A Short History of The Book Jam:
This blog and podcast series began as a joke, truly it did.
While working together in the Norwich Bookstore, an independent bookstore in our adopted Vermont hometown, the owners challenged us to host a radio show about books. Sadly, the cost proved prohibitive, BUT the idea of finding a way to distribute independent booksellers’ knowledge of books and to provide a better way of helping people out of their “books jams” lived on.
And thus, in 2010 a blog was born.
So who are we? We’re two book lovers living in Vermont – both named Lisa – here to help readers out of troublesome “book jams.” You know you’re in a “jam” when you ask: “What should I read next?”
We do themed shows, interviews with authors about the books that have influenced them, read literature from different countries to better understand the world and ALWAYS recommend favorite books. We also curate live events for adults and children that build community, inspire people to read and are fun. Welcome, happy reading, and now, go grab a book!
OUR MISSION:
We hope to alleviate book jams (also know as reader’s block).
We aim to put the right book in the right hands at the right time.
We submit these blogs and live events with the deepest respect for readers, books, authors, independent booksellers, and public libraries.
ABOUT THE TWO LISAS:
Lisa Cadow is the founder of Vermont Crepe & Waffle, a food cart and catering company serving authentic French crepes. When not reading, traveling or testing recipes for her food blog Fork on the Road, or working her full-time position as a health coach for Dartmouth Health Connect, she lives in Vermont with her husband, three cats and an energetic border collie, and her three kids when they are home from their respective colleges/jobs.
Whenever possible, she scurries away with a book. Preferred genres include contemporary fiction, historical fiction, memoirs and, of course, cookbooks. Favorite living authors include Geraldine Brooks, Adrianna Trigianna, Ann Patchet, Tana French, Jacqueline Winspear, and Alexandra Fuller.
AND
J Lisa C is the founder/first Executive Director of Everybody Wins! Vermont and a former Executive Director of Everybody Wins! USA, literacy programs that help children love books (www.everybodywins.org). She currently works part-time as a non-profit consultant and tries to be an excellent graduate student. She lives in Vermont with her husband, two sons, and a very large Bernese Mountain Dog. She dreams of travel and owning a home in Spain or Maine.
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Both Lisas are avid readers (you can ask our kids who have trouble getting our attention) and promise they personally read any book they recommend.
Finally got a moment to look at your new site – FABULOUS! It is really a great resource…
& good news is that I have found a guy (who appreciates indie bookstores) to help with the NB site and we can link, become affiliates, etc. very soon!
Thanks, Liza. We’d love to be linked to and affiliated with the Norwich Bookstore.
Hi, Lisa & Lisa, Just wondering when my interview will be on. I think you said this week? I don’t seem to have either of your email addresses, so I’m hoping this will reach you. Best, Katharine Britton
So glad to know about this! I know JLC- thank you for letting me know about this! Enjoy every minute and I can’t wait to “follow”!
Thank you Shannon. Our “research/reading” is the best part of this gig and we hope it helps you find some great reads. We also hope it encourages everyone to visit their local independent bookstores often and see what they have on their shelves as well.
My name is Terri Ann Armstrong and I got your name through my agent. I am a seven-time published author (see my books on GoodReads, Amazon & B&N) and Executive Editor for Suspense Magazine and am currently writing a cozy series. The first book, “How to Plant a Body” has been out since April 17, 2012 electronically and in paperback format. I have received several rave reviews including one from Paul Kemprecos, NYT bestseller and co-author (with Clive Cussler) of the NUMA files.
The second one in my planned, four-book series is “How to Bury a Body” is in the early editing stages and will soon be ready for advance praise giving everyone a fair shot at the coveted front cover exposure. Either way, every advance praise will be in the book.
I am looking to get reviewers for both books and/or even be a guest blogger on others’ blogs. I’ve ran contests already and some have won free copies of my books. I’m willing to do the contest with every blogger if they wish.
If you’d like, I can send you a blurb about “How to Plant a Body”, the manuscript and the cover. I can also send you the blurb about “How to Bury a Body” to see if you’d be interested in an advance review. The third book is being written, and the fourth is planned. There will be another series after this one, and has already been outlined.
I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you so much.
Respectfully yours,
Terri Ann Armstrong, Author
Just heard you guys on NPR — you were great!! For once I’m glad to be driving around on a beautiful afternoon:)
Way to go!!
Thanks for listening. It was wonderful to have the opportunity to talk with Neal.
I have recently published a memoir, “Secrets of the Velvet Closet” and would like your review. This book is just over 50,000 words and follows the journey of a young woman from the age of seven to present day and the challenges she faced as a closeted lesbian only seeking acceptance, love, and a sense of self. From her early days growing up with an alcoholic mother and an absentee bible thumping father, this story begins with intolerance, and continues through two marriages, depression, alcoholism, abuse, adultery, and betrayal.
My name Lena Rai. Being a Native American lesbian, I’m an established poet and an upcoming novelist. My work has been published in The international Library of Poetry. I’ve also had an award winning essay entitled, The Accomplishments of Gerald R. Ford as President of the United States for the Gerald R. Ford renaming ceremony in Grand Rapids, MI. I’m the author of two self published books of poetry, “Voices Silently Speak” and “Whispering a Lady’s Secret”. I also carry a successful blog that pertains to my poetry and personal life at http://lenarai.wordpress.com where I have many esteemed followers.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18716999-secrets-of-the-velvet-closet
Hi Lena – At this point in time, we are not big enough to read all the books we wish to read and thus we do not accept books for review. The best way to get the book in our hands is to get galleys to independent booksellers. Good luck with your book. Lisa and Lisa
Thank you so much for your site!!!! I stumbled across it while looking up the book, Maps. I was so pleased. My husband and I have such different reading tastes, I rarely find his books and mine anywhere close to each other
( other then on our bookcase of course;)
You can’t believe how many of his choices and mine have been written about on your page and how many more we found that we have already put in our Amazon basket.
books are such an amazement and it is so very wonderful to see people taking the time to give them space and love to be found.
Aiyana
We are so glad you found us and that we have already helped you find some great new books to read. Thank you for your kind words of support. We hope you will help your friends find us too. We also hope that in addition to your amazon basket you are able to periodically find time to browse an independent bookstore. They are sources of superb book choices too, and so often inspire the picks we share.
Hi Lisa and Lisa,
I met Lisa Christie briefly at a Pages in the Pub up here in my town of Hardwick, co-sponsored with The Galaxy Bookshop. It was an awesome event and I’d love to attend another one. One of the books recommended was Boys in the Boat, which I’ve since reviewed and recommended on my own blog.
Anyhow, I know you don’t review books but thought I’d get in touch to let you know about the release of my own first novel this summer. It’s historical fiction and you can read all about it if you’re interested at the new Foreword Review at: https://www.forewordreviews.com/reviews/the-clever-mill-horse/
I’ve been having an awful lot of fun talking to all the folks who have been reading it around here this summer and I’m hoping to take it on tour to indie bookstores in Vermont this winter. Perhaps our paths will cross.
I’ll sign up to get your blog posts by email and if you’re interested, I’m doing similar recommendations of things I’ve read and enjoyed at my blog called Jodi’s Joy Reads: http://joyreads2.blogspot.com/
best to you both,
Jodi Lew-Smith
Thank you Jodi – we can’t guarantee to read things sent our way but we love to hear about new books. So thank you! AND GOOD LUCK!!! Lisa and Lisa
Hello from London! We run a regular event here called the Brixton BookJam – although for us it’s a chance for authors / readers to jam together 🙂 Happy to stumble across your lovely site – keep up the good work!
So glad to hear about you. We feature authors once a month on the blog in our 3 questions series, and we do live events to bring readers together throughout New England. Maybe we can join forces someday in London. One of the Lisas will be in London from November 1 to 10. Any chance you are bookjamming then?
Next one is Monday, and the following December 1st. Shame!
Too bad but have fun! And good luck. And if you are ever in the States, look us up in Vermont.
Lisa and Lisa
Love TBJ blog! Thank you, Lisas, for guiding me to what to read.
THANK YOU Tim. And thank you for representing us so well in Montpelier.