Happy Monday! We’re excited to introduce Gary Lovely, bookseller at The Book Loft of German Village in Columbus, Ohio.
How did you get into bookselling?
I started working as a satellite intern for Write Bloody Publishing in 2009, which jump-started my love of the industry and the next year I got my first job at an indie bookshop in Kentucky called Coffee Tree Books.
What do you love most about being a bookseller?
I love interacting with customers. Watching a customer’s eyes light up when they walk in this shop for the first time brings me so much joy. The Book Loft is a magical place and to help spread that magic is a gift.
What do you love most about your bookstore?
The Book Loft is the largest indie in the mid-west, with spiraling rooms that take up an entire city block, so there’s a lot to love. But for me, our walkway/garden is my favorite. Each year our general manager plants hundreds of flowers in our walkway and we couldn’t be more proud.
What are you listening to right now?
Winter’s Come and Gone by Gillian Welch
What audiobooks would you recommend or are among your favorites?
My favorite audiobook is Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders. The voice casting is incredible.
Where / When do you listen to audiobooks?
Mostly in the car on the way to the bookshop!
What is your favorite thing about audiobooks through Libro.fm?
Our store is proudly independent, so I love that Libro.fm supports indie bookshops.
What do you do when you’re not selling books?
I own an indie publishing company called Harpoon Books. Our first title just came out.