Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Taylor Thomas. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Taylor, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s one of the most important lessons you learned in school?

I’m not quite sure what led to the events of me being called into the principal’s office in fourth grade with clear detail but I knew that the big picture was due to a newspaper article. I had tried out for a school paper and really really wanted to write about Andy Roddick (I did not play tennis, I have no idea why I wanted to write about him but I was adamant.) I was told in no short of words that I was not able to write what I wanted and that in fact, there was no space in the journaling club to even be apart of it. Fourth grade me was annoyed but determined. I sent out a few messages to classmates about meeting during recess to create a sort of guerrilla underground paper, one that was away from the prying eyes of adults and about what we, the kids wanted to write about. One of the classmates turned the paper into the teacher (cringe) and I was then reprimanded for trying to compete with the already established newspaper and going around teacher’s backs to do my own thing. That story has stuck with me since then because I feel like it’s captured the true essence of who I am. If I see a gap in content, if I find myself barred from the table, I create it. That has been the spirit behind my bookstore. Instead of asking for a seat, I bring the table that I’ve built and then I pull up chairs for everyone else that was left out.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

As an avid reader since I was a child, I was used to being fed the scraps when it came to which narratives were available to me. Being Black and self-identified as a lesbian, I rarely found stories that included those identities. And if they did include those identities, it was primarily about the traumatic aspects. I would find books about queer folks regaled to the bottoms of shelves, to the back of stores, or not available at all. I think for me, I always dreamed of being able to go to a shop like mine. Somewhere where queerness was reflected in every book on the shelf. A place where I could educate myself on the issues that were within my community but also enjoy queer and bipoc narratives in different genres such as fantasy, romance, sci-fi, contemporary…my bookstore is a love letter to my younger self.

In addition to selling books, I also do a lot of social justice/community initiatives. I have a mutual aid pantry that is community funded with things such as clothes, food, toiletries, harm reduction tools, etc. I also have a solidarity fund that allows people to purchase books that they can’t afford by taking from a pot of money that is collected. I host free events like queer film series, dyke nights, queer craft night, and queer socials. I really try to make this space a haven for anyone who has felt like they’ve never been seen.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

My social media. I feel like I really allow my personality to shine through via my social media, making it more of a place for camaraderie than selling a product. I often post silly memes, selfies, personal tidbits, my frustrations and setbacks, my successes and high moments….my social media for the bookstore is more like an online journal and I really feel like that has aided in my support because it allows people to know the person behind the screen. I find that I can engage with my customers in a more authentic way because they are able to know exactly who they are supporting.

Do you have multiple revenue streams – if so, can you talk to us about those streams and how your developed them?

Yes! I offer a service called blind date with a book subscriptions! It’s a service where folks can get a hand=picked queer book once a month delivered to their home. It often comes with a little thing that aligns with the book so for example, I one month did “A Dark and Drowning Tide” and then sent along a recipe card for the tea that one of the main characters likes to drink. I ship these boxes out all over the country.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.archivistbooks.com
• Instagram: @archivist.books