
The Curious Cat Bookshop Podcast
The Curious Cat Bookshop is the independent bookstore of Winsted, CT, offering curation, selection, expertise, and a place to meet with bookish friends at our book clubs, author events, and storytimes. This podcast is our in-store events feed, combined with remote interviews with authors who live elsewhere. We help you satisfy your curiosity in a community of readers--bringing the authors of Connecticut to the world, and the authors of the world to northwest Connecticut.
Episodes
14 episodes
No, bookstores don't get their books from Amazon
Where do bookstores get their inventory? That’s a big question for anyone thinking of starting a bookstore—the first question Stacy sees from anyone even dreaming about starting one. It’s also a question that many readers don’t know the answer ...
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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25:34

What does the book publication process look like?
How is a book made? What is the full LIFE of a book? Many writers don’t know what the editorial process looks like in a publishing house—or what happens in the design, marketing, and sales departments while the editorial process is happening. J...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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32:56

How does a bookstore owner pay herself?
How do you make a living when starting a business like a bookstore? Curious Cat Bookshop owner Stacy Whitman discusses the current state of our business, how she makes a living, how she started her first business (Tu Books, which became an impr...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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24:44

Six things I'd do differently
What would Stacy Whitman, owner of The Curious Cat Bookshop, do differently today if she were starting her bookstore from scratch? She's got a few ideas, mostly about preparation and community. Are you thinking of starting a bookstore or would ...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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24:11

Bonus episode: "My whole life is a lesson in perserverance": author Anne Broyles
We're bringing you a bonus episode of The Curious Cat Bookshop today: the recording of our event from August 2024 interviewing picture book author Anne Broyles about her writing life and how she ended up writing picture books for children after...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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50:02

Building community and celebrating queer joy: author Kimm Topping and poet Leah Juliett
Author Kimm Topping, Ed.M., is an educator, writer, and historian dedicated to preserving LGBTQIA+ history. Their first book, Generation Queer, is a nonfiction YA highlighting the stories of LGBTQIA+ youth activists (and was published and edite...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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40:48

Keep telling the stories: an opportunity to really see who we are: author Yamile Saied Méndez
Yamile Saied Méndez is known best for her YA novel, Furia, which was chosen for Reese's Book Club and won a number of awards, including the Pura Belpré Award. Stacy knows her best, though, as the author of the two middle grade novels they worke...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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1:02:06

Never lie to the reader: Megan Collins on writing a twisty thriller
In a special book club edition of The Curious Cat Bookshop Podcast, we recently hosted thriller author Megan Collins shortly after the release of her newest thriller, Cross My Heart, about a woman who becomes obsessed with the husband ...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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48:55

I Want to Write a Magic System that Feels Like an Anxiety Disorder: Erin M. Evans on Epic Fantasy
If you've ever wondered about how to create a world, the thought process that goes into getting all the moving pieces of an epic fantasy together, and how to create your own unique world, Erin M. Evans is a writer to listen to. Stac...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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1:00:29

Is AI stealing your content? Lori Fena & Martha Brockenbrough on consent, control, compensation
What does all this generative artificial intelligence mean for authors, artists, and other creators? Is anyone in the AI world paying attention to ethics or accountability? Join us for a discussion of these issues and more with acclaimed author...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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1:01:45

So you want to start a bookstore! Six things you need to know when starting your bookstore business
I'm sure you've seen the meme running around bookish circles: the bookish urge to quit your job/retire, start a bookstore, and read all day. But if you go beyond the dreaming, what does it look like to start a bookstore? Stacy Whitm...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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33:44

Author talk: historical fantasy author Susan J. Morris
In our interview in October 2024 with fantasy author Susan J. Morris, we discussed her novel, Strange Beasts, which debuted last year to great acclaim, published through the new Bindery Books imprint. In this fresh-yet-fami...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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53:04

How to achieve your writing goals with editor and author Lisa Mangum
Have you always meant to get started on writing that book? Have you been asked to write an article and you didn't know where to start? Editor and author Lisa Mangum is the expert you need to help you get started and stay on track with your writ...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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57:23

Writing a book out of spite: New York Times bestselling author Beth Revis
If you love books set in space, with magic, or with kissing, Beth Revis's books are for you. She's written more than 20 books for adults and young adults alike, including the Star Wars novel The Princess and the Scoundrel. What's it li...
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Season 1
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Episode 1
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55:33
