid readers, thankfully) in Brooklyn. Lisa's Favorites:  James - Percival Everett The Sapling Cage - Margaret Killjoy Not for the Faint of Heart - Lex Croucher (YA) Swift River - Essie Chambers American Daughters - Maurice Carlos Ruffin God of the Woods - Liz Moore Where They Last Saw Her - Marcie Rendon Anita de Monte Laughs Last - Xochitil Gonzalez Blue Light Hours - Bruna Dantas Lobato Catalina - Karla Cornejo Villavicencio The Pairing - Casey Mcquiston Shred Sisters - Betsy Lerner A Day in the Life of Abed Salama: Anatomy of a Jerusalem Tragedy - Nathan Thrall Jessica's favorites: The Book of Love by Kelly Link — Best Literary Novel Featuring Complex Magic Systems, Diverse Love Stories, Unexpected Beauty, and Karaoke Hum by Helen Phillips — Best Near-Future Dystopia that is Also About Parenting Help Wanted to Adelle Waldman — Best Novel About Capitalism The Light Eaters by Zoe Schlanger — Best Science Writing / Best Book About Plant Intelligence and Scientist Drama The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman — Best Doorstop Literary/Historical Fantasy (With Philosophical Caveats) In Universes by Emet North — Best Queer Multiverse Novel Playground by Richard Powers — Best Nature Writing as Fiction Far Sector by N. K. Jemisin — Best Socially Aware Superhero Graphic Novel Orbital by Samantha Harvey — Best Sentences About Earth non-frontlist / rereads: Space Crone by Ursula LeGuin — Best Essays by Best Essayist The Privilege of a Happy Ending by Kij Johnson — Best Quest Narrative Berlin: City of Stones, City of Smoke, City of Light — Best Epic of Quotidian Life Before the Abyss Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/literature

Isis Asare is the CEO/Founder of Sistah Scifi. Sistah Scifi is the first Black-owned bookstore focused on science fiction and fantasy in the United States as validated by the American Booksellers Association. Located in cyberspace, Sistah Scifi is a national brand with over 50K points of contact. In February 2023, the first three Sistah Scifi Book Vending Machines were launched in California and Washington. In March 2024, Asare became the first African American Executive Director of the Aunt Lute Foundation, the second oldest feminist press in the country. She has a bachelors degree in psychology from Stanford University, a masters degree in public policy from Harvard University Kennedy School of Government, and an MBA from Columbia Business School. Isis currently resides in Oakland, CA with their supportive and evolving polycule. On this episode of The Vault, we discuss how representation in film, books, and fiction validates. black mental health and allows the community to heal. How Representation In Media Validates Us Diversity in Film and Book Helps Others to Heal. Mental Health Themes in Literature. High Functioning Depression in Entrepreneurs How To Be Your Authentic Self How to cope with High Functioning DepressionFollow Sister Scifi https://www.instagram.com/sistahscifi/ https://sistahscifi.com/?srsltid=AfmBOorKNRnj6xINS5iGo97hEV41ft9owDR4bgQpE4hZKI4coLHLPtZrFollow Dr. Judith:Instagram: https://instagram.com/drjudithjoseph TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drjudithjoseph Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drjudithjoseph Website: https://www.drjudithjoseph.com/Sign up for my newsletter here: https://www.drjudithjoseph.com/newsletter-sign-upDisclaimer: You may want to consider your individual mental health needs with a licensed medical professional. This page is not medical advice.

In this episode, Philomena Polefrone, PhD discusses her role in advocating for intellectual freedom through the ABA. The conversation touches on book bans, censorship, and the role of bookstores as spaces for activism. The discussion covers the history of book bans, grassroots organizing, and the legal challenges involved in defending diverse literature. READ TRANSCRIPT Use promo code: SWITCH when signing up for a new Libro.fm membership to get two additional credits to use on any audiobooks—meaning you'll have three from the start. About Philomena: Philomena Polefrone is the Advocacy Associate Manager at the American Booksellers Association, where she champions intellectual freedom and free expression. With a background in bookselling and a decade in academia, Philomena brings a unique perspective to her work, blending literature and activism. She leads initiatives like the Set Books Free Project, aimed at combating book bans and promoting access to diverse, often censored literature. Her passion for defending the right to read makes her a key advocate in the fight against censorship. Books discussed on today's episode: Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson & Peter Parnell The 1619 Project by Caitlin Roper, Ilena Silverman & Jake Silverstein Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo Temple Folk by Aaliyah Bilal Catalina by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio

This week host Joanna Roche talks with Blue Balliett.  Blue Balliett's seven young adult mysteries -- Chasing Vermeer, The Wright 3, The Calder Game, The Danger Box, Hold Fast, Pieces and Players, and Out of the Wild Night-- have been New York Times, Publisher's Weekly, USA Today, Book Sense and Indie Bound bestsellers.Blue won the Edgar Allen Poe Award for Best Juvenile Novel, the Agatha Award for Best YA Novel, the Chicago Tribune Prize for Young Adult Fiction, Chicago Public Library Foundation's 21st Century Award, Book Sense Book of the Year Award, Great Lakes Book Award, Friends of American Writers Award, Chicago Tribune's Chicagoan of the Year for Literature, 2010, and a place in the official White House library as The Danger Box was handed to President Obama in January 2011 as a gift from the American Booksellers Association.Out of the Wild Night (March 2018) is both a ghost story and a mystery, and is set entirely on Nantucket in the off-season.To learn more about the Maria Mitchell Association visit https://www.mariamitchell.org/. 

In this episode of The Writing Life, NCW Programme Officer Vicki is joined by novelist and NCW Academy tutor Melissa Fu to discuss the difficult task of writing your second novel. Melissa's writing appears in several publications including The Lonely Crowd, International Literature Showcase, Bare Fiction, Wasafiri Online, and The Willowherb Review. In 2019, her debut poetry pamphlet was published by the Hedgehog Poetry Press. Her first novel, Peach Blossom Spring, was a BBC Radio 2 Book Club pick in the UK and a 2022 Indies Introduce title for the American Booksellers Association. It has also been nominated as 2022 Book of the Year by the Book of the Month Club. Melissa will be teaching on our 12-week beginners' online tutored course ‘How to Write Fiction', which begins on Monday 23 September 2024. This podcast is an excellent sneak peek into the practical advice and guidance Melissa offers on this course, and a great introduction to her writing and teaching style. If you listen to this podcast and would like the opportunity to learn more from Melissa, you can go to nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/academy/tutored-courses/ to find out more. Together, Vicki and Melissa discuss the writing process for the ‘difficult second novel', and how writing her debut novel Peach Blossom Spring has differed from her experience working on her second book. They also touch on Melissa's journey into writing, her daily writing routine, and the challenges she has faced since publication.

Today, Online for Authors will be hosted by an amazing guest host, Carole O'Neill. Her guest is Maryann McFadden, author of the book The Book Lover. In 2007 Maryann McFadden “won the literary lottery” according to writing blogs when her previously self-published novel, The Richest Season, sold at auction to Hyperion Books. It became a Target Breakout Novel and an Indie Next Pick by the American Booksellers Association. Her next 2 novels, Cape Cod Light and The Book Lover are also Indie Next Picks. Her 4th novel, The Cemetery Keeper's Wife, is a historical novel set in her NJ hometown and has become a book club sensation. It is a novel she believes she was destined to write. Maryann's books have been translated into multiple languages and her unusual publishing journey has inspired many aspiring authors. You can reach her at maryannmcfadden.com. The Christmas Star is her fifth novel. In Carole's book review, she stated that if you love to read, and especially if you love to discover independent bookstores, you'll enjoy The Book Lover by Maryann McFadden. Her bookstore owner, Ruth, is not only believable, but you'll find yourself encouraging her to find her way to the second chance she doesn't think is possible. In fact, the book if full of second chances. Just as you're sure you know where the story is going, you'll be surprised by a new twist you never saw coming. Any writer who is struggling with a decision of whether to self-publish or wait for an answer from an agent, will recognize Lucy's dilemma and be amazed at how she solves her problems. This is an easy and enjoyable read that I recommend you add to your list of TBR's. Subscribe to Online for Authors to learn about more great books! https://www.youtube.com/@onlineforauthors?sub_confirmation=1 Join the Novels N Latte Book Club community to discuss this and other books with like-minded readers: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3576519880426290 You can follow Author Maryann McFadden Website: www.maryannmcfadden.com   FB: https://www.facebook.com/maryannmcfaddenauthor IG: https://www.instagram.com/maryannmcfaddenauthor/   Purchase The Book Lover on Amazon: Paperback: https://amzn.to/3WuyC0w Ebook: https://amzn.to/4fdOwnx   Carole O'Neill, Author and Podcast Guest Host: https://caroleoneillauthor.com/   Teri M Brown, Author and Podcast Host: https://www.terimbrown.com FB: @TeriMBrownAuthor IG: @terimbrown_author X: @terimbrown1   #maryannmcfadden #thebooklover #contemporaryfiction #womensfiction #romance #terimbrownauthor #authorpodcast #onlineforauthors #characterdriven #researchjunkie #awardwinningauthor #podcasthost #podcast #readerpodcast #bookpodcast #writerpodcast #author #books #goodreads #bookclub #fiction #writer #bookreview #caroleoneill *As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

On this episode of the Self-Publishing News Podcast, Dan Holloway discusses how TikTok and indie bookstores are launching alternatives to Amazon Prime Days. TikTok's "Deals for You Days" kicks off on July 9, promoting viral videos to drive sales through their shop. Meanwhile, the American Booksellers Association's "Indies Take the Gold" campaign encourages readers to support independent bookstores with Olympic-themed promotions. Find more author advice, tips, and tools at our Self-publishing Author Advice Center, with a huge archive of nearly 2,000 blog posts and a handy search box to find key info on the topic you need. And, if you haven't already, we invite you to join our organization and become a self-publishing ally. About the Host Dan Holloway is a novelist, poet, and spoken word artist. He is the MC of the performance arts show The New Libertines, He competed at the National Poetry Slam final at the Royal Albert Hall. His latest collection, The Transparency of Sutures, is available on Kindle.

This week host Joanna Roche talks with Blue Balliett.  Blue Balliett's seven young adult mysteries -- Chasing Vermeer, The Wright 3, The Calder Game, The Danger Box, Hold Fast, Pieces and Players, and Out of the Wild Night-- have been New York Times, Publisher's Weekly, USA Today, Book Sense and Indie Bound bestsellers.Blue won the Edgar Allen Poe Award for Best Juvenile Novel, the Agatha Award for Best YA Novel, the Chicago Tribune Prize for Young Adult Fiction, Chicago Public Library Foundation's 21st Century Award, Book Sense Book of the Year Award, Great Lakes Book Award, Friends of American Writers Award, Chicago Tribune's Chicagoan of the Year for Literature, 2010, and a place in the official White House library as The Danger Box was handed to President Obama in January 2011 as a gift from the American Booksellers Association.Out of the Wild Night (March 2018) is both a ghost story and a mystery, and is set entirely on Nantucket in the off-season.To learn more about the Maria Mitchell Association visit https://www.mariamitchell.org/. 

Courtney Muller and Joe Lynch discuss reflections on Manifest, the premiere conference that unites the entire eco-system of Fortune 500 global supply chain executives, logistics service providers, innovators and investors at the forefront of logistics tech and supply chain. Manifest 2024, was bigger and better than ever and Manifest 2025 will be held February 10th – 12th, 2025 in Las Vegas. Register now for Manifest 2025 and save big: Manifest Registration About Courtney Muller Courtney Muller lived in 8 states before she was 14 years old. Which might be the reason she loves the travel and pace of the events industry! Courtney started her career in events in 1991. Courtney is currently the President of Manifest, a new generation event with logistics technology at the center. She leads the Manifest team and drives all strategic partnerships for the event. Manifest is owned by Connectiv, where Courtney also serves as Chief Corporate Development Officer. Connectiv is a live events studio that focuses on technology and how it transforms and evolves industries. Courtney has 31 years of trade show and event experience which includes a 20-year career at Reed Exhibitions where she rose to the role of Senior Vice President overseeing a portfolio of 10 industry leading events in five sectors, including multiple Trade Show 200 events (Global Gaming Expo Las Vegas and Macau, The Vision Expos, Interphex and BookExpo America as well as New York Restaurant, Florida Restaurant & Lodging and California Restaurant events). She also oversaw the sponsorship revenue team as well as the conference teams for all U.S. events. Recently, Courtney worked for Clarion Events North America where she was Chief Corporate Development and Strategy Officer. In her role she was responsible for acquisitions, new business, partnerships, and commercial development for Clarion North America. Courtney also oversaw two acquisitions, InsureTech Connect and The National Grocer's Association Show. During her 4-year tenure in the role in the North American Division of Clarion grew by 4 times, putting them on the map of the leading event organizers in the U.S. Prior to Clarion Events, Courtney worked as Executive Vice President for Urban Expositions where she oversaw the team and portfolio of almost 35 events.  Clarion Events bought Urban in 2016 and Courtney continued to help build the division of Clarion. Muller is recognized for building strong relationships with association partners and customers. Over her career she has worked with The American Booksellers Association, The American Gaming Association, The Vision Council, The New York State Restaurant Association and the National Indian Gaming Association and the National Grocer's Association to name a few. Courtney's creative approaches to growing business are exemplified by her strong leadership and team building skills. Courtney is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  She enjoys gardening and cooking and adores the natural beauty of her island home in North Carolina.  She and her husband and dog live on the Topsail Island Sound and only steps from the beach! They have three grown children and three grandsons. About Manifest: The Future of Logistics The world of logistics is changing faster than ever. Technology advances plus rapidly changing consumer behavior has already dramatically changed how business gets done. Manifest will provide a focused look at what's to come across the spectrum of LogisticsTech and which companies and technologies are transforming the way goods circumnavigate the globe. Manifest will help you forge new relationships, new alliances, and foster new strategies that help move your business forward and avoid falling into the traditional mindset. About Connectiv Connectiv is a live events studio that for the past decade has dedicated itself to creating industry leading gatherings. Our passion and our expertise is owning and operating at scale, vertical-specific conferences. The events we have created attract more than 15,000 people each year and touch on global industries impacting people's daily lives. Key Takeaways: Reflections on Manifest Register now for Manifest 2025 and save big: Manifest Registration Focus on Innovation: Manifest positions itself as the "Global Destination for Supply Chain and Logistics Innovation," highlighting its dedication to showcasing cutting-edge solutions. Industry Convergence: They bring together a diverse ecosystem including Fortune 500 executives, logistics providers, entrepreneurs, and investors, fostering collaboration within the supply chain landscape. Networking Powerhouse: Manifest facilitates connections between industry leaders, innovators, and investors, creating opportunities for partnerships and growth within the sector. Future-Oriented: The conference emphasizes exploring the latest advancements in logistics technology and how they impact the entire end-to-end supply chain. Exclusive Access: Attendees gain "unprecedented access" to key decision-makers and thought leaders influencing the future of logistics. Targeted Audience: Manifest caters to a specific audience, attracting those actively involved in transforming the supply chain, including industry executives, entrepreneurs, and investors. Las Vegas Venue: Manifest takes place annually in Las Vegas, positioning it as a major industry event held in a central and high-profile location. Larn More About Reflections on Manifest Courtney Muller | Linkedin Connectiv | Linkedin Mnifest | Linkedin Connectiv Manifest Manifest: The Future of Supply Chain & Logistics Is Here Highlights from Manifest 2023 with Courtney Muller | The Logistics of Logistics End to End Supply Chain Disruption with Pam Simon | The Logistics of Logistics Key Takeaways from Manifest with Pam Simon | The Logistics of Logistics The Logistics of Logistics Podcast If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a positive review, subscribe, and share it with your friends and colleagues. The Logistics of Logistics Podcast: Google, Apple, Castbox, Spotify, Stitcher, PlayerFM, Tunein, Podbean, Owltail, Libsyn, Overcast Check out The Logistics of Logistics on Youtube  

Have you ever wandered into a bookstore and felt immediately at home? Valerie Koehler, the warm and spirited owner of Blue Willow Bookshop, invites us into her literary world, where every shelf has a story. Our conversation takes us down the winding path that led her to the helm of this cherished local haven. She opens up about the shop's thoughtful inception, the significance behind its enchanting name, and the cultivated team of diverse readers who breathe life into its walls. It's a tale of how a bookstore can become the heart of a community, offering personalized recommendations that resonate with every visitor's quest for their next great read.The landscape of literature and learning faces new challenges, and they hit close to home for book enthusiasts in Texas. In a heartfelt discussion, Valerie sheds light on the contentious bill, HB 900, threatening the freedom of libraries and bookstores, stirring a mix of concern and defiance within the literary community. With a bill that casts a shadow of vagueness over what constitutes "sexually explicit" content, we reflect on the potential chilling effect on independent bookshops, the importance of preserving libraries as sanctuaries for young minds, and the irony of books being scrutinized more heavily than the vast digital world at our fingertips.Adaptability has become the hallmark of indie bookshops in recent times, and Blue Willow Bookshop is no exception. As we wrap up our chat, Valerie shares how the shop has embraced the challenge, shifting from bustling in-person events to the expansive realm of virtual gatherings. It's an ode to the resilience and innovation of these cultural keystones, ensuring that the joy of new releases and the intimacy of author interactions remain undiminished. We celebrate the inclusiveness of virtual participation and the continued commitment to fostering literary connections, making every episode a tribute to the indie bookstores that form the rich tapestry of our communities. Blue Willow BookshopThe Sparrow, Mary Doria RussellWhy I Love Indie Bookshops, Mandy Jackson-BeverlyHB 900That's Not My Name, Megan LallyThe Underground Library, Jennifer Ryan Support the showThe Bookshop PodcastMandy Jackson-BeverlySocial Media Links

Ever wondered how someone can transition from lawyering to managing an independent bookstore? Meet Jen Bird, the co-founder of Athena Books located in Old Greenwich, Connecticut. As a former lawyer, her unique journey to entrepreneurship promises not only to inspire but also to challenge your perception about career change. She shares how her passion for reading, primarily to her children, became the foundation for this incredible venture, with the bookstore's name and its meaning being an interesting twist to their story.Athena Books isn't just a bookshop, it is a collaborative, women-focused space with a mission to advance reading culture and community engagement. Jen takes us through her strategic approach to book curation targeted at her community's needs and the pivotal role of organizations like the American Booksellers Association in her success story. Hear from her perspective the evolution of bookselling, the importance of creating an accessible and inclusive environment, and how Athena Books is navigating this dynamic industry.Step into the world of Athena Books, a haven for diverse age groups and book genres. Find out what book genres are making the rounds in Old Greenwich and get a scoop on the attractions around for the perfect bookish getaway. If you're passionate about independent bookstores, community building, or you're just in for a good story, this episode is your ticket!Athena BooksShe Proclaims: Our Declaration of Independence from a Man's World, Jennifer PalmieriDemon Copperhead, Barbara KingsolverTom Lake, Ann PatchettGoing Infinite: The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon, Michael Lewis What You Are Looking For Is In The Library, Michiko AoyamaThe Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder, David GrannSupport the showThe Bookshop PodcastMandy Jackson-BeverlySocial Media Links

Deb Rogers' novel Florida Woman was published in July 2022 by Hanover Square Press, an imprint of HarperCollins. Called "a bewitching debut" by Publisher's Weekly, Florida Woman was featured as an Indie Next Pick by the American Booksellers Association. Deb has lived and traveled throughout Florida working as an educator, policymaker and victim advocate, and she now lives on the Atlantic side of the state in the very haunted and very beautiful town of St. Augustine. While she'd love to stumble upon hidden pirate treasure along the coast someday, her daily obsessions tend to be thriller and heist movies, word puzzles, licorice, Florida manatees, and, of course, monkeys. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @debontherocks, or learn more on her website debrogersauthor.com. Interviewer Kay Huggins is a creative, the owner of Aphelion Editing and Consulting, and the host of the Raindrop Corner Podcast. As a longtime resident of Jacksonville, Florida, they have sought to support local artistry, foster thought-provoking content, and aid in human rights advocacy. Kay is an English major with a concentration in psychology. For over a decade, their life has been dazzled with project management, technology industries, logistics, editing, writing, and production. Through the intersectionality of Kay's craft, they aim to champion the community by providing a platform to marginalized groups. Currently, Kay is writing their debut novel and enjoying leisure moments with their fur babies. READ Jamie is a Florida Woman. She grew up on the beach, thrives in humidity, has weathered more hurricanes than she can count, and now, after going viral for an outrageous crime she never meant to commit in the first place, she has the requisite headline to her name. But when the chance comes for her to escape viral infamy and imminent jail time by taking a community service placement at Atlas, a shelter for rescued monkeys, it seems like just the fresh start Jamie needs to finally get her life back on track — until it's not. Something sinister stirs in the palmetto woods surrounding her cabin, and secrets lurk among the three beguiling women who run the shelter and affectionately take Jamie under their wing for the summer. Check out Deb's work from the library! -- https://jkpl.ent.sirsi.net/client/en_US/default/search/results?qu=deb+rogers&te=  "Florida Woman ushers in a new talent who knows the quirkiness of the Sunshine State." – Sun Sentinel DEB RECOMMENDS Learn about the origins of Central Florida's monkey problem by reading The Bitter Southerner's well-researched article: “Who Knew Monkeys Could Swim” by Jordan Blumetti. Visit the Florida Museum of Natural History and take a walk through our state's past, beginning in the Eocene epoch (when Florida was underwater).  Read some of Deb's favorite books that are set in Florida including The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean, Lightwood by Steph Post and Swamplandia!( by Karen Russell. --- Never miss an event! Sign up for email newsletters at https://bit.ly/JaxLibraryUpdates  Jacksonville Public LibraryWebsite: https://jaxpubliclibrary.org/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/jaxlibrary Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JaxLibrary/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaxlibrary/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/jaxpubliclibraryfl Contact Us: jplpromotions@coj.net 

Time travel may not be possible, but two-time Pulitzer Prize winner and New York Times bestselling author Colson Whitehead transports readers back to the 1970s with the latest edition in his Harlem Saga.  The second in a trilogy that began with the successful Harlem Shuffle, Crook Manifesto blends dark elements with humor to feature the gritty realities in New York City's complex history. From Blaxploitation films, America's Bicentennial Celebrations, and the Jackson Five, Whitehead shows popular culture as it was five decades ago, to high crime rates, social unrest, swelling racial tension, and anti-police sentiment that seem to mirror life today. The novel is an unembellished exploration of harsh truths. Yet in between the corruption, theft, violence, and a motley crew of hustlers and hitmen is Whitehead's perhaps unexpected exploration into the meaning of family, adding greater depth to the narrative. Colson Whitehead's kaleidoscopic portrait of Harlem explores a city under siege and a turbulent decade, told through the eyes of a colorful cast over multiple years. Fans of this novel's predecessor will appreciate the reprisal of earlier characters and familiar situations, and new readers may be drawn to Crook Manifesto's unique blend of dark comedy, caper, and commentary on the urban landscape. Colson Whitehead is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Underground Railroad, which in 2016 won the Pulitzer Prize in Fiction and the National Book Award and was named one of the Ten Best Books of the Year by The New York Times Book Review. Other books include The Noble Hustle, Zone One, Sag Harbor, The Intuitionist, John Henry Days, Apex Hides the Hurt, and The Colossus of New York. He is also a Pulitzer Prize finalist and a recipient of the MacArthur and Guggenheim Fellowships. He lives in New York City. Robert Sindelar has been a bookseller for over 32 years. He is the Managing Partner of Third Place Books (est. 1998), an independent bookstore with 3 locations in the greater Seattle area. Robert has served on the Board of Directors of the American Booksellers Association including serving as its Board President from 2017-2019. Crook Manifesto Third Place Books

NYT bestselling author Krystal Sutherland on writing young adult novels and bringing characters to life. We also talk about her experience of having her debut novel Chemical Hearts adapted into a film by Amazon Studios. We also talk about she's honed her craft. how she's learned to plot visualise her stories. *ABOUT KRYSTAL SUTHERLAND Krystal Sutherland's debut novel, Chemical Hearts, was published in over 20 countries and was named by the American Booksellers Association as one of the best debuts of 2016. The film adaptation, produced by Amazon Studios, stars Lili Reinhart and Austin Abrams. Her other books include A Semi-Definitive List of Worst Nightmares and the New York Times bestseller House of Hollow. *RESOURCES:Follow Krystal:Instagram: @km_sutherlandTwitter: @km_sutherlandWebsite: krystalsutherland.com*For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.comFor free writing sessions, join free Writers' Hours: writershour.com*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS' SALONTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalonIf you're enjoying this show, please rate and review this show!

On May 11, 2023, Rachel Beanland gave a lecture about the historical research behind her novel about the Richmond Theater Fire, The House is On Fire. Rachel Beanland's latest novel, The House Is On Fire, is based on the true story of the 1811 Richmond Theater fire and is already being called “a stunning achievement” by Jeannette Walls and “a propulsive, pulse-pounding read” by Kathleen Grissom. The novel begins the night of the fire and follows four characters—white and Black, free and enslaved—who experience the incendiary event from very different perspectives. Beanland based all four characters on the lives of real people who lived through the fire and its aftermath, and in this talk, she'll share how she used primary and secondary sources—including archival material belonging to the Virginia Museum of History and Culture—to bring these characters and others to life. Rachel Beanland's first novel, Florence Adler Swims Forever, was selected as a book club pick by Barnes & Noble, a featured debut by Amazon, an Indie Next pick by the American Booksellers Association, and one of the best books of 2020 by USA Today. It was also named a New York Times Editors' Choice and was recognized with the 2020 National Jewish Book Award for Debut Fiction. Beanland earned her MFA in creative writing from Virginia Commonwealth University and lives in Richmond, Virginia, with her family. Her newest book is The House is On Fire. The content and opinions expressed in these presentations are solely those of the speaker and not necessarily of the Virginia Museum of History & Culture.

Across Minnesota and the nation, new and more diverse independent bookstores have been popping up. In fact, for every independent bookstore that has closed since 2020, more than three new ones have opened, according to the American Booksellers Association. It's part of a continuing trend jumpstarted by the pandemic, and each of these bookstores has a story of its own.  When Josh Hames saw the storefront up for lease in West St. Paul, he knew it was perfect for a bookstore. It was late at night, and the lights on the side of the building illuminated the old brick building. He could see the tall ceilings through the windows.   “It looked like the cover to ‘Needful Things' by Stephen King a little bit,” he said.   Hames, 30, opened Other Skies Weird Fiction in 2022, just in time for his favorite holiday: Halloween. The store sells high-quality editions of horror, sci-fi and imaginative fiction. Hames has been collecting these genres since he was 14, but the pandemic shutdown really clarified that passion. “We all had time to reflect on, what are the things that we really, really like to do when we go out? And for me I found that, even before the pandemic, I would always spend all my time looking for books, at Goodwill, thrift shops, estate sales. I was always out there buying books, and I thought, man, that's really important, I want to be a part of that,” he said. It turns out, others do, too, and Hames said he's been blown away by the community of readers who share his interest. A couple hundred miles to the northwest, in Detroit Lakes, Minn., Amy Erickson was feeling the lack of a bookstore in her town. The closest one was about a half-hour away, ever since the local Book World closed. “And when they closed, I said, ‘I don't know that I can live in a town without a bookstore.' It just felt wrong somehow,” Erickson said. Erickson was a 49-year-old stay-at-home mother of three. When the pandemic hit and her husband suddenly stopped traveling for work, they had some big family discussions. “And I said, you know, if I don't do this by the time I'm 50, I'm probably never going to do it,” she said. “I don't want to live knowing that I there was something that I wanted to do and I could do and I just didn't do it.” In May 2022, she took a leap of faith and launched Bluebird Books. It's a family affair: Her three teenage kids are now all old enough to work in the store, along with some of their friends.   “I love being surrounded by books all the time,” she said. “My favorite thing in the world is when someone walks back into the bookstore and says, ‘You recommended that book to me, and I absolutely loved it. What else? What other recommendations do you have?' That makes my heart happy.”  Bluebird Books and Other Skies Weird Fiction are two of the 15 new independent bookstores that have opened in Minnesota since March 2020. That's a big rise, and it's in line with a regional and national trend. Carrie Obry is the executive director of the Midwest Independent Booksellers Association. She credits the rise in part to Bookshop.org, the website that lets people buy books online and shares the profit with indie bookstores. She says having that online platform has democratized the bookselling industry.  “There's just a whole new influx of wonderful much-needed energy and diversity coming through our ranks of bookstore owners,” Obry said. There are challenges, of course, for any bookstore: competition for customers' time and attention, accelerating rent rates in an industry prone to low wages and supply chain issues.  Former educator Mary Taris never expected to open a bookstore. When she got fed up with not seeing enough great children's books by authors of color, she started Strive Publishing in 2018. She quickly found the need was far greater than a one-woman publisher could address. After the murder of George Floyd, Taris said Strive publishing was flooded with people wanting to write their own stories. “The civil unrest was a huge contributing factor in me kind of doubling down on my mission to elevate Black voices,” Taris said. She looked for partnerships, and she found space in the IDS building in downtown Minneapolis, tucked among other retailers in the Black-woman owned Sistah Co-op. The tiny Strive Bookstore struggled for foot traffic following its opening in the fall of 2021, but still, Taris saw an impact. “When Black people come in, they're like, ‘Wow, this is for us,'” she said. “And I even get more people who are inspired to write, you know, when they come into the bookstore, and just, it kind of feels like, the more I can do in the book space, the more our mission can come alive.” Working with the Minneapolis Downtown Council, she's about to open a second location in the historic Young Quinlan Building on Nicollet Avenue in downtown Minneapolis. The ribbon-cutting ceremony is Saturday, June 2. The 4,000-square-foot space has gotten some pre-opening customer praise: “‘Oh, wow, this is so beautiful!' That's what I hear,” she said. Taris can't wait to use the space to celebrate authors and cross-cultural communication. Because whatever the path they take to get there, for booksellers, there's no better feeling than getting the right book into a reader's hands. New independent bookstores in Minnesota Black Garnet Books St. Paul 1319 University Ave. W Open Tuesdays through Fridays noon to 6 p.m., Saturdays noon to 5 p.m., closed Sundays and Mondays Chapter One Victoria, Minn. 7924 Victoria Dr. Open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturdays 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Sundays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; closed Mondays Twinflower Books Center City, Minn. 280 Andrews Ave. Open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. with additional popup hours and locations Four Pines Bookstore Bemidji, Minn. 102 Third Street NW Open Mondays through Fridays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Sundays Garden Party Books Rochester, Minn. 602 Seventh St. NW Open Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays Strive Bookstore Minneapolis (two locations) 3801 N 27th Ave. 80 South Eighth Street, IDS Center skyway, Suite 254 in the Sistah Co-op Open Mondays through Fridays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., first and third Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Chapter Two Redwood Falls, Minn. 120 E Second St Open Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Fridays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; closed Sundays The Thinking Spot Wayzata, Minn. 3311 County Rd. 101 #4 Open Wednesdays through Sundays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesdays noon to 6 p.m., closed Mondays Lionseed Bookstore & Learning Commons Battle Lake, Minn. 102 Summit St. W In May, open Thursdays and Fridays 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Bluebird Books Detroit Lakes, Minn. 813 Washington Ave. Open Mondays through Saturdays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday noon to 4 p.m. Comma, a bookshop Minneapolis 4250 Upton Ave. S Open Tuesdays through Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Fridays through Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Mondays Wildflower Bookshop Grand Rapids, Minn. 4 NE 3rd Ave. Open Tuesdays through Fridays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., closed Sundays and Mondays NP Junction Books Carlton, Minn. More Than Words Moorhead, Minn. 40 Fourth St. N Grand opening this summer, hours TBA Zumbrota Literary Society Zumbrota, Minn. 320 East Ave. Open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Additional and holiday hours may vary.

About Colin Winnette: COLIN WINNETTE's books include Coyote, Haints Stay, and The Job of the Wasp, which was an American Booksellers Association's Indie Next Pick. Winnette's writing has appeared in numerous publications, including Playboy, McSweeney's, The Believer, and The Paris Review Daily. A former bookseller in Texas, Vermont, New York, and California, he is now a writer living in San Francisco. About Users: Marrying the philosophical absurdities of life, technology, start-up culture, and family, Users is for readers of Ling Ma, Dave Eggers's The Circle, and viewers of the hit Apple TV+ original series Severance Miles, a lead creative at a midsize virtual reality company known for its “original experiences,” has engineered a new product called The Ghost Lover. Wildly popular from the outset, the “game” is simple: a user's simulated life is almost identical to their reality, except they're haunted by the ghost of an ex-lover. However, when a shift in the company's strategic vision puts The Ghost Lover at the center of a platform-wide controversy, Miles becomes the target of user outrage, and starts receiving a series of anonymous death threats. Typed notes sealed in envelopes with no postage or return address, these persistent threats push Miles into a paranoid panic, blurring his own sense of reality, catalyzing the collapse of his career, his marriage, and his relationship with his children. The once-promising road to success becomes a narrow set of choices for Miles, who, in a last ditch effort to save his job, pitches his masterpiece, a revolutionary device code-named the Egg, which will transform the company. The consequences for Miles seal him inside the walls of his life as what was once anxiety explodes into devastating absoluteness. In a world rife with the unchecked power and ambition of tech, Users investigates—with both humor and creeping dread—how interpersonal experiences and private decisions influence the hasty developments that have the power to permanently alter the landscape of human experience.

Courtney Muller and Joe Lynch discuss highlights from Manifest 2023 conference, which was held in Las Vegas, January 31 to February 2. Courtney is currently the President of Manifest, a new generation event with logistics technology at the center. She leads the Manifest team and drives all strategic partnerships for the event. About Courtney Muller Courtney Muller lived in 8 states before she was 14 years old. Which might be the reason she loves the travel and pace of the events industry! Courtney started her career in events in 1991. Courtney is currently the President of Manifest, a new generation event with logistics technology at the center. She leads the Manifest team and drives all strategic partnerships for the event. Manifest is owned by Connectiv, where Courtney also serves as Chief Corporate Development Officer. Connectiv is a live events studio that focuses on technology and how it transforms and evolves industries. Courtney has 31 years of trade show and event experience which includes a 20-year career at Reed Exhibitions where she rose to the role of Senior Vice President overseeing a portfolio of 10 industry leading events in five sectors, including multiple Trade Show 200 events (Global Gaming Expo Las Vegas and Macau, The Vision Expos, Interphex and BookExpo America as well as New York Restaurant, Florida Restaurant & Lodging and California Restaurant events). She also oversaw the sponsorship revenue team as well as the conference teams for all U.S. events. Recently, Courtney worked for Clarion Events North America where she was Chief Corporate Development and Strategy Officer. In her role she was responsible for acquisitions, new business, partnerships, and commercial development for Clarion North America. Courtney also oversaw two acquisitions, InsureTech Connect and The National Grocer's Association Show. During her 4-year tenure in the role in the North American Division of Clarion grew by 4 times, putting them on the map of the leading event organizers in the U.S. Prior to Clarion Events, Courtney worked as Executive Vice President for Urban Expositions where she oversaw the team and portfolio of almost 35 events.  Clarion Events bought Urban in 2016 and Courtney continued to help build the division of Clarion. Muller is recognized for building strong relationships with association partners and customers. Over her career she has worked with The American Booksellers Association, The American Gaming Association, The Vision Council, The New York State Restaurant Association and the National Indian Gaming Association and the National Grocer's Association to name a few. Courtney's creative approaches to growing business are exemplified by her strong leadership and team building skills. Courtney is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  She enjoys gardening and cooking and adores the natural beauty of her island home in North Carolina.  She and her husband and dog live on the Topsail Island Sound and only steps from the beach! They have three grown children and three grandsons. About Manifest: The Future of Logistics The world of logistics is changing faster than ever. Technology advances plus rapidly changing consumer behavior has already dramatically changed how business gets done. Manifest will provide a focused look at what's to come across the spectrum of LogisticsTech and which companies and technologies are transforming the way goods circumnavigate the globe. Manifest will help you forge new relationships, new alliances, and foster new strategies that help move your business forward and avoid falling into the traditional mindset. About Connectiv Connectiv is a live events studio that for the past decade has dedicated itself to creating industry leading gatherings. Our passion and our expertise is owning and operating at scale, vertical-specific conferences. The events we have created attract more than 15,000 people each year and touch on global industries impacting people's daily lives. Key Takeaways: Highlights from Manifest 2023 Courtney is currently the President of Manifest, a new generation event with logistics technology at the center. She leads the Manifest team and drives all strategic partnerships for the event. In the podcast, Courtney and Joe discuss the highlights of Manifest 2023 --- and there were a lot of highlights. Courtney also shared plans for Manifest 2024, which is going to be even more epic that Manifest 2023. Register early and save big: Manifest Registration Manifest Vegas brings together the most comprehensive ecosystem of innovation and transformation in supply chain and logistics. Manifest: The Future of Logistics is February 5th – 7th, 2024 in Las Vegas Manifest is the premiere gathering of industry leaders, innovators, and investors in a showcase of the cutting edge of Logistics and Supply Chain. Get unprecedented access to the people and technologies changing the way the world moves. Register now for Manifest 2024 and save big: Manifest Registration Larn More About Highlights from Manifest 2023 Courtney on LinkedIn Connectiv on LinkedIn Connectiv Manifest End to End Supply Chain Disruption with Pam Simon Key Takeaways from Manifest with Pam Simon Sponsor: Tusk Logistics Tusk Logistics is a national network of the best regional parcel carriers that puts Shippers first, with lower costs, reliable service, and proactive support. Tusk save Shippers 40% or more on small parcel shipping. Tusk's technology connects your parcel operation to a national network of vetted regional carriers, all with pre-negotiated rates and reliable, predictable service. Integrating to your existing software takes minutes, and Tusk has your back with proactive shipper support on each parcel, in real time. The Logistics of Logistics Podcast If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a positive review, subscribe, and share it with your friends and colleagues. The Logistics of Logistics Podcast: Google, Apple, Castbox, Spotify, Stitcher, PlayerFM, Tunein, Podbean, Owltail, Libsyn, Overcast Check out The Logistics of Logistics on Youtube  

In today's episode, Deborah Goodrich Royce joins me to talk about her latest book, Reef Road. We discuss the personal story behind her book and the role of generational trauma in her writing niche, which she calls “Identity Thrillers.”  We also covered the explosion of true crime content and got a sneak peek at some details of her upcoming book. Also, Deborah shares her book recommendations — breaking the format by pairing the old and new books together.   This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). Highlights A spoiler-free rundown of Reef Road. Deborah's “Identity Thrillers” micro-genre and how it fits her writing style. The real-life crime that inspired Reef Road. Why Deborah chose to write a fictional story instead of a non-fiction account. How she explores generational and conferred trauma. The connection between generational trauma and the obsessive researching that motivates amateur sleuths. The role of residual trauma in the lives of authors Dominick Dunne and Michelle McNamara. The explosion of True Crime content and the public's fascination with it. Deborah shares a story about a recent break-in she experienced and discusses how her thriller author mindset influenced her analysis of the event. Some sneak peek details about an upcoming book she's working on. The meta elements about crime fiction in Reef Road. The real-life details that helped develop the true crime writer character's voice in the story. How the setting and the COVID lockdown played a pivotal role in the development of the story. Deborah's Book Recommendations [33:26] Two Book PAIRINGS She Loves Old Book: The Pursuit of Love; Love in a Cold Climate by Nancy Mitford | Amazon | Bookshop.org [33:55] New Book: The Mitford Affair by Marie Benedict | Amazon | Bookshop.org [35:53] Old Book: Oh William! by Elizabeth Strout | Amazon | Bookshop.org [39:55] New Book: Lucy by the Sea by Elizabeth Strout | Amazon | Bookshop.org [39:29] One Book She Didn't Love The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot | Amazon | Bookshop.org [43:27] One NEW RELEASE She's Excited About The Half Moon by Mary Beth Keane (May 2, 2023) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:44] Last 5-Star Book Deborah Read Charming Billy by Alice McDermott | Amazon | Bookshop.org [47:32] Other Books Mentioned Ruby Falls by Deborah Goodrich Royce [1:22] Finding Mrs. Ford by Deborah Goodrich Royce [1:28] I'll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara [13:35] Unmasked by Paul Holes [13:51] Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson [22:42] Seven Days in June by Tia Williams [22:59] The French Lieutenant's Woman by John Fowles [23:43] The Black Swan by Nassim Nicholas Taleb [26:21] 56 Days by Catherine Ryan Howard [32:42] All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr [33:04] The American Way of Death by Jessica Mitford [38:13] Kind and Usual Punishment by Jessica Mitford [38:16] The Sun King by Nancy Mitford [38:35] Madame de Pompadour by Nancy Mitford [38:39] Middlemarch by George Eliot [43:53] Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane [45:59] Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry [49:18] About Deborah Goodrich Royce Website | Twitter | Instagram Deborah Goodrich Royce's thrillers examine puzzles of identity. Reef Road hit Publishers Weekly's Bestseller list, Good Morning America's Top 15 list, and was an Indie Next pick by the American Booksellers Association for January 2023. Ruby Falls won the Zibby Award for Best Plot Twist in 2021 and Finding Mrs. Ford was hailed by Forbes, Book Riot, and Good Morning America's “best of” lists in 2019.  She began as an actress on All My Children and in multiple films, before transitioning to the role of story editor at Miramax Films, developing Emma and early versions of Chicago and A Wrinkle in Time.  With her husband, Chuck, Deborah restored the Avon Theatre, Ocean House Hotel, Deer Mountain Inn, United Theatre, Savoy Bookstore, and numerous Main Street revitalization projects in Rhode Island and the Catskills.  She serves on the governing and advisory boards of the American Film Institute, Greenwich International Film Festival, New York Botanical Garden, Greenwich Historical Society, and the PRASAD Project.  Deborah holds a bachelor's degree in modern foreign languages and an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Lake Erie College.  

Hi Everyone today, my guest is Benson Shum, Animator, Children's Book Author and Illustrator. Benson talks about his start in animation and how he went on to work on writing and illustrating his first picture book. He offers advice to young students wanting to start a career in animation. Here is more about Benson: Benson Shum is a children's book author and illustrator. The idea that an image or painting can evoke emotions and movement is what brought him to the world of picture books and animation. Benson uses watercolor, ink and digital tools to create his illustrations. His newest book, Anzu the Great Kaiju received a starred review from School Library Journal and was selected for the Kid's Indie Next List for Jan/Feb 2022 by American Booksellers Association. Alex's Good Fortune was also selected for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library 2022. Benson is also an Animator at the Walt Disney Animation Studios, where he was a part of such films as Frozen, Big Hero 6, Zootopia, Moana, Frozen 2, Raya and the Last Dragon and Encanto. Originally from Vancouver, BC, Benson now lives in sunny southern California. To see his work visit: https://bensonshum.com/ https://www.instagram.com/bshum79/ https://twitter.com/bshum79 Thank you for listening! Please subscribe for future notifications!

Overview Fern Brady is the founder and CEO of Inklings Publishing. She holds multiple Masters degrees and several certifications. She began her professional life as a foreign correspondent, and taught for 15 years in Alief ISD. She has published numerous short stories, two children's picture books, and a couple of poems. Her debut novel, United Vidden, which is book one in her Thyrein's Galactic Wall Series, was given a glowing review by Dr. Who Online, the official site of the fandom. Also available for purchase is volume one of her graphic novel/novella hybrid project, New Beginning. She has returned to the leadership of the Houston Writers Guild, with whom she served as CEO for four years previously. She co-hosts two podcasts – Author Talk and The Hot Mess Express. Besides being Municipal Liaison for Nanowrimo Houston, she is also a member of Blood Over Texas, Romance Writers of America, and American Booksellers Association. Fern lives in Houston TX with her parents and her talkative husky, Arya. Her Book https://www.amazon.com/United-Vidden-Thyreins-Galactic-Wall-ebook/dp/B08BWHG4JF?crid=3L4TCG485VW0D&keywords=fern+brady+united+vidden&qid=1673990346&sprefix=fern+brady+united+vidde%2Caps%2C129&sr=8-1&linkCode=li2&tag=saschneider-20&linkId=6e76697d7b545d582e182922d2573d2f&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_il Website https://fernbrady.com Favorites https://www.amazon.com/Christie-Collection-Murders-Announced-Bertrams/dp/0007989261?content-id=amzn1.sym.7d1cec21-d5cf-4aa0-b55a-3303ecdebc2b%3Aamzn1.sym.7d1cec21-d5cf-4aa0-b55a-3303ecdebc2b&keywords=Agatha+christie+books+collection&pd_rd_r=a22c398d-bcaa-47d9-8472-d0a41e8ded42&pd_rd_w=cFZJf&pd_rd_wg=w3zSj&pf_rd_p=7d1cec21-d5cf-4aa0-b55a-3303ecdebc2b&pf_rd_r=Z6DAF1CSQTJGB0DB6PKT&qid=1673990680&sr=8-2&linkCode=li2&tag=saschneider-20&linkId=7cc96de948f06a9fe2ebe846ce926ca7&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_il BRAZOS BOOKSTORE | Houston's premier independent bookseller since 1974 YouTube https://youtu.be/rDsIUAdd5gE Transcript Fern, welcome to discovered Wordsmiths today. How are you doing? I Fern: am doing well. Thank you so much for having me here. Stephen: And I love your background. I assume that's a real background, not a fake background. Yes, Fern: this is, these are my real bookcases, which, I have not enough apparently, because, you can see that they're starting to stack up on top of each other instead of, just in straight. They should, Stephen: Is that Nancy drew up there in the corner, the yellow bindings? Fern: No, the, you mean the golden ones? The golden ones The golden. It looks yellow. Yeah. Okay. So that is a really fascinating series. It's a series of the royal princesses. Okay. And it's it's a historical fiction where people are imagining what like Cleopatra for example. Okay. It's up there. And so what would she have been like as a young girl before she Oh wow. Became Pharaoh before all of the things that we know historically have happened, what are, what would've been like, what it would, what would it have been like? And Maria Antoinette is up there and oh wow. Some of the Spanish princesses, some Japanese princesses and African princesses. I It's a really fantastic series to cuz it mixes a lot of historical things of great women who have done been royal women, in, in royal homes. Across the globe. But it's fiction. It's fictional. Nice. Stephen: Oh, I love that. I didn't even know about those. Great. I'm glad to look those up now. You just added to my bookshelves, . I'm always happy to do that. Yeah. Oh, I don't any help, believe me. So Fern tell everybody a little bit about yourself, where you live and some things you like to do besides writing. Fern: I live in Houston, Texas, which right now is cold, but by the end of the day it will be 80. So it's one of those places in which, know, you have to dress in multiple. Yeah. Cold is like 58. Stephen: Oh, okay. See the last couple ahead.

In this episode, I talk to the lovely Melissa Fu about her debut novel, Peach Blossom Spring. We talk about the origins of the story, finding home, confused identities and the constant longing for belonging, acceptance and self-love. Melissa Fu grew up in Northern New Mexico and now lives near Cambridge, UK, with her husband and children. She graduated from Rice University, cum laude, with a double major in Physics and English and went on to earn a Masters in Condensed Matter Physics at the University of Colorado, Boulder, and a Masters in English Education at Teachers College, Columbia University.  She has worked in education as a teacher, curriculum developer, and consultant.Her first novel, Peach Blossom Spring, was a BBC Radio 2 Book Club pick in the UK and a 2022 Indies Introduce title for the American Booksellers Association. It is available in English, Dutch and Italian.  Hungarian, Romanian and German editions are forthcoming.Peach Blossom Spring is her first novel.Support the show

On this show, we welcome back our dear friend, award-winning author Lisa Unger! Lisa is the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of twenty novels, including THE STRANGER INSIDE, LAST GIRL GHOSTED, and CONFESSIONS ON THE 7:45 — now in development at Netflix, starring Jessica Alba. A co-President of the International Thriller Writers Organization with books published in thirty-two languages and millions of copies sold worldwide, Lisa is regarded as a master of suspense. She joins us to discuss her brand-new release, SECLUDED CABIN SLEEPS SIX (just published 11/8/22 by Park Row Books), which has gotten starred reviews from Library Journal and Kirkus has been named to most-anticipated lists by USA Today, the American Booksellers Association, Amazon, Goodreads, LibraryReads and Target, among others. The crew delve into Lisa's writing process, the inspiration for her latest novel, what prompted her interest in writing about crime and dysfunctional families, and news on her Netflix adaptation that's in the works.

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Susan McClelland. Susan co-wrote Boy from Buchenwald with Robbie Waisman. Boy from Buchenwald is the winner of the 2022 Sheila A. Egoff Children's Literature Prize. In their conversation, Susan talks the challenges of working with memory and what draws her to projects like Boy from Buchenwald. ABOUT SUSAN McCLELLAND: Susan McClelland's first book, Bite of the Mango (2008) is the true story of a young Sierra Leonean victim of war and has been published in more than 30 countries, including by Annick Press in Canada and Bloomsbury in the UK. It was a YALSA's Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults selection, and the White Ravens International Book of the Year. Bite of the Mango was shortlisted for the American Library Association non-fiction, young adult book of the year. Susan has written several commissioned books for various publishers, including Harper Collins and WW Norton and Company for both young adult and adult markets. Susan found her follow-up story to Bite of the Mango in the subject Sungju Lee, a former North Korean street boy, currently pursuing a Ph.D in international relations at George Mason University. Sungju's book, Every Falling Star, published in 2016 by Abrams, was an Indies Introduce Selection of the American Booksellers Association; Library Guild 2016 Fall Selection; and shortlisted for Japan's top honour, the 2018 Sakura Medal. Susan's latest book tells the story of a young survivor of the Yazidi genocide (Annick, April, 2019). Abducted by ISIS, Badeeah Hassan Ahmed managed to shield her 3-year-old nephew throughout her ordeal by saying the child was her own son. As a journalist, Susan has written for the Sunday Times Magazine, Glamour, Marie Claire, Ms. Magazine, The Walrus and The Guardian, as well as numerous other magazines and newspapers. Her stories have been adapted into documentaries for the CBC and BBC's Panorama. ABOUT ROBBIE WAISMAN: Romek Wajsman, who changed his name to Robbie Waisman when he moved to Canada in 1949, is an accountant by training, a successful businessman, father, grandfather, and beloved international speaker on topics of the holocaust, healing, reconciliation, and forgiveness. He is particularly a powerful motivator of at-risk youth, with regular visits to First Nation reserves. Robbie, however, told no one about his past until the 1980s. At that time, Holocaust denier, James Keegstra, said that Jews were treacherous, subversive, and sadistic…and that they created the Holocaust to gain worldwide sympathy. Robbie felt it was his duty to speak up. Robbie has won numerous awards from universities, human rights organizations, community and Jewish groups around the world, and has been recognized by the German, American, and Canadian governments for his activism. Robbie is the recipient of the 2014 Governor General's Caring Canada Award and is an Honourary Witness to the First Nation Truth and Reconciliation Committee. He holds honourary doctorates of law from the University of Victoria. ABOUT THE PODCAST: Writing the Coast is recorded and produced on the traditional territory of the Tla'amin Nation. As a settler on these lands, Megan Cole finds opportunities to learn and listen to the stories from those whose land was stolen. Writing the Coast is a recorded series of conversations, readings, and insights into the work of the writers, illustrators, and creators whose books are nominated for the annual BC and Yukon Book Prizes. We'll also check in on people in the writing community who are supporting books, writers and readers every day. The podcast is produced and hosted by Megan Cole.

**Who You will Hear**Guest: Sarah Russo (Founder of Page One Media)Co-host: Luna Tang (Cloud Service Delivery Manager at Klopotek)Co-host: Dwayne Parris (Senior Consultant at Klopotek)For many authors and independent publishers, book publicity and marketing is always a huge arena hard to measure and predict: whether to hire a publicist for a forthcoming book, how much to invest, and what the return can be expected. In this episode, Sarah Russo, founder of Page One Media, joins us and answers a few critical FAQs from authors and independent publishers regarding book publicity and marketing strategies. Sarah talks about the work scope of a (freelance) book publicist, the timeline of a complete book publicity campaign, the collaboration between author, publisher, and book publicist, as well as how the emerging new media has been impacting how books get promoted and creating more opportunities for book selling.You can learn more about book publicity and services from the website of Page One Media. Its blog section also offers a lot of valuable advice for authors and independent publishers.Tell us what is going on with your publishing projects or business on Twitter (@Klopotek_AG), LinkedIn, or email us at podcast@klopotek.com.  For more information about the Klopotek software solution, please write to info@klopotek.com, or register to receive emails from us on technology innovations & events from Klopotek.* The views, information, or opinions expressed in the program are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of Klopotek and its employees. It is the goal of Klopotek Publishing Radio to support cultural diversity, the exchange of opinions, and to create an environment where the conversation of a global publishing industry can thrive.

In this Book Bits episode, Lisa talks about Independent Book Store Day on April 30. Bookstores all over the country are bringing in authors, creative crafts and major sales. The American Booksellers Association has included a list of events that booksellers have available in April 2022 and on April 30.  The bookstores in Charlotte, N.C. have created their own website about their Charlotte Book Crawl and the bookstores in Lakeland, Fla. bookstores teamed up for their own book crawl. Here's information about San Diego's book crawl. Here's a story about someone's personal experience of creating their own book crawl. Lisa talks about how a tiny Bronte book was sold for $1.25 million and the book is now returned home.For more information, find Lisa on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and her website.*The book titles mentioned include affiliate links. You can support the podcast by purchasing a book with the links because the podcast receives a small commission. 

My Dropping Keys co-conspirator is Tom CoyneTom is an award-winning and New York Times bestselling author who has been publishing golf stories since 2001. His first book was the novel A Gentleman's Game, which was named one of the best 25 sports books of all time by The Philadelphia Daily News.  He wrote the film adaptation of the novel, which starred Gary Sinise, Philip Baker Hall, Dylan Baker, and Mason Gamble.  His second book, Paper Tiger: An Obsessed Golfer's Quest to Play with the Pros was released June 2006, and was an editor's pick in Esquire Magazine and USA Today, and a summer reading selection in The New York Times.   His third book, A Course Called Ireland: A Long Walk in Search of a Country, a Pint, and the Next Tee, was published by Gotham Books in February, 2009, and it chronicles his quest to walk and golf the whole of Ireland.  The book was a New York Times, American Booksellers Association, and Barnes & Noble bestseller, and won a silver medal from the Society of American Travel Writers in the category of Best Travel Book of the Year.  His anticipated follow-up to A Course Called Ireland was released by Simon & Schuster in 2018: A Course Called Scotland was an instant New York Times bestseller, and chronicles Tom's quest to play every links course in Scotland, searching the highlands for the secret to golf and a tee time in the oldest championship in sports. Tom's travel trilogy reaches its conclusion with the release of A Course Called America from Avid Reader/Simon & Schuster in May of 2021. The story follows Tom as he plays his way across all 50 states, searching for the great American golf course, and it landed on the New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists in its first week. Tom is Senior Editor and podcast host at The Golfer's Journal, and has written for Golf Magazine, Golfweek, Sports Illustrated, The New York Times, and numerous other publications.  His Golfer's Journal story, “The Lucky Ones” was named the best feature story of 2020 by the Golf Writers Association of America. He is also a host and writer for the travel television series, “The Links Life.”  Tom earned an M.F.A. in fiction writing from the University of Notre Dame, where he won the William Mitchell Award for distinguished achievement.  He lives outside Philadelphia with his wife and two daughters.You can find Tom  atWebsite: www.tomcoyne.com Instagram:  @coynewriter

Richard Howorth is the owner of three local and iconic bookstores in Oxford, MS. It's one of the first places that visitors to the small college town go. Richard Howorth was also Mayor of the town and was the president of the American Booksellers Association. He has certainly left his mark on Oxford--and on Mississippi. Written and produced by Isaac Riggins and Aaron Sharp, with samples from "Morning Routine" by Ghostrifter.

Mitchell Kaplan opened the first Books & Books bookshop in 1982 in Coral Gables, Florida. Since then, Books & Books has grown to seven bookshops, two of which include restaurants.Mitchell served as president of the American Booksellers Association and received the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation.As co-founder of the Miami Book Fair in 1985, Mitchell has served as the chairperson of its Board of Directors and continues to guide the programming team at the Fair which takes place on the campus of Miami Dade College in the heart of downtown Miami. Each year the Fair presents close to 500 authors over one week in November, along with a street festival, where bookstalls line the streets adjacent to the campus. Programs take place in Creole, Spanish and English, reflecting the diversity of Miami. Mitchell also hosts The Literary Life podcast, and along with producer Paula Mazur, owns Mazur Kaplan, a film production company bringing books to screen.Books & BooksRichard Flanagan, booksFlowers For Algernon, Daniel KeyesBlack Like Me, John Howard GriffinDharma Bums, Jack KerouacJames Baldwin, booksThe Paris Bookseller, Kerri MaherLight Years, James SalterContinental Drift, Humphrey MullerBewilderment: A Novel, Richard PowersMatrix: A Novel, Lauren GroffKlara And The Sun, Kazuo IshiguroNeil Gaiman, booksWriters for Democratic ActionMiami Book FairMazur Kaplan CompanyThe Color of Law, Richard RothsteinHow the South Won the Civil War, Heather Cox RichardsonOn Tyranny Graphic Edition, Timothy Snyder, Nora KrugLost & Found: A Memoir, Kathryn SchulzThe Year of Dangerous Days, Nicholas GriffinSupport the show (https://paypal.me/TheBookshopPodcast?locale.x=en_US)

This hour on Where We Live, we look into strategies that build resilience in local bookstores and discuss pandemic book launches. Long-time indie bookshops continue to stay afloat and even thrive despite the ongoing pandemic. Amazon controls more than half of the market for print books and at least three-quarters of publishers' ebook sales. We also talk to booksellers about trends, including eliminating or reducing inventory-holding costs by selling on Bookstore.org –the Amazon for indies.  The American Booksellers Association (ABA) lists the top five trends for indie bookstores in 2022. According to the ABA, nationally, 250 indie bookstores opened, and 98 closed in 2020 and 2021. Here is a list of Connecticut's indie bookstores: Barrett Bookstore, Darien (since 1939) Hickory Stick Bookshop, Washington Depot (since 1951) Breakwater Books, Guilford (since 1972) Atticus Books, Middletown (since 1975) Bloodroot, Bridgeport (since 1977) Books on the Common, Ridgefield (since 1984) RJ Julia, Madison, (since 1990) Bank Square Books, Mystic (since 1998) Book Trader Cafe, New Haven (since 1998) Elm Street Books, New Canaan, (since 2003)  A New Page, Middletown (since 2003) Burgundy Books, Old Saybrook (since 2005) New bookstore openings in Connecticut include:  Title IX: A Bookstore, a pop-up bookshop in New London  The Key Bookstore's brick-and-mortar bookshop in Hartford  Athena Books in Old Greenwich Pink Wave Books & Cafe (online)  Wordsmith Bookshop, scheduled to open in Simsbury in May  Reader's Block, opened in Stratford Book Club on the Go (online, pop-ups, book delivery) New York's Shakespeare & Co., expected to open its first Connecticut bookshop in Norwalk. Also, plans are underway to launch Next Chapter Books and More, an ELITE (Educating Learners In Transition Environment) Program's student-run bookstore and coffee shop in Trumbull. Several of the new bookshops sell to under-represented communities, and all are focussed on building a local third space. We discuss the ‘doing well by doing good' indie business model. Will it endure? We also look into store closures and fundraisers to keep indies open. That Book Store in Wethersfield and Elliot's Bookstore in Northford are among those that shut down, while fundraisers are underway to reopen New Haven's Never Ending Books, and to keep Bennett's Books in Deep River open. GUESTS: Khamani Harrison: Founder & Owner of The Key Bookstore – An AfroFuturistic Bookstore in Hartford Lauren Anderson: Co-founder & Co-owner, People Get Ready, New Haven Roxanne Coady: Founder of RJ Julia, and CEO and founder of Just the Right Book Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Christian Outlook – October 9, 1021 John and Kathy, the Ride Home, talk with Carl Trueman, of Grove City College, about the harm social media is doing to our teen culture and Dr. Albert Mohler looks at the harm to young girls in particular, following Senate testimony by former Facebook employee Frances Haugen. Jerry Bowyer and Tom Spence, president of Regnery Publishing, talk about “Banned Books Week,” an annual event that started 40 years ago put on by the American Library Association and the American Booksellers Association. Bob Lepine talks with Alistair Begg about his new book, “Brave by Faith: God-Sized Confidence in a Post-Christian World.” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jeannie Vanasco is the author of two memoirs. Her latest, Things We Didn't Talk About When I Was a Girl, was named a New York Times Editors' Choice, a TIME magazine Must-Read Book of the Year, and the 2020 winner of the Ohioana Book Award in nonfiction. Her debut, The Glass Eye, was honored as Indie Next and Indies Introduce selections by the American Booksellers Association. She lives in Baltimore and teaches at Towson University.· www.jeannievanasco.com · www.creativeprocess.info

“What interested me about this particular experience is that I didn't have the language to attach to it in the way I had the language to attach to a later experience that I would have no trouble calling rape, but happened to me and I call Mark in the book. I didn't know what to call that for the longest time, so I didn't know what to feel about it, and so as a writer that interests me. When I don't have the words for something, when I sense that inevitably I'm going to fail.”Jeannie Vanasco is the author of two memoirs. Her latest, Things We Didn't Talk About When I Was a Girl, was named a New York Times Editors' Choice, a TIME magazine Must-Read Book of the Year, and the 2020 winner of the Ohioana Book Award in nonfiction. Her debut, The Glass Eye, was honored as Indie Next and Indies Introduce selections by the American Booksellers Association. She lives in Baltimore and teaches at Towson University.· www.jeannievanasco.com · www.creativeprocess.info

“What interested me about this particular experience is that I didn't have the language to attach to it in the way I had the language to attach to a later experience that I would have no trouble calling rape, but happened to me and I call Mark in the book. I didn't know what to call that for the longest time, so I didn't know what to feel about it, and so as a writer that interests me. When I don't have the words for something, when I sense that inevitably I'm going to fail.”Jeannie Vanasco is the author of two memoirs. Her latest, Things We Didn't Talk About When I Was a Girl, was named a New York Times Editors' Choice, a TIME magazine Must-Read Book of the Year, and the 2020 winner of the Ohioana Book Award in nonfiction. Her debut, The Glass Eye, was honored as Indie Next and Indies Introduce selections by the American Booksellers Association. She lives in Baltimore and teaches at Towson University.· www.jeannievanasco.com · www.creativeprocess.info

Inspired by the American Booksellers Association (and sharks), Carter and Keri discuss the left's intentional misuse of language, including and especially the word, "violence." Then they review Dolly Parton's failure to convince Tennessee residents to get vaccinated. Next, they absorb some more "academic thinky-talk" from B-list actor John Leguizamo. After noting the anti-intellectual reactions to British MP Karen Buck's tweet quoting Ayn Rand, they end the show in mock celebration of the new "pregnant man" emoji that will soon be available on smartphones (wokephones?) everywhere. The video version of this episode is available here: https://unsafespace.com/ep0606 Links Referenced in the Show: Anti-Vax is "violent": https://twitter.com/johnpavlovitz/status/1417145668515336192 Dolly Parton's COVID Failure: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/19/opinion/tennessee-dolly-parton-covid-vaccine.html More Thinky-Talk from John Leguizamo: https://twitter.com/MythinformedMKE/status/1416485891971985408 America Booksellers Association Apologizes: https://www.nationalreview.com/news/american-booksellers-association-apologizes-for-promoting-abigail-schriers-violent-transgender-book/ Mostly Peaceful Shark Interactions: https://twitter.com/nypost/status/1415686120059269135 Karen Buck Quotes Rand: https://twitter.com/KarenPBuckMP/status/1416690899321565184 Pregnant Man Emoji: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/jul/16/pregnant-man-and-multiracial-handshake-emojis-approved-for-launch Thanks for Watching! The best way to follow Unsafe Space, no matter which platforms ban us, is to visit: https://unsafespace.com While we're still allowed on YouTube, please don't forget to verify that you're subscribed, and to like and share this episode. You can find us there at: https://unsafespace.com/channel For episode clips, visit: https://unsafespace.com/clips Other video platforms on which our content can be found include: LBRY: https://lbry.tv/@unsafe BitChute: https://www.bitchute.com/channel/unsafespace/ Also, come join our community of dangerous thinkers at the following social media sites...at least until we get banned: Censorship-averse platforms: Gab: @unsafe Minds: @unsafe Locals: unsafespace.locals.com Parler: @unsafespace Telegram Chat: https://t.me/joinchat/H4OUclXTz4xwF9EapZekPg Censorship-happy platforms: Twitter: @unsafespace [currently suspended without any reason given] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/unsafepage Instagram: @_unsafespace MeWe: https://mewe.com/p/unsafespace Support the content that you consume by visiting: https://unsafespace.com/donate Finally, don't forget to announce your status as a wrong-thinker with some Unsafe Space merch, available at: https://unsafespace.com/shop

Today on the Matt Walsh Show, the American Booksellers Association apologizes for a “violent incident” where they promoted a book that leftists don't like. We'll talk about this story, and more broadly about the idea that words, books, and opinions can be “violent.” Also Five Headlines including the Surgeon General's pledge to start putting warning labels on speech it doesn't like, the White House says it is working with Facebook to tamp down “misinformation,” Pope Francis continues his war against conservative Catholics, leaked audio proves that Sharon Osbourne was set up and framed as a racist before being kicked off her talk show, and in our Daily Cancellation, we'll talk about the new efforts to combat the negative stereotypes of sharks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jeannie Vanasco is the author of two memoirs. Her latest, Things We Didn't Talk About When I Was a Girl, was named a New York Times Editors' Choice, a TIME magazine Must-Read Book of the Year, and the 2020 winner of the Ohioana Book Award in nonfiction. Her debut, The Glass Eye, was honored as Indie Next and Indies Introduce selections by the American Booksellers Association. She lives in Baltimore and teaches at Towson University.· www.jeannievanasco.com · www.creativeprocess.info

“What interested me about this particular experience is that I didn't have the language to attach to it in the way I had the language to attach to a later experience that I would have no trouble calling rape, but happened to me and I call Mark in the book. I didn't know what to call that for the longest time, so I didn't know what to feel about it, and so as a writer that interests me. When I don't have the words for something, when I sense that inevitably I'm going to fail.”Jeannie Vanasco is the author of two memoirs. Her latest, Things We Didn't Talk About When I Was a Girl, was named a New York Times Editors' Choice, a TIME magazine Must-Read Book of the Year, and the 2020 winner of the Ohioana Book Award in nonfiction. Her debut, The Glass Eye, was honored as Indie Next and Indies Introduce selections by the American Booksellers Association. She lives in Baltimore and teaches at Towson University.· www.jeannievanasco.com · www.creativeprocess.info

Every so often, I'll be posting an interview I feel is time-relevant. It is imperative to support local businesses during the pandemic, not only bookshops but all small businesses. Today my guest is Allison Hill, CEO American Booksellers Association. While her work is focused primarily on independent bookshops, she is knowledgeable in entrepreneurship, anti-trust issues, eCommerce, and demographics. We chat about all this and more and help you understand why it's so important, whenever possible, to keep your purchases in your hometown.Here's a list of links, authors, and books mentioned in this podcast.American Booksellers AssociationBook SoupVroman's BookstoreMystery Pier Books, Inc. Indie BoundThe Dude and the Zen MasterSqueeze MeEssays by Allison:Love and BookstoresThis Book Will Change Your Life Support the show (https://paypal.me/TheBookshopPodcast?locale.x=en_US)

Everyday Rockstar (0:00:00) Lisa and Richie talk with this week's featured Everyday Rockstar. You or someone you know could be featured next! Send us your nominations by emailing thelisashow@byu.edu.   Marketing vs. Thinking (0:06:04) Think back on the last few things you've purchased for yourself. Why did you buy them? If someone recommended something to you, why did they buy it? Chances are, the further you look back, quite a few of your decisions are due to an ad you saw or a press release you read. But in what other ways does marketing impact our decision making? Today, we're joined by Dr. Matt Johnson, a psychologist and consumer behavior expert. He's here with us to get a deeper look into how marketing affects the way we think.   The “Boxed Out” Campaign (0:25:08) While it's convenient to buy new books online, there's something unique about going to my local book store. We love browsing through titles, getting new recommendations, and chatting with my local bookseller. But with COVID-19 shutting everything down, it's become really hard to support our local businesses. In fact, 20% of independent bookstores face the threat of shutting down right now.A new campaign has come out urging people to buy local and avoid big online sellers. Here to tell us more about the campaign and how we can help is CEO of American Booksellers Association, Allison Hill.   Perfectionism in Motherhood (0:38:14) She's the mom we all want to be. She has three perfectly groomed children who all started reading and writing at age 3, excel at all 5 of their extra-curriculars, and are beautifully well-behaved. And the mom is the CEO of her own company and a marathon runner on the weekends. She's also the mom that doesn't exist outside our imaginations. Perfectionism and motherhood often go hand in hand because we want the best for our kids. However, it's also a dangerous state of mind. Here to discuss perfectionism and motherhood is Catia Holm, author and inspirational speaker   Safety Skills for Teens (1:13:38) There are some things that are never taught to teens but could prove vital to their mental and physical safety. Here with us today is Jonathan Cristall, a veteran prosecutor in Los Angeles, who is going to tell us about safety skills every teen should know.   Positive Workplace Language (1:27:34) Our whole lives, we hear about the power of positivity and how it can lead us to greater success. We often practice positivity by choosing to smile when things are stressful or by focusing our thoughts on the highs rather than the lows. It is truly powerful, especially in the workplace. But how often do we put ourselves down when talking to our co-workers or employers rather than letting positivity seep into the way we communicate? Here to answer this question as well as teach us how we can reframe our minds to communicate positively in the workplace is business consultant, negotiation expert and friend of the show, Josh Doody.

Jeannie Vanasco is the author of two memoirs. Her latest, Things We Didn't Talk About When I Was a Girl, was named a New York Times Editors' Choice, a TIME magazine Must-Read Book of the Year, and the 2020 winner of the Ohioana Book Award in nonfiction. Her debut, The Glass Eye, was honored as Indie Next and Indies Introduce selections by the American Booksellers Association. She lives in Baltimore and teaches at Towson University.· www.jeannievanasco.com · www.creativeprocess.info

“What interested me about this particular experience is that I didn't have the language to attach to it in the way I had the language to attach to a later experience that I would have no trouble calling rape, but happened to me and I call Mark in the book. I didn't know what to call that for the longest time, so I didn't know what to feel about it, and so as a writer that interests me. When I don't have the words for something, when I sense that inevitably I'm going to fail.”Jeannie Vanasco is the author of two memoirs. Her latest, Things We Didn't Talk About When I Was a Girl, was named a New York Times Editors' Choice, a TIME magazine Must-Read Book of the Year, and the 2020 winner of the Ohioana Book Award in nonfiction. Her debut, The Glass Eye, was honored as Indie Next and Indies Introduce selections by the American Booksellers Association. She lives in Baltimore and teaches at Towson University.· www.jeannievanasco.com · www.creativeprocess.info

In today's episode, Tara and Rebekah have the pleasure of sitting down with June Hur. Born in South Korea, raised in Canada, and she studied History and Literature at the University of Toronto. Her debut novel THE SILENCE OF BONES (Feiwel & Friends/Macmillan, April 2020) is a murder mystery set in Joseon Dynasty Korea (early 1800s), and also a coming-of-age tale about a girl searching for home. It was recently selected by the American Booksellers Association as one of the top debuts of Winter/Spring 2020.Listen as June takes them behind the scenes in a candid conversation about what prompted her debut novel THE SILENCE OF BONES, what "home" means to her, and how reconnecting to our roots helps us both as authors and as people. Enjoy!

Chris Dombrowski is from Michigan and is known far and wide for his debut nonfiction book, Body Of Water: A Sage, A Seeker, And The World's Most Elusive Fish. I had the pleasure of sitting down with Chris and getting to hear about his story and what inspired this book as well as his other fictional publications. Chris is from Michigan and earned his MFA from Montana where he then published Fragments with Dusk in Them (2008), September Miniatures with Blood and Mars (2012), and the collections By Cold Water (2009) and Earth Again (2013). Chris is quite the poet and draws a lot of inspiration from an early reading of Norman McLean's novella A River Runs Through It. Chris has earned awards and honors for Associated Writing Programs Intro Award, Alligator Juniper's National Poetry Prize, and a runner-up for Foreword Magazine's Poetry Book of the Year. Chris still lives in Montana where he is a fly-fishing guide, director of the 406 Writers' Workshop and the Beargrass Writing Retreat, and the Kittredge Distinguished Visiting Writer in the Environmental Studies Program at the University of Montana. Chris continues to write and teach alongside his many other gifts and is working on another nonfiction book. Body of Water: A Sage, A Seeker, and the World's Most Elusive Fish, was hailed in The New York Times Book Review; lauded as “finely wrought and profoundly life-affirming.” The book was called “a spiritual memoir in the tradition of Annie Dillard's Pilgrim at Tinker Creek,” in Orion magazine. Body of Water was named to numerous Best Books of 2016 list, and the American Booksellers Association placed the paperback on its Top Ten Indie Next Picks for 2017-2018. I highly recommend this book, you can click here and purchase it! Keep an eye out for more books from Chris and check out some of his older works and poetry! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices