Bookstore Explorer

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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!

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.