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Bookstore Explorer — Arts
Bookstore Explorer

Join author and bookseller Matt Browning as he goes behind the shelves with booksellers, authors and other bookish folks to learn what makes independent bookshops such magical places.

Copyright: © 2022 Bookstore Explorer

Latest Episodes:

Episode 72: Gramercy Books, Bexley, Ohio Oct 08, 2024

This week we visit with Linda Kass, novelist and owner of Gramercy Books in Bexley, Ohio. Located in suburban Columbus, Gramercy is known for its series of fantastic author events and much more.

Books We Talk About: The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa, The Remains of the Day and Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro, A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara, The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead, Stoner by John Williams, The Queen’s Gambit by Walter Tevis, A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan, The Waiting by Michael Connelly, The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis and more!

Episode 71: Parentheses Books, Harrisonburg, Virginia Oct 01, 2024

Last week, we welcomed to the pod Evan Friss, author of The Bookshop: A History of the American Bookstore. This week, we visit with his wife, Amanda Friss, owner of Parentheses Books in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Books We Talk About: The works of Kevin Brockmeier, West Heart Kill by Dann McDorman and Once More Upon a Time by Roshani Chokshi

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Episode 70: Author Evan Friss Sep 23, 2024

This week, we talk with Evan Friss, author of The Bookshop: A History of the American Bookstore, out now from Penguin Random House. Starting with Benjamin Franklin and moving up to the present day, it is a love letter to bookstores that The New York Times calls "A spirited defense of this important, odd and odds-defying American retail category."

Books We Talk About: The Death and Life of Great American Cities by Jane Jacobs and the works of Donna Tartt, Haruki Murakami, Kurt Vonnegut and George Saunders.

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Episode 69: Happy Magpie Book & Quill, Ogden, Utah Sep 17, 2024

Today, we’re visiting Happy Magpie Book & Quill in Ogden, Utah. I’m joined by owner Patrick Ramsay, who operates the shop on a unique pay-what-you-want model.

Books We Talk About: Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed, Red Rising by Pierce Brown, Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller, The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen by KJ Charles, and Instructions for Traveling West by Joy Sullivan.

Episode 68: Lemuria Books, Jackson, Mississippi Sep 10, 2024

John Evans opened Lemuria Books in Jackson, Mississippi, in 1975 and joins me to discuss his five decades in bookselling.

Books We Talk About: From Moby Dick to Eudora Welty, we cover a lot in this one!

Our theme music is Whiskey River II by Erin Eades. Check her out wherever you stream music or visit ErinEadesMusic.com.

Episode 67: Ferguson Books & More, West Fargo, North Dakota Sep 03, 2024

After 14 years, Dane Ferguson knows a thing or two about the bookselling business, and he walks me through the ups and downs of the trade as we visit Ferguson Books & More in West Fargo, ND.

Books We Talk About: The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah, Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid, The Quiet Tenant by Clemence Michallon.

Our theme music is Whiskey River II by Erin Eades. Check her out wherever you stream music and visit ErinEadesMusic.com.

Episode 66: Paper & String Books, South Hamilton, Massachusetts Aug 27, 2024

Long-time podcast listener Thalia Lewandowski and her business partner visited Matt’s bookstore Airbnb in January to learn all they could about opening their own bookshop. Now they’ve done it! Thalia joins the pod to discuss Paper & String Books, a shop that seamlessly blends reading and crafts.

Books We Talk About: Mary Jane by Jessica Anya Blau, North Woods by Daniel Mason, James by Percival Everett, A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas, and the works of Jane Harper and Amor Towles.

Our theme music is Whiskey River II by Erin Eades. Find Erin's music wherever you stream or visit ErinEadesMusic.com.

Episode 65: Wind City Books, Casper, Wyoming Aug 20, 2024

We're back for Season 3! Today, we are in Capser, Wyoming, to visit Wind City Books. Owner Miranda Berdahl and her bookseller son, Rhys, discuss taking over ownership of the shop during the pandemic, what it's like working for your mother, and more!

Books We Talk About: Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, Monkey King: Journey to the West by Wu Cheng'en, Intermezzo by Sally Rooney, I'm Starting to Worry About This Black Box of Doom by Jason Pargin, Shad Hadid by George Jreije.

Our new theme music is Whiskey River II by Erin Eades. Hear her music wherever you stream and visit ErinEadesMusic.com.

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Episode 64: Queer Haven Books, Columbia, South Carolina May 14, 2024

Queer Haven Books is a new shop whose mission is to provide a place of safety and refuge for the queer community in the South. Owner Baker Rogers joins me to discuss what inspired the shop and what's ahead for its future.

Books We Talk About: The Thirty Names of Night by Zeyn Joukhadar, Confessions of the Fox by Jordy Rosenberg, Delilah Green Doesn't Care by Ashley Herring Blake, Less by Andrew Sean Greer, The Guncle by Steven Rowley, Rubyfruit Jungle by Rita Mae Brown, Polysecure and Polywise by Jessica Fern

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Episode 63: Canute Books, Portland, Tennessee Apr 09, 2024

This week, we visit with Jessie Canute, owner of Canute Books in Portland, Tennessee, and her daughter, Sessily. Their brand-new shop is located inside of Bloomin’ Deals, a 4,000 square foot thrift boutique home to more than 40 vendors. They tell us how they want from being "book dragons" to bookshop owners!

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Episode 62: Author Jonathan Corcoran Apr 02, 2024

This week, we're joined by author Jonathan Corcoran to discuss his new memoir, No Son of Mine, and his lifelong love of bookstores! In addition to No Son of Mine, Corcoran is the author of the short story collecction The Rope Swing,which was a finalist for the Lambda Literary Awards and long-listed for The Story Prize. His essays and stories have been published and anthologized widely, including in Salvation South, Still: The Journal, Best Gay Stories, and the Oxford University Press textbook, How Writing Works.

Books We Talk About: Sugar Run by Mesha Maren, The Prettiest Star by Carter Sickels, Black Tickets by Jayne Anne Phillips, and Fierce Attachments by Vivan Gornick

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Episode 61: Cicada Books & Coffee, Huntington, West Virginia Mar 26, 2024

This week, we're in Huntington, WV, to visit Cicada Books & Coffee. This family-owned spot was opened in 2018 by mother-daughter duo Dawn Hylbert and Katie Norman, who join me to discuss the store’s history, its place in community, and its unique blend of books, coffee, and art.

Books We Talk About: Manhunt by Gretchen Felker-Martin, Devil House by John Darnielle, Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters, The Devil Takes You Home by Gabino Iglesias, and Praisesong for the Kitchen Ghosts by Crystal Wilkinson

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Episode 60: Pages Books & Coffee, Mount Airy, North Carolina Mar 19, 2024

This week, we're in Mount Airy, NC, known as "the real Mayberry!" The original home of Andy Griffith is now home to Pages Books & Coffee, and owner Cynthia Taylor joins us to discuss the shop. We're also joined by Barb Collins, organizer and promoter of the Writers Roadshow Tour, a new series of events that's bringing authors to rural North Carolina through a partnership between the Northwest Regional Library System and Pages.

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Episode 59: Bookworks, Albuquerque, New Mexico Mar 12, 2024

This week, we head to Albuquerque, New Mexico, to visit a store that’s been serving its community for 40 years. Co-owner Shannon Guinn-Collins and Store Manager Robert Flippo take us behind the shelves of Bookworks. We discuss the store’s long history, the amazing authors who have passed through its doors, and a recent change to an LLC structure for ownership.

Books We Talk About: Titanium Noir by Nick Harkaway, Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry, We Don't Eat our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins, Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin, Life After Life by Kate Atkinson, Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley, H is for Hawk by Helen MacDonald, The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating by Elisabeth Tova Bailey

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Episode 58: Skylark Bookshop, Columbia, Missouri Mar 05, 2024

This week, we visit Skylark Bookshop in Columbia, MO, named one of 150 bookstores you need to visit before you die. Owner and novelist Alex George discusses the inspiration and mission of Skylark, as well as the city's prominent Unbound Book Festival, which he founded, happening this spring.

Books We Talk About: Splinters by Leslie Jamison, Still Life by Sarah Winman, Now is Not the Time to Panic by Kevin Wilson, and The Book of Delights by Ross Gay.

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Episode 57: Hearthside Books & Toys, Juneau, Alaska Feb 20, 2024

This week, we visit Hearthside Books & Toys in Juneau, Alaska. Owner Olga Lijó Seráns has owned Hearthside since 2022, but the store has been serving the people of Juneau for nearly 50 years. She takes us through its rich history and how things have been going since she took over.

Books We Talk About: If You Lived Here, I'd Know Your Name: News from Small-Town Alaska by Heather Lende, 90 Short Walks Around Juneau by Mary Lou King, Homestead by Melinda Moustakis, and Jimmy Bluefeather by Kim Heacox

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Episode 56: Writer Stan Zimmerman Feb 13, 2024

This week, Stan Zimmerman joins the show to discuss his new book, The Girls: From Golden to Gilmore, all about his career writing for such shows as The Golden Girls, Gilmore Girls, Roseanne, and many more. We chat about those and other projects, plus some of his favorite books and bookshops. The Girls: From Golden to Gilmore is available now!

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Episode 55: Elements Books Coffee Beer, Biddeford, Maine Feb 06, 2024

This week, we head to Biddeford, Maine, where owner Michael Macomber shares the story behind Elements: Books | Coffee | Beer. The combination bookshop, bar and cafe has been serving the people of Biddeford for more than a decade and helped usher in a new wave of downtown revitalization.

Books We Talk About: Destiny of the Republic by Candice Millard and The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon

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Episode 54: Sunshine Book Co., Clermont, Florida Jan 30, 2024

Beth Merrick of Sunshine Book Co. in Clermont, Florida, discusses her journey from Disney employee to bookshop owner, and offers up some excellent ideas for bookshop events that drive customers into the shop.

Books We Talk About: A Land Remembered by Patrick D. Smith

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Episode 53: The Toadstool Bookshop, Peterborough, New Hampshire Jan 23, 2024

First opened in 1972 by Willard Williams and family, The Toadstool Bookshop - currently with locations in Peterborough and Keene - has been serving the people of New Hampshire for decades. One of its longtime customers was Emerson Sistare, who began visiting The Toadstool at age 7. Today, he owns it. Emerson discusses the history of The Toadstool and what it has been like taking over the reigns of a beloved community institution.

Books We Talk About: North Woods by Daniel Mason and The MANIAC by Benjamin Labatut.

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Episode 52: Peoria Book Rack, Peoria, Illinois Jan 16, 2024

My guest this week is Stacy Hardin of the Peoria Book Rack in Peoria, Illinois. Stacy tells us how she went from drawing her dream bookshop layouts in a childhood journal to now owning a decades-old shop that she has visited since she was 12 years old.

Books We Talk About: The works of Stephen King, John Saul, Rebecca Yarros, and Sarah J. Maas.

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Episode 51: The Bookhouse Hotel, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania Dec 19, 2023

The Bookhouse Hotel is a 4-room boutique hotel nestled in the heart of downtown Kennett Square, PA. Housing over 5,000 books, it is a haven for bookworms or anyone else looking for a uniquely cozy place to relax and unwind. Co-owner Stephanie Olenik joins the podcast to tell us how this historic building, which had most recently been a bookstore, is keeping the book magic alive. Learn more and book your stay at https://thebookhousehotel.com.

Books We Talk About: A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway and The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Episode 50: The Potter's House, Washington, D.C. Dec 12, 2023

The Potter’s House is a nonprofit café, bookstore, and event space in the Adams Morgan neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Since opening in 1960, it has been a key place for deeper conversation, creative expression, and community transformation. Joining me to share the shop's story are Executive Director Andrea Lewis and bookseller Eliza Cohen.

Just a heads up: We did have some audio and connectivity issues here and there that I've done my best to minimize.

Books We Talk About: Kindred by Octavia Butler, Pleasure Activism by Adrian Marie Brown, The Broken Earth Trilogy by N.K. Jemisin, and the works of Jesmyn Ward, James McBride, and K. O'Neill.

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Episode 49: Brooks Books, Wyandotte, Michigan Dec 05, 2023

This week, we head back to Michigan once more to chat with Joanna Brookshire, owner of Brooks Books in Wyandotte.

Books We Talk About: The works of Johnathan Rands, Ronald Malfi and Kate Morton.

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Episode 48: Pete & Freddy's Pages Aplenty, Mentone, Indiana Nov 28, 2023

This week, we're in Mentone, Indiana, to visit with Maddie Anweiler, the "Pete" in Pete & Freddy's Pages Aplenty. In this open and candid conversation, we discuss Maddie's shift from a partnership to a one-person shop, the importance of bookstores to small towns, and of course who the heck are Pete and Freddy!

Books We Talk About: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Annie Barrows, I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith, Heartstopper by Alice Oseman, the Saga series by Brian K. Vaughan, and the works of Eva Ibbotson and TJ Klune.

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Episode 47: Gottwals Books, Warner Robins, Georgia Nov 21, 2023

This week, we welcome Shane Gottwals, owner of Gottwals Books, a shop that began as a used and new bookstore in 2007 and has developed into a chain of stores carrying a wide range of genres for all age groups and interests.

Go deeper into the story of Gottwals Books with Chapter By Chapter: The Gottwals Books Story, available on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Znsfw_2G_Fk.

Books We Talk About: The works of C.S. Lewis, Wendell Berry, Andrew Peterson, Rick Bragg, Rabbit Room Press and Wolfbane Books.

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Episode 46: Black Ribbon Books, Hot Springs, Arkansas Nov 14, 2023

This week, we visit with Nannette Crane-Post, owner of Black Ribbon Books in Hot Springs, Arkansas. This unique bookshop is located inside the historic Arlington Hotel. Nannette shares the town's and the hotel's rich history and discusses the balancing act of running a bookshop while juggling another full-time job.

Books We Talk About: A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini, The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese, Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer, Upstream by Mary Oliver, The Vapors by David Hill, and the books of Marilynne Robinson, Katherine May and T.C. Boyle.

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Episode 45: Literary Disco's Julia Pistell Nov 07, 2023

It's a Very Special Bookstore Explorer as we welcome essayist, radio personality and podcaster Julia Pistell to go bookstore exploring. Julia is cohost of Literary Disco, alongside actor and filmmaker Rider Strong and novelist and critic Tod Golderg. We discuss that show, her other impressive literary credentials, and her favorite bookstore explorations. Listen to Literary Disco wherever you get podcasts!

Books We Talk About: Circe by Madeline Miller, Paper Girls by Brian K. Vaughan and Cliff Chiang, American Wolf by Nate Blakeslee, and the books of Anthony Horowitz. (And, okay, several others!)

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Episode 44: Books Around the Corner, Forks, Washington Oct 31, 2023

Happy Halloween! Books Around the Corner is the perfect business to spotlight this time of year. It's an online store specializing in spooky reads. Guest Stephanie Rose discusses taking her woman- and disability-owned bookshop from a successful brick and mortar to a successful online store.

Books We Talk About: Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree, Starter Villian by John Scalzi, Into the Mist by P.C. Cast, Holly by Stephen King, Blood Sugar by Sascha Rothchild, This Delicious Death by Kayla Cottingham, The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, The Pledge by Cale Dietrich, Nestlings by Nat Cassicy, Episode Thirteen by Craig DiLouie, Murder at the Pumpkin Pageant by Darci Hannah, and My Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna Levine.

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Episode 43: R&B Used Books, Grand Blanc, Michigan Oct 24, 2023

This week, we head back to Michigan and talk with Beth Dumity, owner, and Marissa McVety, manager, at R&B Used Books in Grand Blanc. We discuss giving back to the community and how they're still learning after 20 years in the business.

Books We Talk About: The books of Mariana Zapata, Chloe Liese, John Sandford, John Grisham, Jonathan Kellerman and Robyn Carr.

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Episode 42: Plot Twist Books, South Charleston, West Virginia Oct 17, 2023

If you're a regular listener to the show, you know that host Matt Browning recently opened his own bookshop, Plot Twist Books in South Charleston West Virginia. Podcaster and author Sarah Royal steps into the host seat this week to turn tables on Matt and interview him about what it's like to go from bookstore explorer to bookstore owner.

Books We Talk About: The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman, Shark Heart by Emily Habeck, Homestead by Rosina Lippi, and Fresh Water for Flowers by Valerie Perrin

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Episode 41: Author and Podcaster Sarah Royal Oct 10, 2023

This week, Matt welcomes author and podcaster Sarah Royal to the show to discuss her love of indie bookshops! Sarah is the author of the new book A.K.A. Lucy: The Dynamic and Determined Life of Lucile Ball, which features a foreward from Amy Poehler! She also co-hosts the popular Enough Wicker podcast, which takes a scholarly look at The Golden Girls.

Books We Talk About: A Bestiary of Booksellers by Aaron Cometbus, The End of My Career by Martha Grover, Going Somewhere by Brian Benson, A Little Devil in America by Hanif Abdurraqib, Slice Harvester by Colin Atrophy Hagendorf, and Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life by Amy Krouse Rosenthal.

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Episode 40: New Story Community Books, Marshall, Michigan Oct 03, 2023

Tom Batterson’s love of books and bookselling started young – decades before opening New Story Community Books in Marshall, Michigan. He tells us his journey – including his 20 years working at a chain bookstore and how that differs from running an indie shop – in this fun episode!

Books We Talk About: The Murderbot Diaries: System Collapse by Martha Wells, Holly by Stephen King, Chain Gang All Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, and Crook Manifesto by Colson Whitehead.

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Episode 39: Author and Bookseller Danny Caine Sep 18, 2023

It's part two of our deep dive with author and bookseller Danny Caine, part owner of The Raven Book Store in Lawrence, Kansas. In this episode, we discuss Danny's viral sensation, "How to Resist Amazon and Why," and his bran new book, "How to Protect Bookstores and Why," available now!

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Episode 38: The Raven Book Store, Lawrence, Kansas Sep 12, 2023

On this episode, Matt is joined by bookseller and author Danny Caine. Danny is part owner of The Raven Book Store in Lawrence, Kansas, and author of the viral sensation "How to Resist Amazon and Why," as well as the new book, "How to Protect Bookstores and Why." In the first of a two-part episode, Danny discusses the history of The Raven. Next week, we deep dive into his books!

Books We Talk About: The novels of James McBride and Nathan Hill and Lunch Poems by Frank O'Hara.

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Episode 37: Beach Books, Seaside, Oregon Aug 29, 2023

We're back in Oregon to visit Beach Books! Owner Karen Emmerling and manager Alexa Butler share the story of this wonderful shop from Seaside, Oregon, from their active social media presence to their inventory of what they call "potato chip reads" -- and that one odd customer who collects...cat whiskers?

Note: A few audio glitches in this one!

Books We Talk About: The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow, The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman, Still Life by Louise Penny, Tom Lake by Ann Patchett, Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt, Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus, No Two Persons by Erica Bauermeister, Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi, and Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto.

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Episode 37: Beach Books, Seaside, Oregon Aug 29, 2023

We're back in Oregon to visit Beach Books! Owner Karen Emmerling and manager Alexa Butler share the story of this wonderful shop from Seaside, Oregon, from their active social media presence to their inventory of what they call "potato chip reads" -- and that one odd customer who collects...cat whiskers?

Note: A few audio glitches in this one!

Books We Talk About: The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow, The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman, Still Life by Louise Penny, Tom Lake by Ann Patchett, Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt, Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus, No Two Persons by Erica Bauermeister, Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi, and Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto.

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Episode 36: The Bookworm, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Aug 15, 2023

This week, we visit Cortney Hornyak, owner of The Bookworm, a used bookshop in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. In addition to a vast inventory of over 20,000 books, Cortney's shop offers beautiful handmade literary lamps and other awesome items. (Check out our Insta to see the one Matt brought home.) We talk about what it was like to open a shop without any prior experience, being a bookseller in a tourist town, and weathering the pandemic.

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Episode 35: Basecamp Books and Adventure, Colorado Springs, Colorado Aug 01, 2023

Matt talks with Joseph Shearer, owner of Basecamp Books and Adventure, in Colorado Springs, CO, a shop offering one of the largest inventories of used books in the Pikes Peak Region: a blend of new titles, rare, and collectible books with the goal of bringing bibliophiles and outdoor enthusiasts together to explore more through Books and Adventure.

Books We Talk About: The Thief of Always by Clive Barker and The Monkey Wrench Gang by Edward Abbey.

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Episode 34: Filmmaker Mason Engel Jul 18, 2023

This week, I’ve got another special guest – filmmaker Mason Engle. Mason is someone I’ve wanted to talk to for a while, because his work is similar to my own, in that he too explores the world of indie bookstores – but in film.

He is the author of the novel “2084” and “How to Improve Your Writing," and director of the fantastic documentary “The Bookstour.” He’s now raising funds to release his latest project, “Books Across America” – a road trip documentary where he travels to 50 states, reading 50 books and interviewing 50 authors, all in 50 days. You can learn more about Mason's projects at masonengel.com.

You can also support the Books Across America Kickstarter campaign! Visit the campaign page and make a pledge before the deadline of August 8 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

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Episode 33: Richard Mirabella Jul 03, 2023

This week is the first of a new feature on the podcast: conversations with authors about what indie bookstores mean to them and their careers. I'm joined by Richard Mirabella, whose debut novel "Brother and Sister Enter the Forest" was released earlier this year to critical acclaim. His short stories have appeared in Story Magazine, American Short Fiction online, One Story, Split Lip Magazine, and elsewhere. Richard shares his favorite bookshops and the books he'd recommend to customers. Books We Talk About: The Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon, I Keep My Exoskeletons to Myself by Marissa Crane, Endpapers by Jennifer Savron Kelly, Hawk Mountain by Conner Habib, Stephen Florida by Gabe Habash, and The Turner House by Angela Flournoy.

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Episode 32: Bookshop.org Jun 20, 2023

This week's guest is Andy Hunter, founder and CEO of Bookshop.org, an online bookstore with an explicit mission to help promote and financially support the brick-and-mortar independent bookselling community. It is a platform that provides independent bookstores with an easy way to promote their stock and book lovers an alternative to purchase the books they love online without driving sales to Amazon. Books We Talk About: The Mezzanine by Nicholson Baker, When We Cease to Understand the World by Benjamin Labatut, and The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin.

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Episode 31: Bridgeside Books, Waterbury, VT Jun 06, 2023

Welcome to season 2 of Bookstore Explorer! In this episode, Matt heads to New England to visit with Katya D'Angelo, owner of Bridgeside Books in Waterbury, Vermont. Books We Talk About: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay and The Treehouse on Dig River Road by Catherine Drake.

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Episode 30: Notably, A Book Lover's Emporium, Nelson, BC, Canada Feb 14, 2023

Samara Nicoll had wanted to own her own bookshop since her teens. After years of working in one, the dream became reality when she opened Notably – A Book Lover’s Emporium – in Nelson, British Columbia, Canada, in 2021, featuring new books and stationary items. Books We Talk About: The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune, The Woefield Poultry Collective by Susan Juby and The Wild Heavens by Sarah Louise Butler

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Episode 29: The Hound Books, Roscoe, NY Feb 07, 2023

Ahu Terzi opened The Hound Books, named after her beagle mix pup, in Roscoe, New York, last fall. In this episode, she shares how she's managing to learn the ropes of the bookselling business while balancing the store with a full-time job and a commute from NYC. Books We Talk About: Upstream and Felicity by Mary Oliver, Hiking the Catskills by Randi Minetor and Stacey Freed, Upstate by Lisa Przystup, The Idiot and Either/Or by Elif Batuman, Nineteen Reservoirs by Lucy Sante, Body Work by Melissa Febos, Nights of Plague by Orhan Pamuk, Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak, and Walking on the Ceiling by Aysegul Savas.

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Talk Story Bookstore, Hanapepe, HI Jan 31, 2023

This week, we visit Hanapepe, Hawaii, to learn about Talk Story Bookstore, the western most bookstore in the United States. The doors opened in 2004, when owern Ed Justus was offered a month’s free rent to start a business. Books We Talk About: The Better Angels of Our Nature by Steven Pinker, How to Lie with Statistics by Darrell Huff, and The Automatic Millionnaire by David Bach.

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Episode 27: Watermark Books & Cafe, Wichita, KS Jan 24, 2023

Sarah Bagby spent years working at Watermark Books & Cafe in Wichita, Kansas, before taking over the reigns of ownership. She walks us through the store's rich history and shares some of the best-selling titles, including a few spring 2023 releases that she predicts will be hits. Books We Talk About: I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy, Inciting Joy by Ross Gay, Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather, Slouching Towards Bethlehem by Joan Didion, Continental Drift by Russell Banks, Devotions by Mary Oliver, The Door of No Return by Kwame Alexander, Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin, Lucy by the Sea by Elizabeth Stout, Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus, Search by Michelle Huneven, Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson, I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai, Blaze Me a Sun by Christoffer Carlsson, Spare by Prince Harry.

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Episode 26: Lark & Owl Booksellers, Georgetown, TX Jan 16, 2023

This week, we're back in Texas to visit with Jane Estes, one of the founders of Lark & Owl Booksellers in Georgetown. It's a fun shop specializing in new books and community spirit. Jane discusses how they developed their unique name, their varied takes on the traditional book club, and why a bookshop is no place for haters. Books We Talk About: My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman and other bestellers at the store!

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Episode 25: Maple Grove Books, Williamson, WV Jan 10, 2023

Thanks to good timing, Maple Grove Books in Williamson, West Virginia, went from an idea to an open business in less than two months! Owner Maryanne Lendearo joins me this week in a "live taped" episode right inside the shop. Books We Talk About: The Mate Games by Meg Anne and Act Your Age Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert.OWNR OPS Podcast
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Episode 24: Hares & Hatters Bookshop, Pocatello, ID Jan 03, 2023

Nicki Stanton & Jamie Wood and partnering to bring a bookshop to Pocatello, Idaho, and have found some creative ways to raise funds, from pop-up shops to book box subscriptions. Books We Talk About: Wolf By Wolf by Ryan Graudin, One Long River of Song by Brian Doyle, Sea of Tranquility and Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel, All the Light We Cannot See and Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr, The Measure by Nikki Erlick, and the books of Brandon Sanderson and Liane and Jacklyn Moriarty.OWNR OPS Podcast
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Episode 23: Blacksburg Books, Blacksburg, VA Dec 27, 2022

Blacksburg Books in Blacksburg, Virginia, opened its doors in the summer of 2021, filling a much-needed void in the college town as the city’s only independent bookstore. Owner Laurie Kelly and manager Ellen Woodall are here this week to tell us all about the shop. Books We Talk About: Shit Cassandra Said by Gwen E. Kirby, City of Orange by David Yoon, The Employees by Olga Ravn, The Field Guide to Stupid Birds of North America by Matt Kracht, The Kudzu Queen by Mimi Herman, plus these books we chatted about outside the show -- Smilla's Sense of Snow by Peter Hoeg, She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb, The Shipping News by E. Annie Proulx, and The Bridges of Madison County by Robert James Waller.OWNR OPS Podcast
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Episode 22: Baton Rouge Books, Baton Rouge, LA Dec 20, 2022

This week, we visit a shop in the making! James Curtis, founder of the Baton Rouge, Louisiana, art studio Outside Stimuli, has launched a creative fundraising campaign as he prepares to open Baton Rouge Books in 2023. He's elevating the everyday pencil holder into a medium for works of art, activism and awareness. He tells us how listeners can order their own hand-carved pencil holder, celebrating the works of Black authors and artists like Toni Morrison, Zora Neale Hurston and James Baldwin. Learn more about the project and order your own at OutsideStimuli.com. OWNR OPS Podcast
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Episode 21: Main Street Books, Frostburg, MD Dec 13, 2022

Main Street Books has been a Frostburg, Maryland, staple for over three decades. Owner Fred Powell joins us this week to discuss this quintessential small-town bookstore, including how it has - and hasn't - changed over the years. We also tease an exciting episode coming up in the new year! Books We Talk About: Matrix by Lauren Groff, The Memoirs of Stockholm Sven by Nathaniel Ian Milller and the Vernon Subutex trilogy by Virginie Despentes

Episode 20: Zenith Bookstore, Duluth, MN Dec 06, 2022

With its high ceilings, exposed brick walls and hardwood floors, Zenith Bookstore is a warm, comfy, and inviting space that has been serving the community of Duluth, Minnesota, for five years. Store manager Sarah Brown walks us through the shop and its history, as well as her own history as a bookseller, and shares some fantastic book recommendations. Books We Talk About: Duluth's Grand Old Architecture 1870-1940 by Tony Dierckins and Maryanne C. Norton, The Natural Way of Things by Charlotte Wood, Golden Spruce by John Vaillant, Nina Simone's Gum by Warren Ellis, and the novels of Dorothy B. Hughes, Peter Rock, and Melanie Finn.

Episode 19: Pages in the Pines, Running Springs, CA Nov 29, 2022

On this episode, we're in Running Springs, California, to visit Pages in the Pines. Owner Becky Morgan walks us through this tiny but mighty shop, part of a collection of retail and event spaces. With only 120 square feet, Becky discusses how she makes the most out of a small space.OWNR OPS Podcast
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Episode 18: Loganberry Books, Shaker Heights, OH Nov 23, 2022

Loganberry Books has been serving the greater Cleveland area since 1994. Bookseller Elisabeth Plumlee-Watson is here to share its unique history. Plus, if you've ever been "that customer" who comes in searching for a book from your childhood with nothing but a vague description to go on, Loganberry has a cool service to help find it. Books We Talk About: A Thousand Was to Pay Attention by Rebecca Schiller, Hild by Nicola Griffith, and On Persephone's Island by Mary Taylor Simeti

Episode 17: Novelette Booksellers, Nashville, TN Nov 15, 2022

Jordan Tromblee and Deezy Youngdahl opened Novelette Booksellers in Nashville, Tennessee, less than six months ago. The vibrant, colorful, inclusive and welcoming shop has already been hailed as one of the city’s most talked about indies. They join Matt this week to tell us why. Books We Talk About: Exalted by Anna Dorn, Babel by R.F. Kuang, Less by Andrew Sean Greer, The Neapolitan Novels by Elena Ferrante, Melissa Broder's books, Piranesi by Susanna Clarke, Red White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston and No Choice by Becca Andrews.OWNR OPS Podcast
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Episode 16: The Book Dragon Shop, Staunton, VA Nov 08, 2022

This week, we visit the lovely small town of Staunton, Virginia, where guest Sandra Cararo discusses how she transitioned from a career in selling at chain bookstores to operating her own indie, The Book Dragon Shop. Books We Talk About: Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp series, Jack Carr's Terminal List series, Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series, and Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird - the graphic novel.OWNR OPS Podcast
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Episode 15: Murder By the Book, Houston, TX Oct 31, 2022

Happy Halloween! This week, we're back in Houston, Texas, for a spooky'ish themed visit to Murder By the Book, one of the oldest and coolest mystery bookshops in the nation! Bookseller John McDougall shares the history of this great store and shares some favorite mystery reads. Books We Talk About: The Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson, Louise Penny's Gamache series, The Silence of hte Lambs by Thomas Harris, The Stranger Diaries by Ellly Griffiths, Murder on the Orient Express and And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie, Elizabeth Peters' Amelia Peabody series, Sherlock Holmes by Sir A.C. Doyle, The Murder She Wrote series, SJ Bennett's Her Majesty the Queen Investigates series, Richard Osman's The Thursday Murder Club series, The Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorogood, Stephanie Graves' Olive Bright Pigeoneer series, The Spite House by Johnny Compton and The Villa by Rachel Hawkins, plus several other mystery writers!OWNR OPS Podcast
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Episode 14: Fables Books, Goshen, IN Oct 25, 2022

When Goshen, Indiana's only bookshop announced its closure, Kristin Saner teamed up with some friends to ensure that an independent bookstore remained in the town. On this episode of Bookstore Explorer, Kristin shares how Fables Books was born. Books We Talk About: Menno-Nightcaps by S.L. Klassen, the Dark Olympus series by Katee Robert, and the Broken Earth trilogy by N.K. Jemisin.OWNR OPS Podcast
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Episode 13: The Snail on the Wall, Huntsville, AL Oct 18, 2022

On this episode, Matt is joined by Dr. Lady Vowell Smith, owner of Huntsville, Alabama's The Snail on the Wall – a bookstore without the store! Lady shares how she offers the personal service indies are known for with her online bookshop. Books We Talk About: The Golden Enclaves by Naomi Novic, Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson, The Memoirs of Stockholm Sven by Nathanial Ian Miller, the books of Heather Webber, Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate, and Before and After by Judy Christie and Lisa Wingate.OWNR OPS Podcast
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Episode 12: The King's English Bookshop, Salt Lake City, UT Oct 11, 2022

Teenager Calvin Crosby walked into The King's English Bookshop in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1980 and found a safe space. Forty years later, he became its co-owner. On today's episode, he tells us how it happened.Books We Talk About:- Three Junes by Julia Glass- The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne- Hester by Laurie Loco Albanese- Calling for a Blanket Dance by Oscar Hokeah- Woman of Light by Kali Fajardo-Anstine- Night of the Living Rez by Morgan Talty- Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr- The Lincoln Highway by Amor TowlesOWNR OPS Podcast
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Episode 11: Honest Dog Books, Bayfield, WI Oct 04, 2022

On today's show, we talk with Julie Buckles, owner of Honest Dog Books in Bayfield, Wisconsin, who tells us about buying a beloved bookshop on a whim! Books We Talk About:- Welcome to the Goddamn Ice Cube - Blair Braverman- Dogs on the Trail - Blair Braverman- Winterdance - Gary Paulsen- The Sentence - Louise Erdrich- Charlotte's Web - E.B. White- Blueberries for Sal - Robert McCloskey- Anne of Green Gables - L. M. Montgomery- Where the Wild Things Are - Maurice SendakOWNR OPS Podcast
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Episode 10: Little Bus Books, Lakeland, FL Sep 27, 2022

This week, our guest is Lynsey Pippen, owner of Little Bus Books in Lakeland, Florida, who tells us about turning a vintage 1953 Va-Ka-Shun-Ette trailer into a mobile bookstore.Books We Talk About:- 50 Hikes in Central Florida by Sandra Friend and John Keatley- Best State Ever by Dave Barry- Florida Day Trips by Theme by Mike MillerOWNR OPS Podcast
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Episode 9: Swamp Fox Bookstore, Marion, Iowa Sep 20, 2022

On this episode, we're joined by Terri LeBlanc, co-owner and operations manager at Swamp Fox Bookstore in Marion, Iowa, a shop that's small on square footage but big on personality.Books We Talk About:- Daisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid- The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman- The Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon- The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow- The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab- Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens- The Embroidered Book by Kate Heartfield - Middlemarch by George Eliot- Red Comet: The Short Life and Blazing Art of Sylvia Plath by Heather Clark- The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo- A Taste of Blackberries by Doris Buchanan Smith- The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb- Horse by Geraldine BrooksOWNR OPS Podcast
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Episode 8: Blue Willow Bookshop, Houston, TX Sep 13, 2022

This week, we visit with Valerie Koehler, owner of Blue Willow Bookshop in Houston, Texas, who discusses the changes she's seen in the bookstore business since taking over the shop in the mid-90s.

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Episode 7: Liberty Book Shop, Avis, PA Sep 06, 2022

Have you ever wanted to spend the night in a bookstore? Linda Roller's Liberty Book Shop in Avis, Pennsylvania, is a bookshop Airbnb that provides guests 24-hour access to the store! Check out Linda's shop on Airbnb: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/20149706OWNR OPS Podcast
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Episode 6: Bagatelle Books, Asheville, NC Aug 30, 2022

On this episode, we visit with Patrick Kutcher, owner of Bagatelle Books, a fantastic used bookshop in Asheville, North Carolina.OWNR OPS Podcast
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Episode 5: Magpie Bookshop, Catskill, NY Aug 23, 2022

On this episode, we talk to Kristi Gibson, owner of Magpie Bookshop in Catskill, New York, about running a bookstore specializing in used and "nearly new" books.
Books We Talk About:
- Moby-Dick by Herman Melville
- Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard
- The Outermost House by Henry Beston
- The works of W.G. Sebald
We also discuss the Hudson Valley Book Trail and, the Pennsylvania shop I can't recall during the conversation, Baldwin's Book Barn!

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Episode 4: The Bookshop of Beverly Farms, Beverly, MA Aug 16, 2022

On this episode, Matt talks with Hannah Harlow and Sam Pfeifle – siblings, avid readers, and co-owners of the Book Shop of Beverly Farms – about taking over a well-established indie shop and hosting their own book podcast.OWNR OPS Podcast
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Episode 3: Booktenders, Barboursville, WV Aug 09, 2022

On this episode, we visit Booktenders in Barboursville, West Virginia, a brand new book bar owned and operated by two former bartenders. OWNR OPS Podcast
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Episode 2: Rose City Book Pub, Portland, OR Aug 02, 2022

In this episode, we head to Portland, Oregon, where we’ll talk to Elise Schumock, the owner of one of the coolest book bars around: Rose City Book Pub. OWNR OPS Podcast
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Episode 1: Conquest Books - Ashland, KY Jul 26, 2022

On this episode, Matt heads to the Bluegrass State of Kentucky to visit a new shop, Conquest Books. Owner Talmadge Callihan talks about the magic of community bookstores and what it's like sharing space with a trendy art gallery and coffee shop.OWNR OPS Podcast
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Bookstore Explorer Trailer Jul 20, 2022

Join author and book nerd Matt Browning as he goes behind the shelves with booksellers to learn what makes independent bookshops so magical.

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