Shelf Made Stories
Hear how people are turning bookish passions into thriving businesses on Shelf Made Stories.
Listen each week to hear from people behind bookstores, book buses, book trucks, subscription box curators, and paid book clubs. We're talking to the trailblazers turning pages into profits and stories into thriving communities.
From cozy corner shops to wheels-on-fire bookmobiles, we uncover the tales behind the shelves (and steering wheels!).
Whether you're a book lover, an aspiring entrepreneur, or just here for a good story, expect laughs, bibliophile tips, and a whole lot of bookish banter.
- Update frequency
- every 6 days
- Average duration
- 22 minutes
- Episodes
- 25
- Years Active
- 2025
The Story Behind the Creepy Book Club
What started as a casual Facebook group during the pandemic has grown into a thriving online community, complete with sold-out retreats, book boxes, author chats, and even a true crime podcast.
Ashley…
Why Julia Whelan Is the Meryl Streep of Audiobooks
If you’re a book lover, chances are you’ve heard Julia Whelan’s voice… and probably more than once. She’s narrated over 700 audiobooks, from Gone Girl to The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, and has be…
She Ran Out of Books on Vacation. 6 Months Later, She Owned a Bookstore.
What happens when a book-loving mom of two runs out of reading material on vacation? If you’re Kelly Vann, you open a bookstore.
We chat with Kelly, founder of Lit Actually, a romance and fantasy boo…
This Book Club is All Smut and Spice, No Shame
Did you want more smut?
I’m chatting with Alexa Sierra, co-founder of Nashville Smut, the spicy book club-turned-brand that’s taken over Music City and the internet one smutty read at a time.
What sta…
How One Mom Turned a Meme Into the Ultimate “Bookcation”
What if you could spend an entire weekend doing nothing but reading, relaxing, and connecting with other book lovers? I’m talking no chores, no to-do lists, and no interruptions?
That’s exactly what M…
She’s Selling Books in Someone Else’s Store
What if you could run a bookstore without actually owning a storefront?
In this episode, we chat with Alicia Boemi, the founder of Lakeside Books in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. It’s a charming indie books…
She Grew Her Engagement Without Playing the Algorithm Game
In this episode, we’re diving into the heart of Bookstagram with Kristen Cioffi—aka Kray’s Book Club. If you've ever wondered how to grow an authentic, engaged community online without selling your s…
She Put a Bar in Her Bookstore and Went Viral
What happens when you mix romance novels, DIY spirit, and a full bar? You get The Plot Twist, Denton's most Instagrammable bookstore, and a total book lover's dream.
In this episode, Darci Middleton s…
How to Break Into Audiobook Narration
Ever wonder who’s behind the voice in your favorite audiobook? Meet Marni Penning, an audiobook narrator with over 350 titles under her belt (plus a spicy secret pseudonym).
In this episode, Marni sha…
Turning a Love of Food and Books into a Business
If you're into food, books, or doing good... you’re going to love this one.
Kimberly Behzadi is the founder of Read It & Eat Bookshop, Buffalo’s first culinary bookstore that mixes reading, eating, an…
Inside a Romance Only Bookstore on Wheels
What happens when a lifelong romance reader, punk rock enthusiast, and photographer turns a trailer into a moody, mobile bookstore? You get Slow Burn.
Tonya Pineda, the creator behind Slow Burn, a jet…
How a Nurse Built a Bookish Self-Care Empire
Since releasing this episode, ShelfCare Box has gone out of business.
She went from 0 to 1,000 subscribers in one year.
In two years, she was bringing in one million dollars in revenue.
Five years ago,…
How One Bookseller is Riding the Romantasy Wave
Come inside Flame & Fable, the charming new romantasy bookstore that's quickly becoming a community hub in Lakewood, Ohio.
Owner Nickie Lui opened her doors just over a month ago, but she's already ou…
Turning a Smutty Side Hustle into Steamy Bookstores
What started as a spicy subscription box packed in her kitchen is now two thriving bookstores, a merch line, and a romance convention.
In this episode, Melissa Saavedra, founder of Steamy Lit, shares…
When Readers Want Your Bookshelf Decor
Karley Schaper shares how her handcrafted bookshelf decorations accidentally launched a thriving business from her small Oklahoma town, "where there are more cows than people."
In this episode, Karley…
She rips books apart. BookTok made her do it.
This week’s guest is literally tearing books apart... and people love her for it.
What started as a casual scroll through BookTok turned into a side hustle-turned-small business for Valerie Brand, all…
The Bookstore That Became a Book Hotel
What happens when a real estate-savvy book lover stumbles upon a shuttered bookstore already zoned for hotel use? You get The Bookhouse Hotel, a boutique literary escape where guests literally sleep …
Converting Your Audience into Book Box Subscribers
Listen in as author Lou Emerson reveals how she transformed her love of cozy crime fiction into a subscription box business.
Lou shares how she delivers an immersive reading experience by pairing mys…
The New York Times Made His Reading Parties Explode
Four friends in their 20s realized none of them were reading books like they used to.
So, Ben Bradbury hosted a casual gathering on their rooftop, invited some friends, put together a playlist, and e…
4 Ways This Book Blogger Makes Money
Jules Buonocore reaches 800,000 monthly readers and has built multiple revenue streams through her book blog, The Literary Lifestyle.
In this episode, she reveals her journey from attorney to book in…