Most avid readers at some time or another have dreamed of working in a small neighborhood bookstore. Our guest today, Sam Miller, has done just that for over 20 years in different parts of the country, from Alaska to Philadelphia. She has now set roots at Carmichael’s Books in Louisville KY. This year she championed a 20-year-old book she loves, Jim the Boy by Tony Earley, and has been a superwoman handselling it to everyone she knows. In fact, Carmichael’s is planning an event for this book and author on September 28 from 3-5 pm, to celebrate how it has touched local readers’ hearts. Sam shares with us what surprising genre is an up-and-coming star in their stacks, what book she reads over and over again, and which author’s talk was so magical, customers continue talking about it a year later. It’s a great day to nerd out about the perks of working in an indie bookstore.

You can find us on FB, instagram (@perksofbeingabookloverpod) and on our blog site at www.perksofbeingabooklover.com

Perks airs on Forward Radio 106.5 FM and forwardradio.org every Wednesday at 6 pm, Thursdays at 6 am and 12 pm. We have purchased the rights to the theme music used.

Today we talk with guest, Amanda Ciejko, the creator behind the book blog, The Lexington Bookie. She works with horses as part of her day job but being a voracious reader is her hobby. . She even has the horses listening to her audiobooks. Amanda shares with us how a New Year's resolution helped her create her blog, why sometimes she needs a recovery period after finishing a particularly wonderful book, and how publishers recruit readers to help create buzz for their new releases. The world of social media and the internet play a big part in our guest’s story.

If you would like to follow Amanda, you can find her book blog at www.TheLexingtonbookie.com and her Instagram feed at @thelexingtonbookie. If you are interested in bookstagram, go to the Instagram app and search #bookstagram. If you follow that link, you will see all the books...and maybe even a few cats.

You can find us on FB, instagram (@perksofbeingabookloverpod) and on our blog site at www.perksofbeingabooklover.com

Perks airs on Forward Radio 106.5 FM and forwardradio.org every Wednesday at 6 pm, Thursdays at 6 am and 12 pm. We have purchased the rights to the theme music used.

Today Carrie and I speak to Holly McArthur, a former news producer now local high school teacher who specializes in media studies including tv, radio, and yearbook. She also happens to be a mother of 4 children and belongs to two different book clubs. We talk about how a personal tragedy nudged her into joining her first group 10 years ago. She explains to us what need each club fills in her life, how a mathematical ranking system can help you choose a book for your bookclub, and why it’s ok to be a non book finisher.

You can find us on FB, instagram (@perksofbeingabookloverpod) and on our blog site at www.perksofbeingabooklover.com

Perks airs on Forward Radio 106.5 FM and forwardradio.org every Wednesday at 6 pm, Thursdays at 6 am and 12 pm. We have purchased the rights to the theme music used.

We are so excited to introduce you to our guest today, Rheonna Nicole, a spoken word artist and poet. 4 years ago she started an all female poetry slam In Louisville KY called Lipstick Wars. She started in a small theater that holds 600. That filled up and the next year she filled another theater that held 1200. This year Lipstick Wars is being held in Whitney Hall at the Kentucky Center for the Arts, a venue that holds more than 2300 people. Rheonna is a woman who will not take no for an answer. She is an example of how persistence and dedication pay off.

Rheonna tells us how a poetry slam is perfect for a competitive person, why women benefit from having a female only event and why the classic black poets such as Langston Hughes and Maya Angelou are still her biggest influences even in the age of social media. Rheonna is such a joy to interview. Her positivity is contagious and it comes across over the airwaves.

Right before this broadcast we received the news that Lipstick Wars is going on the road and will be in Lexington KY October 12 at the Carnegie Center. good news for our friends in that part of the state.

You can find us on FB, instagram (@perksofbeingabookloverpod) and on our blog site www.perksofbeingabooklover.com

Perks airs on Forward Radio 106.5 FM and forwardradio.org every Wednesday at 6 pm, Thursdays at 6 am and 12 pm. We have purchased the rights to the theme music used.

Today we welcome Brandon Vigliarolo, a freelance writer who shares his love and books and reading by giving a slice of history. He is a historical reenactor at Locust Grove, a 55 acre estate and mansion from the late 1700s. He felt he needed authentically made books to enhance his performance as an 18th century gentleman. So, he decided to make them himself. Thus began his bookbindery Strano Books. His books are bound the way books were produced in the 18th and 19th century, the time of Bronte sisters and Jane Austen. He explains the process of making his books, how he almost lost a finger to his craft, and why artisan items are worth the cost. This episode we wish you could be in the studio with us so you could smell the aroma. Imagine a cross between an old book scent with the musky leather of a new pair of boots. His volumes are beautiful as well with covers under richly marbled papers and leather corners and spines. Join us today as we get a mini history lesson about the physical art of making books.

You can find us on FB, instagram (@perksofbeingabookloverpod) and on our blog site a www.perksofbeingabooklover.com

Perks airs on Forward Radio 106.5 FM and forwardradio.org every Wednesday at 6 pm, Thursdays at 6 am and 12 pm. We have purchased the rights to the theme music used.

Today on the show, we talk with Sherry Howard, a Kirkus starred children's book author who refuses to be defined by what society expects of someone with a spinal injury or of a more mature woman. Her creative mind knows no limitations. She talks with us about how writing has become a family affair, how her work with special needs children influenced her newest book, Rock and Roll Woods, and why your brain needs to be exercised like any other muscle. We do a deep dive into the world of children's book writing and publishing.

You can find us on FB, instagram (@perksofbeingabookloverpod) and on our blog site a www.perksofbeingabooklover.com

Perks airs on Forward Radio 106.5 FM and forwardradio.org every Wednesday at 6 pm, Thursdays at 6 am and 12 pm. We have purchased the rights to the theme music used.

Our guest today is Minda Honey, a woman who is talented and busy with lots of irons in the fire. She is a local writer, the new director of Spalding University's Creative Writing program, as well as the creator of LEO Weekly's advice column, Ask Minda Honey, where she gives her answers to all those relationship questions you've been dying to ask. She is currently busy writing a memoir that sounds like an updated version of Sex In The city with single black women making their way in California. We are going to talk all about the queen of Black American literature, Toni Morrison and what other books you should check out if you want to see Morrison's influence on the new generation of black writers. She also speaks to the best ways to make opportunities for yourself if you are a writer as well as her new plan to motivate people to read more with the age old incentive; money. You can follow her on Instagram and Twitter at @MindaHoney and you can find her bi-weekly advice column on leoweekly.com.

You can find us on FB, instagram (@perksofbeingabookloverpod) and on our blog site at www.perksofbeingabooklover.com

Perks airs on Forward Radio 106.5 FM and forwardradio.org every Wednesday at 6 pm, Thursdays at 6 am and 12 pm. We have purchased the rights to the theme music used.

In this week's episode:

This week in the studio we welcome our guest, Kim Vidrine, a freelance editor and high school English teacher in Austin TX. We talk about the parallels and differences between her bookclub and her high school students, why some of the classics of American literature have become problematic for her bookclub, and why she loves the "fun" in dysfunctional family fiction. Last but not least, she describes the shocking thing she did to inspire her students to appreciate good writing.

You can find us on FB, instagram (@perksofbeingabookloverpod) and on our blog site at www.perksofbeingabooklover.com

Perks airs on Forward Radio 106.5 FM and forwardradio.org every Wednesday at 6 pm, Thursdays at 6 am and 12 pm. We have purchased the rights to the theme music used.

Our guest today, Kim Esposito, knows a little something about bookclubs. She is a pianist who owns and teaches music lessons to young children at The Children's Music Academy. She also has been with the same bookclub, the Ya- Yas for almost 20 years. She tells us how sharing books can help you form strong lifelong friendships, why finding your voice and rediscovering your identity is so so important as you get older, and we discuss whether symbolism in books is a "real" thing. There is a lot of laughter in the studio this week on Perks.

You can find us on FB, instagram (@perksofbeingabookloverpod) and on our blog site at www.perksofbeingabooklover.com

Perks airs on Forward Radio 106.5 FM and forwardradio.org every Wednesday at 6 pm, Thursdays at 6 am and 12 pm. We have purchased the rights to the theme music used.

In this week's episode we talk to Erin Nevitt, a children's librarian with the local library system. She tells us why summer reading is the busiest time of the year, how you can explore some of the city's bet kept secrets with the Cultural Pass, and what makes a book tantalizing for young readers.

Keep up with us and share your reading lives on Facebook, Instagram @perksofbeingabooloverpod or visit our blog at www.perksofbeingabooklover.com