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Owning an Indie Bookstore | How Karmen Somers Builds Community at Court Street Books (E168)
Description
In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Karmen Somers, owner of the indie bookstore Court Street Books in Florence, Alabama. If you’ve ever dreamed about opening your own bookstore or just want a peek into the indie bookselling world, this conversation will inspire you.
Episode Highlights:
- How Karmen balances running an online bookstore and a physical storefront.
- The role of community events in bringing readers together.
- The most popular genres readers are buying right now.
- The challenges (and joys) of indie bookselling.
- Karmen’s specially curated book flight featuring her favorite handsell picks.
Connect with Karmen:
Show Notes
Some links are affiliate links, which are no extra cost to you but do help to support the show.
Books and authors mentioned in the episode:
- Taylor Jenkins Reid books
- Emily Henry books
- Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
- Green Tea: And Other Weird Stories by J. Sheridan Le Fanu
- Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
- The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
- 84, Charing Cross by Helen Hanff
- The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion by Beth Brower
- The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
- The Summer We Ran by Audrey Ingram
Book Flight
- Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross
- Just Business by Jenny Cross
- The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett
Dessert Pairing
- The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
The BFF Book Club is becoming a family affair! ❤️ This our FREE virtual book club, where we read together each month and have live author chats.
Each Family Book Flight pairs our BFF Book Club pick with:
- One chapter book for growing readers
- One picture book for our littlest readers
- A few family conversation starters + a simple activity
Three books. One common theme.
→ Join us here: https://bookishflights.kit.com/bfffamily
Be sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!