Episode Transcript
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Jordan (00:09):
Welcome to the bookish
hour with just your.
She recently bought the cutesttruck and gave it the most
ultimate, stunning and, shall wesay, romantic makeover ever.
Now she's cruising through thesunshine filled streets of LA in
style.
Please welcome to the podcast,stephanie.
Stephanie (00:29):
Hi, hi, thank you so
much for having me.
Jordan (00:33):
Oh, no, thank you so
much for coming on.
A little backstory I metStephanie at Romantasy BookCon
in LA which would be like acouple months from now, like
past and she handed me thecutest bookmark for your truck.
And, granted, I didn't think ofit then, but then, after I came
(00:56):
back home from the conference,I thought it would be so cool to
have her you on the podcast andI'm so excited.
But, yeah, okay, so we can diveon in.
I do like to start off eachepisode with something that has
that's good, that has happenedto you.
Do you have anything that youwant to share?
Stephanie (01:18):
oh, okay, so I've
been volunteering with the
friends of the Library for likeeight months and they invited me
and the truck to be a part ofthe parade that happened this
past weekend and I wasn't sureif I'd get the truck in time.
But its first like public debutwas like in a St Patrick's Day
(01:39):
parade, like where I grew up,and I actually used to march in
that parade when I was younger.
So it feels like very fullcircle, like when I was a kid
growing up here.
Jordan (01:49):
Oh my gosh.
Yeah, I saw your likeInstagrams and it looks so cute.
You're so cute driving thetruck too.
I love it.
I also the truck is so cute too, like physically cute.
Cute because, like you know how, like you think of like a, I
think of like a truck truck.
Stephanie (02:09):
so when I actually
saw pictures of it, I'm like
this is a cute one, this is cuteyeah, I, like, was very
committed to this style of truckit's like a volkswagen, I think
it's called like a transportertruck and so committed that I
learned how to drive stick shiftso I could get this like cute
truck.
Jordan (02:32):
Wait, that's cool though
, so now you can drive stick.
Stephanie (02:36):
I mean kind of enough
to get around, like I don't
think I'll be taking like longroad trips, but enough to get by
.
Yeah, I definitely hired likean elder European man to just
like yell at me until, like, Ifigured out how to drive it.
Jordan (02:54):
But it worked.
That's amazing.
I mean, you got to do what yougot to do.
Yeah, for the books, yeah, okay.
So, like my good, good week,we'll just do really fast.
I ordered this like sweat setsunday cherries, which I've
never heard before, but I foundthem on instagram and it came in
(03:16):
yesterday, so I'm so excited Icould be wearing it right now
but oh, you're wearing it.
Stephanie (03:22):
I love that.
Jordan (03:22):
I yes, yes, I like I
love a good sweat set.
That that's my thing.
But I work from home.
It doesn't.
Yeah, yeah, okay, so we candive right on into the questions
.
I'm so sorry, talking is hardtoday.
Stephanie (03:43):
I'm sorry.
Jordan (03:48):
Talking is like hard
today, so like, I'm sorry.
Okay, so how and when did youdecide that you wanted to have a
romance book truck?
Is it something you've alwayswanted to do, or is this
something like recently thatcame to you?
Stephanie (03:57):
Yeah, I would say.
About a little over a year agoI was.
I live by the beach, so I waswalking by the beach and I saw a
truck very similar to the one Iended up getting for sale and
at the time I didn't take downthe information, but that day I
was thinking really deeply like,oh my gosh, I want to do
something that brings in my loveof books for my future.
(04:21):
I've also been freelancing forthree years now and I am like I
enjoy marketing, but it's not mypassion, that's what I
freelance in.
So I was like I want to dosomething I'm really passionate
about, but maybe bring in mymarketing.
So I thought really hard maybeif I bought this cute little
(04:42):
truck and did something withbooks.
Of course I never found thattruck again, but it just started
off the idea and I just startedresearching it and I really
debated also getting a store.
But I live in Los Angeles so Ifeel like the rent is so
expensive.
It would be a very big risk andas someone who has been
(05:02):
freelancing, I've had a veryflexible schedule.
So I feel like I want to liketiptoe into having like actual
times and places where I need tobe because I to work from home
and I dictate my own schedule.
So I think the truck is like anice way to test out the idea of
selling books and making likemy love of books something that
maybe can like be a revenuedriver and hopefully pay some
(05:26):
bills.
But if not, at least I haven'tcommitted to like a full store
and if it is something I lovedoing, then maybe one day a
store that's really cool, okay,yeah, so that was actually gonna
be like my next question.
Jordan (05:41):
So this is um a truck
like as in, like a bookstore,
like you're selling books, likeyou go to places and then you
sell.
It's like a pop-up type thing.
Stephanie (05:51):
Yes, so I am going to
try to work with local
businesses, hopefully womenowned, like from BIPOC owners
perhaps, and from marginalizedcommunities, and just try to pop
up in their parking lots andjust set up like a schedule.
Hopefully, like every month,I'll have like certain places
(06:12):
that I'll be at, like maybeevery first Monday, and like
just have a set schedule ofplaces that I'll rotate through
in LA.
Jordan (06:21):
Oh my gosh, that would
be so cool.
I feel like that's so, like popups are like so into, so like
you knowing, like whether you'reyou have a schedule, or,
honestly, even if you didn'thave a schedule, I think that's
very cool.
You like hype up, like hey, I'mgoing to be at this place at
this time, from this time tothis time, and be there, be
square.
Stephanie (06:43):
Yes, yes, I didn't
want to start reaching out to
people to set up everything likeschedule wise until I had the
truck in possession, and I'veonly had it with me for a week,
so I feel like I'm stillfiguring that out logistically,
but I do already have like oneevent planned.
Jordan (07:01):
Oh yeah, so I know it's
kind of okay, I'll save that.
I'll save that one for thatquestion, but that is so cool.
How did you come up with thename?
And do you mind pronouncing thename for me, because I did not
want to mess that up?
Stephanie (07:20):
It's the Floria and I
don't know.
I'm going to be honest, I don'tknow if that was like a great
choice in name.
I feel like coming up withnames is so hard.
Jordan (07:32):
I love that name.
I love that name.
I think it's so, I think itfits the truck so well.
It's so like like pretty andlike flowery and your logo.
No, I love it.
I love it, don't question it.
I love it, I love it, don'tquestion it.
Stephanie (07:47):
I love it.
Okay, that's one person.
One person says it.
I feel like there's just all.
Most bookstores and bookishthings have fun book puns for
like their names, but I justreally could not think of one
that like wasn't alreadysomething in existence and I
have been doing marketing for awhile, so I did something with
(08:07):
this name before for one of myclients, but I owned it and I
was like I came up with thatname.
I really like it and I'veworked for brands in the past.
I used to do marketing forbeauty where the brand names,
like were made up words and itwas just like the branding that
like built the brand.
I was like it's okay if theword is like a made up word,
(08:28):
because it is a made up word.
Jordan (08:32):
Oh my God, wait, that's
kind of cool, and then it's like
your word.
Well, yeah.
Stephanie (08:37):
Yeah, it's a, it's.
It is very close to like theFrench word for flower, that's
like the lure.
Jordan (08:44):
It's very close to like
the French word for flower,
that's like fleur, but I justadded the girly part at the end,
like the I-A.
Honestly, I feel like thatmakes it.
It's just, it seems so likeflowery and like dainty in a way
, and I think it's so cute.
I also just love your logo.
So did you also then come upwith the logo, or was that
(09:05):
something you did?
Oh, no, no.
Stephanie (09:11):
So you've been
probably on book social media
for a lot longer than me.
I started posting on socialmedia about books just to see if
I even wanted to talk aboutbooks every day, like before I
got serious about this booktruck and it turns out I do and
I made like so many friends likefrom book social media.
Like, if you're questioning it,you should definitely do it
(09:32):
because book people are so niceand I've just been documenting
my journey from like very early,when I wasn't even sure if I
would open a store or a truck,and a girl that I was connected
with on TikTok.
She messaged me when I wasasking for like recommendations
on branding and she also has abook Instagram and a book talk
(09:54):
and she's like I'm a brandingdesigner and so we're friends
who read together, friends whohave similar book tastes.
But she also has a reallyawesome branding agency and it's
called digi design dig withthree i's and she's like amazing
.
Her name is maria.
If you need branding.
Jordan (10:15):
She's great, I love that
I, I feel like I I see like all
these bookstagrammers havebranding.
I don't have anything besideslike bookstagram, so I don't,
but I like want to do brandinglike not me.
Stephanie (10:31):
Like I want branding
for me done, but I don't have
anything for it, but I thinkthat's so cool, like that's
really cool, yeah, and I feellike for her it was like, oh,
maybe I like can't pay as muchas like a huge like business,
but it's like a passion projectfor her because we share a love
(10:52):
of books and like we just likereally connected on social media
.
Jordan (10:59):
Oh, that's like really
cool.
I definitely agree with you inthe book world.
Cool, I definitely agree withyou.
In the book world, I feel likeeverybody's so nice and
everybody wants to just uplifteverybody.
So I feel like when we allshare our love of books, it's so
great.
Just love it.
Stephanie (11:17):
Yeah, I feel like
I've been reflecting on it a bit
lately, just thinking throughmy journey getting ready for
this, and I've just beenthinking like, oh, my whole
adult life I've been wonderinglike how do people make friends
as adults?
And like now I'm realizing like, oh, I just had to like yap
about books, like in public, andlike I would find other people
(11:38):
who wanted to do the same.
Jordan (11:41):
And then we all come
together for books.
Yeah, like for RomanticiCon,exactly like because I think
that's what really likeconfirmed it for me, because I
went to RomanticiCon by myself,so I didn't have anybody that I
was like going with, but I feellike there were so many people
that also went by themselves oreven like were separated from,
(12:05):
like the person they were with,and I I feel like waiting in
those lines like you just likeeverybody just wants to talk
about books, so like you didn'tfeel alone, or like I didn't, at
least yeah, yeah, no.
Stephanie (12:19):
I've at this point
gone to four book conventions
and Romantic Seacon is the onlyone we went to with a friend.
All the other ones I went bymyself and I met like the best
people right Waiting in line orlike just at all the different
gatherings that theseconventions usually put on.
Jordan (12:36):
Yes, I feel like so many
people are like they just want,
like they don't, they're opento chatting, so, like if you
were to just like go up tosomebody, no one's like
standoffish, which is what Ireally like.
Everybody's like oh my God,yeah, like, come, come in, yeah,
okay, so how is driving thetruck?
(12:57):
And then I know you kind ofanswered this, but do you plan
on taking it out of LA?
Stephanie (13:04):
Okay.
So driving has been a littlebit of a challenge, I would say,
but not terrible.
It's actually easier to drivethan I thought.
I have been practicing drivingstick shift, like I mentioned,
probably for four months now.
I started taking lessons and Ihave one friend who has a stick
(13:25):
shift car, so we would meet likeevery week for dinner and I
would drive her car around, butthis car is obviously a lot
bigger.
So I think actually the issue Ihave now is more like okay, I
can drive it around and I canpretty much park it, but I can't
like get out of parking spotsthat well and it's a bit harder
to like reverse and figure outhow big the back is.
(13:46):
So it's just getting used tothe length of the car now, and
LA is honestly pretty big.
I asked for suggestions ofplaces to pop up at and I got so
many on threads and I'mrealizing like, oh, wow, some of
these places are very far fromme even though we're all in LA.
So I think I'll probably startlike with a smaller radius
(14:11):
around me, maybe like 10 miles,and then work my way out to
longer drives, but I would liketo take it out farther these
girls that I met who throw bookretreats.
They invited my truck and me toa book retreat.
I think it's like maybe an hourand a half from me and I really
(14:32):
want to bring the truck but I'mlike I need to work up to that
traveling that much of adistance.
Jordan (14:38):
fair well, I feel that
that's so cool, that would be
cool.
And then like, just yeah, Iguess opening the truck there.
But oh, that's so cool, thatwould be cool.
And then like, just yeah, Iguess opening the truck there.
But all that's like I'm like soexcited for you, I'm like so
excited for all these things.
You'll have to come back.
I know I already am like I knowI will be back, like, um, my
mom's side of the family she'sactually like they live out
(15:01):
there, um, but in Orange County.
But that's like a hot skip anda jump, like I can drive to la.
So I'm like waiting.
Stephanie (15:09):
I have to, and I am
at the very southern part of la,
so parts of orange county issometimes closer to me than like
parts of la, so I do think I'llventure that way too, ooh, okay
.
Jordan (15:23):
Okay, yeah, my grandma's
house.
Granted, I don't really know LAvery well.
All I know is no traffic.
It takes us about 40 minutes toget to LA, but that I don't
know.
I couldn't tell you where in LAthat is, I just know that's
(15:45):
like our go to what we say.
Stephanie (15:48):
I feel like
everything in LA is about 40
minutes from each other.
Jordan (15:52):
No matter the distance.
Stephanie (15:53):
I feel like that's
what everyone says.
Okay, then, nevermind, ignoreme, you have the right timing.
Right, it's 40 minutes anywhere.
Honestly.
Jordan (16:04):
Okay, perfect, but like,
but, like I, but I can't like
wait to like come back and Ihave to like time it now for
like when you have an event.
Stephanie (16:11):
um, oh, I'm hoping to
have a couple of events per
week, like once I get reallygoing, maybe by the summer, yeah
, okay okay, that would be.
Jordan (16:21):
Yeah, oh, my gosh.
Um, do you have, I kind of like, a question off topic.
Do you have like the certain,because I'm I know you mentioned
like having like um author,like certain authors, like, uh,
like authors of color and, um, Idon't the acronym, the like oh
(16:42):
yeah, yeah, bipoc, that one, sosorry, um, having like those,
like authors, I think, on thetruck.
Do you have any in mind thatyou already know that you're
going to get or have gotten forthe truck for like book-wise?
Stephanie (16:57):
Yes, well, I've been
ordering inventory for the truck
as a first, and that is in aweek, a week, um and I do want
to have like a good mix of likediverse authors, like LGBTQ
authors as well as like BIPOCauthors, and I've just actually
honestly been speaking to a lotof like people on book social
(17:21):
media about theirrecommendations for books in
general, but also for likeauthors from marginalized
communities.
So I am trying my best to likecurate so there is something for
everybody, but I feel like inthe very beginning, I also want
to include a lot of books that Ilove too, just because, like I
feel like I'll be easier to talkabout.
(17:41):
So I think it'll be a mix ofbooks that from authors that I
haven't read yet but like comehighly recommended from people
on social media, and then myfavorite books.
Jordan (17:54):
Oh, okay, I like that.
I like that, okay.
So what advice do you have forsomeone that wants to open up
their own book truck or dosomething similar that you are
doing?
Stephanie (18:07):
Yeah, I would say you
should definitely do it.
It seems like very intimidating, but I feel like the I also
have not been talking about ittoo too much on social media.
Like I feel like I only juststarted like using the Floria's
handle, um, because it just feltlike overwhelming to talk about
(18:27):
until the truck came into mypossession.
So I was like what if itdoesn't happen?
Um, but the few times I postedabout it, I feel like I've
gotten so much like support andlike kind wishes and from the
community.
So I feel like people lovebooks, people love love, and
like I think it's definitely notas daunting as I thought it
(18:51):
would be.
There's definitely so much thatI don't know.
So, like maybe ask me in like acouple of months like what
other advice I would give, butfor now I would say like if you
have the idea, it's definitely,definitely, totally doable, and
I feel like you'll just like belearning along the way, like I
am, like I'm figuring out thingsas I go but I also feel like
(19:12):
that's like what's so fun.
Jordan (19:13):
It's like you know how
they say the?
It's not the destination, it'sthe journey.
So I feel like this whole likejourney leading to this, like
book truck and all these events,I think that's what's like so
cool.
Stephanie (19:27):
Yeah, and I
definitely feel like with
something like a truck, likeit's really on your own schedule
.
So if things don't go like asfast as maybe you're hoping,
like you're so in control oflike when you want to have
events, so like if I'm not readyto like have more after the
next one, like I can dictate myown schedule.
(19:48):
There's no like real pressure,it's just me like keeping myself
accountable to what goals Iwant to hit.
Jordan (19:56):
And that's so true.
So it definitely seems like alittle less like daunting than
having like a store, likeopening your own bookstore up,
where I think like there's a lotmore like rent and like
overhead and other things thatyou have to take into account,
where I think a book truck is alittle more manageable and
(20:18):
easier to figure out thosethings, but not to say that you
couldn't venture into expandingand then having a bookstore
that's like the same thing andthen you still drive the truck
around a like bookstore that'slike the same thing and then you
still drive the truck around.
Stephanie (20:33):
So I feel like this
leads to so it can lead to so
many different pathways for youand in whatever direction you
want to go in yeah, I thinkstore is definitely something
that once you set like an openday, you really had to have all
the things ready to go, whereasI feel like I'm just like soft
launching this truck, like Ihave one of it and we'll see how
(20:55):
it goes and see what else Imight need, what I probably
haven't even thought of, like Ihaven't driven around the truck
yet filled with books.
So we'll see how that goes nextweek, and then I think there's
so many ideas that I have that Ifeel like will just be a good
starting point to continue toexpand on.
I really want to do a lot withcommunity and events, because I
(21:19):
think things like Romantic EconI feel like book lovers just
want a way to connect with eachother and I think there could
just always be more events, andI personally would love to
attend more events and Ipersonally would love to attend
more events.
So I think if you're doing abusiness like this, you could
definitely create it the waythat you want and, especially
with the truck, you have theflexibility.
Jordan (21:41):
Oh, most definitely.
Stephanie (21:50):
Okay, so now we can
get into what upcoming events do
you have with the truck thatyou want to talk about?
Yes, okay, this will havealready passed by the time the
episode is up, but the firstevent is also.
I'm so sorry, is my jog likereally loud?
Jordan (22:03):
It's so cute.
I hear the barking.
It is so cute.
You want to be on the podcast.
Stephanie (22:10):
I think he, um
somebody's he wants to be on the
podcast, I think he.
I live in a little communityand I think somebody's probably
at the door.
Hold on, I'll just tell him.
I think he's coming, okay,sorry, okay, so the first event
will have already passed, but Ihave been volunteering with the
Friends of the Library shop foreight months and they're just so
(22:34):
kind and I feel like this.
I didn't think it would lead toanything, I just thought it
would be a fun way to like dosomething I'm passionate about.
And they're throwing authorpanels with local authors every
other month and because I wasdoing a romance book truck, they
decided to do one that wasromance themed, hoping that my
(22:55):
truck would be there in time.
So they invited me and my truckto be there.
There's five local romanceauthors Three are traditionally
published and two are indieauthors.
So it's like a really fun mix.
And I will be moderating whichI've never done anything like
that either and then the truckwill be moderating, which I've
never done anything like thateither and then the truck will
be available after for shopping.
Jordan (23:16):
oh, wait, that's so cool
, and the fact that you get to
like moderate the the panel tooyeah, no, it's, I'm sorry no,
you go.
Can you mention, like, who theauthors are, or is that like
something that like we can't?
Stephanie (23:34):
oh yeah yes, okay, um
.
Jc lee, who was at romanticybook con um, and then also emily
wibberley and austin stigmanbroca his name is very long, but
they write together.
They wrote the Roughest Draft.
Jordan (23:54):
I didn't read that one,
but I read the breakup song or
the oh yes, yes, the TaylorSwift-inspired one, which is so
cute.
Stephanie (24:02):
I love it.
Their story, honestly, is socute.
I grew up in this area in LAand they live maybe two cities
away from me in this area in LAand they live like maybe two
cities away from me and I sawthem speak in another panel but
they grew up.
Our high school sweetheartslike got married.
They still live in this areaand now they write together and
(24:23):
like I just think it's so cute.
Yes, oh, my gosh, that is socute.
Okay, okay, yes.
And then the other two authorsare um indie published.
So one is allison ames and shewrites like um paranormal, very
spicy romance.
And then the other is aj win andshe writes um like mystery
(24:48):
romance oh okay, okay, yeah, sovery, very different, because
the two um traditionallypublished authors are three.
They write contemporary romancemostly, but they both have
written um fantasy or fantasyromance as well.
So everyone has like a lot ofdifferent genres they write in.
(25:10):
So it'll be a fun panel.
Jordan (25:13):
Oh, and then is that
like the only event so far you
have planned.
You kind of want to like seehow that one goes, or do you
have any other like events thatyou're kind of like that is yeah
, that is the one I have planned, and the LA Festival of Books
is happening at the end of April.
Stephanie (25:30):
I don't know what I
want to do, but I know that a
lot of people are coming in orwill be in a bookish mood, so I
want to do something.
I want to find a venuesomewhere close to that.
So, like, maybe bring the truck.
Jordan (25:43):
Oh, okay, okay.
Stephanie (25:44):
That's so cool oh my
gosh.
Jordan (25:47):
But also, going back to
the panel, I think that's so
cool, especially like moderatingit.
Okay, so we'll dive intoreading.
So what is your favorite bookand or series?
A book you would recommend toanyone and everyone, or series.
Stephanie (26:04):
Okay, that is so hard
, Like I thought of a bunch so
you can.
Jordan (26:10):
you can give me a few.
Okay, definitely give me a few.
Stephanie (26:13):
Okay, well, I love
the windy city series by Liz Tom
Ford.
I love all the books.
Jordan (26:20):
Okay, I haven't actually
read that, but, but mile high
is sitting on my TVR cart somaybe I need to move.
Stephanie (26:28):
Oh, okay, I feel like
I love mile high, but a lot of
people say they don't love it.
So definitely give it two booksat least.
Okay, before you make yourfinal judgment call, because I
think a lot of people'sfavorites is the third book,
which is the Right Move, or thesecond book is the Right Move,
but I love the third book, whichis Caught Up.
Yes, I definitely have beenreading a lot of contemporary
(26:52):
romance lately, so I also loveanything by ali hazelwood and
love deep end I love deep endtoo, I fit.
I just finished that one I'mobsessed with it obsessed me too
, me too, yes, yes, um.
And then I love this book, realby kennedy ryan.
(27:13):
Um, it's like, what kind oflike?
It's called real r-e-e-l, oh,okay, okay, yeah, like a movie
reel and they're like, it's likethey're working on this big
like production and it's um thelike starring actress and the
director.
Jordan (27:33):
I just like a very
beautiful story oh, I've only,
I've only read, I think, hotlong shot by kennedy ryan and
that that one was really sadyeah, it like hurt so bad and I
was like this one is also alittle bit okay, like, and so I
was like I can't I gotta.
(27:54):
I was like, oh okay, I gottaput this down yeah that one was
really, really emotional.
Stephanie (28:01):
This one is, but in a
different way, like she has a
chronic illness, and it plays arole in their story too.
So I don't know.
It's just so beautiful.
Jordan (28:09):
I love her writing her
writing is really good.
Really, I'm like bawling myeyes out for this, like
character and anybody that'slike read Longshot, you know,
but I'm not gonna like talkabout it here, but like yeah
bawling and you know how likeyou get like sick to your
stomach.
I was like physically illreading it.
Stephanie (28:29):
Yeah, no, that was
tough, yeah, yeah.
Jordan (28:35):
Yeah, did you have any
other ones for this?
Stephanie (28:39):
Oh okay, another
favorite.
This could be my last one.
It's called yes, no, maybe, byJessica Sherry, and she's an
indie author, but I feel likeshe's like on the level of like
um, abby Jimenez or Emily Henry,like her book is so good it's
also a bit emotional too, butlike very beautiful and she's
(29:01):
like so kind, like I don't know,that's what I love about book
social media Like we've justbecome friends through me
chatting about the book and shesent me like two signed copies
for the truck of her book.
So I'm very excited to likeconvince some people that they
must need to buy this when thetruck goes out next week.
Jordan (29:21):
Yes, yes, but that's so.
Oh, but I feel like you alsoneed a signed copy.
Stephanie (29:31):
I mean I did.
I was like, oh my gosh, well, Ikind of want one.
But that's okay, I'll ask herfor another one later, Like let
me try to sell these for her.
Jordan (29:37):
Okay, okay, fair, fair,
okay.
So what is one line of writing,poetry or quote that lives in
your head?
Rent-free free.
Stephanie (29:57):
Okay, this one is
hard, um, but I have you read
our infinite fates by LauraStephen.
It just came out, um, that'sokay, it literally just came out
.
But it's, um, like a YA story.
But it's like about twosoulmates who like keep getting
reincarnated but they're likedestined to fall in love and
like kill each other in everylife, and like there's a line in
it that says, like I love youand I have loved you and I will
(30:21):
love you, and I don't know.
I think like that story, andlike their story, was just so
beautiful and I love that line.
Jordan (30:29):
Oh my gosh wait, yeah,
that's so pretty.
Now I feel like I need to.
I like don't really gravitatetoward that, toward that sort of
thing, but like I feel like Ineed to read it now it's really
I don't read that much YA.
Stephanie (30:45):
It was really good
and also cried a lot throughout,
okay, okay good, so like whenyou're ready to like shed some
tears, maybe Then pick it up.
Yes, yes.
Jordan (31:00):
Okay.
So if you could have a literarydinner party with three authors
, living or dead, who would youinvite and why?
Stephanie (31:07):
Okay, this is also a
hard question and I feel like we
keep talking.
I'm sure all your listenersknow your answers, but I'm like,
oh, but I also actually knewyours.
Jordan (31:17):
um, but I I mean, I can
definitely go with mine, but
I've never actually answeredthis question myself.
Stephanie (31:25):
Oh, okay, okay well,
but you first, yeah, okay, um, I
would love to have dinner withAli Hazelwood.
I just love her book so much,um, and then I think, maybe
Emily Henry and Yulin Kwong,since I love Yulin Kwong's book
(31:45):
and obviously love Emily Henry,but she's like adapting two of
her Emily Henry's movies forlike film and TV, so I feel like
it would be fun to get theinside scoop on, like what's
happening with that?
Jordan (31:59):
Yes, yeah, actually it
really would.
Stephanie (32:04):
Yeah, what are yours?
Jordan (32:08):
Okay so this is like
right off the bat.
I have not thought like Ihaven't fully dived into it, but
like I have two.
So I, before I joinedbookstagram, I read sarah j maas
, um, and I read like a court ofthorns and roses and throne of
glass, and those like likethrone of glass is like my like
(32:30):
die on the hill series, like Irecommend that to.
So it'd have to be Sarah J Maas.
I know you read a lot ofcontemporary but I don't know if
you've like dived into likedarker romance at all.
I have a little.
Yeah, okay so.
And then I don't know if you'veheard of Runix.
She's wrote Gothicana and shewrote like the Dark Verse series
(32:54):
.
Stephanie (32:55):
Yeah, I read the
first two of the Dark Verse
series.
Jordan (32:59):
Okay, okay.
Gothicana is like my, also likedie on the hill.
Stephanie (33:05):
I will recommend that
book to anyone and everyone,
and I need to read it.
Jordan (33:10):
I love that book with
like my whole heart, but but
also know that you will not getall the answers that you want.
So I know some people don'tlike that in their books, but I
like.
Stephanie (33:23):
I love it.
Is it a standalone book or arethere more books coming?
Nope, standalone, she doesn't.
Jordan (33:30):
I love that, I love that
, right, and she doesn't plan on
writing anything else in thatlike world, or yeah, I could say
world um, unless like somethingcomes to her.
But like, as of now, she likewon't plan on, like doesn't plan
on writing anything else.
Um, but I would love to likemeet her and like pick her brain
(33:53):
, and then I don't have, like Idon't know who would be like my
third.
You like crickets?
I don't that's okay.
I had to put some thought tothis question yeah, I'm gonna,
(34:15):
I'm gonna leave it with thosetwo, because I feel like those
would be like the two, likeright off the bat, like, but
like the third would need to belike.
Stephanie (34:22):
Uh, yeah, I like, I
like don't know was there anyone
at romney and to see khan thatyou were so excited to see you?
Like would you want them to beat dinner?
Jordan (34:35):
oh, I did.
I did get to meet nisha j tulibecause I I love her.
Oh my god, you just postedabout it.
It made me so happy.
I love that series like with mywhole heart Artifacts of Uranus
and I like it was like a surrealmoment because I wanted to meet
her so badly, like for so long,like I loved her, like I think
(35:00):
I started reading the first bookwhen the second book just came
out and I think that was in 2022.
Oh, wow, it was because I knowthere was a really long gap when
she finally got picked when notfinally when she got picked up
by Forever that there we had towait so long for the third, but
(35:23):
then the fourth came out rightaway.
So I'm like I remember likejust like sitting there, like
waiting, I'm like I have to waitover a year for this like next
book, but totally worth the waitbecause the third is definitely
my favorite.
But I think it was like one ofthose things that I've like you
know how, like you just love anauthor for so long and then you
like meet them.
I I acted like a complete idiot.
Stephanie (35:46):
I think we all do
yeah, right.
Jordan (35:49):
I was like I love your
books.
Stephanie (35:51):
She's probably like
okay, crazy lady, she's really
nice.
Jordan (35:54):
And her line was so long
, her line was so long, I felt
so bad.
I was like so I waited in themorning for her the first day
and I was two away from meetingher and she like she didn't feel
good.
So she actually ended upleaving and she was like I gotta
(36:15):
go lay down, which totallyunderstandable because it was
like hot in that room.
It was like yeah, not good.
So I was like no, I was soclose to meeting you and and
then having to wait in the lineagain for the afternoon.
But I made it because theymoved her, because her line was
so long that it was like theperson right after me had to
(36:39):
like go move to like a differentarea to meet her.
Stephanie (36:43):
That was me and my
friend.
We moved like way far away tomeet her, but it was fine.
It was a very spacious area.
Jordan (36:55):
Oh, okay, that's good
but, I was like, yeah, yeah, if
I got kicked out of this lineagain.
Stephanie (36:59):
I was gonna be like,
yeah, um, I, I love that series
too.
I just finished it.
But I got an arc of her likecontemporary romance that's
coming out in May.
Not Safe for Work.
It's also so good.
They're on a work retreat inHawaii and they get stuck in one
room together and it's verysteamy.
Did you finish it?
Jordan (37:22):
Yes, yes, okay, same.
I thought it was so cute.
It's so cute, it was.
It felt like, if you want to beon vacation and sipping a fun
cocktail, that's what that bookfeels like.
Stephanie (37:38):
It's just such a fun
read.
It's definitely a great summerbeach read.
Jordan (37:45):
I also can't wait for it
to come out because I want
summer beach read.
I also like can't wait for itto come out because I want, like
the physical copy because Ithink the.
I think the cover is so cuteand, yes, I love when you
because, not, we're not.
I'm not going to spoil itbecause it's not out yet, but
the cover is like indicating ascene from the book.
Stephanie (38:05):
Yes, like so
accurately.
Jordan (38:08):
Yes, and I thought that
was so cool.
I was like, oh my gosh, this isit.
Stephanie (38:14):
Yeah, no, it was so
good, I can't wait to stock it
on the truck.
I definitely have her Artifactsof Erano series ordered for the
truck.
Jordan (38:24):
Yes.
Stephanie (38:40):
So when you order
books do you kind of keep the
inventory like per book likedown Because, like I know, the
truck's not like as big classthat some bookstore owners have
put on.
They're in Florida and I wentto that over the summer.
It was actually really helpfuland I learned from them
Otherwise I wouldn't have knownthey in general they have a full
(39:02):
on bookstore, keep inventoryquite low, Like they don't try
to have extra stock in the back,so they're just constantly
ordering books, like basicallyevery day, to like fill in for
the books that they sold.
So it's a lot of like boxes tobe opened, I think.
But that way they don't haveexcessive inventory, excessive
(39:34):
inventory.
So for me I try to order what Ifeel like will fit in the truck
for the first event and thenmaybe just a little bit extra
because, like I think I mighttry to do something the next
week that like a few days after,and probably won't have time to
like refill on inventory.
But yes, I don't want to keeplike too many extra copies of
anything.
Jordan (39:53):
See, but I feel like
that would definitely make sense
.
I didn't know that.
Stephanie (39:57):
With bookstores too,
I kind of just I kind of just
like always figured in the back,they had like a ton of stock
and I don't know why I thoughtthat, but I too, but I used to
you um work at like express, theclothing store, like when I was
in college, and the back roomwas filled with clothes and I
(40:17):
just kind of thought that's howall stores was honestly same
it's funny you say that becauseI also worked at express in
college, like it was the seasonworkers, so I like worked during
like winter break and likesummer break, oh um, but same.
Jordan (40:35):
Like there was like that
back room that was just filled
with and like everything waspackaged individually too, so we
had to like open it from theplastic.
It was so bad, so bad, but Ikind of just same, like that a
bookstore would be like that too.
Stephanie (40:52):
So this shop that
hosted the training they like
gave us a tour of everything and, like, their locker room was
like tiny, like the size of acloset, basically.
So they didn't even have roomfor a bookstore.
They just had books coming inlike every day, basically,
basically to fill in for thebooks that they didn't or that
they sold.
Jordan (41:13):
Oh, that's kind of.
That's kind of cool, because Ifeel like that also, like for
you, helps in the sense of youdon't have to order the same
books either, like you canalways be changing, like the
books that are on the truck, andif you were to order like a
bunch of inventory, then I feellike you would have the same
books.
Stephanie (41:34):
Yes, and I feel like
I haven't figured out what, like
you know, subgenre will sellmore on the truck, so it's like
nice to be able to like switchit up easier too.
Jordan (41:46):
That's true, I didn't
even think of that, and probably
too would depend to wow, itwould depend on the events too,
especially like, let's say, ifyou were to do something like
the panels definitely seems morecontemporary.
I mean, you do have theparanormal and the mystery, but
then if you were to doRomanticyCon, you definitely
would want to try to have likemore Romanticy books.
(42:07):
So I feel like, yeah,definitely, being able to like
switch it up to four like events, I feel like would be good.
Stephanie (42:16):
Yes, yes, I'm winging
it.
We'll see how it goes.
Jordan (42:22):
I love that.
I love that.
Okay, so we are on the lastquestion.
What is one future goal thatyou would like to achieve,
either long-term or short-term,either with the truck, bookish
or personal too?
Stephanie (42:39):
Yes, I think like I
would love to have just like a
very steady schedule, like Isaid, of where I'm going with
the truck and have like anaudience who like will follow
the truck to the differentplaces in LA.
I feel like that is somethingthat like I want to figure out
(42:59):
during this next like six months.
Just like, how do I make thisfun idea into something that is
like a sustainable business?
And I think there's like stillso much for me to figure out.
Jordan (43:13):
Yeah, I feel like you
could also too.
Like this is me, I just lovebook clubs, but I feel like you
could make it like a book clubtoo.
So it's like everybody like caneat.
Like you figure it out too, inthe sense of like people can
hopefully like purchase the bookthrough you and the truck and
then you host like a book club,like at some spot with the truck
(43:35):
, and then people can like alsogo shopping afterwards like I
think that's so cool too.
Stephanie (43:39):
But that's me just
like obsessed with book clubs
yeah, no, I want to do, Idefinitely want to do book club
and I also just want to have.
I've been throwing eventsbefore.
I had the truck for, like thebookish community in LA, so I've
done two so far.
We had high tea for Galentine's, which is really fun.
(44:00):
So I want to continue doing funthings where I bring people
together as well, because, likeI said, I feel like when I meet
all these bookish people fromsocial media, it's like oh, we
all just want to gather, but weneed someone to like create
something to do so.
So I think like events whereit's not even like reading a
(44:22):
book, but maybe it's like we dosomething like ceramics, but
then we can talk about books atthe same time, like just like
fun, different things wherepeople who have a shared
interest of books can gather,and then maybe, if it makes
sense you know I can bring thetruck as well but also like not
necessary Cause I feel like it'salso just fun to like connect
(44:42):
with book people.
I feel like that's how I've gotmomentum for so many things
like the event and the parade.
It was all just like merandomly connecting with people
I volunteered with.
So I think it's just fun tolike meet people with similar
passion and like see wherethings go, oh, oh my gosh.
Jordan (45:01):
Yes, no, that is like so
cool, um, and I like can't, I'm
like so excited to see how yougrow this truck and where you
like take it and where you go.
Like personally, I'm just likeso excited and I'm like I,
literally I'm, I'm so happy youlike post about it because I
feel like I can follow along,like I can like follow along, so
(45:26):
I like that you're like sharingit on social media, which kind
of leads to.
That was all the questions.
So if you wanted to take thefloor and like want to talk
about like social media wherepeople can find you, yeah, okay.
Stephanie (45:43):
Well, you can follow
the truck at the philaria on
instagram and tiktok, although Ihaven't figured out tiktok.
So can follow the truck at theFeluria on Instagram and TikTok,
although I haven't figured outTikTok.
So much for the truck yet, butit's spelled like that.
And then F-L-E-U-R-I-A.
And then I also have my ownpersonal social media where I
feel like I'll probably postmore like behind the scenes on
(46:04):
the trucks, plus my own personalbook reviews, which is what
I've been doing.
So things that like, if you arecurious about what it takes to
like be a little truck businessowner, like that's probably
where I'll be posting thatinformation.
Um, but yeah, and that is um,steffi Powell.
So S T E P H I E P-O onInstagram and then Stephanie
(46:29):
Powell on TikTok.
Jordan (46:32):
Ooh, okay, Okay.
Well, thank you so much forcoming on the podcast and
letting me interview you.
This was so cool and I yeah.
Stephanie (46:44):
Thank you for having
me.
This was so fun.
You have such like a fun, likebright energy.
I really hope we get to meetand hang out in person when
you're back visiting your family.
Jordan (46:57):
Oh yes, Most definitely.
I already know that I have to.
It has to happen.
Stephanie (47:04):
Yeah, we can host
some sort of book meetup or with
other like bookish people.
That would be fun, that wouldbe so fun.
Jordan (47:13):
I just I love books and
I love talking about them and I
love meeting people.
Yeah, it's just like Same Same.
Okay, well, I guess we'll logoff here, but thank you so much
for coming on the podcast.
Yeah, thank you.
Thank you so much for coming onthe podcast.
Stephanie (47:29):
Yeah, thank you.
Thank you so much.
Jordan (47:31):
Thank you so much for
listening.
I hope you enjoyed this episode.
Please feel free to rate andreview us on Spotify and Apple
Podcasts or wherever you listen,and if there's any interviews
or conversations you would likeme to have with someone specific
.
Any interviews or conversationsyou would like me to have with
(47:52):
someone specific, please reachout either email or through our
Instagram, available in the shownotes and happy reading.