Today is Meet a Bookseller Monday, and we’re proud to introduce bookseller Ryan Elizabeth Clark of Gibson’s Bookstore in Concord, New Hampshire.
How did you get into bookselling?
I stumbled into bookselling! I was looking for a job after graduating college with a degree in English Lit, and decided to apply to the cute indie bookstore on a whim. They happened to be hiring and the rest, as they say, is history!
What do you love most about being a bookseller?
I love absolutely everything about being a bookseller, but probably my favorite part is finding the exact right book for a customer. It’s a special kind of magic, recommending a book and seeing their face light up and knowing you may have just handed them their new favorite book.
What do you love most about your bookstore?
I love the feeling people get when they walk into Gibson’s Bookstore. It’s a big store, but it feels cozy and warm. It feels like the heart and soul of downtown Concord, NH.
What are you listening to right now?
I just started listening to The Binding by Bridget Collins!
What audiobooks would you recommend or are among your favorites?
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss feels like you’re sitting by a fire, having a drink with Kvothe while he tells you stories. Wanderers by Chuck Wendig is one of those stories where the scope keeps getting bigger and every time you think you’ve figured out what the plot is and what the climax will be, it zooms out a little more and there’s a new perspective, and Dominic Hoffman and Xe Sands do a fantastic job with the narration. And I would be remiss if I didn’t mention The Night Circus and The Starless Sea, both by Erin Morgenstern, two of my absolute favorite novels and audiobooks of all time.
Where / when do you listen to audiobooks?
I have a 45-minute commute to work, so I listen to my audiobooks in the car! It makes the drive so much more fun.
What is your favorite thing about audiobooks through Libro.fm?
Everything! I love that Libro.fm supports Indie Bookstores, I love that Libro.fm shares Advanced Listening Copies with booksellers, I love that Libro.fm has such a massive selection of audiobooks! Libro.fm is the best.
What do you do when you’re not selling books?
When I’m not selling or reading books, I’m usually hanging out with my family! I’ve got a two year old daughter, Cordelia, and a three year old Australian Shepherd, Fenway, so I have very little free time anymore, but when those two go to bed, my husband and I like to watch shows and movies together!