Books to uplift us and connect readers! That’s what we are looking for as we turn the calendar over to another year. A bookstore to me can be so much more than just “buying something.” In fact, that is what co-owners Meg Flynn and Emily Welch of Black Rock Books have come to embody in their city of Bridgeport, CT. We profiled these two entrepreneurial moms in 2023, whose goal is to “bridge the generational gaps in our community.”
So, we wanted to see how Meg and Emily’s bookstore was progressing bridging these gaps. In addition to their latest update, we, of course, thought they would be the perfect source for a few uplifting book recommendations to put on our TWE Bookshelf for 2025.
EYE: What milestones have you achieved so far that you’re particularly proud of in running the bookstore?
MEG: We celebrated our first Independent Bookstore Day on April 27, 2024, and it far exceeded our expectations. We also participated in the Connecticut Book Trail, which was a great opportunity to reach new audiences and meet bookworms from all over the state. The energy was infectious – there was a group of customers who were completing the passport in one day and literally ran to the door before closing to get their stamps.
Personally, it was just an incredibly fun day – seeing so many regular customers, friends and family come out to support. Book people are the best people.
EMILY: We feel very proud of how our recurring monthly events like Poetry Night and Storytime have grabbed a hold of peoples’ hearts, minds and calendars! We often hear how much our community looks forward to these gatherings. It brings us so much joy to know we’ve really connected with our community in this way.
MEG: One of the reasons readers are drawn to Black Rock Books is our personal recommendations. There’s no greater feeling than handselling a book you know someone is going to really connect with. As I wrap up my end of year reading goals, here’s four that stood out to me that I hope are books to uplift, inspire and connect with readers into 2025.
1. The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst
Published: June 3, 2024
Adult Fiction (Fantasy)
If I could crawl inside the purple-sprayed edges of this sweet and beautiful book, I would. An engaging contribution to a sub-genre of fantasy dubbed “cozy fantasy”, The Spellshop invites readers on a journey full of magic, friendship, and raspberry jam. A charming cast of characters includes a sentient spider plant named Caz, and a librarian-turned-rebel named Kiela, dedicated to protecting forbidden knowledge at all costs. I’m counting down the days until the companion book is released in July of 2025.
2. The Bookshop: A History of the American Bookstore by Evan Friss
Published: August 6, 2024
Adult Nonfiction
A love letter to a beloved institution that highlights why I and so many others are enamored of our independent bookstores. Drawing on oral histories, archives and records, diaries, letters, and interviews with booksellers, Friss captures the evolution of the American bookstore from revolutionary-era to modern day. Those who have visited indies throughout the country will recognize the familiar elements –the shop cats, the quirky booksellers, the thrill of the hunt through uniquely curated collections –and recall what we have to lose if we stop supporting local businesses of all kinds: the unique vibrancy of a space that reflects and creates community.
3. This Table By Alex Killian, Illustrated by Brooke Smart
Published: May 28, 2024
Ages: 4-8
In this debut picture book, the reader follows the journey of a seed, from a tree, to a workman’s shop, to a table. We witness as an everyday household object becomes something more: the heart of a family’s home. Simple and poignant, with beautiful turns of phrase and vibrant illustrations, I see this becoming a classic in our family, shared just as often as we sit around our table.
4. Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell, Illustrated by Ashley Mackenzie
Published: September 10, 2024
Ages: 10 And Up
For years, I have chased the feeling I got when I first dove into fantasy novels as a child. And then I read Impossible Creatures. Enter a magical world, hidden within our own, where humans live alongside creatures of myth and legend. The lessons for adults and children alike are many: the importance of friendship, love, accepting and protecting those who cannot protect themselves, and above all, the innate worth and ability of children to do big things. A grand adventure of a book, perfect for fans of Harry Potter or the Percy Jackson series.
We are adding one more to our Books to Uplift Us list. Laurie McAndish King, one of our TWE podcast hosts, has a terrific new anthology out, Wandering in American Deserts: Discovery, Visions, Redemption. It’s the ninth in a series of Wonderland Writers Anthologies she has co-edited.
EYE: How has the bookstore grown or evolved since you first started, and what changes have been the most exciting?
MEG: We have certainly learned a lot since we first opened. Noticing the growth in confidence between Emily and myself as we’re making certain decisions for the business, from how many books to order for an event, to the tone of our social media presence or debating new sidelines to offer, we have clarified our goals and vision so much.
EMILY: Meg and I both bring our own strengths to this store. I believe the secret to sustainable, incremental and successful growth is knowing how to harness them individually and putting them to work together as best as we possibly can.
Divide and conquer! Meg said it best to me once, “Two brains are better than one!” Our growth has come from trial and error, pivoting as soon as we see something not working, and putting systems into place that work when we can’t be there.
More so, I think we have become very good at doing what we can with what we have and not overextending ourselves (at least not trying to!) or our bank account. Heading into 2025, it’s exciting to us that we are continuing to book events months in advance, maintaining an engaged community, and meeting new customers every day.
EYE: What moments or interactions with customers have been especially uplifting or rewarding?
MEG: SO many! A few that stand out. We are occasionally sent freebies from publishers, and I was able to give a free hat and poster to a young customer who pre-ordered a book. His mom got in touch to share a picture of him reading his new book while wearing the hat. A mom came in to reward her young child with a gift during the process of potty training and remarked that she knew we would be a safe stop because we have amenities for families in our restroom.
I also love when customers chat with each other about their favorite books and offer recommendations; it shows me that we’re creating a space where people feel comfortable enough to share with us and one another.
EMILY: One day, a gentleman called to ask if we had any books on grieving. He sounded so incredibly sad and distraught. I realized at that moment, as I was researching books for him with our supplier, he needed someone to talk to, someone to listen. I was more than happy to receive this phone call and be that someone.
We talked for a while. I listened to him recount his loss and the emotions just flowed out of him. It was a very powerful experience. It made me realize that our little bookstore is a beacon of hope to many, a place to feel safe and provide guidance while navigating life’s toughest times.
EYE: What are your goals for 2025 and beyond?
MEG: One of my goals for 2025 is to create a journal to record customer interactions. So much of running a business is tracking financial transactions, which is of course necessary, but the personal connections are what keep me going and it provides a source of inspiration. Like Emily said, we have become a part of people’s lives and calendars, and that’s something I feel immensely grateful for.
EMILY: In 2025 and beyond, I will focus on fine tuning our margins and costs. I want to see where and what we can do better so we can really start to see the fruits of our labor as soon as possible. I’d also like to gain more visibility and reach more customers by developing a targeted marketing and promotional plan.
And it has been a great wish of mine for years now (and one of the main reasons I jumped at the chance to partner with my bookwife Meg) to establish a recurring wellness event, much like the chakra healing meditation we recently held. These can be such powerful events and needed more than ever before!
EYE: Thank you, Meg and Emily‼! And may your new year bring you even more success and pride with the impact you are having!
Photos of Black Rock Books provided by the bookstore.
Social Media
Website: Black Rock Books CT
Facebook: Black Rock Books l Bridgeport CT
Instagram: blackrockbooksct
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