Y’all I’ve never worked with a more thoughtful, articulate, and respectful group of people. Since i can’t share any @nationalbook.bsky.social news yet, I thought I’d introduce you to my fellow nonfiction judges! @tiyamiles.bsky.social @rajpatel.org @criveragarza.bsky.social and Eli Saslow

Cool moments this week: Elder LGBTQIA+ friend coming to say hello & buy a book, talking with an elder about caring for his wife at the end of her life, a pre-teen who gave me a LOOK about how few Octavia Butler titles we had on hand, another reader doing a happy book dance. Community matters. ❤️

This summer has felt like one of the longest for those of us who own & work for small businesses. In the face of small businesses closing left & right in our community, I have to gently remind you that we can’t do this without you.

So excited for our August open mic featuring Rob Sturma!

Funny story… the day before the OKSDE meeting where RW was playing porn, my bookseller texted me demanding we get more “Ryan Walters probably hates this” stickers. I placed the order. Then this. Sigh. So anyway. This GWP sticker available next week!

So excited to work with these remarkable humans!! www.nationalbook.org/submissions-...

PEONIES. 8:30 - 10:30. IYKYK.

Gentle reminder that now is the best time to support local, minority-owned businesses AND LEAVE THEM A REVIEW! You can really raise their online reach for free, plus negate bigots who might feel emboldened to single these businesses out with review bombs. p.s. reviews with pics get more "weight" 😉

Economic blackout? Let’s celebrate! Current plan: 1. pay what you can for used books 2. Pay cash & we’ll donate $$ saved to a local charity 3. Celebrate community with a Roaring Twenties Make-Rent Speakeasy from 8:30-10:30 (Suggested donation $1/each book you bought from a billionaire in 2024)

I had the opportunity to speak with some fantastic booksellers in Portugal last spring: open.spotify.com/episode/6fBi...

Y’all… I’m an indie bookseller so it’s a bit sacrilegious for me to recommend a book sold only by the billionaire, but this one was legit. Spicy & feminist with complex characters while being spicy af. I read this in 2.5 hours and will likely read it again!

Tomato soup, grilled cheese sandy with mayo, and a Pepsi. #heaven

One of my favorite customers/n8v writers is Geary Hobson. He comes in to my store & stands in front of my Native People Native Stories section and counts coup. Joy Harjo, Oscar Hokeah, Tiffany Midge… these are just a few of his former students. #storytellersaresacred #ndnlit

No but… I REALLY want to read this. Please & thank you.

If you learn nothing else during Native American Heritage Month, learn this. Sovereignty is critical for our continued cultural rebuilding.

Y’all I’ve been reading A LOT this last week or so. (Anybody else??) Another book I finished reading this weekend is @waub.bsky.social ‘s Moon of the Crusted Snow. Dystopia/love story/indigeneity & it comes together in a way that’s somehow both comforting and unsettling. libro.fm/audiobooks/9...

Just finished an ALC (advanced listener copy) of Servant of Earth by @sarahhawley.bsky.social - and holy crow do I ever need book 2 to release SOON! (ACOTAR meets Hunger Games y’all.) libro.fm/audiobooks/9...

Just fyi: I’m Chickasaw and one of the ways I reclaim my language is using certain words whose meaning is easily understood via context clues. Here are a few: Chokma’shki = thank you Chokma = Hey/hello Chipisalacho = until we meet again Heche Okchamali = Green Feather = name given by my auntie

Ok, Bluesky, do your thing. I’ve got 4 phenomenal storytellers coming to the bookstore tomorrow and (like the night before every event I’ve ever hosted) I’m nervous that no one’s going to show up! 2pm, Norman Oklahoma. Traci Sorell, Joseph Erb, Andrea L Rogers, & Kim Rogers.

Bookseller life: sometimes your kid brings you a thimbleful of tea at bedtime.

Tonight is Silent Book Club (likely to be closely followed by book club therapy*) and Saturday is FULL of storytellers & fun. *any resemblance to actual therapy is accidental

Just a couple of bookshop pics to say, “hi!”