Let’s discuss books: Candy Reads writer visits deliver writers to the general public
Printed 7:30 pm Tuesday, April 1, 2025
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Candy Reads Books and Sweet proprietor Lisa Deyo takes half on a podcast recording with writer Amy Lynn Inexperienced on Wright Right here, Proper Now final week within the e book retailer. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Throughout a current go to to Austin, writer Amy Lynn Inexperienced recorded a podcast section with John Wright’s “Wright Right here, Proper Now” together with Candy Reads Books and Sweet proprietor Lisa Deyo. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
A flyer for an writer Q&A with Amy Lynn Inexperienced hangs on the again door of Candy Reads Books and Sweet. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
In late March, Candy Reads Books and Sweet hosted a go to by writer Amy Lynn Inexperienced, who has written a number of books, together with “Issues We Didn’t Say” and “The Strains Between Us.”
The go to wasn’t the primary time an writer stopped at Candy Reads, however reasonably it has been an ongoing function of the e book retailer because it opened in 2016.
“The primary writer was instantly in August (2016),” retailer proprietor Lisa Deyo stated, including that it was an enormous one for the shop.
Grant Blackwood, an Austin graduate who has written the Briggs Tanner novels, in addition to having contributed to the Clive Cussler collection of books in addition to Tom Clancy and James Rollins. He was Deyo’s first visiting writer, making a go to on the similar time he was on the town for the Austin ArtWorks Competition.
Whereas writer visits look like previous hat lately, Deyo confessed that these first visits had been one thing of a studying expertise.
“I had no concept. What am I speculated to do?” Deyo stated. “At that time, I hadn’t gone to that many displays. Is he supposed to speak. How do you promote it?”
It’s not unusual for the shop to host writer talks all through a month, whether or not that’s one thing Deyo herself does, or if it’s being hosted by a e book membership at Candy Reads.
These early writer visits included numerous authors from the world and area, however then issues had been upset by the COVID-19 pandemic. Deyo stated it was robust for individuals to come back again to such an intimate setting to hearken to the authors.
She stated it was even troublesome for her.
“After COVID, it was two years earlier than I used to be even snug,” Deyo stated. “It took that lengthy and it was the magic of e book golf equipment. Guide golf equipment had form of revamped themselves and new ones had began.”
The e book golf equipment proved invaluable within the renewed effort to usher in authors, as a result of they gave Deyo an inside look of which authors the teams had been studying.
“You hear for that story. That want that’s on the market,” she stated. “Much more individuals had been studying native, regional or Minnesota (authors). Authors had been simply coming out.”
On the similar time, the renewed writer visits additionally needed to generate curiosity and herald individuals who wished to hear. Once more, the e book membership conferences have confirmed invaluable as they are usually the proper viewers.
These are individuals who have seemingly learn the e book and have questions on what they’ve learn.
“The setting is ideal and the authors find it irresistible,” she stated.
Apart from native or regional authors, Deyo has been capable of host quite a few nationally acknowledged authors together with William Kent Krueger and Allen Eskens, the latter of whom just lately visited the shop.
These are authors who’ve reached out to her to point they’re passing by way of to advertise a brand new e book and wish to make a cease.
It might be simple to narrate that to the recognition of Candy Reads and Deyo herself, however reasonably Deyo stated that’s a sign of simply how well-liked Austin itself is.
“They’ll at all times join with me and say, ‘hey, September I’m going to be on the market, I’ll be obtainable this week,’” Deyo stated. “That’s actually cool. They like coming to Austin as a result of Austin could be very properly learn. We have now good individuals that can ask them good questions.”
Listening to the authors current has at all times been a draw, because it offers individuals an opportunity to ask these questions concerning the books. Your complete go to could be particular for each the writer and people who attend these visits.
And that extends to Deyo.
“It’s only a private pleasure,” she stated. “I like listening to the tales. Each writer has only a totally different purpose for beginning to write.”
“In right here, it’s just a bit totally different,” She continued. “The emphasis is on making that writer really feel particular and asking questions of them. That’s a enjoyable factor to host. I get to sit down again, ensure that there’s loads of room. How cool is that?”
Upcoming visits embody a pair of authors — Lisa Cassman, who authors youngsters’s books and Stan Tekeila, who has authored “Bushes of Minnesota” and “Birds of Minnesota.” They are going to be presenting at 10 a.m. and midday respectively as a part of celebrating Unbiased Guide Retailer Day on April 26.
In Could, Candy Reads will host Thomas Rumreich, writer of “Unholy Communion” at 3:30 p.m. on Could 14 and Matt Goldman, writer of “The Homicide Present,” at 3:30 p.m. on June 17.
