We were lucky to catch up with Michelle Garren-Flye recently and have shared our conversation below.

Michelle, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Owning a business isn’t always glamorous and so most business owners we’ve connected with have shared that on tough days they sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have just had a regular job instead of all the responsibility of running a business. Have you ever felt that way?

Owning a bookstore was always a dream of mine. When I heard the previous owner of The Next Chapter Books & Art was ready to retire, it seemed like a chance of lifetime. And it was, but I took over the business in January 2020, and we all know what happened after that.

Throughout 2020, I stuck with it. We were closed for a month, taking only online orders. After that, there was the whole mask situation. And to top it off, my family went through some changes which limited my personal finances greatly. In January and February of 2021, I hit a low point and wondered if I could keep going. A bookstore is not a profitable venture in any situation. My personal future was very uncertain. I have degrees in both library science and journalism (two other fields you’re most likely not going to get rich in). Still shouldn’t I close the store I loved and get a real job?

I’m stubborn, though, and as Covid eased up, business picked up. I began making a tiny profit. Personal issues began to resolve. I started to think of new ideas for the store, ideas I’m only now getting started on implementing. Maybe I’ll never make much profit on this store, but it makes my life a little easier whenever someone stops in and tells me they’re glad I’m still here. Because I am, too.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I think what makes my store special is that it is a bookstore that emphasizes local, independent authors. Being one myself, I do understand the struggle many creatives go through just trying to get our work out there to the public. I host signings almost every weekend for local authors. I have begun a workshop series taught by local authors that is intended to help other independent creatives out there. I also host author talks for the local authors and every second Friday of the month we are open for ArtWalk with a featured artist and/or author.

I think it’s important that people look beyond the bestseller list for something to read. Yes, there are some great authors on there. But it’s also true that the publishing industry is becoming more concentrated. There are fewer publishing houses in New York, and that means fewer people are choosing what ideas get published. So look elsewhere. Look at what your neighbor or best friend is writing and self-publishing or publishing through smaller publishing houses. Because there are more good ideas out there. Seeing the bestseller list as the only source of good stuff to read is like looking at the moon and ignoring all the stars.

That’s my mission and that’s why every time I sell a local author book, I’m ecstatic.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I think every business that survived the Covid-19 era has demonstrated resilience. I have mentioned my particular low point in January and February of 2021. I really had to be stubborn to stay the course then. For personal reasons, I knew my kids needed me at home, so I adjusted my hours, and that undeniably has affected my bottom line. If you’re not open, you can’t make money, but you also have to find balance.

I guess that is what my story really is. I’m a mom first and always have been, but I love this store and want it to be successful. My kids still need me, but as they’re getting older, I’m finding I can shift that balance a little bit. I still maintain what I call “Mom Hours”, but as they need me less, I’m devoting more time to my business by scheduling “after hours” events. I’m still there for them but I’m able to be there for the store as well.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Before I became a business owner, I was a full-time writer. Well, as full-time a writer as a full-time mom can be. As a writer, I believed you had to be traditionally published to be considered any “good”. I stuck with that belief for a long time. I even managed to get three books published traditionally. I learned a lot from the process about both the publishing industry and the process of bookmaking. Since “unlearning” that successful writers should be judged by their publishing contracts, I’ve applied what I’ve learned to making my own books. I’m proud of what I’m able to do now from cover design to formatting and editing. I know when to look for help, when to pay for help, and when to do it myself. Now I have my own literary magazine that I publish using the same process I use to publish my books.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://thenextchapternc.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenextchapterbooksandartnb/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNextChapterBooksNB
• Other: http://michellegflye.com

Image Credits
Last image uploaded: Aeleen Scherzer