Shelf Made Stories

How do two besties go from reading thrillers to running a viral romance book club?

This week, I chat with the hilarious duo behind Two Bookends, the creators of that viral football-smut-announcer video (yes, that one with over 9M views on TikTok). 

But there’s so much more to their story, from book recs and bloopers to building an authentic, monetized community around their love of reading.

We dive into:

📈 How they went viral more than once

📚 Why they started their romance book club and how it makes money

💡 The slow, intentional way they’ve monetized without selling out

🛑 The boundaries they’ve set around brand deals & family life

🎥 Behind the scenes of content creation, bloopers, and mom rants

❤️ Their favorite reads (hello, Jennifer Hartman & TL Swan)

Plus, what it’s really like filming with your best friend, how they schedule content as full-time working moms, and their top advice for starting a Bookstagram or BookTok that actually grows.

We also talk tons of romance book recommendations!

Connect with Two Book Ends:

• On Instagram: instagram.com/two_bookends
• On TIkTok: tiktok.com/@twobookends
• Join the Book Club on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/TwoBookEnds/ 

What started as a casual Facebook group during the pandemic has grown into a thriving online community, complete with sold-out retreats, book boxes, author chats, and even a true crime podcast.

Ashley and Emily, co-founders of The Creepy Book Club, share how a single thriller reignited their love of reading and sparked the idea for the club. 

We talk about building a business from scratch, staying connected to the fun, and the behind-the-scenes work it takes to grow a bookish brand that truly puts community first.

You’ll hear:

• How they went from five people on Zoom to 250+ retreat attendees
• What it’s really like planning and running events for book lovers
• Why true crime became part of the mix (even when it’s a little scary)
• How their friendship fuels the business and keeps things fun
• Tips for anyone dreaming of starting a book-related business

This is for you if you’re a fan of thrillers, a book club regular, curious how a hobby turns into a heartfelt business, or just want some creepy book recommendations.

Find out more at thecreepybookclub.com.

If you’re a book lover, chances are you’ve heard Julia Whelan’s voice… and probably more than once. She’s narrated over 700 audiobooks, from Gone Girl to The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, and has been dubbed everything from “the Meryl Streep of audiobooks” to “the Adele of audiobooks.”

Julia is the founder of Audiobrary, a new audio publishing platform reinventing how creatives are compensated. 

Her debut novel, My Oxford Year, has been adapted into a Netflix film, and her latest, Thank You For Listening, was named a Best Book of the Year by Amazon, Audible, and NPR.

In this episode of Shelf Made Stories, Julia talks about:

• How she went from child actor to one of the most beloved narrators in publishing
• Why recording steamy romance scenes isn’t as awkward as you think
• The surprising freedom narrators get compared to on-camera acting
  Founding Audiobrary, her publishing company designed to give narrators royalties and authors a bigger cut
• Writing her own novels
• Her best advice for aspiring narrators and anyone trying to break into the book world

Julia is not only a voice we know and love, but also a fierce advocate for creatives getting the recognition and compensation they deserve.

Check out Audiobrary here: audiobrary.com

What happens when a book-loving mom of two runs out of reading material on vacation? If you’re Kelly Vann, you open a bookstore. 

We chat with Kelly, founder of Lit Actually, a romance and fantasy bookshop tucked inside Olive’s Eatery in Baldwinsville, NY.

She walks us through her journey from idea to grand opening in just six months… while working full-time in marketing, raising two kids, and figuring it out as she goes.

From pop-ups and cheeky bookmarks to navigating diversity and community, Kelly spills it all in this episode, including:

• How Kelly took Lit Actually from idea to reality in half a year
• Why she chose a romance/fantasy niche (and why it’s working)
• Tips for planning pop-ups and choosing profitable merch
• The surprising bestseller flying off the shelves (spoiler: it’s NSFW)
• How she's balancing full-time work, family, and small business life
• Her current and all-time fave book recs (dark romance fans, tune in)

Find Lit Actually on social media:

• Instagram.com/lit.actually 
• Facebook.com/litactually
• [email protected]

Did you want more smut?

I’m chatting with Alexa Sierra, co-founder of Nashville Smut, the spicy book club-turned-brand that’s taken over Music City and the internet one smutty read at a time. 

What started as a Facebook group between two childhood besties has grown into a full-blown movement with in-person meetups, viral merch, and their very own indie book festival, Tempted by Fiction.

We talk about:

• How Nashville Smut got started (and why it almost didn’t)
• Growing a community without a big budget or social media experience
• The truth about planning events and selling spicy merch
• What really goes viral on Instagram and TikTok
• Lessons from building a business while working full-time
• And yes, we get all the smutty book recs you could ever want

Whether you’re a fellow smut-lover, thinking of starting a bookish side hustle, or just need a feel-good story about women making magic, this one’s for you. 

Visit Nashville Smut at https://www.nashvillesmut.com.

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nashvillesmut
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nashvillesmut
• Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/19NJ9DBcrd/

What if you could spend an entire weekend doing nothing but reading, relaxing, and connecting with other book lovers? I’m talking no chores, no to-do lists, and no interruptions?

That’s exactly what Mallory Anderko dreamed up when she created Bookcation, a reading retreat that’s part cozy getaway, part book club, and part soul recharge.

In this episode, Mallory shares:

• How a decade-long fiction drought ended with one Emily Henry novel
• The Instagram meme that sparked the Bookcation idea
• Her first small Airbnb retreat and what she learned
• The leap to hosting her first public event at the Grand Geneva Resort
• The unexpected hiccups (and hilarious moments) along the way
• How she’s taking Bookcation national in 2026
• Her advice for anyone ready to start their own “bookish” business

Whether you’re a lifelong reader or someone who hasn’t picked up a novel in years, Mallory’s story is a reminder that it’s never too late to bring your passion to life and invite others along for the ride.

For more information, visit book-cation.com.

Follow Bookcation on social media:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563589589418
• Instagram: @thebookcation
• TikTok: @thebookcation

What if you could run a bookstore without actually owning a storefront?

In this episode, we chat with Alicia Boemi, the founder of Lakeside Books in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. It’s a charming indie bookstore that lives inside another store and rolls around town in a tricked-out trailer. Yep, she’s running two bookstores in one… without the overhead of a full brick-and-mortar.

We talk about:

• How Alicia landed a “shop within a shop” and why she  doesn’t even have to staff it
  
  
• Why she launched her business with a bookmobile first and how it totally paid off
  
  
• The reality of inventory headaches, damaged books, and sticker bestsellers
  
  
• What it’s like hauling a mobile bookstore around town with your husband and a Jeep
  
  
• Her tips for book-loving entrepreneurs who want to test the waters without diving all the way in
  
  

This episode will leave you inspired and maybe even Googling “cute trailers for sale.” 😆

Check out Lakeside Books online at lakesidebookslg.com

Follow Lakeside Books on social media:

• Instagram.com/lakesidebookslg
• Facebook.com/lakesidebookslg
• Tiktok.com/@lakesidebookslg

In this episode, we’re diving into the heart of Bookstagram with Kristen Cioffi—aka Kray’s Book Club. If you've ever wondered how to grow an authentic, engaged community online without selling your soul to the algorithm, this is your episode. 

Kristen keeps it real about how she started posting about books during a tough time, and how that turned into an incredible, joy-filled space filled with new friendships, wild opportunities (hello, Oprah and Reese!), and honest-to-goodness bookish fun.

We talk about everything from monetizing your content to what it actually takes to build relationships online, and why Kristen has no plans to start dancing on BookTok anytime soon. 

We also cover:

• Why being brutally honest about books (even the “dumpster fire” ones) builds trust
• How she’s landed brand partnerships, exclusive invites, and monetized organically
• Why engagement matters more than follower count
• The importance of knowing your worth and not being afraid to ask for it
• Why this should always be fun

Follow Kray’s Book Club here: instagram.com/kraysbookclub

What happens when you mix romance novels, DIY spirit, and a full bar? You get The Plot Twist, Denton's most Instagrammable bookstore, and a total book lover's dream.

In this episode, Darci Middleton shares how she went from being a middle school science teacher to opening a one-of-a-kind bookstore with her mom. We talk about:

• The viral book wall (and how she made it herself)
• Why she focused on romance books and indie authors
• How they made a bar part of the business (and what it cost)
• Their brilliant book-inspired cocktail menu
• Turning TikTok into a marketing machine
• Creating a space that feels safe, inclusive, and FUN
• Her advice for anyone dreaming of a bookstore life

The Plot Twist: www.theplottwistbookbar.com

Social media:

• https://www.instagram.com/theplottwistbookbar
• https://www.facebook.com/theplottwistbookbar
• https://www.tiktok.com/@theplottwistbookbar 

Ever wonder who’s behind the voice in your favorite audiobook? Meet Marni Penning, an audiobook narrator with over 350 titles under her belt (plus a spicy secret pseudonym).

In this episode, Marni shares how she went from performing Shakespeare on stage to narrating Fourth Wing, ACOTAR, and Crescent City... all from her basement studio. She shares:

🎙️ What it really takes to be an audiobook narrator (hint: AI could never)
🎭 How she keeps hundreds of character voices straight
🔥 Why she uses a fake name for romance novels
🏠 How she built a six-figure narration career without leaving her house
🤯 That time Whoopi Goldberg fangirled over her
📚 Where to start if you’ve ever thought, “Hey, I could do that…”

This conversation is packed with insider stories, pro tips, and behind-the-scenes gems that’ll make you appreciate your audiobooks in a whole new way.

Find Marni online at theladyhamlet.com

Follow her on social media: 

• Facebook
• Instagram
• TikTok
• LinkedIn

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Graphic Audio: https://www.graphicaudio.net/
• Recorded Books: https://rbmediaglobal.com/recorded-books/ 
• Narrators Roadmap: https://www.narratorsroadmap.com/ 
• Starving Artist No More: https://www.starvingartistnomore.com/
• Narrator: https://narrator.life/ 
• ACX: https://www.acx.com/ 
• Ahab: https://www.ahabtalent.com/ 
• Beachside Bookfest: https://www.beachsidebookfest.com/ 
• The video with Whoopi Goldberg: https://www.instagram.com/p/DG7TlWiM38M/ 
• The Penning Method for the Panicked Actor: https://amzn.to/4kEVfIl