This was a fun one! Forgive us the wild peals of laughter and background noises as we recorded this podcast episode at my kitchen table after a leisurely brunch. Rachel Bergeron and Justine Mah spearheaded The Black Bookshelf Project, a collaborative initiative that provides BIPOC books for kids on a black bookshelf with coloring sheets, additional…

I have received so many questions, and I thought of a fun way to answer some of them. I'm calling it a Five, 5 and 5: 5 books that changed me, 5 small biz bits, and 5 random things about me. Hope they are fun and insightful! 5 Books: Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith…

Hello, Friend. Would you believe that at the end of last month I achieved my goal of getting 4 days off IN A ROW?? Don't go into business for yourself if you want to have oodles of spare time. So, after a spell away from the microphone I am here to present a smattering of some of the books I have read since we last talked. Some great, some blah, an…

One of our most popular Guests from the past year was Elise Eichmuller (Episode 44), a court reporter by day and an active bookstagrammer and reader in her spare time. She may read dark & twisty tales, but she is just the most sunshiney and giggly soul. To know Elise is to love her. She is instrumental in keeping the #yegbookstagrammer group togeth…

The world of Daisy Chain Book Co. has grown by about 1600 square feet. We opened our second indie bookstore in Beaumont, Alberta in July, 2022 and I am still in an exhausted state of disbelief. Don't let them tell you it's impossible, put your big girl panties on and show 'em how it's done. In this mini episode, I am giving you a wave from undernea…

When you are starting out in business, there are SO many hurdles, questions, and fears. Today, I am answering three questions I get asked regularly. 1. How do I know if being in a Market is the best way to start my business? 2. What is the difference between a Hobby and a Business? 3. How do I know where to start when it comes to social media/brand…

So much going on around here! Please enjoy this list of titles that I have read recently - many of them I have liked, even LOVED, and some I did not enjoy at all. Sigh. Thus is the reading life, right? Books Discussed: The End of Men by Christina Sweeney-Baird Evidence of the Affair by Taylor Jenkins Reid A Rip Through Time by Kelley Armstrong I'm …

When we started with the booktruck and then opened a brick & mortar bookstore, we hoped that we would build a community of readers. Actually, I was a little obsessed with the idea. Imagine my delight when Haylee Freake discovered our store and decided this was IT for her. She has been in our Book Club from day one, and she is also an active member …

When you get a chance to speak with someone who is passionate about the process of writing a book and getting it into the hands of readers, you pay attention. When that same person also boldly shares her well-crafted book reviews on her very own YouTube channel, you pay extra close attention. So, basically, this episode is one you don't want to mis…

It's already the middle of February and I have read 13 books for the year, so I thought I'd break them down for you and help you add a couple more to your TBR. Happy Reading! Books Discussed: The Nix by Nathan Hill Know My Name by Chanel Miller The Summer Sail by Wendy Francis The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams Sometimes I Lie by Alice Feeney May…

Reading may be an isolated activity, but like so many of us, we long for friendships with people that share our love of books and stories. Where do we find them? Kim Tanner is a teacher, and a dedicated reader who was determined to establish her own reading community of Kindred Spirits through #bookstagram. Kim has been a member of our Petal Club c…

We have some of the best Readers ever in our little Daisy Chain Book Co. community. Beth Harding is one of them. Beth is a testament to perseverance, grit, and passion. She and I first met when she visited the booktruck at the beginning of my travels, and we hung out, chatting and exchanging stories of service and inspiration cementing us as Kindre…

Earlier this year, I introduced you to Melissa Ahmed. Your response to that conversation was outstanding. It was the most shared and downloaded episode of our podcast EVER, and I received the most DMs about it. Melissa's ability to say what's on her mind and on her heart in a bold, refreshing "I don't care" attitude is what we need. Once again, ple…

At Daisy Chain Book Co., we are led by creativity, passion and curiosity. That means finding new ways to serve our reading community as we tell our own story in the marketplace. For a firstborn like myself, that means doing what no one else is doing because copying others is just not how we roll. It is not boastful or cocky to recognize areas of ac…

I think I need to take a sec and brag a little on our incredible community at Daisy Chain Book Co. We are so fortunate to have gathered some of the most stimulating and diverse readers in the area. They encourage me to read outside my comfort zone, they remind me why it is so special to be a Reader, and they excite me with moments of togetherness t…

One of our mantras at Daisy Chain Book Co. is "Creating a Community of Readers". I am passionate about humans connecting over books, stories, and our diverse experience with both. In today's episode, I am pleased to share a special person in our DCBC community with you. Rachelle Lee is an Electrical Engineering student and a reader of all things Fa…

Books are great. Of course they are. But the business side of running a bookshop has been a wild ride, and like all businesses, we have been impacted by a pandemic in ways we couldn't have imagined. In 2019 I was a Guest on a podcast called "Keeping Shop: A Brick and Mortar Podcast" hosted by Rachel Wentworth. We had such a fun conversation, and I …

Well, hello again! It's been a crazy month at the bookstore, but I am back again for another installment of "What Has Brandi Been Reading?". I read 11 books in October and I am here to break them all down for you, the hits and the misses. If you'd like to find my up-to-date reviews on the books as I go, please become a Friend on Goodreads! Today's …

Here's what I want you to do. You trust me, right? I'm not going to ask to to dance in the street singing New Kids in The Block in your underwear, come on. I want you to listen to this episode and then SHARE IT. This conversation with Melissa Ahmed is too good not to share. She is an avid reader, mother of 2 young girls, a Homeschooling teacher, an…

Daisy Chain Book Co. has had so many firsts. Like looking back through our bookshop baby book in which we record milestones and firsts, here is one I am super proud of: in Edmonton, we were the first bookstore that partnered with Libro.fm as an audiobook provider for our Readers. From Day One I have been amazed at how this company supports independ…

It's time to talk books, no bookstore or booktruck business, let's just chat about what I've been reading lately, shall we? Books Discussed: The Shadow Sister The Plot The Dutch Wife All The Beautiful Lies 84, Charing Cross Rd. Her Every Fear Before She Knew Him The Girl in His Shadow The Girl With a Clock For a Heart Our bookstore offers audiobook…

Last week we were having some tech challenges, but this week we are BACK! And what a conversation to come back with - to hear Gail Sidonie Sobat speak about her passion for young writers and reading books in a wide range of literary titles is to be inspired, encouraged and (be warned) the urge to pump your arm in the air may occur. I hear ya. Gail …

As promised, this episode will not feature bookshop business, booktruck details, the entrepreneur life or any other non-bookish content you can often find on this podcast. Today, we are only talking about books. I am sharing books I've read recently, and discuss how my reading experience is changing for this particular Summer season. Get your note-…

Sometimes a book makes me hungry. Sometimes a Guest reminds me what I love about local business communities. And sometimes both of those happen at once! Today I enjoy sharing a conversation with you that I had with Peter Keith. Peter is a Red Seal Chef, an entrepreneur, a foodie, and an avid reader, so you KNOW we had lots to discuss. If you are in…

Running a bookstore means I have to wear many hats. Most people think it's all relaxing, bookish delights in the bookstore biz, and whereas that is true sometimes, there is a crazy amount of work behind the scenes to make it all flow smoothly. One of the things we rely on is getting new books from publishers that we can count on. Ordering new books…

Ok, who is a fan of thriller reads? Maybe horror reads? Possibly a serial killer book or two? You are not alone! The pandemic may be making the world extra uncertain, but the growth of true crime and thriller/horror reads has proven that we like a little thrill in our reading lives. Elise Eichmuller is a dedicate reader, and as you will discover in…

Young Readers Will Change the World. At DCBC, that is our mantra for what motivates us to provide the best selection and experience to enhance the reading life of a young reader. In today's episode, I am speaking with Tara Foxcroft and Suzy Peacocke from Bluefish Learning a passion project that aims at selecting books that will inspire readers from…

If you are tuning into this podcast, books are obviously important to you. Maybe they are your respite, your Happy Place, your imagination inspiration... so I am sure that this episode will resonate with you. The world continues to be a place loaded with frustration, uncertainty, fear and the newsfeed reads like something out of a wonky dystopian n…

After spending just a little bit of time in the company of Jaima Fixsen and Regina Sirois, you will feel motivated to call your BFF and gush on each other for a while. Not only are they two individual, talented authors in their own right, but as a writing duo, they become the irrefutable pen name, Audrey Blake, and they have co-authored their debut…

Why didn't I post this episode on Monday? Because running a bookshop is a lot of work, and this girl doesn't have a producer or editor - I am doing all this podcast stuff myself. And I know you're the graceful sort who is not hemmed in by legalistic rules and dates, so I appreciate you. Today we are talking about Non Fiction, Canadian Non Fiction m…

Today is a first for this podcaster - I get to talk with 2 Guests at the same time! It was an absolute delight to talk with Sarah Chan & Jhenifer Pabillano about their new anthology, Midlife. If we are fortunate enough to reach middle age then we also know it comes with as many victories as challenges, especially during a pandemic when so many thin…

It's been awhile since we have discussed the business side of bookshop life, and since I have received a significant number of requests for more info about the booktruck and WHY I switched to a brick & mortar business instead of a mobile bookshop, this is the episode for answering ALL the questions! I also discuss the books I'm currently reading be…

How do you determine if your reading is valuable? How do you get more out of what you are already reading? How do you choose books that make you a better human? Today's chapter is all about you and your reading life, and how to make it the best it can be! Our bookstore offers audiobooks which you can listen to on your iPhone, Android device, or PC.…

For me, it's all about Community. While we read it is a private thing between you and the book, but once you close that book, you NEED PEOPLE. Especially when the world is struggling with so many social challenges at one time, we need to find a way to connect with other humans. We are pack animals, even if we often prefer to hide out in our caves a…

Hey, You! The reading life is a beautiful, solitary, peaceful thing, is it not? However, many of us encounter dilemmas that cause a tiny bit of stress or uncertainty - you are not alone! We touch on a few of those today because I am about keeping it real, we don't paint life with a rainbow sparkly brush here. We know there are bumps in the road. Si…

Our bookstore has been open for 5 months now, and I cannot believe it. I've been caught up in this glorious whirlwind and have met the most wonderful people! Today I am sharing a conversation I had with Scott Messenger, author of Tapping the West, a book about the craft beer industry right here in Alberta. Since it has been on our shelves, Scott's …

When you meet a Kindred Spirit in the mobile retail space, it is a very special feeling. We are kind of a niche community. When I was still operating the booktruck, I connected with Latanya from Bronx Bound Books who desired to bring books to the people of the Bronx - a city with only ONE brick & mortar bookstore, can you believe it? Latanya saw a …

There has been so much going on in our little world of bookish delights, one of which is the Polar Vortex that has taken over our city. While we are all trying to manage the -36 degree temps, it seems like a good time to talk books, whaddya say? As well, I go a little deeper into the question about what happened to the booktruck and what the transi…

As always, I am so thrilled to have you along on this crazy book adventure! The idea of starting a booktruck was wild enough, but then to leave that to switch to a brick & mortar bookshop - WTH? In this episode, I touch on that transition and will continue to bring up different parts of that decision in future episodes. Let's talk books. I have bee…

Hello again!! We may have a new name, a new pic and a new focus, but our love for reading, sharing a good story and talking about the business of books has not changed. We have traded in our license plate for an address and now run a bookshop in the incredible High Street community in Edmonton. More on that little change in upcoming episodes... Tod…

Hey, YOU! Today I am back with another bookish episode, and it's ALL about the books! No Business talk this time. I have been getting so many email & DM questions about the right book for the right mood, how to work through your To Be Read pile and so many more... today I am tackling a few of your questions and then sharing what books I have been r…

OK, so I missed posting an episode last week. I know you can forgive me because well, life happens. As posts about my bookshop on wheels are being shared widely on social media, there has been a significant increase in the number of requests I receive about duplicating my business idea. So, as much as I feel like it is similar to the last episode's…

As much as I love talking about the books, there is so much behind-the-scenes about the business of bookselling that I want to talk about today. I get so many emails and in-person questions about booktruck life, and there are a ridiculous amount of uninformed opinions or assumptions about what I do, so I thought I would tackle a few of them here. L…

So, if you know me at all, you know that sometimes I go off on a topic, unhinged and passionate... I did that today. I have some very strong opinions about body image and the language we use to talk about how we look or how we think someone else SHOULD look. Daisy Chain Book Co. was featured in a very fun video created by the talented Brandon Matti…

I am so incredibly blessed to have discovered such inspirational and dynamic women entrepreneurs on my Booktruck journey. One of this women is Colleen Heidecker, of Colleen's Chocolates. If you have been around Edmonton for the last couple of years and discovered her amazing chocolate delights at any of the locations lucky enough to sell them, then…

Hey there! I find that this COVID time for me is all about lists: the lists of things I want to get done, the lists of things I have to get done and the list of things I have not finished... I'll give you one second to guess which one of these lists I have excelled at. Uh-huh. There are days I am successful and many that I am not. I know I am not a…

Where to begin? First of all, let me just say that the Booktruck world right now is SUPER crazy. There is so much going on and plates are spinning all over the place! Amidst all that is happening, and other things I cannot share with you just yet (wink-wink), it is so nice to take a deep breath and spend time here with you on the podcast for a brie…

Friends, it's raining here. Raining HARD. All I want to do is hunker down with a good book and a hot cup of tea! On days like this I am grateful for the comforts of home, and editing this podcast was such a fun process to do while I listen to my girls laughing and reach down to scratch Mr. Benson as he lays at my feet. Today I am sharing with you a…

Today's episode is a mixture of silly and motivational. Last week, I introduced you to the segment of the podcast I am calling the Reader Rapid-Fire 30. 30 questions about your fave books, details about your reading life and a sneak peek into the fabulousness of people I meet on my booktruck journey. Today I am sharing the raw, unedited piece that …

Apparently, as the pace of life has become very different lately, so is my podcast scheduling! After a couple weeks away, it is so good to talk with you again. Today it is my profound pleasure to introduce you to Hannah Morpurgo. She is an avid booklover, a dedicated English Major training to become a High School music teacher, a young woman likely…