B (1:54)

Yes. Dustin and I have a group of friends that were all, you know, in a group chat together and one of our friends reached out and was like, hey, like, you need to fil out this bracket. And of course I was just rage baiting. And I was like, oh, is this for hockey?

A (2:09)

I love it, love it. And they're like, that's kind of what

B (2:14)

I. I did know it was for basketball.

A (2:16)

See, see, that's what I was kind of doing to you too. But I feel like Michigan kind of isn't. Well, I was thinking, are you guys a basketball state? Sort of.

B (2:27)

Msu.

A (2:28)

Yeah.

B (2:29)

University.

A (2:30)

Yeah.

B (2:30)

This is for. Okay, this is where college to be a ding dong. It's college, right?

A (2:33)

College, yeah.

C (2:34)

College, yeah.

B (2:35)

So I think Michigan and I don't. Well, I don't know about Michigan because I know Michigan State and MSU do like football, for sure.

A (2:41)

Yeah, yeah.

B (2:42)

But msu, I think, is the one that is more focused on basketball. I don't think Michigan is.

A (2:47)

Well, I know that Illinois U of I is in it this year. Now, how long they'll be in it, who's to say? But I know that I got to vote for them in the bracket, which is always exciting. Anyway, we're not here to talk about March Madness, Believe it or not, you're tuned into the right episode. This is not basketball talk, et cetera. We are talking books. Books. And today is a very special episode. We already did our interview with Teresa and had a great time chatting about the bookstore and their role in the community. But first we are going to kick the episode off as we always do. And I would love to tell you what I've been loving lately and what I thought I would share is my as you listeners know and people that know me know I am obsessed with new releases. There's nothing I like more than new releases. I put together a video every week called New Release Tuesday and I tell you what books are being published. So so today I thought I'd share my insider as to where I pull and how I aggregate this information. So there's a lot of different ways that I do it. Of course there is a website called the Indie Next Publishers Marketplace and their website actually gets a little finicky. So I'm kind of fighting with them at the at the moment. But you can pull that. You can go onto that website and sort of look and they have different ways of aggregating that information. Obviously there's NetGalley where you can filter by month and look at what books are being published. There is Edelweiss and all of these anybody can create an account with. And then the one that I use pretty often I am or I should say the podcast. We are Book Riot Insiders and they have something that they put together called the New Release Index. So I love going there to check things out. You can explore the New release index. That one we pay $5 a month to be a part of their INS program. So that one's behind a paywall. But I just discovered I was in the sauna, of course, as I'm want to do lately and I freaking discovered in Libby. So get out your Libby app and I'm going to sort of walk through this together because I can't believe I didn't that's me. That's my voice. You do listen to us.

B (4:59)

I pulled us up because I was looking for that episode that I was texting you about.

A (5:05)

Oh, yes, yes, yes, yes.

B (5:06)

A loving lately that I have. And I was like, where is this episode? I know you've brought this before.

A (5:11)

Oh my God, that is hysterical. I'm like, that's my voice over there.

B (5:14)

Okay, so, okay, I'm pulling up Libby now.

A (5:17)

Pull up Libby. So what you can do in your website or in Libby, right, is you can click on, in the left hand corner, there's these three lines. You click on that and then you click on Coming soon and it will show you the titles that are coming soon. It also, I was able to, when I was playing around earlier, I was also able to filter by subject. So I was in the mystery and thrillers, just filtering my head off. And what I've been doing is hitting save and adding it, for example, to spring 2026. So that way I know when I'm putting together these different resources, hey, that book's coming out. I sort of can refer back to it. Anyway, I just wanted to make that recommendation is that you can filter in Libby and show you the books that are coming soon. This is also a great way if your library allows it. It's also a great way for you to get holds in early because I know some, some of my, you know, I have more than one library card. Some of my libraries are really good with having like this backlist or you know, this list that comes out way in advance. Others I'm like, I can't get anything until like the very end. But anyway, so I'm in here scrolling and if you go to thrillers in suspense like I was in. And again, those three bars on the left hand side, coming soon, there's 95 titles. And it's a great way to really just dive in and figure out, okay, what books are coming out soon. The other thing you could do is let me do the hard work because every week our new our patrons get our book talk, etc. Newsletter. And in that I include the books that are coming up for that particular Tuesday. So either way, I thought I would just share how I aggregate this information. If you have other ways or other websites and other resources that you personally use, definitely feel free to let us know. But for now, what I've been loving lately is my myriad of ways of tracking new releases.

B (7:14)

Oh, that's so fun. And it really is a symphony of resources and tools.

A (7:19)

Truly.

B (7:21)

It couldn't just be one. And I'm the same exact way. I have multiple different sources that I always turn to. And it's also really interesting when you' looking at multiple like that, which ones keep popping up in the same places and which ones don't. And it gives you a pretty good idea of, okay, this is going to be a buzzy pick. Is it going to be picked up by a book club? Every single list has this book mentioned. No, it's interesting to see.

A (7:46)

Exactly. And that's sort of how I've started to like, get, you know, what's going on. And I think it's so interesting because sometimes there's big books and I'm like, oh my gosh, this is exciting. And it's not on some obvious places. And I'm like, huh? Right, so. But anyway, it is something that I do. And again, you all know this by now. I'm not a professional. I'm just a. A book lover that has sort of over the years become obsessed with tracking this type of thing. I'm sure librarians and booksellers have their own tools that we use, but these are things that the layman can use to track new releases.

B (8:14)

Yes, love that. My loving Lately is also bookish related. How fun.

A (8:18)

Oh, that is fun. Look at us go.

B (8:20)

Look at us go. We're so bookish today. My loving lately is the Women's Prize for Fiction. Oh, the Long list, of course, announced. And I kind of fell off tracking this really regularly and yearly the last couple of years. I, I haven't. But I used to every single year make a prediction for the long list. I used to get really, really into it. And then I even did a partnership with Blackwell's Books in the uk where they sent me the entire long list and I went through it. That was in 2022, I think it was a while ago now. Really fun. I've always been really interested in this particular prize, but I wanted to bring it again because I've kind of had a resurgence in my interest for tracking the prize. And the Long list was announced just a couple of weeks ago. Okay, so a little bit about the prize. The Women's Prize for Fiction is one of the most influential and popular literary prizes. And it really works to champion and amplify women's voices and nurtures global community of readers. The prize was established in 1996 to highlight and remedy the imbalance in coverage, respect and reverence given to women writers versus their male peers, creating a platform for exceptional writing by women to shine. The prize is awarded annually to the author of the best full length novel of the year written in English. And the book has to be published in the uk, so it can be published other places also, but the book has to have had a publication in the UK and then the winner receives £30,000. So just some fun facts about. About the prize. And each year there's a panelist of five women that judge the prize. And I do believe that this panel changes every single year. So it is kind of interesting to see the variety in the long lists and short lists from years to. From years to years. There are some overlying themes and, you know, some similarities between the books over the years, but really, each list is pretty different. Last year, the Safekeep by Yael Vander Wouden won. Tina, I know you read that one.

A (10:38)

I did. I loved it.

B (10:39)

Loved it. But then as you can see in previous years, in 2023, Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver, one that's totally different type of book. And then in 2021, Piranesi by Susanna Clark, which is of weird fantasy literary book. So you can see that there's some variety in the winners that they choose. This year, I won't mention the whole long list because I'm already talking for a long time about this, but I have read a few of the books on the long list already. Wild Dark shore by Charlotte McConaughey and the correspondent by Virginia Evans, and then Heart the Lover by Lily King. So all three of those have made it to the long list this year. Tina, because I'm nosy, I noted the ones that you've read.

A (11:27)

Oh, thank you.

B (11:28)

Audition by Katie Kitamura, A Guardian and A Thief by Mega Majumdar, and oh, oh, yeah. Wild Dark Shore and Heart the Lover.

A (11:37)

Yes.

B (11:38)

Oh, and Dominion by Addie E. Kitchen.

A (11:41)

I love Dominion. You're right. The title, the. The covers are British or the covers are UK covers. So I was like, wait.

B (11:47)

Yes.

A (11:48)

Wow. Dominion. Is that very different?

B (11:50)

I know. It's a beautiful cover.

A (11:52)

It's really interesting. Yeah, all of these covers are really interesting. Oh, this is fun, Hannah.

B (11:57)

Yeah. So I am going to try to read some, I don't know, from the long list. I'm gonna wait, I think, until the short list is announced, and then I'm gonna see what's on the shortlist and go from there. I'm going to tack one more thing onto this Loving lately before I close us out, and that is, if you are not following. Savage reads from YouTube. He has made a video every single year where he unboxes the women's prize, and that's before he knows what the long list has also. So as he's unboxing, he is learning, you know, what's on the women's prize. He works in partnership with Women's Prize as an organization every single year to do this. And I just love him and his content in general. And I literally. It's like a holiday for me watching that video every single year.

A (12:43)

Oh, my gosh.

B (12:43)

So I will link it in the show notes. So my loving lately is the women's prize for fiction.

A (12:49)

I am so glad you brought this. And you know, my ass is like, oh, maybe I should read the shortlist too. As though I don't have already enough projects going on. I'm trying to read through the Aspen words long list. I don't think I'm going to make it. I abandoned some. Well, I never got to some. But now, unfortunately, the shortlist has been announced for the Aspen Prize. And I'm like, the ones that didn't make the shortlist, I'm like, I don't know if I can commit to them, but I can commit to reading the entire shortlist. I only need to read two more for that. But I love that you pulled. Pulled this up and looked and saw how many you read, which ones I have read. So we'll definitely link to that. I have. They have a really great article on their website that sort of lists all of the ones that were long listed.

B (13:32)

Yes. And they have a little video too on their website that again, gives like a little, if you prefer, a video rundown. A video rundown of all of the books that were long listed as well. Great.

A (13:43)

And I'm. And I'm definitely going to watch Savage Reads unboxing video. I did not know that they did that. And I am delighted. Well, those are very timely. Loving lately is on both of our parts, given that we're talking to a bookstore today. The book. The book that I'm bringing for my latest read is possibly one of the most beautiful books that I own. It is Cleopatra by Sarah El Arifi.

B (14:06)

It had no idea you were reading.

A (14:07)

This is a stunner. You don't know. I read it because I read it so dang fast that I gobbled it up in an instant. Truly, it was so, so good. I think I brought this to the show before, maybe at our Books on the Radar episode, because I know I've held it up before, but now I've actually read. All right, so Cleopatra, I'm sure you all are aware of her as a historical figure, but oddly, you know, we. We don't necessarily know a ton about who she really was. And so in this book, it's historical fiction, essentially. And you have Cleopatra telling the readers her own story. So this is. They're calling this a sensuous historical epic. And I love how the synopsis is written. It says, you know my name, but you do not know me. Your historians call me seductress, but I was ever in love's thrall. Your playwrights speak of witchcraft, but my talents came from the gods themselves. Your poets sing of my bloodlust, but I was always protecting my children. How willfully they refused to concede that a woman could be powerful, strategic and divinely blessed to rule. Death will silence me no longer. This is not the story of how I died, but how I lived. And I really enjoy that. That's all you get for the synopsis. And honestly, that's really all you need. I listened to this one. I actually had my print copy next to me, but I listened to it in the majority. So well narrated. And I think this one really lends itself well to doing it on audio. One, because the narration is impeccable. But two, because the entire time Cleopatra is talking to you, reader. He's talking to you as the reader. So it's, it's, it's storytelling. It's almost like this oral history. I love that choice. I thought that was so great. And the book kicks off the day that she became pharaoh. And you sort of find out, you know, what happened to her father and how she came to power. Who else in her family had had issues with that and, you know, sort of the. She tied in mythology and sort of the gods of it all. Really, really. Well, I should say I am not somebody that is in the slightest familiar with Cleopatra's lore. Her as a per. I don't know anything, or I should say I didn't know very much at all. Haven't read the play. I just don't know. All I have a connection to is, of course, as many people of my generation do, we used to go to the library. And I was obsessed with Egypt for a while. And so I sort of had that, you know, rite of passage, as we all were. And that was it, though. I was like, I don't know much about this woman. There's a lot of drama in this. You know, if, again, if you're familiar with her story, you probably aren't surprised. I almost had a good time sort of going in blind because I was like, I know that the high points, right? But I'm like, I Didn't know this and that and the other.

B (16:52)

You're getting the twists along the way.

A (16:54)

I'm getting the twists along the way. This is a book that made me Google, which, you know, I love. And I just love this because it really is this reflection. It's. I just love this because it's really an idol reflecting back on their legacy. And it's also about how people are remembered and how the victors are the ones that get to tell the story. But that story might not always be true. That story might not always be what happened. And you follow her throughout her entire life. She is a mother. She is a feminist. She is very powerful. And in just. It's also funny, I don't know that if you are somebody that's a proper historian, if you would be like, that's not how they talked. Listen, I don't know. As a casual reader. Well, not as an avid reader, but a casual follower of history, I thought it was equal parts entertaining and educational. I had a blast reading this. I really did. And I just ate it up. Highly recommend it. I thought it was fabulous. This book is Cleopatra by Sarah El Arifi.

B (17:56)

Oh, I'm glad that you brought that one. I've been seeing it around everywhere, and I kind of already knew I wasn't gonna pick it up, so I'm glad that I got to hear you talk about it.

A (18:05)

Yes. And I should say, too, for the listeners, I am not a mythology girl. In fact, like, Song of. What is it? The Achilles.

B (18:14)

Song of Achilles.

A (18:14)

Song of Achilles. Which I will read because I know people tell me. I love it. Circe, though, when that came out, I was like, couldn't do. Couldn't be me. Hated Homer, hated the myth. He wasn't a fan. I know. So the fact that this worked for me, I think, says a lot about the storytelling and just the author's craft.

B (18:32)

Yeah, it sounds like if you even aren't someone who's typically interested in a mythology retelling or something like that, still give it a try.

A (18:38)

It's juicy, I thought. Plenty of juice.

B (18:42)

Plenty of juice. Well, speaking of a book that has no juice, that's not really a segue, this is. Could not be more different. It is the Notebook, A History of Thinking on Paper by Roland Allen.

A (18:58)

I thought you were gonna. I really thought you were going to review. What's that guy's name? Sparks.

B (19:05)

Sparks.

A (19:07)

John Sparks. The guy who wrote the Notebook. The Notebook.

B (19:11)

Oh, Nicholas Sparks.

A (19:12)

Nicholas Sparks.

B (19:13)

That was so far out of my. Yes.

A (19:16)

What are you talking about?

B (19:17)

Yeah, I do remember Though I'm digressing a little bit, but I do remember reading the Notebook when I was probably too young to read the Notebook, and there were some scenes in it and I was like, oh, so. And that was my segue into literature.

A (19:35)

And ever since then, I was hooked.

B (19:37)

And ever since then, no, that is one that I stand by the fact that the movie is better. But let me get into the Notebook. A History of Thinking on Paper by Roland Allen. So this is exactly what the title suggests. It is a history of journaling, of analog documentation. We see notebooks everywhere we go. Where did this simple invention come from? And how do they revolutionize our lives? Why are they such powerful tools for creativity? And how can using a notebook help you change the way you think? He reveals all of the answers to all of these questions, ranging from bustling markets of medieval Florence to the quiet studies of our greatest thinkers. And he follows a trail of dazzling ideas, revealing how the Notebook became our most dependable and versatile tool for creative thinking. And he tells the Notebook stories of artists like Leonardo and Frida Kahlo, from scientists like Isaac Newton and Marie Curie, and writers like Henry James. We get to watch Darwin developing his theory of evolution in tiny pocketbooks and agatha Christie plotting 100 murders in scrappy exercise books. On the way, we meet a host of cooks, kings, sailors, fishermen, musicians, engineers, politicians and mathematicians, all who use their notebooks as a space for thinking to shape, shape the modern world. In an age of AI and digital overload, the humble notebook is more relevant than ever. So I picked this up because I randomly saw it on one of Ann Bogle's blogs. I was browsing her blog. I was kind of looking for ideas for the show, ideas for book content. You know, she's kind of like browsing her blog, and I was like, what's Aunt Bogle talking about these days? I haven't looked at her blog in a really long time. And she had a recommendation list, I think, just for kind of niche nonfiction. And this was one of the books on there that she recommended in this. In this list of recommendations. And I was like, you know what, that sounds really interesting. So I picked it up and I'm glad that I did because it's really not a typical type of book or even nonfiction topic that I am typically super interested in or drawn to, but I did really enjoy this one. But what I will say is, and you really, really, I think, do have to either be a curious person about anything in general where, like, I just want to know any topic. Sit me Down, I'm there. I want you to take me from beginning to end. You either have to be that kind of person or someone who just really, really is into the niche of journaling, analog tracking, et cetera. It doesn't just start with 20th century diaries or history. It goes all the way back. We're talking 1200s, 1300s deep. It explores how we actually retrieved the history that we have today, simply because people back then, as they are now, in different ways, obsessed. They were obsessed with recording things and I found all of that really fascinating. As someone who almost majored and actually did major in history for a very brief bit of her college career, I love seeing how these analog habits really shaped our understanding of the world over time. And even now, presently in our modern world. I'm going to be real, though. It gets really deep in the weeds. And on some of the chapters specifically where he was talking about like say mathematicians or scientists, I. I could not be less interested in those particular fields. And so those chapters I struggled through a little bit. But then you have chapters about Frida Kahlo and, you know, these other stories that I just loved so much. And overall I think that what this book set out to do is just really interesting and it made those other chapters a little more worthwhile. The author definitely does not skim the surface here. Every single chapter truly is a deep dive into a specific era as he moves all the way from the Middle ages to modern times. I think if you are a history buff who loves the evolution of analog tools and doesn't mind a slow and academic pace, then you should check this one out and try it. I think though, if you are looking for a light like how to guide on journaling, you could maybe stick to YouTube or something else, because that's not what you are going to get here. This was a really interesting look at how we document our lives. And maybe just keep a double espresso handy when you're in the 14th and 15th century chapters and you need a little boost to get you through. I'm really glad that I read this. That is the Notebook A History of Thinking on Paper by Roland Allen.

A (24:46)

Many things to say. I have so many things to say. But I think actually though, believe it or not, this is a good connection with the book that I read, Cleopatra, because how did we find out about her if not for the written text? Right? Like it's not right. Somebody wrote something. And the first line or in the author's note, a papyrus signed in ancient Greek, believed by some archaeologists to be written by Cleopatra. And, like, that's sort of the thing that she think she, being the author, found to create this narrative, and it

B (25:16)

shapes our modern literature.

A (25:18)

Yes. Isn't that. Isn't that fun to think about? And then also, I, you know, have gotten very into commonplace journaling. I say very into. What we mean is I've just started to write things down. Like, hey, this is what happened today. Not journal. Like, this is what's going on in my day. But, like, I saw this fantastic quote from this hockey player. I wrote it down. Or mundane things. I'm like, oh, how many, you know, X, Y, Z do I have at work? Great, let me write that down. It's just so fun to write this down and then look back at it. And it. I. I think for me, my. My barrier always with journaling has been, who cares what I have to say? Like, in terms of, you know, writing to myself, it just never resonated. But the idea, yes, the idea that I can just write down, like, oh, I'll just write things down. Like, quotes that I saw are fun. Things that I see online. Even if I want to save it online, I'm like, well, what happens if I lose, you know, that particular platform? Let me write things down. So I'm really glad that you read this. It sounds really interesting.

B (26:16)

It was really interesting. I'm glad that I. I brought it as well.

A (26:20)

It's fun, too, because we have a fair amount, if you're a nonfiction person, we have a fair amount of nonfiction recommendations to get to you today. So for now, we will dive into our interview with Teresa Black Garnet Books. Enjoy our conversation. I know we did. And then we'll come back and wrap the show up. Hey, everyone. Today we are delighted to be joined by Dr. Teresa Hardaway, the owner of Black Garnet Books in St. Paul, Minnesota. Teresa, welcome to Booktok. Etc.

C (26:49)

Thank you so much for having me. I'm glad to be here.

A (26:52)

Thank you. So if you don't mind, let's kick things off by having you tell our listeners a little bit about yourself.

C (26:58)

Yeah. So I, of course, am the owner of Black Garnet Books and started, like, essentially acquired the store back in 2024 from Dion Sims, who opened the bookstore. Well, started, like, kind of launching it in 2020, and then the fiscal doors opened in 2022. On top of that, I own a design studio, which is the activist and organizing work that I do through that studio. Blackbird Revolt is how I met Dion. And so I have started that design studio back in 2017. So we just celebrated our ninth year and I run the nonprofit wing of Blackbird Revolt called Hatch and Flock. We do a lot of organizing efforts through that and fiscally sponsor a lot of grassroots organizations. I'm also an associate professor of graphic design at the University of Minnesota. So that is all the roles that I have amongst being like, you know, a sister and a friend and neighbor and, you know, all of the things.

A (27:58)

That's amazing. I knew, I knew that. I'm glad you mentioned Blackbird Revolt, because I was like sort of poking around the website and the designs are incredible, so it does not surprise me. Graphic design? Is that what you said? You. You teach? Yeah, that tracks.

B (28:11)

I was just looking at the Blackbird Revolt webpage while you were talking and what a cool organization. Just for our listeners, it's an abolitionist design studio creating designs that shift culture and build power. Very, very cool.

C (28:27)

Yeah. I mean, the connection between Blackbird and Black Garnet is just, is very much in sync just with being an abolitionist design student, abolitionist bookstore. But essentially we kind of frame ourselves at Blackbird as like crafting narratives and stories. And then, you know, at Black Garnet, I'm able to like, you know, sell those and engage in communities in ways that like, you know, here are the stories and narratives that aren't being, you know, necessarily as publicized as, or represented as mainstream ones.

B (28:56)

Really cool.

A (28:56)

Tell our listeners more about what that means being an abolitionist bookstore or about the bookstore itself.

C (29:02)

Yeah, so the bookstore, you know, specifically in store, we have black and brown authors that we carry. Of course, folks can order what they need to online. But we've made it a really deliberate choice to make sure that we are sort of trying to disrupt publishing. You know, as someone who's a published author, you know, understanding like the hurdles that, you know, we had to go through to get books published and to get our stories told is something that like we really hold dear to, you know, our, you know, what our work is at Black Garnet. So, you know, abolition, like this concept of abolition really is not just about, like destroying the system, but really about reimagining and creating a new. And that's kind of what we get to do in these spaces. So it's like not just a bookstore, but it's a community space. We get to, you know, host these events, bring folks in, you know, do a lot of sort of non traditional education in that way to again, uplift stories and narratives that aren't necessarily being talked about or told, you know, in the mainstream. So really about like, you know, using like that kind of creative Vein that I think bookstores offer to be able to connect with community in, like, a really engaging way.

A (30:12)

That's fabulous. I was looking too. You have Garnett Club, the Social Book Club, and it looks like it is three topics that meet once every three months. Fantasy, graphic novel, and abolition.

C (30:24)

Yeah, yeah. And so those are, again, those sort of activated spaces where folks can come in. You get 15% off of the book that we're reading, and folks get to, you know, come and discuss, you know, get your snacks and build community. And so it's a really great way to, like, you know, especially if you are. Have no interest in going back to school or whatever. Like, these are just ways for you to continue to, like, exerc that brain and be able to connect with community. And I think really fun ways. Yeah, yeah.

B (30:49)

That's really cool. I think that now more than ever. I mean, it's always important, but just finding ways like that to connect with your community specifically is a really wonderful thing. And I love that your bookstore is so focused on that.

C (31:03)

Yeah, yeah.

A (31:04)

It reminds me of Call and Response in Chicago. It's in Hyde park in Chicago. We interviewed Courtney last year, and we had sort of similar conversations about the work they're doing in Hyde park in Chicago. But. But loved. I was able to visit that. I haven't made it to St. Paul, but maybe now I can get there somehow. I assume, then. Are you a reader yourself?

C (31:23)

Am I a reader? Absolutely. I think that, you know, when you're owning a bookstore, it's. It does get harder to actually do the things that you love to do, like reading. So when I was looking at some of the questions, I was like, oh, what am I reading? Like, what is. And I think also I'm an academic academic. And so, you know, I think that there's, like, this. This sort of culture that I really want to get into. And I really just started this past year of trying to read for fun because I read in a very, like, prescriptive, like, you know, sort of I have to take, you know, these, like, pieces for other literature that I'm sort of developing. And so I read a lot of nonfiction, a lot of stuff around, like, abolition and justice and black liberation. Those are sort of the topics that I'm, like, really focused on. But for sure, I'm trying to read, identify. Just finished. Well, I. I did read Octavia Butler's parable the Sower, and I started Parable the Talents. Haven't finished that yet. But then I did start reading Can't Get Enough by Kennedy Ryan. And that is like my. Probably my second romance. I remember being in, in college, I did read some romance, you know, by like, you know, some Zayn novels, you know, but like, this is like my first one that I've read that like, hasn't been like a, oh, you have to read this and write a paper or you have to read this and incorporate into your work, you know.

A (32:35)

Right.

C (32:36)

So it has been like, like a really fun experience just being like, oh, you can just read just to read, just to like, relax or like, you know, bring yourself into like a different world or something. And so like, that was a really sweet, like, love story, you know, and book. And I haven't really engaged in something like that for like, I mean, since I was in college, like over 20 years, you know.

A (32:55)

Right.

B (32:56)

Do you feel like even when you're reading for fun, you have an urge or want to write about the book after or, or is this just a complete, complete freedom from that? Like, not even journaling about it or talking about it anywhere? Is it freeing for you to just read and set it down?

C (33:13)

Um, yes, for sure. I think that if I, if I'm. But, but I'm always going to talk about it because, you know, I have, you know, I have meetings with the team, you know, every week or whatever, and so that we always gonna bring something up. It's gonna be like, oh, what? You know, I just read that, you know, so, so, you know, it's always going to be a conversation. It's just like when you read, you know, when Bridgerton came out like this past, you know, you know, I was.

A (33:33)

That was all the talk of.

C (33:34)

With all my teams, like, like, oh, did you see this and that? And you know, and so it's absolutely going to be something like, connects us even further, which is something I really love.

B (33:42)

Yeah. Have you watched all of the Bridgerton seasons?

A (33:45)

Yes.

B (33:46)

Which ones are your favorite?

C (33:50)

Season two for sure is probably number one. I think this one, this past one, Season four is really tied with season one for me.

B (34:00)

Yeah.

C (34:01)

And then season three is a. In.

B (34:02)

Yeah.

C (34:03)

But. Yeah, that's, that's my. Yeah, that's my, My categories, correct. Yeah.

A (34:08)

It came out on the show last week that I have not seen Bridgeton in the number of DMS I got. People are like, tina, you must, you must. Wait, wait.

C (34:16)

You just haven't seen this last season.

A (34:18)

None of it. I don't know the first thing. I don't know the first thing about it. I really don't. It's really. I gotta, I gotta Fix that.

C (34:27)

Truly. Yes, please.

A (34:27)

I have little kids. They're always like, we're watching Peppa and, you know, I gotta work on this. So that is my. My.

C (34:34)

Sure. It's just like people say, I don't read, and it's like, just like, read a couple pages a night. Like, read it episode a night.

A (34:40)

I'm like, yes, I need to force myself to just do something for pleasure. Imagine that. Just, like, turn something on and not worry about, like, oh, can I bring this to the show? Anyway, that's a personal problem, and we're not here to talk about that.

B (34:52)

Watch it while you're doing your spreads.

A (34:56)

Yes. I'm doing a book journal. I'm trying to. I'm behind, but it's been really fun this year. Yeah, like a. Just a book journal and whatever else. But I want to talk a little bit more about your bookstore and, you know, the role of your bookstore and the bookstore in the community.

C (35:10)

Oh, yeah, yeah. So I think, again, around that same topic about, like, being an abolitionist space. We have always shown up in community, like, in. In the ways that we're even doing now, especially with the occupation happening here in Minneapolis and St. Paul and in Minnesota in general. But so we've always had, like, these sort of community spaces or like, ways to. To, like, sort of amplify mutual aid groups and things like that. But I would say, like, right now, people. It was interesting because, like, bookstores were really kind of taking it upon themselves, and like, other, you know, kind of, like retail spaces were really taking it upon themselves to bring community in. In ways that I think added to, like, our collective restoration, added to the safety that, you know, I think a lot of us were trying to feel at this time. Time. And so the bookstore, you know, the. The way that we have to. I think we have a responsibility to show up in community in that way is, you know, sort of like offering some of these things. And one of the ways is, like, with Blackbird Revolt, being a design studio, and like I said I was. We were already doing, like, that type of work. One of the things we do is we print a lot of merchandise that people can either wear or have at the protests or, you know, things like that. And so being able to have sort of the Minneapolis downtown studio space for Blackbird and also having the bookst, we were kind of able to, like, bring a lot of the stuff over. And because people were more. They knew more about the bookstore, they were picking up, like, their protest merch or their, you know, signage and things like that at the bookstore. And so being able to give out those things for free and like, kind of just crowdsource some, you know, donations for those things have been, like, really, really successful and I think has just. Just really emphasizes that the bookstore is a safe place for folks to come and congregate. You know, we're going to be the ones who are going to always talk about. About, like, you know, history and how our history needs to be amplified. And it, you know, we're seeing what's happening in the federal government. So being a place where people can look to. To be like, okay, like, although the world is burning, you know, we can look to, like, these, like, you know, small spaces to find some relief. And I think that that is kind of our role as a community, you know, bookstore.

A (37:25)

It's very inspiring, really. I mean, that is what I think you. We should be doing. I was looking too, on your website and the FAQs. I love what you all had to say about why can I get it for less on Amazon versus, like, in store. And like, the point is. Yeah, I mean, they're. They're doing this on purpose. And, you know, all of the wonderful things that bookstores are able to provide that Amazon, of course, is not.

C (37:46)

Yeah, yeah, we have a store dog. Like, you can't. You can't do that on Amazon, you know.

B (37:52)

Well, it's just the. The safe space. That's something you can't get from that either. And that's a beautiful thing.

C (37:58)

Exactly.

B (37:59)

Yeah.

A (38:00)

What's the dog's name?

C (38:01)

Frappuccino. And I just designed her sticker sheet for the store. I've been like, it's like. It's like. I'm like, I'll get to it. I'll get to it. And the year passes by and I'm like, okay, I need to really get to this. So I just designed her new.

B (38:13)

Her.

C (38:13)

She has a sticker sheet, and there was one for the previous owner's dog, Lola. And so now we have both in the store, which is like a very cute thing, but, yeah, Frappuccino is her name.

B (38:25)

Oh, that's. I love it when bookstores have a pet of some sort. Just really level it up when you are balancing that community role that your bookstore has and that you have with the realities of running this bookstore. Walk us through what a typical day looks like for you running the store.

C (38:48)

So as I had spoken before, I have many, many roles and positions, so the bookstore, you know, I have a really amazing team of folks who kind of handle that those everyday things that they're going to be placing orders and whatnot. I would say Thursday, which is today, is my heaviest, like, sort of bookstore working day. And so I will do, you know, have a few team meetings. We'll talk about all of the things that need to happen. I think a typical day also looks like me emailing folks. I used to do a lot on the event end of, like, you know, who is renting the space, you know, what sort of outside events do people want us to come to? I don't think people understand how many emails we get as a bookstore. And people really get upset, you know, when you don't get to that email within 24 or 48 hours. And it's like, do y' all know, like, if I. We, you know, Mondays, we have off. When we come in on Tuesday, the amount of emails and DMS and things like that that we have is like, is really a lot. And so, you know, I do a lot of sort of that kind of clerical work because the booksellers are in the store actually engaging with customers, actually, you know, checking our inventory, ordering what we need to fill up those spaces, working a lot of the events, you know, that is kind of. That's their role. And so, like, you know, I do a lot of the, you know, work with my business manager on the. The, you know, financial parts of things and just kind of making sure, like, the culture of our, you know, employees and, you know, the store. If there's like, some big changes, like, you know, I have, like, kind of, like big picture ideas. Like, you know, I really wanted a rack for clothes. I was like, we don't have anything for, like, T shirts we hate. We're hanging up on the wall, you know, so. So things like that is kind of what we discuss at, like, our team meetings. And then, you know, I'm just kind of. I think I'm assisting the booksellers. Obviously, they were here before, you know, I acquired the store as well. And so, like, really learning from them has been a big thing these past two years of owning the store. But I would say for sure, it looks like a lot of clerical stuff. I mean, there's a lot of people that need responses today, and I am, like, really trying to help out in that way.

A (40:52)

Yeah, yeah. And I think that's what we're finding. The more interviews we do of bookstore owners and booksellers is like, oh, it's not just reading all day and making fun recommendations to patrons. If only. There's so, so much, though, that goes on behind the scenes and it sounds like you have a great team behind you, which is fantastic and probably why the store is such a wonderful space. I'm wondering what is the most popular genre that you all sell?

C (41:16)

Oh, I probably would say our nonfiction. Nonfiction. And then surprisingly, our cookbooks.

B (41:23)

Oh, that's fun.

C (41:25)

Yeah, cookbooks. People come in and, you know, it's like if we're going to be selling. People know that we sell stories and books by authors of color. You know, they're. It's like they're very interested to see, you know, cookbooks. So that is a. A section that surprised me when I owned, you know, when I acquired the store. I was like, oh, cookbooks is the thing that people want. And it's like, yeah, people really want a cookbook. So yeah, I would say our non fiction people are really interested in like social justice, you know, in, you know, abolition, all those concepts. So our non fiction section, I would say is like one of our biggest. But yeah, cookbooks.

B (41:58)

Are there any particular cookbooks that you have to keep ordering or that that are particularly popular? Popular or is it just cookbooks in general?

C (42:05)

I would say cookbooks in general. I don't think there is like a specific one necessarily. I'm sure my. The book sellers would say something different. They'd be like, oh no, this one and this one. But I just know that that genre has just always surprised me of one that. That sells.

B (42:18)

Yeah, that's interesting.

A (42:19)

I wouldn't not. I would not have guessed that. And then I think though, but I'm over here taking out cookbooks from the library, so like, clearly there is a. A market for that.

B (42:27)

Yeah.

A (42:28)

I'm wondering if you have any under the radar. If you have any under the radar book recommendations that our listeners might be interested. Interested in.

C (42:34)

I don't necessarily know if I have under the radar. I can tell you like some of the books that I am. I think that like those Kennedy Ryan books, you know, I don't necessarily know if it's under the radar though, because that's all right. Is pretty, pretty out there. I would say, you know, some of the other big sellers like that that folks are really engaged with is anything by Toni Morrison. Of course. I think a lot of the Octavia Butler books, you know, I think there was like that sort of incline and those cells because of the parable of the Sower and how it starts off like in the. It was a 2024, you know, whatever year that was that it was that it started. I think a book that continues to sell quite a bit Is the. Is the serviceberry? And so I don't know if that one is kind of, like, under the radar. I don't really know. But that one continues to sell quite a bit. You know, the autobiographies, like James Baldwin, Angela Davis. So those are kind of the ones that I'm, like, seeing. I see a lot coming off of the shelf and us having to make

B (43:32)

readers on a lot of, like, classic authors, too, that people are continuing to come back to.

C (43:38)

That's awesome. Yeah. Which is, like, really lovely to see, and I am happy that we can. We have the space to be able to, like, amplify those voices. Yeah.

A (43:46)

Do you have any. Do you all have Independent Bookstore Day in Minnesota? Is that a big thing?

C (43:51)

Yes, it is. And it's so funny that you said that, because in our meeting today, we spent, like, 20 minutes talking about of the things we wanted to do. And the first Independent Bookstore Day that I participated in was last year. And that one was. It just surprised me. I didn't know the amount of support that Community gives on that day. And so it was a learning experience. I had already scheduled myself to work that day. I don't usually work in the store, but I scheduled myself to work that day because I was like, I feel like y' all gonna need help. And, boy, did I. Did I not underestimate, you know, so this year, we're like, you know, so we ordered. Last year, year, we ordered, like, 50 tote bags. Like, the first 50 customers get, they was. They were gone. And, like, as soon as we opened the door, there was lines. First of all, when we got to the store and we're opening the store, there was already lines. And so we got to the store, like, we're like, hold on. Like, we're not open yet. And, you know, they were gone. Those. Those tote bags were gone. We had, like. Then we had cake pops. You know, we just, you know, 100 this and gone. All gone, you know, like, as soon as we open the doors. And so we're just really trying to. To plan for that this year. But we do get a outpouring of support from Community on Indie Bookstore Day. And that warms my heart to see that. Yeah, but it's like. But, yeah, I'm really trying to, like, amp up the fun piece of what it means to support indie bookstores, you know, so, like, we're going to create our own tote bag with, like, you know, Black Garnet books on it and things like that, and just try to. To get people excited about coming in and supporting their local stores.

B (45:21)

It's a big holiday in the book world world.

C (45:23)

It is. And I did. I had no clue. I mean, people were talking about it, but I was like, you know, okay. You know, and then. Yeah. Yeah. I was like, sure. Cool. You know, I. It was like, it's like the Black Friday of bookstores.

A (45:35)

No, we. My. My family and I. I have two little girls and my husband. We took them to 10 bookstores, because in Chicago if you go to 10, you get 10 off for that year. So we went to 10 bookstores in one day with two little kids, and it was the most fun. The girls still ask about it. They're like, can we do that bookstore thing? She'll. She doesn't know that it's like a one, you know, once a year thing. So she's like that bookstore thing again. So I don't know if we'll make it to 10 this year, but, yeah, we're definitely tempted. It's a really fun time.

C (46:01)

Yeah, I don't know. They publish, you know, they publish what it is that you have to do to. You do these stamps at all the stores and. Yeah, I can't remember what, you know, how many bookstores you have to go to, but, like, they think they get entered into, like, a raffle. And we all kind of provide gift cards to all of our stores. And so, like, that is kind of what. What the. What. What they get for participating this year.

A (46:23)

Smart. Oh, I love that.

C (46:24)

That's cool.

A (46:26)

What do you think? Hand?

B (46:27)

I am. Let's see. How long have we been recording? 20, 20 minutes. Okay. Do you have any other questions? Do you want to go ahead and jump into the Patreon recommendations requests segment?

A (46:42)

We can do that. Yeah. Is there anything you want to talk about or anything you want to make sure that goes out to the main listeners?

C (46:47)

You know, I think it's just. I don't know how we can amplify that. Folks do really need to support our stores, you know, when, you know, yes, we are retail spaces and we are for profit businesses, but we essentially act as nonprofits. Like, there is. There is way more going out with, in terms of how we support community than we necessarily get is as far as, like, tangible, fiscal, you know, support. And so it is really important that when we are hosting, you know, these events or we're bringing in an author, that we see your faces and, you know, we see that.

A (47:21)

That.

C (47:21)

That actual physical, you know, presence and support. And so I would say, like, there are many ways to. To. To support us if you can come to events, if you have authority within, like your institution or your business to purchase a whole bunch of books from us, make your orders through us, your school orders through us. If you're hosting events and you need vendors, us, like, those are all ways that you can support, you know, your local, local indie bookstores. And we can continue to stay around for community. We really are pillars, you know, in our communities. And so it's important that we see your. See your faces and get your support in a variety of ways.

B (47:57)

Thanks for saying that. It's also good to know just the different ways that we can support these stores, too. Like, I wouldn't have thought, you know, buying bullets. Bulk, bulk books. If you're doing something for your organization or for your work or for a school or something like that, that's such a. A good recommendation of different ways that we can support not just your store, but other indie bookstores in general.

C (48:21)

Yeah.

A (48:21)

And you know, our listeners, you can change your. If you are on. What is it? Libro fm. Yeah, yeah. From audible, come to Libro fm. Pick Black Garnet Books as your bookstore of choice. I mean, it's incredible the work that they've done. Also. Bookshop.org now you, though, are you ship from your store. So our listeners, the best way for them to purchase from you and support you is through your store's website directly, I would imagine.

C (48:47)

Yeah. And we also are still set up on Bookshop, so if folks still, you know, if they have an account there and it's easier for them, they can do that. We will still receive a percentage of those sales. But yes, we do ship directly from our store as well.

A (48:59)

So that's a whole other pillar. One of our other booksellers, I like, didn't even occur to me. She's like, yeah, I don't, you know, basically, they don't have capacity to, to engage in mailing things. And I'm like, it never even occurred to me. This is how the world is. Everything is so on demand. I'm like, you have to think about behind the scenes, like packing and shipping. And that's another reason to obviously support, support you guys and all the incredible work and support that you provide.

C (49:22)

Yeah, yeah. And have a little grace with us too.

A (49:25)

100%. Yes.

C (49:28)

We had to make a social media post because February, you know, is Black History Month. And I was like, do you know how many, many inquiries we get during this month? And it's like we are doing events almost every single day in February. And so it's like people are emailing us because they haven't received their book that they just ordered a week ago. And it's like, sir, no, please calm down. We will get to it. But like, please know that, you know, all of our capacities is. Is on the three booksellers that we have in our store. Like, you know, chill.

A (49:56)

And that's a good. That's three is good. I've heard one and two from some stores. So, yeah, it's pretty incredible the work you do. Also the usps, I mean, we're relying on them too, which, you know, that part, however long it gets here, it gets here when it gets here. But you'll feel really good about yourself when it comes through.

C (50:11)

Yeah. And it'll have a cute Black Garnet bookmark in it. You know, we send it with love

A (50:16)

and vibes and literally that. Yeah, we want that. Exactly.

C (50:23)

It's packed personally, you know, so where,

A (50:26)

where can we find your online.

C (50:28)

You can find us online@black garnetbooks.com also on all the social media channels will be at Black Garnet Books.

A (50:35)

Beautiful. And of course, in our show notes, as always, listeners, we will link to their store. We'll link to their social media pages as well as Blackbird Revolt, in case anyone wants to check that out as well. So for now, we are going to transition and our patrons will receive some personalized book requests. We always ask our booksellers if they would be willing to share some book recommendations with our patrons. So, listeners, if you want to join up our Patreon, it's $5 a month, patreon.com booktalk etc to get that bonus content. But for now, thank you so much, Teresa, for coming on the show, for chatting with us and just I feel the, the vibes are coming through the camera. So again, thank you for your time with us today.

B (51:12)

Yes, thank you.

C (51:13)

Thank you for having me.

A (51:15)

But now we will close our show as we always do with our shelf editions. And I have a good one today. As you know, I feel like I have often. What it is. I don't know. I forget. Hold on.

B (51:28)

I know it's good, though.

A (51:30)

What was it, Hannah? Oh, yeah, got it.

B (51:33)

I'm like, I don't think you told me. Would you tell me?

A (51:36)

I don't think so. I told myself, okay. And I'm very excited about this one because this is one that I accepted. An author DM'd me and I typically can't accept all of the pitches that I receive. But for whatever reason, this author sort of told me about their book and I'm like this sounds fantastic. So my shelf edition is one that just came in the mail yesterday, yesterday from New Zealand, which I think is so cool. And the book is I Know the Ants by Lang Lev. And okay, this one sounds so interesting. It is the short pitches. A young woman's life spirals out of control after her childhood best friend publishes a memoir that discusses the tragic events of their childhood. And so the longer version is Mel's life isn't what she thought it would be. She's still entangled in a love triangle with Jacques and Kath that began when they were teens. Her parents are drowning in debt, and she's stuck pulling off identity fraud jobs for her cruel auntie and her auntie's nauseating son, who won't leave Maya alone. But Maya's world truly begins to unravel when she hears her childhood best friend Zoe's voice for the first time in years, being interviewed on the radio about her new memoir, chronicling the childhood attack that left Zoe with brain damage and killed her younger sister. When Mai reconnects with soe, the leader of their childhood friend group known as the Daisy Chain, their encounter kicks off a series of events that culminate in another shocking death, putting Mai squarely in the public eye as past and present collide. Mai starts spiraling after SOE implores her to find out who killed Dayu, a search that leads Mai to uncover what happened that dark day in the woods behind their school all those years ago. I think this sounds really interesting. It's sort of a literary mystery. It explores cycles of trauma and abuse. Abuse. There's things that I like, such as being publicly shamed. There's a cold case. I even like a decades long love triangle. So I feel like this sounds really good. This one comes out over the summer on July 21st. And this is I Know the Ants by Lang Liev.

B (53:36)

Oh, that does sound good. I mean, decades old.

A (53:39)

Decades old drama. Sign me up.

B (53:43)

Oh my goodness. Okay, well, mine has a little bit of a historical historical tie in as well. And that is the Quarter Queen by Kayla Hardy. I got this in the mail from Ballantine Books, which is an imprint of Random House, and it comes out at the end of this month on the 31st. So you will be able to grab this one in a week when it comes out on the 31st. And this one is set in 1843 New Orleans. And the reigning voodoo queen is Marie Laveau, and she is feared by her enemies and followers alike. Her daughter, Marie Lavo. The second is everything that her cutthroat and principled mother is not. Spoiled and entitled with a wickedly rebellious streak and she defies her mom at every turn. But her world is turned upside down when she finds Marie comatose in the bayou, cursed by exiled voodoo king John the Conjurer, Marie's former teacher, lover and grand greatest enemy. As Marie hovers on the brink of death, Ree races to uncover the secrets of her mother's life in search for a cure and gradually uncovers a web of alliances, dangers and deception. And what's worse, Henrique, Ri's long missing childhood best friend, returns as a witch hunter of the church and is tasked with investigating her. With so many enemies circling, including a puritanical minded brotherhood of Alexander alchemists and a slaveholding mayor of the city, Ri must confront the past and face her mother's demons that have now become her own or die trying in the process. This is told in alternating timelines between RE and the present and Marie's rise to power 25 years earlier and is an intimate yet epic portrait of a mother and daughter who have struggled all their lives to understand one another. This sounds really, I don't know, like adventurous and epic, but not in a typical fantasy setting that you always see. And I always love stories about mothers and daughters as well. And this sounds like a really, really unique take on that mother daughter story. So I thought that this one sounded really interesting. I hadn't heard a lot of buzz for it yet, so I thought that I would give it a little shout. And that is the Quarter Queen by Kayla Hardy. And again, that comes out in a week on March 31st.

A (56:02)

Oh, I love the sound of that. Know. All right, well that is it for today. We thank you so much for spending a part of your day with us. Links to all the books mentioned can be found in the show notes and if you enjoyed today's episode, you can help us by following us wherever you listen and by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps us get our show out to new listeners and grows our audience. And don't forget if you would like access to exclusive bonus content and community like our bookstore, browse Bonus Episode. You can join us for $5 a month on patreon.com booktalk Etc.

B (56:34)

If you'd like to connect with us, you can email us@booktalk etcmail.com you can also connect with us both at Booktalk Etc. On Instagram and YouTube. You can find Tinabrec and Hannah at handpickedbooks. Talk to you next week and in

A (56:48)

the meantime, remember, everything's better with books. Beautiful. How's that transition, Jonathan? Good. Okay. I love it.

C (57:01)

Let's more trolling on the.

A (57:02)

More trolling. Jonathan. Oh my God, you would love it. I wish he was here. Where is he? He's. Oh, he's in a training right now for work. Very bold.