Rayna Nielsen of Blue Cypress Books NOLA: Indie Bookstores Rule!
March 25, 2022
Hosted by Diane Dewey
[Download MP3] [itunes] [Bookmark Episode]
Guest Information
Episode Description
Enter the world of your local Indie bookseller and find yourself again! Bookstores have become a hub in your community, a place to browse, to sit a spell, to have a conversation. And there's more fun to be had in an Indie bookstore, where salespeople actually talk! What does it mean to be an Indie bookseller? How do trends affect book buying, book writing and book reading? Should anyone follow trends? What about the rare finds in the used book section? Can anyone trust the shelf headings or is a conversation with a knowledgeable bookseller the most meaningful interaction you've had in a while? Traveling? or traveling through books. It's possible to be transported through your imagination. And if you find yourself in NOLA? By all means stop in. If not? Tune into Book Banter, hosted by our guest Rayna Nielsen from your phone, laptop or device! Blue Cypress Books is a local, woman-owned, New Orleans bookstore and has been a warm and welcoming place to find high-quality used and new books since 2008. BCB is an inclusive and welcoming place where we speak our minds and invite open conversations. We pride ourselves on our selection and believe that anyone who walks in the door will be able to find something they will want to take home. With a focus on modern literature, New Orleans writers and subjects, children’s books, science fiction, foreign language and more, we have carefully cultivated our selection. And, of course, if you don’t see something you are looking for, we are happy to order it for you. Our courteous and knowledgeable staff are always happy to make recommendations for you (and we know what we’re talking about). We are proud members of the American Booksellers Association and the Southern Independent Booksellers Association, and we are consistently rated as a top bookstore in New Orleans. We look forward to seeing you soon! Drop In with us and enter the legendary Garden District of New Orleans and beyond!
Dropping In
Friday at 8 AM Pacific Time on VoiceAmerica Variety Channel
Drop in to the dream of becoming an author. How does the book publishing business actually work? If you’re ready to tell your story, what’s the best way to do it? Do you need help crafting this tale? What about workshopping – is that helpful? When are you ready to show your work to a developmental or copy editor? The time may be now. If you’ve finished your manuscript, what are the next steps? Place your book in the context of the marketplace and decide, who is your audience? What’s the best platform to publish your work? Podcast, electronic or paper bound book? Are you well-versed in developing your book proposal? That means having your agent pitch down. Once you’ve secured an agent, what’s the optimal venue to get your book published, with all the support it needs to be seen and heard in media outlets? Whether through traditional, hybrid, indie presses, or a combination, we’ll bring you the experts in the fields of book coaching, agenting, editing, legal advice, publishing, and publicists, plus resources on the craft of writing. No matter what route you take, your best bet is to get educated. Drop in to how stories are made. In the end, we’ll all become stories. —Margaret Atwood
Diane Dewey
My most pressing question has always been about identity: Who am I? Growing up near Philadelphia with my adoptive family, my genetic identity was hidden. Then, my Swiss biological father, Otto, contacted me when I was age forty-seven in 2002. I’d been told by my adoptive parents that my biological parents were dead, supposedly to protect me. Meeting Otto upended my life. Through him, I met my German biological mother’s family to discover that her story too, had been changed; that she’d not wanted to surrender me and she’d searched for me all her life. Finding my truth was essential.
Based on my experience I am excited to talk to people about their own search for identity. My education includes a BA from Villanova University, a certificate from the Art Institute of Philadelphia and a Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling from Capella University. I’ve worked for The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, The SoHo Partnership and the National Academy of Design and have studied writing through New York University’s Continuing Education program. As an entrepreneur, I founded my art appraisal business, The Realization of Art in 2006. My non-fiction writing has been published in Shared Space, a monograph, and in Artes online magazine. Writing workshops worldwide have given me the chance to learn and hone my craft. My first book, “Fixing the Fates,” was awarded the National Non-Fiction Author’s Association Silver Medal and the Living Now Award.
Episode Directory
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
- 3/25/2022: Rayna Nielsen of Blue Cypress Books NOLA: Indie Bookstores Rule! Listen Now
- 3/18/2022: New York Times Bestselling Author Emily Colin on Writing Novels! Listen Now
- 3/11/2022: Unbound (Songs of Chaos #2) & Fantasy with Michael R. Miller! Listen Now
- 3/4/2022: The Promotional Path: Elysse Wagner on Crafting Your Book Brand Listen Now
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