The Bookshop Podcast

Shoshana Smith, Flashlight Books

28 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIf you have children to buy books for, this is the episode for you!  Flashlight Books is an independent bookstore located in Walnut Cr...

Christopher Finan, Author, Executive Director National Coalition Against Censorship

23 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textChristopher Finan is NCAC’s executive director. He previously served as president of the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expr...

Arsen Kashkashian, Boulder Book Store

21 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, I chat with Arsen Kashkashian, head buyer and general manager at the Boulder Book Store in Boulder, Colorado. I asked h...

Ruthie Marlenée, Author

16 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textRuthie Marlenée is a Mexican-American novelist, screenwriter, and poet born and raised in Orange County, California. She earned a Write...

Fiona Dutrayn, Damn Fine Bookstore, Lyon, Paris

14 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textFiona Dutrayn is the owner of Damn fine Bookstore in Lyon, France. The bookshop offers an international selection of books in English, G...

James Nestor, Author, Journalist

09 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textAfter reading James Nestor's book, Breath, I had plenty of questions. James and I chat about his approach to research and writing, ...

Lauren Brown & Lisa Dibble From The Story Shop, Monroe, Georgia

07 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textThis episode is about children's books, from picture books to YA readers. We've got you covered!In October of 2016, Melissa Mu...

Steve Barron, Director, Producer, Writer, Farmer

02 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBooks and TV series have kept me sane during the past few years. Two series that pop into mind are The Durrells in Corfu and, more recen...

Harvey Jason and Louis M. Jason, Mystery Pier Books

28 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textHave you ever wanted to know what makes a first edition book valuable, apart from the obvious?! Let me introduce you to Harvey and Louis...

Nadia L. King, Author and Short Story Writer

23 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, I'm chatting with author and short story writer Nadia L. King about her decision to open up about her past, her lo...

Hannah Harlow and Sam Pfeifle, Co-Owners of The Book Shop of Beverly Farms

21 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textToday I'm chatting with sister and brother, Hannah Harlow and Sam Pfeifle, co-owners of The Book Shop of Beverly Farms about how pu...

Jeff Hoffman, Author

16 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn today’s episode, I chat with Jeff Hoffman about his new book Other People’s Children, adoption, and writing. Jeff Hoffman attend...

Elizabeth Bluemle, Picture Book Author, and Owner of The Flying Pig Bookstore

14 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textToday I'm chatting with picture book author and owner of The Flying Pig Bookstore, Elizabeth Bluemle, about writing and the magic o...

Sheila Darcey, Author Sketch by Sketch: A Creative Path. to Emotional Healing and Transformation

09 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textSheila Darcey is the author of Sketch by Sketch: The Creative Path to Emotional Healing and TransformationDuring a difficult time in her...

Emma Straub, Author, Co-owner Books Are Magic

07 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textDear Listeners,You are getting a twofer this week—an indie bookshop co-owner and an author—Emma Straub.Emma is the New York Times-be...

Stephanie Stillo & Emily Moore, Library of Congress

04 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textWelcome to the first special monthly edition of The Bookshop Podcast! In these editions, I chat with specialists at the Library of Congr...

Mitchell Kaplan, Owner Books & Books, Podcast Host, Co-owner Mazur Kaplan

02 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textMitchell Kaplan opened the first Books & Books bookshop in 1982 in Coral Gables, Florida. Since then, Books & Books has grown to...

Karen Hayes, Co-owner Parnassus Books

31 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textKaren Hayes, together with novelist Ann Patchett, co-owns Parnassus Books in Nashville, Tennessee. Karen found her way to the owner’s ...

Gin Stephens, Author, Speaker, Educator

26 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textHi, and welcome to episode #104 with Gin Stephens!Gin Stephens, the New York Times bestselling author of Fast. Feast. Repeat. and Delay,...

Lisa Gozashti, Co-owner, Manager Brookline Booksmith

24 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode I chat with Liza Gozashti, co-owner and manager of Brookline Booksmith, a family-owned and locally run independent books...

Sarah High, Senior Partnerships Manager, Bookshop.org

19 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textSarah High is a former bookseller and manager at Book Culture in NYC, an intern at Catapult, Counterpoint, and Soft Skull Press, before ...

Jenna Todd, Manager, Time Out Bookstore New Zealand

17 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, I chat with Jenna Todd, manager and bookseller at Time Out Bookstore.Jenna Todd (Kāi Tahu) is the manager of Time Out ...

Beth Kirschner, Author

12 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBeth Kirschner grew up in upstate New York and thought she knew everything there was to know about winter snows until she moved to Michi...

Olivia Rosenthall, Maldon Books, Essex

10 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textMaldon Books is an award-winning independent bookshop located in the heart of the historical town of Maldon, Essex. Owner Olivia Rosenth...

Michael Herrmann, owner, Gibson's Bookstore

03 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, I chat with Michael Herrmann, owner of Gibson’s Bookstore.  Founded in 1898, Gibson’s is the oldest continuously ...

Vina Lustado, Sol Haus Design & Vina's Tiny House

29 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textVina Lustado is the founder/owner of Sol Haus Design, a boutique firm focusing on sustainable design and building in California. After r...

Storysmith Books, Dan & Emily Ross

27 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textStorysmith Books is an independent bookshop in Bristol, on North Street in Bedminster, England. Owners Dan and Emily Ross stock a tightl...

Mandy Jackson-Beverly

22 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textHi, and welcome to episode #95!As I record this episode, it's Winter Solstice. The sky is loaded with clouds and the promise of rai...

Pete Mulvihill, Green Apple Books, San Francisco

20 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textGreen Apple Books in San Francisco has provided old and new books to the local community for fifty-one years. I caught up with co-owner ...

James Fahy, Author

15 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textJames Fahy is the acclaimed author of both the Fantasy series ‘Changeling’, and the Urban Gothic ‘Phoebe Harkness’ books. While ...

Malik Muhammad, Malik Books, Los Angeles

13 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn this episode, Malik Muhammad and I chat about Nipsey Hussle's impact on the Crenshaw District community in Los Angeles, the hist...

Maria V. Snyder, Author

08 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIt’s my pleasure to welcome author Maria V. Snyder back to the show!After a hectic few years of writing and meeting deadlines, Maria t...

Laura Iveson and Asher Woolford, co-owners Darling Reads, West Yorkshire

06 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textDarling Reads is located at 17 High Street, Horbury, Wakefield, West Yorkshire. The bookshop is co-owned by Laura Iveson and Asher Woolf...

Katie Stokes, Edible San Diego

01 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textKatie Stokes is the owner, publisher, and editor in chief at Edible San Diego. Katie works with dynamic organizations dedicated to creat...

Mark Pearson, Co-founder Libro FM

29 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textSince launching The Bookshop Podcast in October 2020, I’ve spoken with over 85 indie bookstore owners worldwide. If you are a regular ...

Peri Chickering, Author, Herbalist, Coach, Consultant, Leadership Educator

24 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textPeri Chickering is the author of Leadership Flow: The Unstoppable Power of Connection. She holds a master’s degree in human developmen...

Brid Conroy & Neil Paul owners of Tertulia, a bookshop like no other

22 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textLocated in the town of Westport, County Mayo, Ireland is Tertulia, a bookshop like no other. Brid Conroy and Neil Paul opened Tertulia ...

David Poses, Author, Speaker, Advocate

17 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textWhile his wife and two-year-old daughter watched TV in the living room, David Poses was in the kitchen, measuring the distance from his ...

Jennifer Jackson, Paper Bird, Freemantle, Western Australia

15 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textHi! Today I’m chatting with Jennifer Jackson, director of Paper Bird Children’s Books & Arts in Freemantle, Western Australia.P...

Jessica Barksdale Inclán, Author, Poet, and Educator

10 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textHi, and welcome to episode #83 of The Bookshop Podcast!Today I’m chatting with Jessica Barksdale Inclán, the author of fifteen novels...

Golden Hare Books, Edinburgh

08 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textHi, today I’m in Edinburgh, a UNESCO City of Literature, chatting with David Bloomfield and Julia König from Golden Hare Books! Gold...

Jane Yolen, Author

03 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textHi!I’m super excited to bring my interview with author Jane Yolen to you today. Jane is 82 years young, has published over 400 books, ...

Susan Kehoe, BROWSEABOUT BOOKS

01 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textToday I'm chatting with Susan Kehoe from BROWSEABOUT BOOKS about Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, keeping our purchases local, reading out...

Melissa Sercia, Author

27 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textAs I began the week interviewing Leah Koch from The Ripped Bodice, it fits that today’s episode should be with a romance author.Meliss...

Leah Koch, The Ripped Bodice

25 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn today’s episode, I’m closer to home. Just a 90-mile drive and I'm in Culver City, home of The Ripped Bodice, where I chatted...

Jeanne Baker Guy, Author

20 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textImagine your children were stolen from you…by your ex-husband. That’s what happened to Jeanne Baker Guy, my guest on today’s episo...

Mason Engel, Filmmaker and Author

18 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textHi, and welcome to the Monday edition of The Bookshop Podcast. Today I'm switching things up a bit and chatting with filmmaker and ...

T.L. Bequette: Criminal Defense Attorney and Author of Good Lookin'

13 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textHi, and welcome to episode number 75! Today I'm chatting with criminal defense attorney turned writer T.L.Bequette.Located in Oakla...

Jessiemarie Duplessis, New Renaissance Bookshop, Portland, Oregon

10 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textHi, today I'm chatting with Jessiemarie Duplessis, manager and assistant event coordinator of New Renaissance Bookshop, in Portland...

Sara Winokur, Geneticist, Researcher, and Author

29 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textHi, and welcome to episode #73! Sara Winokur is a geneticist, researcher, and author. She has a master's degree in cytogenetics an...

Liz Stone, Owner of Pearl Street Books & Gifts

27 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textHi, and welcome to episode #72!Pearl Street Books is located in historic downtown Ellensburg, on the eastern slope of the Cascade Mounta...

Glenn Shea, Poet, and Bookseller at Book Barn

27 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textHi, and welcome to episode #71!Today I’m chatting with poet Glenn Shea, who is also a bookseller at Book Barn. Glenn has worked in the...

Jon McGregor, Author and Creative Writing Professor

22 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textHi, and welcome to episode #70!Jon McGregor is the winner of the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, the Costa Book Award, the Be...

Ross Bradshaw, Five Leaves Bookshop, Nottingham, UK

20 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textHi, and welcome to episode #69!Ross Bradshaw is the manager and owner of Five Leaves Bookshop and Five Leaves Publications in Nottingham...

Tamsin Keily, Author, Teacher

15 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textHi, and welcome to episode #68!Tamsin Keily studied Psychology before completing a post-graduate degree in primary education. She now ju...

Nic Bottomley, Mr B's Emporium

13 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textWelcome to episode #67!Mr B's Emporium is a beautiful, energetic, and innovative bookshop on John Street in the heart of Bath, Engl...

Ione Butler: Actress, Entrepreneur, Founder Uplifting Content

08 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textWelcome to episode #66!We all need uplifting, and today’s guest has taken the word seriously by creating Uplifting Content. Check out ...

Kwame Spearman, CEO Tattered Cover Book Store

06 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textWelcome to episode #65!Kwame Spearman and I chat about introspection during the pandemic and immersing ourselves in what's importan...

BJ Robbins, Literary Agent

01 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textWelcome to episode #64!BJ Robbins opened her Los Angeles-based agency in 1992 after a multifaceted career in book publishing in NY. She ...

Don Lindgren, Rabelais Books

30 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textWelcome to episode #63 Rabelais Inc. in Biddeford, Maine, serves up fine books about food and drink. The store has one of the largest s...

David Liss, author

25 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textDavid Liss is the author of fourteen novels and numerous novellas, short stories, and comics. His previous books include A Conspiracy of...

Jan Weissmiller, Prairie Lights

23 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textJan Weissmiller has long been on the staff of Prairie Lights Books, where she is the poetry buyer and arranges poetry readings for the “...

Grace Bueti Malloy, Small Farmer And Artisan

18 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textWelcome to episode 60 of the Bookshop Podcast!In this episode, I'm chatting with Grace Bueti Malloy about keeping our shopping loca...

Kris Kleindienst, Co-Owner Left Bank Books, And Author Joy Lanzendorfer

16 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textHi,I start this episode by chatting with Kris Kleindienst, co-owner of Left Bank Books in St. Louis, Missouri, and then head over to Cal...

Barbara Peters owner The Poisoned Pen, and Author C.C. Harrison

09 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textHi, today I'm in Scottsdale, Arizona, chatting with Barbara Peters, store owner and event coordinator at the Poisoned Pen Bookstore...

Ellen Datlow, Fiction Editor

04 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textEllen Datlow has been editing sf/f/h short fiction for four decades. She was fiction editor of OMNI Magazine and SCIFICTION and currentl...

Alissa Redmond, Owner South Main Book Company, and Poet and Owner PRA Publishing Lucinda J. Clark

02 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textHi, this week I'm in North Carolina and Georgia chatting with Alissa Redmond, owner of South Main Book company in Salisbury, and po...

Lexi Beach, Astoria Bookshop, NY, and Luke Epplin, Author and Journalist

26 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textHi, and welcome to Astoria, New York, where I'm speaking with Lexi Beach from Astoria Bookshop, and Luke Epplin author of Our Team!...

Sue Arroyo, Publisher And CEO CamCat Books

21 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textSue ArroyoCEO & PublisherSue Arroyo is the founder and publisher of CamCat Books, the first imprint of CamCat Publishing. A visionar...

Brandy Bowen, Watermark Book Company, and Kathleen Kaska, Author

19 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textHi, Fellow Bibliophiles!Today I’m in stunning Anacortes, Washington State chatting with Brandy Bowen from Watermark Book Company and l...

Michael Bumsted, WHODUNIT Mystery Bookstore and Chris Carter, Crime Fiction Author

12 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textHi, and thanks for visiting The Bookshop Podcast!Today I’m in Winnipeg, Canada speaking with Michael Bumsted from Whodunit Mystery Boo...

Meghan Modafferi, Writer, Creative Producer, Learning Designer,

07 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textWelcome to the Wednesday edition of The Bookshop Podcast!My guest today is writer, creative producer, and learning designer, Megahn Moda...

Linda Murray, Books, Paper, Scissors, Belfast, and Jan Carson, Author

05 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textHello fellow bibliophiles! Today I’m in Belfast, Northern Ireland chatting with Linda Murray from Books, Paper, Scissors, an independ...

Jonathan Sanchez, Blue Bicycle Books, and Katie Crouch, Author

28 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textHello Vermont and South Carolina!Katie Crouch is the New York Times–bestselling author of Girls in Trucks, Men and Dogs, and Abroad. S...

Jo Heygate, Pages of Hackney, London, and Shaheen Chishti, Author

21 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textThis week I’m virtually visiting London and India!I chat with Jo Heygate the bookshop manager at Pages of Hackney in London. Pages of ...

Peter Gray, Ph. D., Self-Directed Education

16 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textPeter Gray, Ph.D., research professor at Boston College, is the author of Free to Learn (Basic Books) and Psychology (Worth Publishers, ...

Stephanie Minett, The Bookshelf, Guelph, Canada, and Caitlin Hicks, Author, Playwright, Actress

14 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textToday, I’m in Canada, starting in Guelph, Ontario, and moving across to the Sunshine Coast, British Colombia.In the city of Guelph, On...

Betsy Amster, Literary Agent

09 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textToday I’m chatting with Betsy Amster, literary agent and founder of Betsy Amster Literary Enterprises, a full-service literary agency ...

Donna And Kate, Little City Books, and Jane Simon Ammeson, Author

07 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textOn May 2, 2015, Donna Garban and Kate Jacobs opened Little City Books in Hoboken, New Jersey. Donna is by nature a salonista, and Kate l...

Andrew Chapman, Founder 180 Lab Inc. and Social Motion Publishing

02 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textAndrew Chapman has worked in many aspects of publishing over the past 34 years, including as a trade-published and self-published author...

David Ebenbach, Author, and Allan Stypeck, Second Story Books

31 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn the Spring of 2007, my husband and I and our two sons went to Washington D.C. with my in-laws. We visited memorial sites, art museums...

Linna Thomas, Coalesce Bookshop, and Dr. Christine Adams, Author

24 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textOh, how I love a wonderful story!On wintry Oregon nights Janet Brown & Linna Thomas dreamed of opening a bookstore. In July of 1973,...

Cooper Hefner, Entrepreneur

19 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textI first met Cooper Hefner in 2007, and today he is my guest on the Wednesday Edition of The Bookshop Podcast. We chat about community se...

Charley Rejsek, General Manager Book People, Austin, Texas, and Jo Ivester, Author, Advocate, Speaker

17 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textToday I’m in Austin, Texas, speaking with Charley Rejsek, general manager at BookPeople. Charley and I chat about the future of indie ...

Part Three: The Aramont Library At The Library of Congress

12 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textWelcome to the third and final episode regarding The Aramont Library at the Library of Congress. In this episode, I chat with the Collec...

Broche Aroe Fabian Owner of River dog Book Co., and Author and Host of Happy Moments, Ali Wenzke

10 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textThis episode features interviews with BrocheAroe Fabian and Ali Wenzke.BrocheAroe Fabian is the owner of River Dog Book Co., the little ...

The Aramont Library: Stephanie Stillo Interview

05 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textWelcome to part 2 of 3 interviews regarding the Aramont Library.On February 11, 2021, the Library of Congress announced they had receive...

Porter Square Books and Author Fran Hawthorne

03 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textToday I’m in Cambridge, Massachusetts speaking with Marika McCoola at Porter Square Books. Marika is the author of Baba Yaga’s Assis...

The Aramont Library: Part 1 - Gordon Hollis

28 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textOn February 11, 2021, the Library of Congress announced they had received a private donation, known as the Aramont Library, containing r...

Independent Bookstore Day! Eliot Peper, author

24 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textHi,This is the third interview I’m releasing today to celebrate Independent Bookstore Day. Eliot Peper is a novelist based in Oakland,...

Independent Bookstore Day! Kevin Winchester, author and musician

24 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textMy guest today is author Kevin Winchester.Kevin Winchester lives in North Carolina and holds an MFA from Queens University. His story, “...

Independent Bookstore Day! Appletree Books

24 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textHappy Independent Bookstore Day!Thank you to indie bookshop owners and booksellers worldwide and those in the USA celebrating Independen...

Kerry Slattery, and Author, Journalist, and Teacher Katya Cengel

19 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textI love synchronistic moments; that’s how I met this week’s first guest, Kerry Slattery. Now retired, Kerry was the original general ...

Henry Mooney Ph. D.

14 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textThis week I'm chatting with Henry Mooney, Ph.D. about plastics, oceans, and our environment. Henry holds a Ph.D. in Global Systems...

Bruce Sterling: author, journalist, editor, and critic

12 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textToday I’m in Turin, Italy, speaking with author, journalist, editor, and critic Bruce Sterling. Bruce and I chatted about writing, In...

Hannah Oliver Depp Owner, Owner Loyalty Bookstores & Author K.P. Kyle

05 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textDear Listeners,This week I start the episode in Washington D.C., speaking with Hannah Oliver Depp, owner of Loyalty Bookstores, and fini...

Helga Schier, Ph.D.

31 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textMy guest today is Helga Schier, Ph.D. Helga is the founder and owner of  withpenandpaper.com, an independent editorial services firm, ...

Elaine Petrocelli owner of Book Passage, and Patti Niemi, author, and percussionist with the San Francisco Opera Orchestra.

29 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textToday I’m in stunning San Francisco chatting with Elaine Petrocelli, owner of Book Passage. Later in the episode, I speak with Patti N...

Walter C. Clemens, JR.

24 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textMy guest today is Walter C. Clemens, JR. Walter C. Clemens, JR. is Associate, Harvard University Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian ...

Oblong Books and author Jodé Susan Millman

22 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBack when the beautiful Hudson Valley was green rather than covered with snow, I chatted with Suzanna Hermans, co-owner of Oblong Books ...