Welcome to Episode 18, our first ever LIVE show, recorded on September 28th at King's Books in Tacoma, WA. We rapid-fire interviewed three booksellers and two authors. Surprisingly, the audio is better than episodes recorded in the comfort of our homes.
Support the show! All books in our show notes link to Indiebound, a website that connects you with your local independent bookstore. Purchases made through our affiliate links help fund Drunk Booksellers, so you can support your favorite indie bookstore and your favorite podcasting booksellers. #win
If you want to get our show notes delivered directly to your inbox—with all the books mentioned on the podcast and links to the books we discuss—sign up for our email newsletter.
This episode is sponsored by Soft Skull, Counterpoint, and Catapult. Special thanks to Joe and Stephanie Douglas, Big Hair Studios, Allen Watke, Phil Heaven and the Midnight Mystery Players, and George Kaas for the equipment loan that made this recording possible. And of course thanks to Sam Kaas (who longtime listeners may recognize from Episode 7) our production manager without whom this whole episode would not have been amplified, recorded, nor kept on track.
Chapter I: [2:51]
In Which We Order a Mistress, Discuss Female Rage, and Are Def Profesh at This Whole Live Show Thing
King's Books has fourteen book clubs, including one that only reads books about cults and one that only reads books about medical issues. They also have such unconventional events as virtual reality film showings and 80s workout nights (#Cher).
Support the show! All books in our show notes link to Indiebound, a website that connects you with your local independent bookstore. Purchases made through our affiliate links help fund Drunk Booksellers, so you can support your favorite indie bookstore and your favorite podcasting booksellers. #win
If you want to get our show notes delivered directly to your inbox—with all the books mentioned on the podcast and links to the books we discuss—sign up for our email newsletter.
This episode is sponsored by Books & Whatnot, the newsletter dedicated to books, bookselling, and bookish folk; check out their newsletter archive here. Follow Books & Whatnot on Twitter at @booksandwhatnot.
Chapter I
In which We Discuss Bookstore Bathrooms, Discover that Staff Picks Work, and Talk About... Books...
It's too hot for bourbon, so we're rocking dirty gin martinis out of mason jars, coffee mugs, and martini glasses (apparently Kim's the classy one this episode).
Friday Black by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah (pubs 23 Oct 2018)
Y'all. Hot take here. Staff picks work! Emma had a staff pick on All the Lives I Want and Holland actually picked it up at Elliott Bay while visiting Seattle before our episode! (Shout out to our episode with Amy Stephenson from The Booksmith, who initially recommended it to us, and to our favorite audiobook provider, Libro.fm.)
A post shared by The Novel Neighbor (@novelneighbor) on Jul 29, 2018 at 4:54pm PDT
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Chapter II [26:37]
In Which No One Tells Holland She's Crazy, People Love Their Greeting Cards, The Drunk Booksellers Marvel at Novel Neighbor's Ability to Handsell Events, and We Reiterate that Bookstores are a Business (whaaaa?)
Ep 16: Julia & Christen, Itinerant Literate
Jul 10, 2018
Epigraph
Y'all. It's been a minute (or, ya know, 8 months). But we're back with a brand new episode featuring Julia Turner and Christen Thompson Lain, the founders of Itinerant Literate, a mobile bookstore in Charleston, SC.
Listen on iTunes, Stitcher, our website, or subscribe using your podcatcher of choice.
Support the show! All books in our show notes link to Indiebound, a website that connects you with your local independent bookstore. Purchases made through our affiliate links help fund Drunk Booksellers, so you can support your favorite indie bookstore and your favorite podcasting booksellers.
If you want to get our show notes delivered directly to your inbox—with all the books mentioned on the podcast and links to the books we discuss—sign up for our email newsletter.
This episode is sponsored by Books & Whatnot, the newsletter dedicated to books, bookselling, and bookish folk; check out their newsletter archive here. Follow Books & Whatnot on Twitter at @booksandwhatnot.
Chapter I
In which a local coffee shop assists in alcohol acquisition, we want more spaceships and dragons, and a book brings Emma to tears.
We’re Drinking
Christen and Julia were given some free beer from their local coffeeshop, Orange Spot Coffee: Stillwater Artisinal's Stateside Saisan and Sake-Style Saison. As our cocktail for the evening, we're drinking the Lime of the Ancient Mariner from Tim Federle's Tequila Mockingbird.
her previous book, Uprooted, is one of Emma's faves
Half-Witch by John Schoffstall (pubs July 17, 2018)
Chapter II [23:30]
In which we discuss how bookstores work (and how you keep books on the shelves in a bookstore that moves), Julia and Christen give advice to future bookmobile owners, and the mobile bookstore finds a forever home!
Customer: So, is this a library?
Interested in breaking into publishing (then abandoning your fancy degree to become a bookseller)? Check out the University of Denver Publishing Institute. Julia and Christen met there, so that bodes well.
Shout out to Blue Bicycle (founder of YALLFest, Charleston's Young Adult Book Festival)
Fun fact: the aunt in Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson is described as itinerant. Maybe not the best role model, but not the worst!
The bookmobile is so purrrrrrrrrty:
Books that Itinerant Literate must have in stock:
Ep 15: Javier Ramirez, The Book Table
Oct 17, 2017
Epigraph
We are thrilled to welcome our new BFF to Drunk Booksellers: Javier Ramirez, manager of The Book Table in Oak Park, IL and co-host of industry get-together Publishing Cocktails.
Listen on iTunes, Stitcher, our website, or subscribe using your podcatcher of choice.
If you want to get our show notes delivered directly to your inbox—with all the books mentioned on the podcast and links back to the bookstore we’re interviewing PLUS GIFs—sign up for our email newsletter.
This episode is sponsored by Books & Whatnot, the newsletter dedicated to books, bookselling, and bookish folk; check out their newsletter archive here. Follow Books & Whatnot on Twitter at @booksandwhatnot.
Introduction
In which we apologize profusely for the delay in our episode posting, bond over Kelly Link, and get excited about books that are... already out
We had the pleasure of chatting with Javier nearly every week for a month while trying to record this episode (#techfail), then ran into a few other delays (#lifefail), but WE HAVE PREVAILED. That said, we talk about books that are already out as if they're forthcoming and we're drinking a nice "summer" drink because it was, you know, still summer when we first started this wild ride of an episode. Just pretend you're a time traveler visiting the halcyon days of late August 2017.
The Store by James Patterson... 'cause Patterson is awesome, gives booksellers (including your grateful hosts) money for fancy things like student loan debt and ridiculous urban rent, trolls Amazon for funsies, and rocks a photoshopped Santa hat like a boss:
Release by Patrick Ness (if you haven't read Ness before, Javier recommends you start with The Chaos Walking series, which beginning with The Knife of Never Letting Go)
In which we talk Publishing Cocktails and how to network IRL in the internet age
Publishing Cocktails, created by Javier and Keir Graff (senior editor at BookList) brings Chicago-area book industry folk from around the country together. They have two primary meetup events: Book Swap & Cash Mob.
Follow Publishing Cocktails on Twitter at @PubNight.
Sign up for the Publishing Cocktails email list for future updates.
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, which has Javier’s favorite first line: It was a pleasure to burn.
In case you were wondering, Emma’s favorite first (and second) line(s) come from Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House. Javier’s posting staff’s favorite lines from literature in his store and he drunkenly promised Emma that he’d post hers too. Pics or it didn’t happen, Javier.
Here's Javier's blurb, blatantly stolen from The Book Table's website:
When confronted with the "What is your favorite book of all time?" query, most people will often pause, looking over the inquisitors head while thoughtfully scratching his or her chin. I, on the other hand, will not hesitate when I tell you this. Geek Love is my favorite book. Of all time. Period. This oddball masterpiece (a National Book Award Finalist in 1989) shaped me as a reader and more importantly as a bookseller 20+ years ago. It's one of those reading experiences that make you feel like you're in on some life-changing secret. A novel that will chill you, move you and make you laugh, often at the same time. Help celebrate the 25th anniversary of the publication of Geek Love, quite possibly the best novel you've never read.
BONUS EPISODE: #SEABookstoreDay Year 3
May 26, 2017
Epigraph
For the third year in a row, the Drunk Booksellers drove all over Seattle (and the surrounding regions) for Indie Bookstore Day. We asked booksellers at each of the 21(!!!) stores we visited to tell us what they're recommending in the current political climate. We also collected recommendations from past guests and #SEABookstoreDay Champions! (For an epic TBT, check out our episodes from Seattle Bookstore Day Year One and Year Two.)
Chapter 1
In Which Your Fearless Hosts Wake Up Far Too Early, Take a Ferry, Drink an Obscene Amount of Caffeine, and Get Our First Round of Bookseller Recommendations
Ep 14: Paul Constant, Seattle Review of Books
Apr 25, 2017
Epigraph
The Drunk Booksellers get stoned on this 4/20 themed episode with Paul Constant of the Seattle Review of Books.
Listen on iTunes, Stitcher, our website, or subscribe using your podcatcher of choice.
This episode is sponsored by Books & Whatnot, the newsletter dedicated to books, bookselling, and bookish folk; check out their newsletter archive here. Follow Books & Whatnot on Twitter at @booksandwhatnot.
If you want to get our show notes delivered directly to your inbox—with all the books mentioned on the podcast and links back to the bookstore we’re interviewing PLUS GIFs—sign up for our email newsletter.
Introduction
In which we make pot jokes and get excited about books
We're switching up our intoxicant of choice this episode and getting stoned rather than drunk (mostly). Paul's rocking Mr. Moxey's Mints (of the peppermint/sativa variety). Emma's smoking CBD (not to be confused with William Steig's children's picture book, CDB!). Kim stops talking while stoned—which would make for a really awkward podcast episode—so she's drinking the hoppiest IPA she could find instead. Everyone's a little too high to explain the varieties of weed particularly well, so you should just read David Schmader's Weed: The User's Guide: A 21st Century Handbook for Enjoying Marijuana.
In which we learn what The Seattle Review of Books is, talk about book reviews as a meta art form, and get advice on promoting diversity and being a safe, welcoming place for people who aren't white bros
The Seattle Review of Books is a book news, review, and interviews site. This isn't consumer reports, with a thumbs up or down on each title; each review aims to have a conversation with the book. It's a site that aims to look like your bookshelf, without genre classification.
Emma & Kim don't quite understand Paul's assertion that people don't organize their bookshelves, but we roll with it.
SRB makes all their money through a single sponsor (which changes each week). If you're interested in their sponsorship program, you can learn more here.
Paul wants to promote young, new writers and help them build up their clip file. So you should probably pitch him with your brilliant, bookish ideas. Email submissions@seattlereviewofbooks or fill in the contact form on their about page.
Emma particularly loves the Help Desk by Cienna Madrid. Ask Cienna an awkward book-related question at advice@seattlereviewofbooks.com.
Being a couple of white guys, Paul and his co-founder Martin McClellan are extremely concerned with diverse representation. You can learn more about how SRB encourages diversity in both the books they review and the reviewers they publish on their about page (or by listening to this episode...). But you should know right off the bat, they are not here to promote the new Franzen novel and they will not pander to bros.
Chapter II [33:10]
In which we talk about life in the US post-election, say something negative about a book, and discuss Paul's past (and current) life as a bookseller
On our post-election world, Paul Constant says: "This is what books were made for. Books are engines of empathy... the only way to do a deep-dive into an issue. It's our stored knowledge... This is the moment for books."
Though he's not technically a bookseller anymore, Paul is still "on team books." Keep an eye out for our "I'm On Team Books" t-shirts, which may or may not be a thing we sell one day.
Chapter III [43:20]
In which Paul is better at explaining our questions than stoned Emma is at asking them, Emma and Kim give Paul major side-eye due to his bookseller confession, and Emma continues to push Uprooted by Naomi Novik
Desert Island Pick (what would you read that you never had the time to read before): The Years of Lyndon Johnson by Robert Caro (beginning with The Path to Power)
We couldn't find a video of the following clip of Caro on the Colbert Report, so we'll just leave you this series of gifs to explain why you, too, should consider bringing an epic five-volume biography of Lyndon Johnson as your desert beach read:
Ep 13: Bea & Leah Koch, The Ripped Bodice
Mar 14, 2017
Epigraph
On this episode we discuss ALL THE ROMANCE BOOKS with Bea & Leah Koch, owners of The Ripped Bodice—America’s only Romance bookstore. The Ripped Bodice is celebrating their one year anniversary this month!
This episode is sponsored by Books & Whatnot, the newsletter dedicated to books, bookselling, and bookish folk; check out the newsletter archive here. Follow Books & Whatnot on Twitter at @booksandwhatnot.
We now have an email newsletter! If you want to get our show notes delivered directly to your inbox—with all the books mentioned on the podcast and links back to the bookstore we’re interviewing PLUS GIFs—sign up HERE.
Introduction
In which we feel real fancy, learn more about geography, and can’t stop asking for recommendations.
We’re drinking French 75s and feeling classy as fuck.
We’re Reading
Bea is reading Murder on Black Swan Lane by Andrea Penrose (out June 27). And she recently finished An Extraordinary Union by Alyssa Cole, which she thinks will be a great gateway romance (out March 28) about a female spy posing as a slave. Fun fact, Alyssa Cole lives in Martinique, and Kim and Emma’s geography lessons continue.
Emma is reading Hot Dog Taste Test by Lisa Hanawalt—a graphic foodie memoir that is weird and delicious. She also just started Kim & Kim by Magdalene Visaggio, which is a comic about punk rock bounty hunters in space.
Kim is reading Love Is Love a graphic anthology written in response to the Orlando shooting curated by Marc Andreyko; an important, but difficult read. All proceeds for the book go to the victims, survivors, and families affected by the Orlando Pulse shooting. Which is to say, everyone should buy this book. She’s also reading The Book of Joan by Lidia Yuknavitch (out April 18) a futuristic space Joan of Arc story, which hits weirdly close to home in its political content.
We’re Excited About:
Bea and Leah have so many frontlist romance novels to tell you about:
An Extraordinary Union by Alyssa Cole (more than worth a second mention and out March 28)
Julie James will be making an appearance at Ripped Bodice on her author tour!
The Devil in Spring by Lisa Kleypas (#3 in The Ravenels series, with the kids of characters from her Wallflowers series)
Emma is excited for Tender by Sofia Samatar (writer of A Stranger in Olondria and out April 11 from Small Beer Press) and Next Year, for Sure by Zoey Leigh Peterson, which is the only book about polyamory she has read so she asked for more recs...
SIDETRACK: Polyamory Recommendations
Laid Bare by Lauren Dane (#1 in the Brown Family series)
In which we discuss Bea & Leah’s Romance Origin Story, Talk Vaginal-Looking Covers, and Get ALL THE ROMANCE RECOMMENDATIONS
Bea loved historical fiction (and historical fashion) and introduced Leah to The Bridgertons series by Julia Quinn (which is great for people who want to test the waters of regency romance)
Leah ultimately came to love contemporary romances and became a hardcore romance fan with the help of Nora Roberts—The Bride Quartet series is one of her favorites
Also mentioned: Julie James, whose newest book is The Thing About Love (mentioned earlier and out April 18) and Susan Elizabeth Phillips whose newest book is First Star I See Tonight
Where to Start with Contemporary:
First, what level of heat are you looking for? Super graphic and dirty? Or cloaked in metaphor?
Ep 12 Amy Stephenson, Booksmith & Shipwreck
Jan 31, 2017
Epigraph
On this episode we becomes best friends with Amy Stephenson, Events Director at Booksmith in San Francisco and co-creator/host of Shipwreck, a competitive literary erotic fan fiction live show.
This episode is sponsored by Books & Whatnot, the newsletter dedicated to books, bookselling, and bookish folk. We were too excited about hosting Books on the Nightstand to mention Books & Whatnot on air, but you should definitely check out the newsletter archive here. Follow Books & Whatnot on Twitter at @booksandwhatnot.
Introduction
In Which We Discuss Sad Sociology Books and Amy’s Twitter Life Coach, and Furiously Take Notes On the Books We’re Recommending Each Other (but oh wait look, show notes!)
We’re drinking Manhattans—Amy’s go-to, “I’m fancy on a Friday night” drink—and making jokes about robotripping.
We’re Reading:
Amy is reading Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell (and Kim & Emma are SO excited) and Fever Dream by Samanta Schweblin.
Emma’s favorite book of 2016 is Trainwreck by Sady Doyle. Amy’s is Evicted by Matthew Desmond (paperback out Feb 28). If Kim were allowed to pick two favorites, her other favorite would be While the City Slept by Eli Sanders (paperback out Feb 7).
We’re Excited About:
Amy is looking forward to so many books in 2017, but, when pressed, narrowed it down to these six:
the cover is done by the amazing painter Lee Price.
And Kim is looking forward to The Animators by Kayla Rae Whitaker because she’s pretty sure it’s queer.
Chapter I [19:50]
In Which We Discuss How Kids Book Authors Write The Best Erotic Fan Fic, Dick Jokes, and Shipwreck in Seattle
Amy works at Booksmith in San Francisco, California. She is their Events Director, does all their social media, and is their de facto HR dept. Because bookstores.
Booksmith recently celebrated their 40th anniversary and they’re opening a new store called The Bindery—a sort of wine bar/living room space/events annex—across the street.
Amy is also the co-creator and host of Shipwreck, “a competitive literary erotic fan fiction live show,” which began in June 2013 and runs once a month at Booksmith (and sometimes travels to Comic Cons). They record ALL the shows so you can enjoy crazy dick jokes from the comfort of your own headphones.
They were inspired by the competitive reading series Write Club, which also has a podcast!
They’ll be writing fan fiction for Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman comics. And their San Francisco performer, Baruch Porras-Hernandez, will be reading for both shows.
Buy tickets here. There will be two shows, one at 7pm and another at 9:30pm. BONUS: we, the Drunk Booksellers, will be there selling books and representing Elliott Bay Book Co.
Chapter II [40:00]
In Which We Reveal Bookseller Secrets and Are Super Supportive of Each Other
The book description guaranteed to get Amy reading is: “strong female character written by a women involved in a murder somehow and you won’t believe the twist… bathtub gin reading.”
If you need a gateway mystery, Amy recommends Tana French, specifically The Likeness.
Her desert island pick is The Comedians by Graham Greene because she already reads it every year.
Her Station Eleven pick (aka the world is falling apart, which it kind of is) is Erich Fromm: The Sane Society(NOTE: this is still in print, despite what we say in the episode) and On Disobedience by Eric Fromm
Her Wild pick: something Didion “because Didion teaches you how to see the world.”
Bonus bookseller confession: neither Kim or Emma have read Didion. So where do you start with Didion?
The book Amy wants to champion to other booksellers: Spare and Found Parts by Sarah Griffin, which she describes as “a modern, feminist telling of Frankenstein, sort of”
Chapter III [50:40]
Ep11: Michael Kindness and Ann Kingman, Books on the Nightstand & Penguin Random House
Dec 13, 2016
Epigraph
We are fucking thrilled to have Michael Kindness and Ann Kingman on Episode 11. Michael and Ann are the hosts of the late, great Books on the Nightstand podcast and sales reps for Penguin Random House.
This episode is sponsored by Books & Whatnot, the newsletter dedicated to books, bookselling, and bookish folk. We were too excited about hosting Books on the Nightstand to mention Books & Whatnot on air, but you should definitely check out the newsletter archive here. Follow Books & Whatnot on Twitter at @booksandwhatnot.
Introduction
In Which Ann Doesn’t Let Us Set Anything on Fire, Emma Makes Coworkers Awkward, Michael Activates Host Mode, and Kim Finds a Book Too Relevant
We’re drinking Cider House Drools (local hard cider, shot of rum, dash of bitters). The alternate drink is the Out-cider (sub bourbon for rum). Or, if you’re Michael and rockin’ the cold medicine, tea.
Emma and Kim just read Vicious by V E Schwab (shout out to book club!)
Chapter I [11:00]
In Which We Discuss the Noble Role of the Bookseller to Booksellers and How To Be an Introvert in a Socially-Focused Industry
Ann and Michael work for this little publishing house you’ve probably never heard of named Penguin Random House. Yeah, we think they should have called themselves the Random Penguin House, too.
Be among your people at BookRiot Live. They have designated reading rooms, for all y’all introverted book nerds. We see you.
Chapter II [19:20]
In Which We Unveil the Creation Story of Books on the Nightstand, Michael Issues a Mea Culpa for not Reading Ann’s Recs Sooner, and Kim Wonders About Knitting Podcasts
Books on the Nightstand readers voted on what Michael should read over the summer. The results:
So, due to popular demand, Michael finally read Ann’s recommendations from yeeeeeeears ago: Stoner by John Williams and The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood. He also recently discovered how great Stephen King is and treated himself to Salem’s Lot for Halloween.
Ann - The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell (IT’S ABOUT JESUITS IN SPACE, GUYS)
Bookseller Confessions
Michael still hasn’t read Great Expectations. But, I mean, he read A Christmas Carol, so he’s read Dicken’s okay? Also, he hasn’t read Sandman by Neil Gaiman. Neither has Emma. Or Kim. But we’ve read Alan Moore’s Watchmen, so that balances out, right? Right??
They’re also on Instagram, Litsy, and Goodreads, so look them up there.
You can find us on Twitter at @drunkbookseller and everywhere else as DrunkBooksellers (plural).
Aaaaaaand, we’re about to launch an Instagram account, so you should probably start following that @DrunkBooksellers. Our dear friend and fellow bookseller is in charge
Ep10: Amy Stewart & Scott Brown, Eureka Books
Nov 22, 2016
Epigraph
Oh hai, friends. Remember us? Sorry for the hiatus, but we’re back! For episode 10, we’re thrilled to be chatting with Amy Stewart and Scott Brown of Eureka Books in Eureka, CA. Get psyched.
We apologize for the extended delay in episodes, and promise to post more often now that Emma has completed her cross-country move. Apparently moving across the country is time-consuming and stressful. Who knew?
This episode is sponsored by Books & Whatnot, the daily newsletter dedicated to books, bookselling, and bookish folk. Brought to you by Beth Golay. Check out the newsletter archive here. Follow on Twitter at @booksandwhatnot.
We’re drinking Girl Waits with Gin (gin & tonic). Amy recommends using tonic syrup (available at your local fancy liquor store), but Fever-Tree tonic is a solid backup.
Emma is reading: I’ll Tell You In Personby Chloe Caldwell, Joyrideby Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly, Marcus To, and Irma Kniivila
In Which We Learn About Fake Harry Potter Books, Bullshit California Laws, and LITSY!
Eureka Books is really pretty. Check it:
Antiquarian books are weird to booksellers in the new book world. Here’s a primer from the ABAA.
A first edition signed copy of Ready Player One by Ernest Cline is apparently worth shit. Kim’s annoyed at herself for failing to monetize her book collection.
Litsy is great. It’s Instagram for books. Come experience the internet sans trolls. The internet isn’t just trash, y’all. Check out #getindie for all the fuzzy bookstore feels.
Join the Out of Print t-shirt club. We just made that up organically. It’s cool. We’re cool. You can be cool too.
Chapter II [36:40]
In Which We All Have Too Many New Yorkers Piled Up In Our Apartments/Houses, Junot Diaz is the New Shakespeare, and You Can Learn to Craft Vagina Ornaments
Amy’s desert island picks: Charles Dickens: David Copperfield or Great Expectations. Or all of those New Yorkers that pile up in your house that you keep meaning to read.
Ep 9: Benjamin Rybeck, Brazos Bookstore
Jul 05, 2016
Epigraph
Episode nine has finally dropped! We speak with the lovely and talented Benjamin Rybeck, Marketing Director and Events Coordinator at Brazos Bookstore and author of The Sadness.
Introduction [0:30]
In Which Emma and Kim Have a Sponsor and Make Terrible Puns, Plus Ben Invents the Phrase “Page Turner”
Currently drinking: screwdirvers with Stolichnaya, inspired by Sabbath’s Theater by Philip Roth
This episode is actually brought to you by a sponsor! Books & Whatnot is an excellent and informative newsletter for booksellers; it’s quick to read and filled with tips! Brought to you by Beth Golay. Check out the newsletter archive here. Follow on Twitter at @booksandwhatnot.
Emma is reading: … spreadsheets? No, but seriously, she finally started Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel—but also the apocalypse causes her some anxiety, so she might have put it down.
Kim is reading: Uprooted by Naomi Novik, Shrill by Lindy West
When Kim started reading Uprooted, Emma was like
Kim recalls possibly the best customer interaction ever, in which a male teacher from an all-girls school requests recs for a primer on feminism; Shrill by Lindy West, We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozie Adiche, andRad American Women A-Z by Kate Schatz and Miriam Klein Stahl (illus.) are among her recs.
What do you do when a customer asks for a happy read?
Emma tries to make them into a romance reader and, if that fails, recommends Beauty Queens by Libba Bray.
Kim recommends graphica (though Emma’s first three thoughts when she says graphica are Watchmen, Persepolis, and Fun Home—not the happiest of reads…)
Chapter I [21:21]
In Which Ben Walks Into a Bookstore and Receives a Job, Coins the term “litizen,” and Says the Word Smartypants a Lot. Plus Emma Freaks Out About Events Coordinators/Drunk Booksellers’ Guests Not Reading Harry Potter
Longfellow Books of Portland, Maine was Ben’s childhood bookstore.
We discuss the joy of bookstores, record stores, and video stores—half-retail and half-cultural places where you go to meet friends and discover gems.
Ben’s advice for getting a job at a bookstore? Walk into said bookstore with no intention of getting a job (it worked for him!)
Learn more about Brazos Bookstore here. They do “down and dirty highbrow” bookselling.
In Houston this summer? Here are a couple fun things going on:
Have you heard about this new Harry Potter book coming out? Kim imagines that it will be mostly about ennui of adulthood, and compares it to Ben’s book The Sadness.
Chapter II [37:46]
In Which Ben Pitches His Book Succinctly—It’s a Book About Film and Failure— and We Discuss Adulting
“Booksellers as adults is a strange thing; you’re asking people to become adults and go out into the world where their primary relationship to anything in their lives has been sitting alone in a room…that’s not going to end well.”
Chapter III [44:34]
In Which We Speculate Alice Munroe’s Drinking Habits, Declare Adult Connect-the-Dots as The Next Big Thing, And Bring Up the Fact That Ben Hasn’t Read Harry Potter Again
Ben wants to drink with John Updike to see if he’s as insufferable a person as Ben finds him as a writer. Kim mocks his reasoning. His second choice is Alice Munroe (who may or may not listen to this podcast? We’re pretty sure she doesn’t. But we can dream.)
Ben’s bookseller confession is he doesn’t keep up with trends—but it’s ok, Emma and Kim haven’t read Knausgaard or Ferrante either.
BONUS EPISODE: #SEABookstoreDay Year 2
Jun 02, 2016
A year ago, we started this podcast with a discussion of our epic trip to 17 Seattle-area bookstores for the first annual Independent Bookstore Day. Naturally, Emma had to make the trip out to Seattle for Year 2!
Ep 8: Pete Mulvihill, Green Apple Books
Apr 26, 2016
It’s episode 8 of Drunk Booksellers, and we’re here with Pete Mulvihill, co-owner of Green Apple Books in San Francisco, CA. Get psyched, y’all.
You can also stream the episode on iTunes and Stitcher. Follow us on Twitter at @drunkbookseller for updates, book recs, and general bookish shenanigans.
Check out our show notes, after the jump!
Epigraph
Bitches in Bookshops
Our theme music, Bitches in Bookshops, comes to us with permission from Annabelle Quezada. It’s amaze-balls, and Kim just discovered Annabelle’s other literary Kanye parody, Hardcover Bound 2 AND IT’S ALSO AMAZE-BALLS (and, uh, you should stick around at the end of the episode for a nice lil hidden track). Check it:
Introduction [0:30]
In Which, If You’re Interested in Reading Anything Where a Story Ends with a Boy Jumping on Top His Parents Bed Right After They’ve Finished Having Sex, Dumping Out the Ashes of Their Dead Cat onto Them, Then You’ll Probably like Ramona Ausubel.
Currently drinking: Boulevardier (don’t forget the orange peel...)
Everyone’s REALLY EXCITED about Black Panther #1 by Ta-Nehisi Coates (of Between the World and Me fame). Available at your local indie bookstore soonish? Maybe? Or go to your local indie comic shop, ‘cause those places are great too.
And, in case anyone other than Kim is interested in WTF Bitcoin is, here’s Wikipedia. Unfortunately, a bit of Pete’s audio was cut out, during which time he regaled us with the story of Dread Pirate Roberts (no, not that one). Interested now? WIRED has a pretty great read for you.
Lauren Groff is the author ambassador. You might have heard of her. She wrote Obama’s favorite book of 2015: Fates & Furies.
Green Apple is doing a shit ton of events, including an appearance from Green Apple’s mascot, Mergatroid; Kate Schatz, the author/illustator of Rad American Women A - Z; a local poet, Sylvie, writing custom poems; prize wheels; KEGS; and a free-throw shooting contest.
Mergatroid welcomes you to Independent Bookstore Day.
Chapter III [45:05]
In Which Pete is Not THAT Old, But He’s Totally On the Sleep Game
Our favorite events tip: People shouldn’t be calling to ask if there’s an author event tonight, they should be calling to ask what the event tonight is. (hat tip to the fine folk at Elliott Bay Book Company [Kim pumps her fists in victory, even though she has absolutely nothing to do with events at EBBC])
So, yeah, you should check out Village Books’ event schedule, ‘cause it’s pretty great.
Chapter II [33:37]
In Which Sam Builds Us His Wheelhouse, Discusses e-Reading, and
Emma and Kim think dedicated e-readers are necessary for e-reading. You can buy one here.
[sign from @wordbookstores]
Kim can’t count. “A novel trying to answer big difficult questions and not necessarily succeeding but at least giving it a go.” = 19 words, not 16, but Sam still succeeded in the 20 Word Wheelhouse Challenge
Emma will read anything blurbed by Kelly Link. Sam will read things blurbed or compared to George Saunders or Sara Vowell. Also books about musicians. (Emma recs Rob Sheffield. Kim recs Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl by Carrie Brownstein)
Chapter III [43:25]
In Which We Discuss Book Problems in the Apocalypse, Kim & Emma Learn About Cities in Canada, and Sam & Emma Get In a Fight
Sam’s Wild book: Lyrics & Poems 1997-2012 by John K. Samson (songwriter, rhythm guitarist, & singer of The Weakerthans)
Emma and Kim are embarrassingly uninformed about Canadian geography, so in case anyone was wondering, here’s Winnipeg:
Sam’s Reader Confession (a la Bookrageous, Episode 85): Sam believes he might be the only millennial to not finish the Harry Potterseries. Emma has lost all respect for Sam. We move on (kind of).
Despite the fact that Sam has the Luddite Cynic Award hanging on his fridge and is the last bookseller on Earth not on Twitter, you can hang out with Sam and his mom on Facebook. Or email Sam at sam@villagebooks.com.
UPDATE: Just before we posted this episode, Sam made himself a Twitter account. Go welcome him.
You should probably follow us on Twitter @drunkbookseller if you’re not doing so already. We’re pretty okay.
Emma tweets @thebibliot and writes nerdy bookish things for B
BONUS EPISODE: Best of 2015 and Looking Forward to 2016
Mar 15, 2016
Yeah, so, if y’all hadn’t noticed, we’ve lagged a bit in getting new episodes posted this year. We blame life. To make up for being assholes, here’s ANOTHER bonus episode to keep you occupied until our next real episode posts. Which will be soon. Like, it’s been recorded, we’re just editing, and it should be ready in, like, a week. Get psyched.
Stacy from Book Bar in Denver, CO recommends After the Crash by Michel Bussi (published 5 January 2016)
Epilogue [43:33]
In Which There Are Exciting Things On the Horizon
Have a favorite bookseller you’d like us to chat with on the show? Shoot us an email at drunkbooksellers@gmail.com with their name, store, and contact info so that we can reach out to them!
Share the love by rating/reviewing us on iTunes. And don’t forget to subscribe from your podcatcher of choice.
We’ll be back soon (in a week or so?) with a for-realsies episode. Until then, read ALL the books.
BONUS EPISODE: Last Minute Holiday Recommendations
Dec 17, 2015
Did you leave all of your holiday shopping for the last minute? Fear not! Drunk Booksellers are here for you. We asked our coworkers and other rad bookseller folk to give you a quick holiday rec. Some recommendations are a little more... drunk than others. Enjoy!
Our theme music, Bitches in Bookshops, comes to us with permission from Annabelle Quezada. Kim tried to sing it at karaoke the other night, but the bar didn’t have the original Jay-Z & Kanye West song.
In Which You Can Request a Guest for Drunk Booksellers 2016
Have a favorite bookseller you’d like us to chat with on the show? Shoot us an email at drunkbooksellers@gmail.com with their name, store, and contact info so that we can reach out to them!
Kim and Emma get overexcited about handselling nature essays to Josh. Emma loves Limber by Angela Pelster. Kim’s excited about Annie Dillard’s forthcoming collection, The Abundance: Narrative Essays Old and New (pubs March 2016).
Generally Impossible Handsells: Poetry and Graphic Novels
If you’re not a graphic novel reader yet, start with Fun Home by Alison Bechdel, The Sculptor by Scott McCloud, or Habibi by Craig Thompson
That annoying Slate article that Josh mentions can be found here: Don’t Support Your Local Bookseller. Feel free to read it if you feel like angrily ranting at everyone you interact with for the next few years.
Epilogue [51:27]
In Which Josh Tells Us About His Awesome Bookish Wedding and Where You Can Find Him On the Internet
Josh and his wife gifted each other literary tattoos as wedding presents, because they’re the coolest. Josh is getting the the Escapist’s key from The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon and his wife is getting the the Brakebills seal from Lev Grossman’s The Magicians. Totes adorbs, right?
Make sure you don’t miss an episode by subscribing to Drunk Booksellers from your podcatcher of choice. Also, if you read this far in the show notes, you should probably go ahead and rate/review us on iTunes too. The only compensation we get from this podcast is a nerdy ego-boost, so we’d lo
Ep 5: Liberty Hardy, Book Riot
Nov 17, 2015
Epigraph
We’re here on episode number 5 with Liberty Hardy, contributing editor at Book Riot and co-host of the All the Books! podcast.
In addition to this LibSyn landing page, you can find us on Tumblr or stream the episode on iTunes and Stitcher. Follow us on Twitter at @drunkbookseller for updates, book recs, and general bookish shenanigans.
Bitches in Bookshops
Our theme music is awesome. Bitches in Bookshops comes to us with permission from Annabelle Quezada.
Introduction [0:30]
In Which We Drink PBR and Discuss ALL THE BOOKS Coming Out in October
In addition to her Book Riot work, Liberty is a roaming bookseller, former bookseller at RiverRun Bookstore in New Hampshire, judge for Bookspan’s Book of the Month Club, volunteer librarian, and self-proclaimed velocireader.
Drink of the Day: Pabst Blue Ribbon. Yes, that PBR.
In Which Liberty Doesn’t Have To Wear Pants, Tells Us Her Secret to Reading ALL the Books, and Gives Us a Tour of Her Library and Cat B&B
Liberty’s last official brick-and-mortar bookselling gig was at RiverRun Bookstore in Portsmouth, NH. Now she talks about books on the interwebz at Book Riot and doesn’t have to wear pants, which seems like a pretty sweet deal to me.
In Which Gary Shteyngart Writes a Successful Blurb, A Giant Crate of Books Washes Up On Liberty’s Desert Island,
Liberty’s fav local bookstore haunt is Water Street Bookstore in Exeter, NH. She also “accidentally” bought a bunch of books from Small Beer Press in the middle of the night (including The Liminial War by Ayize Jama-Everett and Kalpa Imperial by Angélica Gorodischer, translated byUrsula K. Le Guin). And she gives a big shout out to Sherman’s Books in Portland, ME and their store manager Josh Christie who, spoiler alert, is our next guess on Drunk Booksellers!
Liberty’s a judge for Bookspan’s Book of the Month Club. Sounds rad.
We talk blurbs. Gary Shteyngart blurbs everything, including this gem about Sloane Crosley’s new novel: “The Clasp reads like The Goonieswritten by Lorrie Moore.” It’s kinda brilliant.
Wild Book: Calvin & Hobbes by Bill Watterson. Possibly on an iPad? With an external charger? That’s probably cheating…
Ep 4: Hannah Oliver Depp, Politics & Prose
Sep 15, 2015
Epigraph
It’s episode number 4! Featuring bookseller-extraordinaire Hannah Oliver Depp from Politics & Prose in Washington, D.C.
Introduction [0:30]
In Which We Drink To Detective Fiction By Dead White Guys, Become Jealous of Literary Paper Dolls & Ecstatic Raccoons, And Dive Into Frontlist Season With ALL the September Releases
Jonathan Franzen wrote another “Great American Novel” called Purity (1 Sept 2015). But you probably already knew that, so do yourself a solid and check out #FranzenAirQuotes instead.
Chapter I [16:25]
In Which Business Books are Chauvinistic (Shocking!), Hannah Brings Wildlife Into the Store, Galleys Meet their Death, and the Drunk Booksellers Nerd Out About Writing Bookselling Manuals
Hannah is the Merchandise Display Manager at Politics & Prose in Washington, D.C. aka. President Obama’s local independent bookstore.
If you want to shell out a lot of money to travel abroad, you should do it with a book bent, obviously: Politics & Prose Trips
Remember what you liked about your major before you had to actually do all that fucking work? Join the rogue students taking Classes at Politics & Prose. It’s like in Center Stage where she goes to the wrong side of the tracks and moves her hips, but for books.
Like Vodka for Chocolate: Vodka (probably from a plastic jug) w/ Yoo-hoo
Chapter I
In Which Katelyn Sucks at Restaurant-Work and Begins a Career in Bookselling Instead, Your Hosts Discuss Post-Apocalyptic Fiction, and Emma Decides Her Next Tattoo
Seriously, though, can we talk about their advertising? The Humphrey Bogart dog. Ponderers of meaning. Shiny happy people. I just... I can’t even. It’s so good.
[30:08] Radiance by Catherynne M. Valente (pubs 20 Oct 2015)
Chapter II
In Which We Discuss Lying to Customers Handselling Strategies, Grad Gifts, and Rad Italian Women Writers
[31:05] Katelyn lied about reading The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner. But she remedied the situation, so it’s all good.
[32:16] If you liked Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, you’ll love The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins. Not that Kim has read either. She just knows these things because #bookseller.
[32:39] How about a literary horror novel about a plague of insomnia? Read Black Moon by Kenneth Calhoun.
[33:18] Or maybe a tough cool broad book? Grab Saint Mazie by Jami Attenberg.
[38:01] Emma yells at Katelyn because SHE’S NEVER READ HARRY POTTER. WHAT’S THE HOLD UP, KATELYN?
[39:41] Mark Z. Danielewski (author of House of Leaves) is writing a ridiculously long 27 volume series, beginning with The Familiar, Volume 1: One Rainy Day in May. We talked about this for a lot longer but - unlike some people - we decided to edit.
Chapter III
In Which Kim Wonders What People Think of Her, We Get Really Suspicious of Green Things, and Customers Worry About Disappointing Emma
[40:55] Kim gets freaked out by being handsold Tampa by Alissa Nutting
[41:57] Katelyn’s impossible handsell: The New World by Chris Adrian and Eli Horowitz. Cutting people’s heads off and a story of sad marriages... what’s not to love?
[43:01] Jeff VanderMeer’s Southern Reach Trilogy was released individually as three paperback volumes - Annihilation, Authority, and Acceptance - before being released as a gorgeous single-volume hardcover edition, Area X.
[44:12] People buy Uprooted by Naomi Novik from Emma, even though it’s in hardcover, to avoid making her cry. Real footage of a passionate bookseller handselling a book:
You can follow Kim on twitter @finaleofseem, but she doesn’t really post much there, so you might as well just follow Emma at @thebibliot and call it a day. Also, read all of Emma’s posts at Book Riot, because she’s a nerd and it’s wonderful.
Ep 1: #SEABookstoreDay
May 25, 2015
Epigraph
For our inaugural episode, we took the #SEABookstoreDay Challenge on Independent Bookstore Day and visited 17 bookstores in/around Seattle, WA. So, without further ado, we are pleased to present you with Drunk Booksellers Episode 1: #SEABookstoreDay!
Bitches in Bookshops
Our brilliant theme music, Bitches in Bookshops, comes to us with permission from Annabelle Quezada. The video is pure genius.
Director / Producer / Songwriter - Annabelle Quezada
Director of Photography / Editor - Eliav Mintz
Song Recorded / Mixed by - Stephen Galgano
Introduction
In Which Emma and Kim Explain What the Hell This Podcast Is, What They Are Currently Reading, And Make a Rather Tasty Beverage Out of Items Scavenged From Kim’s Nearly-Empty Fridge
Check out #TeamSasquatch’s Independent Bookstore Day Storify, tracking their shenanigans throughout the day. HOW DID WE MISS THE MIMOSAS AT LIBERTY BAY?
- Small Beer Press is Kelly Link’s press, not her publisher (though Small Beer Press was the original publisher of Stranger Things Happen and Magic for Beginners, which means Emma now has a new quest to find a Small Beer Press edition of Magic for Beginners).
- Maggie Stiefvater’s last name is pronounced Steve-Otter. Proof:
- We mentioned a Tomb Raider display on multiple occasions. The display is actually for the TombQuest series by Michael Northrop, rather than the Tomb Raider video game & movie franchise. Here’s a picture from The Secret Garden Bookshop:
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