Shelf Made Stories

If you're into food, books, or doing good... you’re going to love this one.

Kimberly Behzadi is the founder of Read It & Eat Bookshop, Buffalo’s first culinary bookstore that mixes reading, eating, and giving back in the tastiest way possible.

We talk about:

• How she turned her book subscription box into a brick-and-mortar store
• The magic of cookbooks, chef memoirs, and food writing that makes you hungry
• Her Books & Cooks series (yes, you can actually take cooking classes!)
• The mission behind their Food First weekends and why giving back is baked into everything they do
• The delicious extras you'll find in-store, like baking kits, cocktail mixers, and global spices

Visit Read It & Eat Bookshop, Buffalo's culinary bookstore:

• readitandeatshop.com
• facebook.com/readitandeatbuf
• instagram.com/readitandeatbuf
• linkedin.com/company/read-it-and-eat-buffalo

What happens when a lifelong romance reader, punk rock enthusiast, and photographer turns a trailer into a moody, mobile bookstore? You get Slow Burn.

Tonya Pineda, the creator behind Slow Burn, a jet-black trailer-turned-bookstore specializing in romance. shares how she and her husband (neither of them particularly handy) built the entire thing from scratch with nothing but a dream and a lot of YouTube tutorials.

Here’s why you need to listen:

• Get Inspired: If you’ve ever fantasized about opening a bookstore but dreaded the overhead, this mobile twist will blow your mind.
• Fall in Love with the Vibe: A dark, European-inspired aesthetic for a romance-only bookshop? It’s unexpected… and it works.
• Real Talk on Indie Bookselling: From low book margins to building community, Tonya gets candid about the challenges and the deep rewards.
• Behind-the-Scenes Goodness: Hear how she decides where to pop up, what goes into setup (think bungee cords and barn doors), and how going viral on Instagram and TikTok has fueled her growth.

Visit Slow Burn online at SlowBurnTN.com.

Visit Slow Burn on social media @SlowBurnTN. 

Since releasing this episode, ShelfCare Box has gone out of business. 

She went from 0 to 1,000 subscribers in one year.

In two years, she was bringing in one million dollars in revenue.

Five years ago, Lorena Hixson launched her first subscription box. 

Because reading has always been a cornerstone of her personal growth, healing, and self-care journey, she wanted to create an experience that encourages more women to slow down, prioritize themselves, and reconnect with the joy of reading.

Think of the ShelfCare Box as your monthly bookish bestie—a cozy, intentional moment of self-care delivered straight to your door. 

In this episode, you’re going to hear the surprising tactic that still brings in subscribers today and the one thing Lorena suggests for anyone starting a bookish business.

Visit ShelfCare Box at shelfcarebox.com

Follow SelfCare Box on social media:

• www.instagram.com/shelfcarebox.com
• https://www.tiktok.com/@shelfcarebox

Come inside Flame & Fable, the charming new romantasy bookstore that's quickly becoming a community hub in Lakewood, Ohio.

Owner Nickie Lui opened her doors just over a month ago, but she's already outperforming her business projections and creating a space where strangers bring birthday gifts and book recommendations flow freely. But the journey wasn't always magical.

Nickie shares the moment she nervously pitched her bookstore idea to her dad while he fixed a closet door, and how that conversation sparked a nine-month journey from business plan to grand opening. You'll hear why banks weren't interested in funding her dream (despite her meticulous 31-page business plan), and the surprising way she ultimately made it happen anyway.

Nickie also reveals the behind-the-scenes reality, including an IKEA nightmare that required a last-minute U-Haul adventure to Pittsburgh for thousands of pounds of bookshelves just days before opening. 

In a digital age, how does a physical bookstore with zero marketing budget build buzz? Nickie's clever social media strategy and four distinct book clubs might offer a blueprint for indie retail success.

Visit Flame and Fable at 13439 Detroit Ave. in Lakewood, OH 44107

• Website: flameandfablebooks.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flameandfablebooks/
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@flameandfablebooks
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61571634133018 

What started as a spicy subscription box packed in her kitchen is now two thriving bookstores, a merch line, and a romance convention. 

In this episode, Melissa Saavedra, founder of Steamy Lit, shares how she turned her love of romance books into a full-on literary brand.

We talk about how she built her audience, grew from popups to storefronts, and why representation in romance matters. 

Plus, she shares advice for anyone dreaming of starting a bookish business and her favorite steamy reads.

If you love spicy books and bold business moves, this one's for you.

When she’s not curating must-read romances or running her bookstore, Melissa can be found enjoying tequila on the beach.

• Instagram: Steamy Lit
• Website: steamylit.com

Karley Schaper shares how her handcrafted bookshelf decorations accidentally launched a thriving business from her small Oklahoma town, "where there are more cows than people."

In this episode, Karley shares

• How creating without sales intentions can lead to organic business growth
• The power of authentic social media sharing that grew Karley's Instagram from 100 to 25,000 followers
• Why solving your own problems creates products others desperately want
• How to build a business that fits your lifestyle rather than the other way around

Now with a warehouse instead of just her home office, Karley has achieved her version of success—the flexibility to walk her kids home from school and work when inspiration strikes, even if that's at one in the morning.

Tune in to hear her best advice for aspiring creators.

Visit Jordan Valley Designs website: JordanValleyDesigns.com

Connect on social media:

• https://www.tiktok.com/@itskarleynicole
• https://www.instagram.com/jordanvalleydesigns

This week’s guest is literally tearing books apart... and people love her for it.

What started as a casual scroll through BookTok turned into a side hustle-turned-small business for Valerie Brand, all centered around rebinding books into one-of-a-kind, stunning keepsakes. 

She’s crafted custom covers for fantasy favorites, sentimental heirlooms, and even indie author giveaways—all while holding down a 9-to-5.

In this episode, we chat about:

• How a viral video changed everything
• Bookish burnout, and how she’s still keeping the fun alive
• Her advice for anyone trying to grow a creative business online
• What really goes into crafting a custom book cover (hint: it’s not just glue and glitter)

Whether you’re a fantasy fan, small business dreamer, or just love hearing how someone makes it doing something they love, you’re going to want to tune in.

And yes, we do talk about ACOTAR.

Visit her website: www.valbinds.com

Get social with Val:

• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@valbinds
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/valbinds
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/valeriebrand

What happens when a real estate-savvy book lover stumbles upon a shuttered bookstore already zoned for hotel use? You get The Bookhouse Hotel, a boutique literary escape where guests literally sleep surrounded by floor-to-ceiling bookshelves.

In this episode, Stephanie Olenik, the creative force behind not one, but two magical book-themed hotels in Pennsylvania, talks about turning a once-forgotten bookstore into a thriving destination to growing a nationwide book club community, and:

• How Stephanie turned 5,000 leftover books into the inspiration for a boutique hotel
  
  
• What made people start flying in from all over the world to stay at The Bookhouse Hotel
  
  
• Why her second location (a stunning 7-room mansion) includes a Jane Austen suite and a secret photo booth
  
  
• How a viral 24-hour read-a-thon helped boost bookings, and what she’s learned about influencer marketing
  
  
• Her real-talk advice for launching a bookish business that stands out
  
  
• The importance of building community and staying flexible when plans need to change
  
  

Whether you’re a book lover, a dreamer with a business idea, or just curious about what it’s like to run a hotel where every room tells a story, this one’s for you.

Visit The Bookhouse Hotel and The Bookhouse Hotel in Faunbrook:

• https://thebookhousehotel.com/
• https://thebookhouseatfaunbrook.com/

Check out the book club: https://thebookhousebookclub.com/

Get social on Instagram:

• @thebookhousehotels 
• @thebookhousefaunbook 
• @thebhbookclub

Listen in as author Lou Emerson reveals how she transformed her love of cozy crime fiction into a subscription box business. 

Lou shares how she delivers an immersive reading experience by pairing mystery novels with page-specific gifts, built a loyal subscriber base through a clever email challenge, and manages the chaos of "Christmas every month" from her home. 

Perfect for mystery lovers and aspiring entrepreneurs, this episode unpacks the business behind giving readers the ultimate "me-time" experience, one page number at a time.

Connect with Cozy Read Books:

• Website: https://cozyreadbooks.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cozyreadbook
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cozyreadbooks/

Four friends in their 20s realized none of them were reading books like they used to. 

So, Ben Bradbury hosted a casual gathering on their rooftop, invited some friends, put together a playlist, and everyone just... read books together. Then they chatted about what they were reading before calling it a night.

But it caught on. Ben and three of his friends formalized things a bit, named it “Reading Rhythms,” planned more get-togethers, expanded their invite list, and started sharing it on Instagram.

As these reading parties continued, they garnered attention in places like the New York Times, and this hobby quickly became a worldwide business. 

In this episode, Ben walks us through what a reading party is and how you can bring one to your city.

Connect with Reading Rhythms:

• Website: readingrhythms.co
• Instagram: instagram.com/reading_rhythms
• Ben on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/benbradbury