Best Pages Bookshop Podcasts (2024)

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Episode 270: How Do You Handle Publishing Controversial Material Safely & Sustainably? 8:36

6h ago8:36

8:36

Particularly when one comes from a conservative family and has many conversations where their beliefs are challenged, they tend to assume that the publishing landscape works the same way. This week, we answer a reader question about how to publish safely and sustainably despite one's political opinions. ************ Thank you for watching the Peopl…

1
Episode 269: What do books and sneakers have in common? w/ CLASS bookstore 40:14

9h ago40:14

40:14

CLASS bookstore is probably the most talked about bookseller in the U.S. in 2024. They know how to build a hype machine and get people talking about them. Publishers pressure their sales reps to get books in there. What is different about them? And the big question—how do they utilize fashion marketing to make books dope? ************ Thank you for…

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Quickly, While They Still Have Horses: An Interview with Jan Carson 47:31

2d ago47:31

47:31

Send us a Text Message. Hi, This week, I'm in conversation with one of my favorite authors, Jan Carson. We talk about her latest release, Quickly, While They Still Have Horses, how growing up during the Troubles in Ireland fueled her passion for reaching across divided communities through writing and the arts, and how the Irish writing community su…

1
Kathleen Caldwell and the Heartbeat of Montclair Village 30:38

9d ago30:38

30:38

Send us a Text Message. In this episode, I'm in conversation with Kathleen Caldwell, the passionate owner of A Great Good Place for Books in Montclair Village, Oakland, who opens up about her incredible journey in the book industry. From her college days navigating aisles at Crown Books to orchestrating author events at prestigious bookstores like …

1
Episode 268: What is a Small Press Publisher? (starring Jane Friedman) 17:10

13d ago17:10

17:10

During a recent phone call, we asked a partner how she defines "independent publisher" and her answer was "we know it when we see it." "Indie" has grown to mean "dependent on Amazon" and Orwell would be proud. In the past decade, publishing has become overwhelmed by jargon. Well you might say that it goes back much further than that (and we probabl…

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The Evolution of Book Publishing: A 44-Year Journey with Andy Hughes 59:11

16d ago59:11

59:11

Send us a Text Message. What happens when a lifelong love of literature leads to a storied 44-year career in the publishing industry? Join me for an intimate conversation with Andy Hughes, the recently retired Senior VP and Director of Production and Design at Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. From his earliest role at Cornell University Medical Li…

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Episode 267: What if someone else just published the same book? 7:21

22d ago7:21

7:21

It happens all the time. One of our distributed publishers got in touch, horrified and terrified that MacMillan had just published the same book that she did the week before. She thought it would cannibalize her sales. Many authors and publishers keep this stuff close to the chest. Not us. We follow the Paul Hawken school of being your best, indivi…

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Empowering Children with the Joy of Book Ownership: A Discussion with Kate Bowersox of Books in Homes USA 26:06

23d ago26:06

26:06

Send us a Text Message. Discover the transformative power of book ownership with Kate Bowersox, the passionate Executive Director of Books in Homes USA. In this heartfelt episode, Kate opens up about her personal journey, academic achievements, and her mission to ignite a love for reading among children. She shares touching stories of raising her o…

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Episode 266: Can booksellers increase bonding over Corgis? Janet Geddis of Avid Bookshop 50:51

27d ago50:51

50:51

Publishers often think of booksellers as our frontline marketing force; the people who we outsource our jobs to. This week, Janet Geddis of Avid Bookshop does a great job of outlining the actual role that bookstores play in a daily role. It's more matchmaking than pushing the newest thing on some poor, unsuspecting browser. It's a deep game of fami…

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Blending Tradition with Technology: Chris Steib's Journey from Literature to Indie Bookshop in Tarrytown 42:10

1M ago42:10

42:10

Send us a Text Message. In this episode, I chat with Chris Steib, owner of Transom Bookshop in Tarrytown, New York. Chris takes us on his career journey from a literature student to a high school English teacher, transitioning into the corporate world as a speechwriter and tech entrepreneur, and finally realizing his dream of opening an indie books…

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Episode 265: How do you organize a Cat Party? w/ Katie Haegele 36:05

1M ago36:05

36:05

Katie Haegele has been passionate about cats for decades. They have been some of the most meaningful relationships in her life. This time around she's organizing other people to share the most touching, heartwarming, wacky, and unbelievable stories about the behavior and emotional range of cats in her eighth book, Cat Party! ************ Thank you …

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Aardvark Books and Cafe: From Wholesaler Dreams to a Literary Haven in Herefordshire 48:45

1M ago48:45

48:45

Send us a Text Message. Have you ever wondered how a whimsical idea could transform into a vibrant literary hub? Join me as I chat with Sheridan Swinson, owner of Aardvark Books and Cafe in Herefordshire, UK. Sheridan takes us through his serendipitous journey from an initial plan of being a book wholesaler to becoming an adored independent booksho…

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Episode 264: What does AI mean for publishers? (starring Jane Friedman) 10:16

1M ago10:16

10:16

Much hullaballoo and many predictions has been made about how AI will "disrupt" the publishing industry. Typically, with a new technology the steps are 1) fear the new way 2) figure out how to embrace it in a practical sense. How will AI affect publishers? Is the fear substantiated? What can publishers do? ************ Thank you for watching the Pe…

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The Art of Storytelling Across Platforms with Writer Jessie Rosen 28:21

1M ago28:21

28:21

Send us a Text Message. Have you ever wondered how a blogger's musings can morph into the pages of a novel? Join us on The Bookshop Podcast as we sit down with Jessie Rosen, who's done just that. From the East Coast to Los Angeles, Jessie shares her journey through blogging, scriptwriting, and now, novel writing. Her story is a testament to the pow…

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Episode 263: What are the Limits of What You Would Publish? 6:14

2M ago6:14

6:14

In the dawn of a young publishers' life, they focus on their own tastes. Gradually, they see which books are well-received and branch outward. Some publishers quickly find that the most popular books are things that aren't exactly the reason that they got into publishing! So this week on the pod, we talk about the limits of a press' curation and wh…

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From Poetic Solace to Community Haven: Leena Batchelor's Journey of Creative Resilience and Expression 31:49

2M ago31:49

31:49

Send us a Text Message. Discover the heart and soul of Script Haven Ltd. as the remarkable Leena Batchelor, former Worcestershire Poet Laureate, takes us on a journey through the evolution of her dream. From her early days seeking solace in poetry to nurturing a community bookshop that blooms as a sanctuary for self-published, indie authors, and ma…

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Episode 262: What Can Your Regional Bookseller Association Do For You? starring Larry Law, ED of GLIBA 34:49

2M ago34:49

34:49

What is a regional trade association? What can they do for you as a bookseller or a publisher? This week on the pod, we feature Larry Law, executive director of the Great Lakes Bookseller Association to learn about this ecosystem and how it can work even better. ************ Thank you for watching the People's Guide to Publishing vlogcast! Get the …

1
Episode 64: Queer Haven Books, Columbia, South Carolina 31:16

2M ago31:16

31:16

Queer Haven Books is a new shop whose mission is to provide a place of safety and refuge for the queer community in the South. Owner Baker Rogers joins me to discuss what inspired the shop and what's ahead for its future. Books We Talk About: The Thirty Names of Night by Zeyn Joukhadar, Confessions of the Fox by Jordy Rosenberg, Delilah Green Doesn…

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Emiko Jean on Crafting Resilience and Suspense in The Return of Ellie Black 26:51

2M ago26:51

26:51

Send us a Text Message. In this episode, I chat with Emiko Jean, the New York Times bestselling author whose journey from various professions to the realm of writing is nothing short of inspiring. Emiko sheds light on her latest page-turner, The Return of Ellie Black, and the meticulous care she gives to her Japanese American characters. The world …

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Episode 261: What Can a Publisher's Advocacy Association Do For You? w/ IBPA CEO Andrea Fleck-Nisbet 30:41

2M ago30:41

30:41

Corporate publishing has the distinct advantage of scale: they command more sales dollars, they can push customers and vendors around more. This week we take a look at some of the options available for small publishers to band together and share resources, learn from each other, and be stronger together. Andrea Fleck-Nisbet, CEO of the Independent …

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Turning Pages and Building Community: Celebrating Sunshine Book Company's Story With Owner Beth Merrick 33:05

2M ago33:05

33:05

Send us a Text Message. Nestled within the heart of Claremont's historic district, Sunshine Book Company gleams with the charm of its 1915 architecture—a setting almost as enchanting as the tales it houses. As the shop celebrates its third anniversary, I'm joined by the effervescent Beth, who shares the serendipitous journey that brought her from t…

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Episode 260: Bookstore Solidarity Project: King's Coop Bookstore 29:59

2M ago29:59

29:59

You may know King's Coop Bookstore as the winner of our How to Resist Amazon display contest, but they are so much more than that! This week on our continuing Bookstore Solidarity Project, we bring you a deeper dive into the realities of bookselling. From ripping books in half to walking around campus and seeing everyone reading the same book!…

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Caroline Alexander, Skies of Thunder: The Deadly World War II Mission Over The Roof Of The World 1:02:31

2M ago1:02:31

1:02:31

Send us a Text Message. Embark on a historical odyssey as Caroline Alexander, New York Times Bestselling Author and acclaimed contributor to The New Yorker and National Geographic, unveils the lesser-known sagas of World War II's China-Burma-India theatre in her new book, Skies of Thunder: The Deadly World War II Mission Over The Roof Of The World.…

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Episode 259: Are Audiobooks Profitable? (starring Jane Friedman) 17:22

3M ago17:22

17:22

At the release event for this very book, the first question was about making money from audiobooks. The answer? It's complicated. And increasingly so with Spotify joining the fray. This week we tackle best practices, best approaches, and how to sell audiobook content—with special guest Jane Friedman of the Hot Sheet! ************ Thank you for watc…

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Navigating the Pages of Indie Bookstore Ownership with Shelf Life Books' Chris and Berkley McDaniel 30:39

3M ago30:39

30:39

Send us a Text Message. In this episode, I chat with Shelf Life Books owners Chris and Berkley McDaniel about the switch from corporate life to purchasing an indie bookshop, things to do and see in Richmond, Virginia, cats, and books! Formerly known as Chop Suey Books, Shelf Life Books is the largest independent bookstore in Richmond, VA, and has s…

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Episode 258: How Can Publishers Reach Their Core Audience? with Leah Hernandez- A People’s Guide to Publishing 43:35

3M ago43:35

43:35

Leah Hernandez has a story unlike that of most publishers. With a background in business, she realized that children relate better with younger authors and set out to do the thing that small presses do best: fulfill a need that big publishers cannot even detect. This week on the pod, we interview her about how she built Muse and Young Authors Publi…

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Author Edward Humes: Total Garbage, How We Can Fix Our Waste and Heal Our World 53:42

3M ago53:42

53:42

Send us a Text Message. In this episode, I chat with Edward Humes about his latest book, Total Garbage: How We Can Fix Our Waste and Heal Our World. Humes reveals the surprising depths of waste permeation in everyday life and the power we hold to rectify these issues. By reimagining waste as an opportunity rather than an obstacle, Humes provides a …

1
Episode 257: What Did the Funk Brothers Teach Us About Book Editing? 7:50

3M ago7:50

7:50

The Funk Brothers, the legendary bestselling band (possibly of all time) and house band of Motown Records, wrote and performed on more tracks than you could possibly guess. This week on the pod, we take a look at how their approach informed our approach to book editing: taking an author's expert views on a topic and expanding them into servicing th…

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Episode 63: Canute Books, Portland, Tennessee 31:57

3M ago31:57

31:57

This week, we visit with Jessie Canute, owner of Canute Books in Portland, Tennessee, and her daughter, Sessily. Their brand-new shop is located inside of Bloomin’ Deals, a 4,000 square foot thrift boutique home to more than 40 vendors. They tell us how they want from being "book dragons" to bookshop owners!…

1
Feasting on Narrative: A Journey with Celia Sack Through the World of Culinary Literature 45:18

3M ago45:18

45:18

Send us a Text Message. In this episode, I chat with Celia Sack, founder and owner of Omnivore Books about cookbooks, cooking disasters and achievements, her favorite cookbooks, and the growing geographical scope of cookbooks. Located in an old butcher shop in Noe Valley, Omnivore Books is a cherished epicurean hub blending a passion for food and t…

1
Episode 256: How Should A Publisher Change Distributors? 8:50

3M ago8:50

8:50

After the recent news of Small Press Distribution (SPD) closing, we thought it would be prudent to walk through best practices for changing a distributor! A distributor is a publisher's warehouse, sales, and fulfillment arms. It's their to-market force, and it's often the difference between sinking and swimming. ************ Thank you for watching …

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Episode 62: Author Jonathan Corcoran 37:15

3M ago37:15

37:15

This week, we're joined by author Jonathan Corcoran to discuss his new memoir, No Son of Mine, and his lifelong love of bookstores! In addition to No Son of Mine, Corcoran is the author of the short story collecction The Rope Swing, which was a finalist for the Lambda Literary Awards and long-listed for The Story Prize. His essays and stories have …

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Danielle Trussoni: New York Times Bestselling Author 32:36

3M ago32:36

32:36

Send us a Text Message. In this episode, I chat with Danielle Trussoni, about her new novel, The Puzzle Master. Danielle Trussoni is the New York Times bestselling author of the novels The Ancestor, Angelology, and Angelopolis, all New York Times Notable Books, and the memoirs The Fortress and Falling Through the Earth, named one of the ten best bo…

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Episode 255: Bookstore Solidarity Project: Charlie's Queer Books 26:12

4M ago26:12

26:12

In 2013, we predicted that the bookstore model would shift to more specialized indie stores that offered a narrower offering around their own curated interests and values, with more books face-out and unabashedly clear messaging about who the store is and is not for. And here are we are in 2024, with Charlie's Queer Books of Seattle, Washington off…

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