Featured Indie Bookstore: Owner Series
Kismet Books (Verona, Wisconsin)
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Shop at Kismet Books
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Meet proprietor Rye Kimmett
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How did you come to own an independent bookstore?
It has been a dream of mine since being the most bookish of children to spend all my days surrounded by books. When I met a friend in school who shared that dream I married him. Now, many years of work in healthcare and two children later, I decided to just go for it. Pandemic be darned, fear be darned, self-doubt and anxiety be darned. Our lovely little town needed a bookshop and I was the person to give it one. |
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What should customers expect to find when they walk in your door?
Our shop is unapologetically focused on promoting social progress in all it's forms. We center POC voices and books on racial equity, queer voices, sexual health and women's rights, poverty, healthcare, and books that foster basic respect and empathy for the humans we share the world with. Stories and books can change the world. We will be striving to keep to these ideals as we grow. Also, free period products and condoms in the bathroom. Of course ^_^
How does your bookstore give back to your community?
I'm currently working to help fund an initiative providing free period products to all students in our district. We also contribute to our local library and public radio. We hope to do book drives and donate books to our schools in the new year.
What books are you excited to be selling right now?
The industry embracing women of color and recognizing the amazing works they are producing is so exciting. N.K. Jemisin is finally getting the spotlight they deserve along with so many other amazing writers of color. I'm excited to see what the publishing landscape looks like over the next few years as we continue to explore voices that haven't been centered previously.
Our shop is unapologetically focused on promoting social progress in all it's forms. We center POC voices and books on racial equity, queer voices, sexual health and women's rights, poverty, healthcare, and books that foster basic respect and empathy for the humans we share the world with. Stories and books can change the world. We will be striving to keep to these ideals as we grow. Also, free period products and condoms in the bathroom. Of course ^_^
How does your bookstore give back to your community?
I'm currently working to help fund an initiative providing free period products to all students in our district. We also contribute to our local library and public radio. We hope to do book drives and donate books to our schools in the new year.
What books are you excited to be selling right now?
The industry embracing women of color and recognizing the amazing works they are producing is so exciting. N.K. Jemisin is finally getting the spotlight they deserve along with so many other amazing writers of color. I'm excited to see what the publishing landscape looks like over the next few years as we continue to explore voices that haven't been centered previously.
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