Paper Defiance

  • Shaqueal runs Our Watts Bookshop

    In this episode I interview Shaqueal Atkins of Our Watts Bookshop in Watts, Los Angeles. She’s opening her bricks&mortar bookshop in just a couple of months!

    Thanks for listening to this thirteenth episode. If you enjoyed this episode, consider leaving a rating or a review, or just tell someone else about it! You can find paper defiance on Twitter as paperdefiancepod. On Instagram, as paperdefiance. And on Facebook, it is Paper Defiance Podcast. We’re also on YouTube!

    This podcast is created and produced by me, Alexandra Pierce. The music is called Loopster, by Kevin MacLeod; you can find the attribution at paperdefiance.com.

    Music: “Loopster” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

    , , , , , , , , ,

  • Sue is the CEO of Clunes Booktown

    In this interview, I’m doing something a bit different: talking to the CEO of Clunes Booktown.

    Thanks for listening to this twelfth episode. If you’re listening to this before March 25, you’ve still got time to get tickets and get to the festival! Personally I am super excited to see Sheila Fitzpatrick live. So, if you enjoyed this episode, consider leaving a rating or a review, or just tell someone else about it! Twitter: paperdefiancepod. On Instagram: paperdefiance. Facebook: Paper Defiance Podcast. We’re also on YouTube! 

    Music: “Loopster” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

    , , , ,

  • Jeannine runs Harriett’s and Ida’s Bookshops

    In this episode I talk to Jeannine A. Cook, who is responsible for Harriett’s Bookshop and Ida’s Bookshop. (I get a bit starstruck, so forgive some giddiness…).

    Thanks for listening to this eleventh episode. And if you think I’m not amused and bemused by talking to someone who has also featured on Oprah and in Vogue, well, think again. If you enjoyed it, consider leaving a rating or a review, or just tell someone else about it! Twitter: paperdefiancepod. Instagram: paperdefiance. And Facebook: Paper Defiance Podcast. We’re also on YouTube! 

    Music: “Loopster” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

    , , , , ,

  • The Avid Reader in pictures

    All images c/ The Avid Reader.

    , ,

  • Fiona at The Avid Reader

    In which I chat to Fiona from The Avid Reader in Brisbane for this first episode of 2023!

    I haven’t done a transcript for this episode because I’m really not sure whether they’re being used. So if you have used the transcripts or know someone who likes them, please let me know – you can email me at paperdefiancepod at gmail dot com. As well, if you’d like to tell me and the world about a bookshop you love, send me a short audio recording to paperdefiancepod at gmail dot com, and you may hear yourself featured at the end of an episode. 

    If you enjoyed this episode, consider leaving a rating or a review, or just tell someone else about it! You can find paper defiance on Twitter as paperdefiancepod. On Instagram, as paperdefiance. And on Facebook, it is Paper Defiance Podcast. We’re also on YouTube! 

    Music: “Loopster” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

    , , , ,

  • Episode 9: The Hellenic Bookservice (pictures)

    All images courtesy of The Hellenic Bookservice. Facebook; Twitter.

    YAY LOEB.

    , , ,

  • Episode 9 transcript: the Hellenic Book Service

    Alex

    Welcome to Paper Defiance, a fortnightly podcast all about indie bookshops and their owners. My name is Alex, and I am recording this on Wadawaurang land, in Ballarat Australia. It’s exciting to have you join me. 

    Today’s interview is with Monica, who at 56 years in the bookselling business is the longest-standing person in the business I’ve spoken to so far. Let me repeat that: she started the Hellenic Book Service 56 years ago. Our chat ranges over how she got into bookselling, some of her experiences in doing so, and the fact that Virgil is still popular although if you ask me I couldn’t tell you why. Also we get in a Black Books reference. 

    I should note that Monica’s audio does go fuzzy once or twice, and there are occasionally some voices in the background, but I trust that nonetheless you’ll find the interview as absolutely fascinating as I did.

    Just before we jump into the interview, two bits of housekeeping. First, a reminder that you can find not only audio but also transcripts of every interview, and pictures of each of the shops featured, over on paper defiance.com . And second, the podcast is taking a short hiatus over the summer – my summer, that is, you northern hemisphere folks. So let’s call this season 1. Season 1 has featured 9 bookshops – two in the US, two in England, two in Australian capital cities and three in regional Victoria. The tenth episode was of course my chat with Garth Nix, about his experiences in the book trade and his novels about booksellers who also use magic. So we’ll reconvene for season 2 in February. And if you have a favourite bookshop you’d like to tell people about, send an audio message  to paper Defiance pod @gmail dot com and you might find it included in an upcoming episode. 

    Now, over to Monica.

    Monica  

    My name is Monica Williams. I used to be Constantinou before I was married, which is – that’s why it’s a Greek name. And the bookshop is called Hellenic Book Service which I started in Charing Cross Road in 1966. 

    Alexandra  

    1966! Monica that’s, I have a lot of questions about what you’ve just said. Firstly, 1966! That’s a long time. 

    (more…)
    , , , ,

  • Episode 9: The Hellenic Book Service

    In which I talk to Monica about the 56-year-old Hellenic Book Service.

    Fifty six years!

    See next post for a slightly edited transcript.

    , , , ,

  • Episode 8: The Neverending Bookshop (pictures)

    Images from Annie at The Neverending Bookshop. Facebook, Twitter.

    Annie with her mum and sister:

    , ,

  • Episode 8 transcript: The Neverending Bookshop

    Alex

    Welcome to Paper Defiance, a fortnightly podcast all about indie bookshops and their owners. My name is Alex, and I am recording this on Wadawaurang land, in Ballarat Australia. It’s exciting to have you join me. 

    Today’s interview is with Annie, the owner of the Neverending Bookshop, and those of you who know me may be impressed that I’ve waited this long to interview someone whose main focus is science fiction and fantasy. But here we are at last. Annie has been just had her seventh anniversary running the Neverending Bookshop, and we have a wonderful discussion about why it’s called that, and about rebranding to being a feminist activist genre bookstore and the fact that some people feel like they’re allowed to comment on that, as well as a whole range of other things about running a book store. I should note that unfortunately for you people in the Seattle area, the amazing silent reading night with hot chocolate bar that Annie is hosting for the winter solstice is already sold out, so you have missed your chance. Which does mean that we all just have to organise our own. And for those of us in the southern hemisphere that wouldn’t usually be what we’re interested in for December but since where I am, as I record this, it hasn’t cracked 10 C in a good few days and we had hail yesterday – well, who knows what mid December will be like. Could be snow, could be a heat wave. Annie also mentions the US mid-term elections, which shows you when we recorded, and of course that’s now all over with for better or worse. 

    Before we get to Annie, I should also remind you that on the website, paper defiance .com, you’ll find not only audio but also transcripts of every interview, and pictures of each of the shops featured. So if you know someone who might be interested in these bookshops but who for whatever reason can’t do a podcast, you can still access what we’ve been talking about at paper defiance .com. 

    And now, over to Annie. 

    Annie  

    Hi, everyone, my name is Annie Carl. I’m the owner and operator of The Neverending Bookshop in Edmonds, Washington, United States. I don’t know if this is international or what. But I’ll designate I’m in the United States.

    Alex

    It’s such a cool name for a bookshop. How did that come about?

    (more…)
    , , , , ,