Where I Left Off

Romancelandia with Staci Hicks

• Kristen Bahls • Season 2 • Episode 22

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Ever wondered what it takes to turn a Bookstagram passion into an indie romance bookstore? Staci Hicks, owner of Romancelandia, an online bookstore, shares her journey and we get to chat about our love of indie authors!


For links to the books discussed in this episode, click the link here to take you to the Google Doc to view the list.

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Kristen Bahls:

Welcome back. I'm Kristen Bahls and you're listening to Where I Left Off a Bookish Podcast, and today I'm joined by the owner of Romancelandia Bookstore, Staci Hicks, and we are talking about her online bookstore, Romancelandia. Thank you for coming on, S taci. Thanks for having me. As the owner of a bookstore. I'm sure that your TBR is absolutely endless. What are you currently reading right now?

Staci Hicks:

Oh my gosh, I have a couple of books going right now. I'm actually reading Sarah Adams.

Kristen Bahls:

Oh, that's a good one, the one with the dog, yes, yes.

Staci Hicks:

Yes, she has seizures. Yeah, it's really good.

Kristen Bahls:

Are you reading the new version, or is it her original self-published?

Staci Hicks:

I believe it's the original, self-published.

Kristen Bahls:

Okay, nice. Yeah, yeah, I think the new one might be coming out, maybe this month or next month. She basically like added in some chapters and like redid it because Dell's like republishing with her and stuff.

Staci Hicks:

So yeah, that's exciting, that's so exciting. Um, and then I'm also reading A Novel Love Story yes, by Ashley Poston.

Kristen Bahls:

Yeah, oh, how was that one?

Staci Hicks:

It's really good. It's really good. It's kind of Hallmarky, but I kind of like it.

Kristen Bahls:

Yay, I need to pick that one up. That's on my like short list for sure.

Staci Hicks:

Yeah, it's so good.

Kristen Bahls:

So what do you love most about romance novels overall?

Staci Hicks:

Oh my gosh, I like the passion that the authors have, especially Indie authors. I feel like they're not that they're more passionate than traditionally published, but I feel like it kind of you can get the feeling a little bit more of their passion, and they're usually longer than traditionally published. So you're getting a little bit more details, a little bit more information, sometimes a little more than you want or need, but also sometimes more that you want. So I just really enjoy the passion that they have in them. And there's dozens and dozens of tropes.

Kristen Bahls:

True, you have a lot of options to choose from. Yeah, exactly. And I feel like romance authors are just some of the nicest people. I guess they don't gatekeep as much as other authors. They'll just talk to you all about their book and their characters because they're just so excited to share it with you. And, like you said, especially with Indie authors, it's nice being able to like actually talk to them about their books because you know they'll respond to your DMS and stuff. Yeah, they're genuine and, like you said, if I pop in their DMS, like you're more than likely going to get a response, because they're excited that you're excited yeah, and it's just fun.

Kristen Bahls:

Yeah, you just feel the energy whenever you get to um get to chat with them. Yeah S o your bookstore is relatively recent. When did you open?

Staci Hicks:

We opened May and so we've only been open for a little over a month. We're pretty much online. Um, mostly we do a couple pop-ups here and there. We have some scheduled. We really really want to do a bookmobile or a brick and mortar. So that's our end goal, but for right now we're just kind of enjoying the options that we have.

Kristen Bahls:

So what inspired you to open Romancelandia?

Staci Hicks:

I have been on Bookstagram for maybe like four or five years and just have really grown to, you know, be in touch with the romance authors, and I really like the community and it's kind of just been an escape for me. And, so I just one day I was like I think I want to own a bookstore. My husband's like, okay, let's do it. And I was like, okay, cool, so it's just kind of like on a whim, and we just kind of ran with it and I was like, okay, cool, so it was just kind of like on a whim and we just kind of ran with it and he's been incredibly supportive and I couldn't ask for anything more. Aw.

Kristen Bahls:

What made you choose to focus exclusively on romance novels and niche down?

Staci Hicks:

Romance is kind of just what I've been interested in, what I like reading, what I've always really read, and then I broke it down even more and I only have Indie romance in my store, so you won't find your traditionally published. I just really want to support the Indie authors and I'm really passionate about it. So, I know it's kind of like a interesting niche, like to have, but I don't know I felt like it was needed. There's only you know so many places that you can get Indie books, so I want to be one of those places.

Kristen Bahls:

I love that. I mean, yeah it, like you said, it's really hard sometimes to find, um, Indie authors and get to actually, like, hold their physical book in your hands, and so it's, it is really nice to get to focus on them. I'm sure it's a lot and hard to explain, but like overall, what is kind of the process, processes that went into starting Romancelandia and what were some of, like, the biggest challenges you kind of faced along the way? Oh, my goodness.

Staci Hicks:

Okay, so each state is different, so, depending on where you live, they'll have different. You know regulations and different certifications that you'll need, which I had no idea. I thought I could just sign up and get an LLC and build my website and call it a day. That was not the case. Each department that I called they're like oh no, you need this form, you need this form, you need to fill this out and this certification. I was like what? I mean, it was lots of meetings at different um you know county offices and talking to different people and being put on hold and you know the. You know sending email to this person, but you really needed to send it to this person and it was, you know, quite a headache, but at the end it was worth it and I'm excited to see where it goes and excited to see where it came from.

Staci Hicks:

And now it's out in the world. Yeah, I know I'm so excited and sometimes, like I'll do pop-up events and people are like, oh, I saw you online or you know, I saw a message that you know you were here and I was like, oh my gosh, that's so cool Because you know you put it out there and you kind of hope that people see it, but you don't know who actually sees it. So that was exciting.

Kristen Bahls:

What has been the most rewarding part so far of opening a bookstore.

Staci Hicks:

Seeing the excitement from the authors. So I'm excited and to see them be excited makes me more happy. Because you know, yeah, they can sell it to big box stores and stuff. But when they say, oh my gosh, that's my book and I see it on your shelf, or I see my book at your shop, or you know, one of your pop-up shops or you know, or so-and-so you know, tagged me, they said they picked up this book from your shop. Like, their excitement is what fuels me because that's why I'm doing it. I'm doing it for them. I'm not doing it to become a millionaire. It's never going to happen, but I'm doing it because I'm passionate about it and because the authors are excited and they want their book out in the world and I want to help them.

Kristen Bahls:

And your store is more of a curated collection of kind of Indie romance authors. So it's not the same as just like trying to A, pick something on Kindle Unlimited which you never know what you're going to get if you're just randomly picking without recommendations or or it's not like a big box store to where you know, like you said, there they may stock like one cut, Like the Trouble of Love an Ink, for example.

Kristen Bahls:

They may stock one copy of that, even though it's an incredible book and you're going to pick up a novel love story because that's the one that's in front of your face. So you almost don't get a chance as an Indie author if you are in a bookstore.

Staci Hicks:

And it's sad because a lot of the Indie authors you wouldn't even know if you're going to like the book until you pick it up. Like you said, they could be sitting right next to each other and just because you've heard the other author's name, you're more likely to pick that one up. But with me I'm stocking things that you probably haven't even heard of, and if you have that's fantastic. But you know otherwise you probably haven't heard of them and that's my goal is to get them you know out in the public more so that if they are in a big box store and you see them, you're like, oh my gosh, I heard about them, I want to check it out, or whatever.

Kristen Bahls:

Yeah, I'm sure that they really, really appreciate that. What are some like new initiatives that you're kind of planning on doing for the bookstore coming up?

Staci Hicks:

I. So today, actually, I launched Ink and Indie, which is an author meet and greet, and so I'm super excited. It's always nerve wracking. You launch something and you're like people are going to like it, are they going to vibe with it. You know what's going to be the outcome and so far it's been, uh, really rewarding. So I'm excited about that.

Staci Hicks:

Um, we have about 20 authors that are going to be coming to Maryland. Um, and that was another thing that I really wanted to do was I that's where I live is Maryland and, um, we don't really have a lot of Indie bookstores and we don't really have a lot of exciting events for readers. So that was one of my goals within Get Indie was to bring the readers to us instead of us having to go, you know, across the country and try to track these authors down. So, yeah, so I'm doing that. Um, we're also doing a summer reading program, which started last weekend, but there's still time to sign up. Lots and lots of prizes, and that's exciting. I've got quite a few things up my sleeve that I can't really say anything right now, but just know that I will keep a watch on Instagram.

Staci Hicks:

Yeah, yeah, just follow me on Instagram. Things are going to be revealed shortly. There might be some hints on my events page on my website. Yeah, I'm excited, I've got some things up my sleeve and I really hope that you know it takes off.

Kristen Bahls:

Have you been to a lot of book signings yourself as your time as a bookstagrammer?

Staci Hicks:

I actually have only ever been to two. Which ones did you go to? I just went to a local one with Lucy Score last year, which was super exciting. I stood in line for like almost three hours to like talk to her for like two seconds, but it was still really exciting. I met some really cool people. And then I went to Spark in the Park, which is a local romance meet and greet kind of, and they had local authors there and that was exciting.

Kristen Bahls:

Well, like you said, I mean the authors they kind of come to their very specific like bookstores, so it seems like they just kind of go to the same places and if you're not on that route then it's really hard yeah, something, unless you want to go and like drive or fly to somewhere like Book Bonanza or Steamy Lit Con or any of those that are right, which are really cool, and I'd love to do that, but I also want to bring them here. Exactly, that sounds like so much fun to have all the authors and a summer reading program.

Kristen Bahls:

You know you hear a lot about summer reading programs for like children, but you know you don't hear about as many adult options, so that's nice to have an adult option.

Staci Hicks:

Yeah, I was jealous that's why I did it. I mean seriously, in all honesty. I mean you know you remember doing it as a kid probably, and like all the cool things you got to do. I mean I have a son and he's doing it right now with his, with our library, and it's, it's fun, you know, and I want the adults to be excited too, cause you're reading like that should be celebrated, that's exciting you know.

Kristen Bahls:

That's so cute. Yeah, my mom was a librarian, so I definitely did all those, all those things. Aw. So how, like what is the process or how do you go about selecting the romance novels that you're going to stock? Do you have like specific criteria that you tend to focus on?

Staci Hicks:

They have to be romance and they have to be Indie. Um, I tend to pick things that I would want to read because I'm. I want the readers to know my passion behind it. I want them to know why am I stocking this? Or, you know, is it a good book? You know, when I do an event and somebody asks me, have you read this book? And I'm like no, and they're like, well, should I read it? You know, am I excited about it? Should I be? Then I also can create a relationship with myself and the author and get to know them on a personal level and then be like, hey, I haven't read this book. They're a really, really cool person, they're really excited about their book and you should check it out. So I just, you know, I tend to pick things that I would want to read.

Kristen Bahls:

Well, yay, so it really is like your recommendations whenever you're buying a book from the store. Yeah. Are there any like sub genres of romance that you find particularly popular with your customers right now?

Staci Hicks:

The spicier the better. I know people are always like can you give me a spicy book? And I'm like, okay, but like are we talking? You know open door, closed door. You know how spicy are we talking. You know open door, closed door. You know how spicy are we getting here? Um, and I noticed that the spicier books are tending to fly off the shelves faster.

Kristen Bahls:

Yeah, I feel like, especially with um the DMS, I get it's either like give me a really spicy book or give me a completely closed door, like no spice at all, like there's almost not um as many requests for an invitation. It's funny, it's very interesting. Are there any emerging authors or new releases in romance that you're really excited about right now? There, there's so many. There's a lot coming out right now.

Staci Hicks:

Yeah, there's so many there's. Yeah, I mean I'm trying to keep track of what's coming out and it's so hard because some authors release multiple books a year and I'm like trying to stay on top of it and that's probably one of the hurdles I have is trying to be like, okay, I got to keep track of, like, like what the new book is going to be. Harriet Ashford, who I see behind you, she's a debut author, her book just released and her book, I'm noticing, is getting some publicity, which is fantastic for her. She's a sweetheart. Bianca Miller is another author, that's newer. Willa Lane has a dystopian book coming out, I believe oh, I hope Willa's listening and she's not mad I think it comes out in September, maybe the end of August. That's quick, yeah, so she's got her second book coming out in August, I think. Yeah, there's quite a few, quite a few. I was talking to Ann Einerson today and she's got a couple that she's working on and I'm like, oh my gosh, this is exciting.

Kristen Bahls:

I know Indie authors are amazing and they can just crank their books out.

Staci Hicks:

They can Well, and what I enjoy is that they're not your cookie-cutter book, Like you know what I mean. Like there are some traditionally published books that you're you know. You notice that they're this technically they're a different book, but they feel like the same book. It may be a different occupation that they have or a different age range, but with Indie I feel like it's more broad and you're gonna get a wide variety of topics and you're gonna. You know, like you were talking about Sarah Adams with me earlier and she wrote the book about seizures, but she also writes so many. She just has so many different ideas, I feel like, and I just they push the bounds.

Kristen Bahls:

I agree, and I mean, of course. You know traditionally published authors are held to such tight like genre conventions that it does sound all the same after a while, whereas Indie authors, they can add a little bit of a genre mashup or do something different. I mean as long as, as long as you get your happily ever after, it's a romance and you're pretty much good to go.

Staci Hicks:

Yeah, don't give me a, don't give me a book that doesn't have a happily ever after. And I'm not, I want to make it, you know, apparent that I'm not bashing traditionally published, because I have some authors that I love, love, love their writing and I think that any author is fantastic for being able to put everything that's in their head onto paper. That, to me, is incredible. I just have a passion for Indie.

Kristen Bahls:

It's nice to just be able to give them a voice. I know I have a couple books at your bookstore that I'm looking at. I'm like, okay, okay, I'm going to grab them. I was going to ask what advice would you give someone who is looking to open their own niche bookstore.

Staci Hicks:

Go for it, don't give up. Seriously, because there were so many times where I was like, oh my gosh, are they seriously going to make me do this again? Are they going to make me fill this stupid form out? Are they going to do I really have to do this, or whatever? And my husband's like do you want it? And I was like yeah, he's like, then you need to do it, go for it. And I was like, okay, fine, so just go for it. I mean, there's going. It's not going to be easy at all. If you go into a thing and it's going to be easy, it's not, and that's with any business. It's never going to be easy. There's always going to be something that comes up.

Kristen Bahls:

I'm sure that that will encourage so many people, and your husband sounds like a rock star. Um, and do you have any final thoughts or any messages that you would like to share with the listeners, especially those who love romance novels?

Staci Hicks:

Yeah, I mean, just, you know, try something new. You know, even if you've never heard them before, just try them, and you know you don't have to shop with me, if you don't want to, you can shop anywhere. But just you know, try something different that you haven't, you know, ever heard of, and give it a try. Because, honestly, had I not done that, I don't, you know, I don't think I would be where I am today, because you know you'll never know unless you try.

Kristen Bahls:

I agree, and you also have, in addition to books, you have some merch and bookmarks and stickers. Um, what kind of other things do you offer in addition to the physical book?

Staci Hicks:

I have some puzzles. Um, I have some like bookshelf, like decoration puzzles I don't even know what you would call them craft kits. You can build your own bookshop. Um, I have tote bags, bookmarks, book sleeves, stickers, all kinds of stuff.

Kristen Bahls:

Oh nice, it sounds so cute. What I've seen is very, very cute um and I'm sure that you're always, always, adding to it. Yeah, of course. I need to place my order right now. That's what I'm here for. Well, that's it for today. Thanks for listening to Where I left off a Bookish Podcast. You can visit Romancelandia through the link in the show notes and also make sure to follow their social media for all new release updates, which will also be in the show notes and tune in next time. Thank you.