This week, we’re celebrating University Press Week, which highlights the extraordinary work of nonprofit scholarly publishers and their many contributions to culture, the academy, and an informed society.
This year’s #UPWeek theme is COMMUNITY, and, for us, that means honoring the people we serve through our mission to publish academic books of high scholarly merit in a variety of fields and to publish significant books about the history and culture of Kentucky, the Ohio Valley region, the Upper South, and Appalachia.
Download your own UPK #ReadUP Bookmark!
We love to publish great books by great authors, but how do we get the books on your shelf? With a little help from our indefatigable partners in publishing: independent booksellers.
It takes a lot of love and passion for books, knowledge, and community to create a great bookstore. Indie booksellers promote new authors, help readers rediscover the classics, and bond community members through events, book clubs, meeting spaces, and even a cup of coffee.
Kentucky is unique in many ways, but one of the things we love most about our state is the number of amazing, dedicated, and energetic booksellers and bookstores across the Commonwealth!
With that in mind, we approached our #Indiebound friends with a few pressing questions about their reading communities, their favorite UPK books, and their favorite karaoke songs. . . . Get to know these champions of the written word, and stop by to snag a new book to #ReadUP!
Our Bookstores and Booksellers who Contributed here:
- Lizz Taylor from Poor Richard’s Books in Frankfort, KY
- Caitlin Fletcher from Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Crestview Hills, KY
- Crystal Wilkinson and Ron Davis from Wild Fig Books & Coffee in Lexington, KY
- Kelly Morton from Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Lexington, KY
Our thanks to everyone who contributed their time and attention to helping us with this post. For a full list of independent booksellers in Kentucky, visit Indiebound.org or the American Booksellers Association.
Poor Richard’s Books, Frankfort
with Lizz Taylor
Find Poor Richard’s Books online here: http://www.poorrichardsbooksky.com
What do you love most about your reading community?
The Frankfort reading community is eager to listen to the recommendations my staff makes for “what their next read could be.”
What is one University Press of Kentucky book (or another university press book) that you love and would recommend?
Crawfish Bottom by Doug Boyd is our top bestseller from the University Press of Kentucky titles. This history of a local neighborhood originally right outside our front door has appeal for those who grew up here, as well as those who have heard the many colorful stories of this neighborhood.
What was the last book you read? Did you like it?
The Pearl that Broke its Shell by Nadia Nashimi. She describes the young woman in Afghanistan trying to use education to advance their lives. A great follow-up to Hosseini’s Kiterunner.
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I would have liked to have been a doctor or detective, but I still do that type of work trying to find the books to suit my customers.
If someone asked you for a random piece of advice, what would you say?
“You have been my friend—that in itself is a tremendous thing.”—E B White from Charlotte’s Web. I love perusing my book shelves and remembering my “old friends.”
If you could go back in history, who would you like to meet and why?
Eleanor Roosevelt for her conviction, loyalty, and strength.
What is your favorite thing to cook and why?
My favorite thing to cook is food for my bookclub, the Absent-Minded Book Club (as we can never remember who is hosting or what we decided to read. I love attempting a recipe that will enhance our latest reading experience.
If you were a superhero, what would be your name and super power? What would you wear?
I could be Wonder-Book Woman as I must wear so many hats running Poor Richard’s Books.
My costume could be old book pages shaped to drape, but then I’d get caught up reading those old pages before I finish the costume.
What was your favorite subject in school and why?
I loved history, as the “truth is always stranger than fiction.”
What’s your favorite joke?
Not exactly a joke, but Mark Twain referenced Kentucky: “I want to be in Kentucky when the end of the world comes, because they are always 20 years behind.”
What’s something most people don’t know about you?
I love to travel, hike and view art.
What’s something you wish everyone knew about you?
I actually like the privacy of my life out of the bookstore, where I am social all day long.
If a movie was being made about your life, who would you want to play the starring role?
I think that Meryl Streep could handle it.
Do you have any hidden talents?
I have some medical background as my mother was in nursing school when I was reading Cherry Ames nurse mysteries as a young girl.
What was your favorite band/musician as a teenager and what was your favorite song?
The Beatles—I even named my daughter Julia after that song. I loved the french included in that piece.
Have you ever met any celebrities?
Robert Penn Warren was a real treat. He said I could call him “Red,” when I didn’t know that he had been a redhead before his hair turned white.
Do you collect anything?
It’s hard to resist books, art and recipes.
What’s your favorite karaoke go-to song and why?
Music is in my head whenever I’m in a good mood. But the selection varies from day to day.
If you could live in any TV show, what would it be and why?
A science fiction show like Star Wars, or Star Trek would be an incredible adventure.
Name three things you can’t live without.
Books, color and peace!
If you could bring any fictional character to life, who would you choose?
Jane Austen is a favorite, as she responds to her world and admits her prejudices.
If your shop had a mascot/spirit animal, what would it be and why?
A curious cat could work if folks didn’t have allergies.
If your shop were a world city, where would it be and why?
We would be located in the middle of Diagon Alley in Harry Potter world. How much fun to explore all the unique shops!
If you could host a book club with any author alive or dead, who would it be and why?
Jane Austen for the reason previously stated.
If your shop were a food, what would it be and why?
Definitely comfort food..maybe as satisfying as apple pie.
Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Crestview Hills
with Caitlin Fletcher
Find Joseph-Beth Booksellers online here: www.josephbeth.com
What do you love most about your reading community?Wild Fig Books & Coffee, Lexington
with Crystal Wilkinson and Ron Davis
Find Wild Fig Books & Coffee online here: http://wildfigbooks.net
William DeShazer for the New York Times
Learn more about Crystal, Ron, and Wild Fig Books & Coffee in this recent piece from the New York Times on neighborhood bookstores!
What do you love most about your reading community?
we love their enthusiasm for good books and emerging writers.
What is one University Press of Kentucky book (or another university press book) that you love and would recommend?
the man who loved birds with UPofKy
What was the last book you read? Did you like it?
the graphic novel, Beautiful Darkness. it was wonderful!
If you could go back in history, who would you like to meet and why?
ron – the first african to see a slave ship off the west coast so he could warn him to the coming danger and to take appropriate action against them.
crystal – ida b. wells because she remains an inspiration.
What’s something most people don’t know about you?
we’re both introverts.
Follow the adventures of the Wild Fig “Barista Barbie” on Instagram!
If a movie was being made about your life, who would you want to play the starring role?
sam jackson as both of us.
Do you have any hidden talents?
crys – trapeze artist
ron – trained assassin for the nigerian secret service.
What was your favorite band/musician as a teenager and what was your favorite song?crystal – prince, starfish and coffee
ron – funkadelic, maggot brain
Name three things you can’t live without.
tv remote… a car… werther’s originals.
If you could bring any fictional character to life, who would you choose?
luke cage and spongebob because they would be awesome together.
If your shop had a mascot/spirit animal, what would it be and why?
luke cage and spongebob (see above)
If your shop were a world city, where would it be and why?
luanda, angola because it is so lovely.
What is your favorite thing to cook and why?
waffles. because… “waffles”.
What was your favorite subject in school and why?
art for ron because he paints.
english for crystal because she writes.
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
ron wanted to be an architect.
crystal wanted to be a journalist.
If someone asked you for a random piece of advice, what would you say?
dont be poor.
Have you ever met any celebrities?
crys – bell hooks
ron – haki madhubuti
Do you collect anything?
african sculptures.
What’s your favorite karaoke go-to song and why?
crystal – starfish and coffee, because she loves prince
ron – black steel in the hour of chaos because he’s a public enemy fan.
If you could live in any TV show, what would it be and why?
the 100. because we could build a life in the hills.
If you could host a book club with any author alive or dead, who would it be and why?
tie among gayl jones, toni morrison, and james baldwin because they are all great writers with excellent social insights.
If your shop were a food, what would it be and why?
avocado toast because we make a great one at the store!
Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Lexington
with Kelly Morton
Find Joseph-Beth Booksellers online here: www.josephbeth.com
What do you love most about your reading community?
The diversity and enthusiasm!
What is one University Press of Kentucky book (or another university press book) that you love and would recommend?
The Birds of Opulence by Crystal Wilkinson. Plus anything about bourbon.
If you could bring any fictional character to life, who would you choose?
The Lorax. Someone needs to speak for the trees.
If your shop had a mascot/spirit animal, what would it be and why?
We kinda do – he’s a plastic dinosaur named Bob. No idea why.
If someone asked you for a random piece of advice, what would you say?
Listen carefully to everything I say, then completely ignore it and go with your gut.
If you could go back in history, who would you like to meet and why?
My grandfather while he was fighting in Germany during WWII; he died before I was born and it would be amazing to meet him and tell him what his service in Germany would lead to.
What’s your favorite joke?
Two cows in a field. One cow says to the other, “Are you worried about that mad cow disease?” Other cow says, “No, I’m a helicopter.” ZING!!
Do you have any hidden talents?
Nope. Both of them are pretty obvious.
What was your favorite band/musician as a teenager and what was your favorite song?
Anything by Destiny’s Child. Also the VeggieTales theme song. I was a strange teenager.
Have you ever met any celebrities?
Yes – if anyone asks, Jason Segel is like, the nicest guy ever.
What is your favorite thing to cook and why?
Pie because even if you mess it up, it’s still delicious.
If you were a superhero, what would be your name and super power? What would you wear?
I don’t have a clever name, but I’d be able to breathe underwater and talk to sea creatures. I’d wear scales and seaweed – I’m beginning to think I’m just a mermaid.
What was your favorite subject in school and why?
Lunch because food. But also art because that’s a different kind of sustenance. And English because I loved reading.
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I never really decided. I still haven’t. The nice thing about books is that you can become anyone you want in the pages.
What’s something most people don’t know about you?
I’m an introvert.
What’s something you wish everyone knew about you?
I’m an introvert. Seriously. Let me go hide.
If a movie was being made about your life, who would you want to play the starring role?
Someone completely unknown so they could get their big break!
Do you collect anything?
Elephants, Harry Potter books, and scars, but the last one isn’t intentional.
What’s your favorite karaoke go-to song and why?
“Santeria” by Sublime because I know all the words.
If you could live in any TV show, what would it be and why?
Bob’s Burgers because I’m pretty sure Gene is my spirit animal and I think I’d fit in.
Name three things you can’t live without.
Espresso, cute dresses, and my wiener dog.
If your shop were a world city, where would it be and why?
Cincinnati should count as a world city! Because we’re big enough but not too big, friendly but not overbearing, and we’re obsessed with buckeyes.
If you could host a book club with any author alive or dead, who would it be and why?
Barbara Kingsolver because I bet she’d bring all sorts of treats to share.
If your shop were a food, what would it be and why?
A really, really big just-baked cookie because we’re warm and friendly.
What was the last book you read? Did you like it?
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead. Yes, in a my-heart-is-crushed-and-I’m-dying-but-ok-with-it kind of way.
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