Solidifying Your Bookstore in the Digital Age
Default / 25/05/2021

The digital age struck a major blow to brick-and-mortar bookstores. The number of traditional bookstores, including major chains like Borders, has dwindled over the last decade. Many will point to the rise in popularity of e-readers and Amazon delivery services. In certain respects, a niche, hole-in-the-wall store is a thing of the past. However, smart branding and positioning are key elements that allow stores to keep their lights on despite digital encroachment. Diversifying Your Brick-and-Mortar Bookstore Traditional bookstores are not inherently obsolete. The reality is, printed books and independent stores were thriving as recently as 2017. Some of these stores were even out-performing digital competitors. The result was that even Amazon went as far as to open a brick-and-mortar store to sell their products. There is a market for these stores, but they need to have the right pull. Denver’s BookBar is a bookstore that does it well. The indie bookstore and wine bar married two appealing elements: a bookstore for wine enthusiasts and a wine bar for book shoppers. The store’s niche environment offers a social experience that clients would otherwise miss at home. Combining the two also restores a previously dismissed sense of community through events that connect…

Series Spotlight: Cargo Literary
Default / 03/12/2020

Cargo Literary Magazine showcases personal development through travel. They do this through stunning photography, intriguing stories and evocative poetry as well as beautiful digital artwork and a book review. I recently reviewed Issue No. 14  One of the photo essays with its gorgeous photography was very moving! In this issue, one of the essays was by Fabrice Poussin, and he had offered up ten breath taking photos along with a short statement about the piece. The photo essay was about the American West. There was one other photo essay, and it was by Sherri Harvey  Digital Artwork in this issue was by Michael Paul. There was a short statement by the artist discussing his work, including how he began. He has offered up seven pieces of work collectively called Illustrations. There is another artist, Willy Vecchiato, who has shared his own work which are photos and in another class than Mr. Paul’s.  There are three Creative NonFiction stories provided in this issue. I, unfortunately, wasn’t able to read more than a few words of each pne, but I found I am wanting to go back again to complete them! The authors are Dustin Solberg, Thatcher Carter and Amanda Summer.  I love poetry, and this issue had three poems to enjoy!…

Literary Companion: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
Default / 31/08/2020

Twain’s “(The) Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” is notable for many things, including its unique position as the first novel to feature contemporary slang in the first person. While the book is well-known for its frequent use of an ethnic slur, to the point of having a character named “[expletive] Jim,” it also serves as a satire of the American South by comparing that region to what it was like two decades prior.  Travel fans will note that this particular story also involves a lot of adventure along the Mighty Mississippi River, the second-longest river within the United States of America (the USA’s longest river is the Missouri, by less than 200 miles). This winding river allows Finn and Jim to see many different parts of the country while sharing their insights about the world.  For those unfamiliar with the story, it begins in a fictional Missouri town, St. Petersburg. Judging from the description and geography of the area, it is likely that Twain based this town on Hannibal. After a run-in with Finn’s shiftless father, he is dragged to Illinois but escapes to Jackson’s Island along the Missisippi. While in safer surroundings, Finn runs into friends and hears that Jim wants to head…