Independent bookstores are cherished literary sanctuaries, connecting readers with books that touch their hearts. The dedicated booksellers working there play a unique role in fostering these personal connections. Hilary Berg, a passionate bookseller at Madison's Mystery to Me joins us today and shares her journey from reader to bookseller, highlighting the joy of crafting personalized reading experiences. We explore Mystery to Me's transformation from a mystery-focused store to a diverse genre hub and discuss the impact of online book communities, like BookTok, on book sales. We close the episode expressing optimism about the future of the book industry, crediting Mystery to Me’s resilience to strong community support and the store’s dedication to personalized service.  

What are we reading? Visit Instagram @fulcrumpublishing or Facebook @FulcrumBooks to see our recommendations this week! 

If you'd like a transcript of this episode, visit our blog at Fulcrumbooks.com/resources  

Founded in 1984, Fulcrum Books is the producer of Books Uncovered and the publisher of many well-known and award-winning titles. Sam Scinta is co-host for Books Uncovered and publisher at Fulcrum Publishing. Kateri Kramer is co-host for Books Uncovered and is the marketing director at Fulcrum Publishing.