Shelf Made Stories

From Viral Football Smut to Book Club Besties

How do two besties go from reading thrillers to running a viral romance book club? This week, I chat with the hilarious duo behind Two Bookends, the creators of that viral football-smut-announcer video (yes, that one with over 9M views on TikTok).  But there’s so much more to their story, from book recs and bloopers to building an authentic, monetized community around their love of reading. We dive into: 📈 How they went viral more than once 📚 Why they started their romance book club and how it makes money 💡 The slow, intentional way they’ve monetized without selling out 🛑 The boundaries they’ve set around brand deals & family life 🎥 Behind the scenes of content creation, bloopers, and mom rants ❤️ Their favorite reads (hello, Jennifer Hartman & TL Swan) Plus, what it’s really like filming with your best friend, how they schedule content as full-time working moms, and their top advice for starting a Bookstagram or BookTok that actually grows. We also talk tons of romance book recommendations! Connect with Two Book Ends: * On Instagram: instagram.com/two_bookends [http://instagram.com/two_bookends] * On TIkTok: tiktok.com/@twobookends [https://calendly.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40twobookends%3F_t%3DZT-8y7Jh14yare%26_r%3D1&user_uuid=EGGCCNOCO335MGL2&stage=0&hmac=b770fb96d8a4611145f36034b427a836d48486c8e9a094c3eb838bfc9c1e6f22] * Join the Book Club on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/TwoBookEnds/ [https://www.patreon.com/c/TwoBookEnds/posts]

The Story Behind the Creepy Book Club

What started as a casual Facebook group during the pandemic has grown into a thriving online community, complete with sold-out retreats, book boxes, author chats, and even a true crime podcast. Ashley and Emily, co-founders of The Creepy Book Club, share how a single thriller reignited their love of reading and sparked the idea for the club.  We talk about building a business from scratch, staying connected to the fun, and the behind-the-scenes work it takes to grow a bookish brand that truly puts community first. You’ll hear: * How they went from five people on Zoom to 250+ retreat attendees * What it’s really like planning and running events for book lovers * Why true crime became part of the mix (even when it’s a little scary) * How their friendship fuels the business and keeps things fun * Tips for anyone dreaming of starting a book-related business This is for you if you’re a fan of thrillers, a book club regular, curious how a hobby turns into a heartfelt business, or just want some creepy book recommendations. Find out more at thecreepybookclub.com [http://thecreepybookclub.com].

Why Julia Whelan Is the Meryl Streep of Audiobooks

If you’re a book lover, chances are you’ve heard Julia Whelan’s voice… and probably more than once. She’s narrated over 700 audiobooks, from Gone Girl to The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, and has been dubbed everything from “the Meryl Streep of audiobooks” to “the Adele of audiobooks.” Julia is the founder of Audiobrary, a new audio publishing platform reinventing how creatives are compensated.  Her debut novel, My Oxford Year, [https://amzn.to/4kOpKMl] has been adapted into a Netflix film, and her latest, Thank You For Listening [https://amzn.to/4lZJHkN], was named a Best Book of the Year by Amazon, Audible, and NPR. In this episode of Shelf Made Stories, Julia talks about: * How she went from child actor to one of the most beloved narrators in publishing * Why recording steamy romance scenes isn’t as awkward as you think * The surprising freedom narrators get compared to on-camera acting Founding Audiobrary, her publishing company designed to give narrators royalties and authors a bigger cut * Writing her own novels * Her best advice for aspiring narrators and anyone trying to break into the book world Julia is not only a voice we know and love, but also a fierce advocate for creatives getting the recognition and compensation they deserve. Check out Audiobrary here: audiobrary.com [http://audiobrary.com]

She Ran Out of Books on Vacation. 6 Months Later, She Owned a Bookstore.

What happens when a book-loving mom of two runs out of reading material on vacation? If you’re Kelly Vann, you open a bookstore.  We chat with Kelly, founder of Lit Actually, a romance and fantasy bookshop tucked inside Olive’s Eatery in Baldwinsville, NY. She walks us through her journey from idea to grand opening in just six months… while working full-time in marketing, raising two kids, and figuring it out as she goes. From pop-ups and cheeky bookmarks to navigating diversity and community, Kelly spills it all in this episode, including: * How Kelly took Lit Actually from idea to reality in half a year * Why she chose a romance/fantasy niche (and why it’s working) * Tips for planning pop-ups and choosing profitable merch * The surprising bestseller flying off the shelves (spoiler: it’s NSFW) * How she's balancing full-time work, family, and small business life * Her current and all-time fave book recs (dark romance fans, tune in) Find Lit Actually on social media: * Instagram.com/lit.actually  [http://instagram.com/lit.actually] * Facebook.com/litactually [http://www.facebook.com/litactually] * Tiktok.com@lit.actually [http://Tiktok.com@lit.actually]

This Book Club is All Smut and Spice, No Shame

Did you want more smut? I’m chatting with Alexa Sierra, co-founder of Nashville Smut, the spicy book club-turned-brand that’s taken over Music City and the internet one smutty read at a time.  What started as a Facebook group between two childhood besties has grown into a full-blown movement with in-person meetups, viral merch, and their very own indie book festival, Tempted by Fiction. We talk about: * How Nashville Smut got started (and why it almost didn’t) * Growing a community without a big budget or social media experience * The truth about planning events and selling spicy merch * What really goes viral on Instagram and TikTok * Lessons from building a business while working full-time * And yes, we get all the smutty book recs you could ever want Whether you’re a fellow smut-lover, thinking of starting a bookish side hustle, or just need a feel-good story about women making magic, this one’s for you.  Visit Nashville Smut at https://www.nashvillesmut.com. [https://www.nashvillesmut.com.] * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nashvillesmut [https://www.instagram.com/nashvillesmut] * TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nashvillesmut [https://www.tiktok.com/@nashvillesmut] * Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/19NJ9DBcrd/ [https://www.facebook.com/share/g/19NJ9DBcrd/]