The Bookish Hour

Interview with Romance Book Truck Girlie: Stephanie

• Jor & Fab • Season 2 • Episode 4

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Books on Wheels: Stephanie's Romantic Book Truck Adventure

What happens when a book lover spots a vintage Volkswagen truck for sale near the beach? 

Stephanie's creation—The Fleuria, a charming mobile romance bookstore—represents a perfect blend of entrepreneurial spirit and literary passion. Rather than committing to the sky-high commercial rents of a traditional bookstore in LA, she took a different road entirely—quite literally. Stephanie shares her vision for creating a mobile literary space that partners with local women-owned and BIPOC-owned businesses throughout Los Angeles. Beyond just selling books, Stephanie's mission centers on community building. 

Whether you're a romance reader in Los Angeles hoping to catch The Fleuria at a local pop-up, an aspiring book entrepreneur seeking inspiration, or simply someone who appreciates seeing dreams take physical form, Stephanie's story reminds us that sometimes the best adventures begin with a single book—or in this case, a single book truck. 

Follow her journey on Instagram @thefleuria and @stephiepao

Cover Art by: Fabienne and Jordan
Contact email: thebookishhourpod@gmail.com
Intro/Outro music: Season Two: Ramaramaray by Aiyo via Epidemic Sound Season One: Sweet Psycho via TikTok’s Offical Sound Studio on Capcut
Follow Us:
Podcast: @thebookishhourpod
Fabienne: @oxonheart
Jordan: @sipsoffiction

Jordan:

Welcome to the bookish hour with just your. She recently bought the cutest truck and gave it the most ultimate, stunning and, shall we say, romantic makeover ever. Now she's cruising through the sunshine filled streets of LA in style. Please welcome to the podcast, stephanie.

Stephanie:

Hi, hi, thank you so much for having me.

Jordan:

Oh, no, thank you so much for coming on. A little backstory I met Stephanie at Romantasy BookCon in LA which would be like a couple months from now, like past and she handed me the cutest bookmark for your truck. And, granted, I didn't think of it then, but then, after I came back home from the conference, I thought it would be so cool to have her you on the podcast and I'm so excited. But, yeah, okay, so we can dive on in. I do like to start off each episode with something that has that's good, that has happened to you. Do you have anything that you want to share?

Stephanie:

oh, okay, so I've been volunteering with the friends of the Library for like eight months and they invited me and the truck to be a part of the parade that happened this past weekend and I wasn't sure if I'd get the truck in time. But its first like public debut was like in a St Patrick's Day parade, like where I grew up, and I actually used to march in that parade when I was younger. So it feels like very full circle, like when I was a kid growing up here.

Jordan:

Oh my gosh. Yeah, I saw your like Instagrams and it looks so cute. You're so cute driving the truck too. I love it. I also the truck is so cute too, like physically cute. Cute because, like you know how, like you think of like a, I think of like a truck truck.

Stephanie:

so when I actually saw pictures of it, I'm like this is a cute one, this is cute yeah, I, like, was very committed to this style of truck it's like a volkswagen, I think it's called like a transporter truck and so committed that I learned how to drive stick shift so I could get this like cute truck.

Jordan:

Wait, that's cool though, so now you can drive stick.

Stephanie:

I mean kind of enough to get around, like I don't think I'll be taking like long road trips, but enough to get by. Yeah, I definitely hired like an elder European man to just like yell at me until, like, I figured out how to drive it.

Jordan:

But it worked. That's amazing. I mean, you got to do what you got to do. Yeah, for the books, yeah, okay. So, like my good, good week, we'll just do really fast. I ordered this like sweat set sunday cherries, which I've never heard before, but I found them on instagram and it came in yesterday, so I'm so excited I could be wearing it right now but oh, you're wearing it.

Stephanie:

I love that.

Jordan:

I yes, yes, I like I love a good sweat set. That that's my thing. But I work from home. It doesn't. Yeah, yeah, okay, so we can dive right on into the questions. I'm so sorry, talking is hard today.

Stephanie:

I'm sorry.

Jordan:

Talking is like hard today, so like, I'm sorry. Okay, so how and when did you decide that you wanted to have a romance book truck? Is it something you've always wanted to do, or is this something like recently that came to you?

Stephanie:

Yeah, I would say. About a little over a year ago I was. I live by the beach, so I was walking by the beach and I saw a truck very similar to the one I ended up getting for sale and at the time I didn't take down the information, but that day I was thinking really deeply like, oh my gosh, I want to do something that brings in my love of books for my future. I've also been freelancing for three years now and I am like I enjoy marketing, but it's not my passion, that's what I freelance in. So I was like I want to do something I'm really passionate about, but maybe bring in my marketing. So I thought really hard maybe if I bought this cute little truck and did something with books.

Stephanie:

Of course I never found that truck again, but it just started off the idea and I just started researching it and I really debated also getting a store. But I live in Los Angeles so I feel like the rent is so expensive. It would be a very big risk and as someone who has been freelancing, I've had a very flexible schedule. So I feel like I want to like tiptoe into having like actual times and places where I need to be because I to work from home and I dictate my own schedule. So I think the truck is like a nice way to test out the idea of selling books and making like my love of books something that maybe can like be a revenue driver and hopefully pay some bills. But if not, at least I haven't committed to like a full store and if it is something I love doing, then maybe one day a store that's really cool, okay, yeah, so that was actually gonna be like my next question.

Jordan:

So this is um a truck like as in, like a bookstore, like you're selling books, like you go to places and then you sell. It's like a pop-up type thing.

Stephanie:

Yes, so I am going to try to work with local businesses, hopefully women owned, like from BIPOC owners perhaps, and from marginalized communities, and just try to pop up in their parking lots and just set up like a schedule. Hopefully, like every month, I'll have like certain places that I'll be at, like maybe every first Monday, and like just have a set schedule of places that I'll rotate through in LA.

Jordan:

Oh my gosh, that would be so cool. I feel like that's so, like pop ups are like so into, so like you knowing, like whether you're you have a schedule, or, honestly, even if you didn't have a schedule, I think that's very cool. You like hype up, like hey, I'm going to be at this place at this time, from this time to this time, and be there, be square.

Stephanie:

Yes, yes, I didn't want to start reaching out to people to set up everything like schedule wise until I had the truck in possession, and I've only had it with me for a week, so I feel like I'm still figuring that out logistically, but I do already have like one event planned.

Jordan:

Oh yeah, so I know it's kind of okay, I'll save that. I'll save that one for that question, but that is so cool. How did you come up with the name? And do you mind pronouncing the name for me, because I did not want to mess that up?

Stephanie:

It's the Floria and I don't know. I'm going to be honest, I don't know if that was like a great choice in name. I feel like coming up with names is so hard.

Jordan:

I love that name. I love that name. I think it's so, I think it fits the truck so well. It's so like like pretty and like flowery and your logo. No, I love it. I love it, don't question it. I love it, I love it, don't question it.

Stephanie:

I love it. Okay, that's one person. One person says it. I feel like there's just all. Most bookstores and bookish things have fun book puns for like their names, but I just really could not think of one that like wasn't already something in existence and I have been doing marketing for a while, so I did something with this name before for one of my clients, but I owned it and I was like I came up with that name. I really like it and I've worked for brands in the past. I used to do marketing for beauty where the brand names, like were made up words and it was just like the branding that like built the brand. I was like it's okay if the word is like a made up word, because it is a made up word.

Jordan:

Oh my God, wait, that's kind of cool, and then it's like your word. Well, yeah.

Stephanie:

Yeah, it's a, it's. It is very close to like the French word for flower, that's like the lure.

Jordan:

It's very close to like the French word for flower, that's like fleur, but I just added the girly part at the end, like the I-A. Honestly, I feel like that makes it. It's just, it seems so like flowery and like dainty in a way, and I think it's so cute. I also just love your logo. So did you also then come up with the logo, or was that something you did? Oh, no, no.

Stephanie:

So you've been probably on book social media for a lot longer than me. I started posting on social media about books just to see if I even wanted to talk about books every day, like before I got serious about this book truck and it turns out I do and I made like so many friends like from book social media. Like, if you're questioning it, you should definitely do it because book people are so nice and I've just been documenting my journey from like very early, when I wasn't even sure if I would open a store or a truck, and a girl that I was connected with on TikTok. She messaged me when I was asking for like recommendations on branding and she also has a book Instagram and a book talk and she's like I'm a branding designer and so we're friends who read together, friends who have similar book tastes. But she also has a really awesome branding agency and it's called digi design dig with three i's and she's like amazing. Her name is maria. If you need branding.

Jordan:

She's great, I love that I, I feel like I I see like all these bookstagrammers have branding. I don't have anything besides like bookstagram, so I don't, but I like want to do branding like not me.

Stephanie:

Like I want branding for me done, but I don't have anything for it, but I think that's so cool, like that's really cool, yeah, and I feel like for her it was like, oh, maybe I like can't pay as much as like a huge like business, but it's like a passion project for her because we share a love of books and like we just like really connected on social media.

Jordan:

Oh, that's like really cool. I definitely agree with you in the book world. Cool, I definitely agree with you. In the book world, I feel like everybody's so nice and everybody wants to just uplift everybody. So I feel like when we all share our love of books, it's so great. Just love it.

Stephanie:

Yeah, I feel like I've been reflecting on it a bit lately, just thinking through my journey getting ready for this, and I've just been thinking like, oh, my whole adult life I've been wondering like how do people make friends as adults? And like now I'm realizing like, oh, I just had to like yap about books, like in public, and like I would find other people who wanted to do the same.

Jordan:

And then we all come together for books.

Jordan:

Yeah, like for RomanticiCon, exactly like because I think that's what really like confirmed it for me, because I went to RomanticiCon by myself, so I didn't have anybody that I was like going with, but I feel like there were so many people that also went by themselves or even like were separated from, like the person they were with, and I I feel like waiting in those lines like you just like everybody just wants to talk about books, so like you didn't feel alone, or like I didn't, at least yeah, yeah, no.

Stephanie:

I've at this point gone to four book conventions and Romantic Seacon is the only one we went to with a friend. All the other ones I went by myself and I met like the best people right Waiting in line or like just at all the different gatherings that these conventions usually put on.

Jordan:

Yes, I feel like so many people are like they just want, like they don't, they're open to chatting, so, like if you were to just like go up to somebody, no one's like standoffish, which is what I really like. Everybody's like oh my God, yeah, like, come, come in, yeah, okay, so how is driving the truck? And then I know you kind of answered this, but do you plan on taking it out of LA?

Stephanie:

Okay. So driving has been a little bit of a challenge, I would say, but not terrible. It's actually easier to drive than I thought. I have been practicing driving stick shift, like I mentioned, probably for four months now. I started taking lessons and I have one friend who has a stick shift car, so we would meet like every week for dinner and I would drive her car around, but this car is obviously a lot bigger. So I think actually the issue I have now is more like okay, I can drive it around and I can pretty much park it, but I can't like get out of parking spots that well and it's a bit harder to like reverse and figure out how big the back is. So it's just getting used to the length of the car now, and LA is honestly pretty big.

Stephanie:

I asked for suggestions of places to pop up at and I got so many on threads and I'm realizing like, oh, wow, some of these places are very far from me even though we're all in LA. So I think I'll probably start like with a smaller radius around me, maybe like 10 miles, and then work my way out to longer drives, but I would like to take it out farther these girls that I met who throw book retreats. They invited my truck and me to a book retreat. I think it's like maybe an hour and a half from me and I really want to bring the truck but I'm like I need to work up to that traveling that much of a distance.

Jordan:

fair well, I feel that that's so cool, that would be cool. And then like, just yeah, I guess opening the truck there. But oh, that's so cool, that would be cool. And then like, just yeah, I guess opening the truck there. But all that's like I'm like so excited for you, I'm like so excited for all these things. You'll have to come back. I know I already am like I know I will be back, like, um, my mom's side of the family she's actually like they live out there, um, but in Orange County. But that's like a hot skip and a jump, like I can drive to la. So I'm like waiting.

Stephanie:

I have to, and I am at the very southern part of la, so parts of orange county is sometimes closer to me than like parts of la, so I do think I'll venture that way too, ooh, okay.

Jordan:

Okay, yeah, my grandma's house. Granted, I don't really know LA very well. All I know is no traffic. It takes us about 40 minutes to get to LA, but that I don't know. I couldn't tell you where in LA that is, I just know that's like our go to what we say.

Stephanie:

I feel like everything in LA is about 40 minutes from each other.

Jordan:

No matter the distance.

Stephanie:

I feel like that's what everyone says. Okay, then, nevermind, ignore me, you have the right timing. Right, it's 40 minutes anywhere. Honestly.

Jordan:

Okay, perfect, but like, but, like I, but I can't like wait to like come back and I have to like time it now for like when you have an event.

Stephanie:

um, oh, I'm hoping to have a couple of events per week, like once I get really going, maybe by the summer, yeah, okay okay, that would be.

Jordan:

Yeah, oh, my gosh. Um, do you have, I kind of like, a question off topic. Do you have like the certain, because I'm I know you mentioned like having like um author, like certain authors, like, uh, like authors of color and, um, I don't the acronym, the like oh yeah, yeah, bipoc, that one, so sorry, um, having like those, like authors, I think, on the truck. Do you have any in mind that you already know that you're going to get or have gotten for the truck for like book-wise?

Stephanie:

Yes, well, I've been ordering inventory for the truck as a first, and that is in a week, a week, um and I do want to have like a good mix of like diverse authors, like LGBTQ authors as well as like BIPOC authors, and I've just actually honestly been speaking to a lot of like people on book social media about their recommendations for books in general, but also for like authors from marginalized communities. So I am trying my best to like curate so there is something for everybody, but I feel like in the very beginning, I also want to include a lot of books that I love too, just because, like I feel like I'll be easier to talk about. So I think it'll be a mix of books that from authors that I haven't read yet but like come highly recommended from people on social media, and then my favorite books.

Jordan:

Oh, okay, I like that. I like that, okay. So what advice do you have for someone that wants to open up their own book truck or do something similar that you are doing?

Stephanie:

Yeah, I would say you should definitely do it. It seems like very intimidating, but I feel like the I also have not been talking about it too too much on social media. Like I feel like I only just started like using the Floria's handle, um, because it just felt like overwhelming to talk about until the truck came into my possession. So I was like what if it doesn't happen? Um, but the few times I posted about it, I feel like I've gotten so much like support and like kind wishes and from the community. So I feel like people love books, people love love, and like I think it's definitely not as daunting as I thought it would be. There's definitely so much that I don't know. So, like maybe ask me in like a couple of months like what other advice I would give, but for now I would say like if you have the idea, it's definitely, definitely, totally doable, and I feel like you'll just like be learning along the way, like I am, like I'm figuring out things as I go but I also feel like that's like what's so fun.

Jordan:

It's like you know how they say the? It's not the destination, it's the journey. So I feel like this whole like journey leading to this, like book truck and all these events, I think that's what's like so cool.

Stephanie:

Yeah, and I definitely feel like with something like a truck, like it's really on your own schedule. So if things don't go like as fast as maybe you're hoping, like you're so in control of like when you want to have events, so like if I'm not ready to like have more after the next one, like I can dictate my own schedule. There's no like real pressure, it's just me like keeping myself accountable to what goals I want to hit.

Jordan:

And that's so true. So it definitely seems like a little less like daunting than having like a store, like opening your own bookstore up, where I think like there's a lot more like rent and like overhead and other things that you have to take into account, where I think a book truck is a little more manageable and easier to figure out those things, but not to say that you couldn't venture into expanding and then having a bookstore that's like the same thing and then you still drive the truck around a like bookstore that's like the same thing and then you still drive the truck around.

Stephanie:

So I feel like this leads to so it can lead to so many different pathways for you and in whatever direction you want to go in yeah, I think store is definitely something that once you set like an open day, you really had to have all the things ready to go, whereas I feel like I'm just like soft launching this truck, like I have one of it and we'll see how it goes and see what else I might need, what I probably haven't even thought of, like I haven't driven around the truck yet filled with books.

Stephanie:

So we'll see how that goes next week, and then I think there's so many ideas that I have that I feel like will just be a good starting point to continue to expand on. I really want to do a lot with community and events, because I think things like Romantic Econ I feel like book lovers just want a way to connect with each other and I think there could just always be more events, and I personally would love to attend more events and I personally would love to attend more events. So I think if you're doing a business like this, you could definitely create it the way that you want and, especially with the truck, you have the flexibility.

Jordan:

Oh, most definitely.

Stephanie:

Okay, so now we can get into what upcoming events do you have with the truck that you want to talk about? Yes, okay, this will have already passed by the time the episode is up, but the first event is also. I'm so sorry, is my jog like really loud?

Jordan:

It's so cute. I hear the barking. It is so cute. You want to be on the podcast.

Stephanie:

I think he, um somebody's he wants to be on the podcast, I think he. I live in a little community and I think somebody's probably at the door. Hold on, I'll just tell him. I think he's coming, okay, sorry, okay, so the first event will have already passed, but I have been volunteering with the Friends of the Library shop for eight months and they're just so kind and I feel like this.

Stephanie:

I didn't think it would lead to anything, I just thought it would be a fun way to like do something I'm passionate about. And they're throwing author panels with local authors every other month and because I was doing a romance book truck, they decided to do one that was romance themed, hoping that my truck would be there in time. So they invited me and my truck to be there. There's five local romance authors Three are traditionally published and two are indie authors. So it's like a really fun mix. And I will be moderating which I've never done anything like that either and then the truck will be moderating, which I've never done anything like that either and then the truck will be available after for shopping.

Jordan:

oh, wait, that's so cool, and the fact that you get to like moderate the the panel too yeah, no, it's, I'm sorry no, you go. Can you mention, like, who the authors are, or is that like something that like we can't?

Stephanie:

oh yeah yes, okay, um. Jc lee, who was at romanticy book con um, and then also emily wibberley and austin stigman broca his name is very long, but they write together. They wrote the Roughest Draft.

Jordan:

I didn't read that one, but I read the breakup song or the oh yes, yes, the Taylor Swift-inspired one, which is so cute.

Stephanie:

I love it. Their story, honestly, is so cute. I grew up in this area in LA and they live maybe two cities away from me in this area in LA and they live like maybe two cities away from me and I saw them speak in another panel but they grew up. Our high school sweethearts like got married. They still live in this area and now they write together and like I just think it's so cute.

Stephanie:

Yes, oh, my gosh, that is so cute. Okay, okay, yes. And then the other two authors are um indie published. So one is allison ames and she writes like um paranormal, very spicy romance.

Stephanie:

And then the other is aj win and she writes um like mystery romance oh okay, okay, yeah, so very, very different, because the two um traditionally published authors are three. They write contemporary romance mostly, but they both have written um fantasy or fantasy romance as well. So everyone has like a lot of different genres they write in. So it'll be a fun panel.

Jordan:

Oh, and then is that like the only event so far you have planned. You kind of want to like see how that one goes, or do you have any other like events that you're kind of like that is yeah, that is the one I have planned, and the LA Festival of Books is happening at the end of April.

Stephanie:

I don't know what I want to do, but I know that a lot of people are coming in or will be in a bookish mood, so I want to do something. I want to find a venue somewhere close to that. So, like, maybe bring the truck.

Jordan:

Oh, okay, okay.

Stephanie:

That's so cool oh my gosh.

Jordan:

But also, going back to the panel, I think that's so cool, especially like moderating it. Okay, so we'll dive into reading. So what is your favorite book and or series? A book you would recommend to anyone and everyone, or series.

Stephanie:

Okay, that is so hard, Like I thought of a bunch so you can.

Jordan:

you can give me a few. Okay, definitely give me a few.

Stephanie:

Okay, well, I love the windy city series by Liz Tom Ford. I love all the books.

Jordan:

Okay, I haven't actually read that, but, but mile high is sitting on my TVR cart so maybe I need to move.

Stephanie:

Oh, okay, I feel like I love mile high, but a lot of people say they don't love it. So definitely give it two books at least. Okay, before you make your final judgment call, because I think a lot of people's favorites is the third book, which is the Right Move, or the second book is the Right Move, but I love the third book, which is Caught Up. Yes, I definitely have been reading a lot of contemporary romance lately, so I also love anything by ali hazelwood and love deep end I love deep end too, I fit.

Stephanie:

I just finished that one I'm obsessed with it obsessed me too, me too, yes, yes, um. And then I love this book, real by kennedy ryan. Um, it's like, what kind of like? It's called real r-e-e-l, oh, okay, okay, yeah, like a movie reel and they're like, it's like they're working on this big like production and it's um the like starring actress and the director.

Jordan:

I just like a very beautiful story oh, I've only, I've only read, I think, hot long shot by kennedy ryan and that that one was really sad yeah, it like hurt so bad and I was like this one is also a little bit okay, like, and so I was like I can't I gotta. I was like, oh okay, I gotta put this down yeah that one was really, really emotional.

Stephanie:

This one is, but in a different way, like she has a chronic illness, and it plays a role in their story too. So I don't know. It's just so beautiful.

Jordan:

I love her writing her writing is really good. Really, I'm like bawling my eyes out for this, like character and anybody that's like read Longshot, you know, but I'm not gonna like talk about it here, but like yeah bawling and you know how like you get like sick to your stomach. I was like physically ill reading it.

Stephanie:

Yeah, no, that was tough, yeah, yeah.

Jordan:

Yeah, did you have any other ones for this?

Stephanie:

Oh okay, another favorite. This could be my last one. It's called yes, no, maybe, by Jessica Sherry, and she's an indie author, but I feel like she's like on the level of like um, abby Jimenez or Emily Henry, like her book is so good it's also a bit emotional too, but like very beautiful and she's like so kind, like I don't know, that's what I love about book social media Like we've just become friends through me chatting about the book and she sent me like two signed copies for the truck of her book. So I'm very excited to like convince some people that they must need to buy this when the truck goes out next week.

Jordan:

Yes, yes, but that's so. Oh, but I feel like you also need a signed copy.

Stephanie:

I mean I did. I was like, oh my gosh, well, I kind of want one. But that's okay, I'll ask her for another one later, Like let me try to sell these for her.

Jordan:

Okay, okay, fair, fair, okay. So what is one line of writing, poetry or quote that lives in your head? Rent-free free.

Stephanie:

Okay, this one is hard, um, but I have you read our infinite fates by Laura Stephen. It just came out, um, that's okay, it literally just came out. But it's, um, like a YA story. But it's like about two soulmates who like keep getting reincarnated but they're like destined to fall in love and like kill each other in every life, and like there's a line in it that says, like I love you and I have loved you and I will love you, and I don't know. I think like that story, and like their story, was just so beautiful and I love that line.

Jordan:

Oh my gosh wait, yeah, that's so pretty. Now I feel like I need to. I like don't really gravitate toward that, toward that sort of thing, but like I feel like I need to read it now it's really I don't read that much YA.

Stephanie:

It was really good and also cried a lot throughout, okay, okay good, so like when you're ready to like shed some tears, maybe Then pick it up. Yes, yes.

Jordan:

Okay. So if you could have a literary dinner party with three authors, living or dead, who would you invite and why?

Stephanie:

Okay, this is also a hard question and I feel like we keep talking. I'm sure all your listeners know your answers, but I'm like, oh, but I also actually knew yours.

Jordan:

um, but I I mean, I can definitely go with mine, but I've never actually answered this question myself.

Stephanie:

Oh, okay, okay well, but you first, yeah, okay, um, I would love to have dinner with Ali Hazelwood. I just love her book so much, um, and then I think, maybe Emily Henry and Yulin Kwong, since I love Yulin Kwong's book and obviously love Emily Henry, but she's like adapting two of her Emily Henry's movies for like film and TV, so I feel like it would be fun to get the inside scoop on, like what's happening with that?

Jordan:

Yes, yeah, actually it really would.

Stephanie:

Yeah, what are yours?

Jordan:

Okay so this is like right off the bat. I have not thought like I haven't fully dived into it, but like I have two. So I, before I joined bookstagram, I read sarah j maas, um, and I read like a court of thorns and roses and throne of glass, and those like like throne of glass is like my like die on the hill series, like I recommend that to. So it'd have to be Sarah J Maas. I know you read a lot of contemporary but I don't know if you've like dived into like darker romance at all. I have a little. Yeah, okay so. And then I don't know if you've heard of Runix. She's wrote Gothicana and she wrote like the Dark Verse series.

Stephanie:

Yeah, I read the first two of the Dark Verse series.

Jordan:

Okay, okay. Gothicana is like my, also like die on the hill.

Stephanie:

I will recommend that book to anyone and everyone, and I need to read it.

Jordan:

I love that book with like my whole heart, but but also know that you will not get all the answers that you want. So I know some people don't like that in their books, but I like.

Stephanie:

I love it. Is it a standalone book or are there more books coming? Nope, standalone, she doesn't.

Jordan:

I love that, I love that, right, and she doesn't plan on writing anything else in that like world, or yeah, I could say world um, unless like something comes to her. But like, as of now, she like won't plan on, like doesn't plan on writing anything else. Um, but I would love to like meet her and like pick her brain, and then I don't have, like I don't know who would be like my third. You like crickets? I don't that's okay.

Jordan:

I had to put some thought to this question yeah, I'm gonna, I'm gonna leave it with those two, because I feel like those would be like the two, like right off the bat, like, but like the third would need to be like.

Stephanie:

Uh, yeah, I like, I like don't know was there anyone at romney and to see khan that you were so excited to see you? Like would you want them to be at dinner?

Jordan:

oh, I did. I did get to meet nisha j tuli because I I love her. Oh my god, you just posted about it. It made me so happy.

Jordan:

I love that series like with my whole heart Artifacts of Uranus and I like it was like a surreal moment because I wanted to meet her so badly, like for so long, like I loved her, like I think I started reading the first book when the second book just came out and I think that was in 2022. Oh, wow, it was because I know there was a really long gap when she finally got picked when not finally when she got picked up by Forever that there we had to wait so long for the third, but then the fourth came out right away. So I'm like I remember like just like sitting there, like waiting, I'm like I have to wait over a year for this like next book, but totally worth the wait because the third is definitely my favorite. But I think it was like one of those things that I've like you know how, like you just love an author for so long and then you like meet them. I I acted like a complete idiot.

Stephanie:

I think we all do yeah, right.

Jordan:

I was like I love your books.

Stephanie:

She's probably like okay, crazy lady, she's really nice.

Jordan:

And her line was so long, her line was so long, I felt so bad. I was like so I waited in the morning for her the first day and I was two away from meeting her and she like she didn't feel good. So she actually ended up leaving and she was like I gotta go lay down, which totally understandable because it was like hot in that room. It was like yeah, not good. So I was like no, I was so close to meeting you and and then having to wait in the line again for the afternoon. But I made it because they moved her, because her line was so long that it was like the person right after me had to like go move to like a different area to meet her.

Stephanie:

That was me and my friend. We moved like way far away to meet her, but it was fine. It was a very spacious area.

Jordan:

Oh, okay, that's good but, I was like, yeah, yeah, if I got kicked out of this line again.

Stephanie:

I was gonna be like, yeah, um, I, I love that series too. I just finished it. But I got an arc of her like contemporary romance that's coming out in May. Not Safe for Work. It's also so good. They're on a work retreat in Hawaii and they get stuck in one room together and it's very steamy. Did you finish it?

Jordan:

Yes, yes, okay, same. I thought it was so cute. It's so cute, it was. It felt like, if you want to be on vacation and sipping a fun cocktail, that's what that book feels like.

Stephanie:

It's just such a fun read. It's definitely a great summer beach read.

Jordan:

I also can't wait for it to come out because I want summer beach read. I also like can't wait for it to come out because I want, like the physical copy because I think the. I think the cover is so cute and, yes, I love when you because, not, we're not. I'm not going to spoil it because it's not out yet, but the cover is like indicating a scene from the book.

Stephanie:

Yes, like so accurately.

Jordan:

Yes, and I thought that was so cool. I was like, oh my gosh, this is it.

Stephanie:

Yeah, no, it was so good, I can't wait to stock it on the truck. I definitely have her Artifacts of Erano series ordered for the truck.

Jordan:

Yes.

Stephanie:

So when you order books do you kind of keep the inventory like per book like down Because, like I know, the truck's not like as big class that some bookstore owners have put on. They're in Florida and I went to that over the summer. It was actually really helpful and I learned from them Otherwise I wouldn't have known they in general they have a full on bookstore, keep inventory quite low, Like they don't try to have extra stock in the back, so they're just constantly ordering books, like basically every day, to like fill in for the books that they sold. So it's a lot of like boxes to be opened, I think. But that way they don't have excessive inventory, excessive inventory. So for me I try to order what I feel like will fit in the truck for the first event and then maybe just a little bit extra because, like I think I might try to do something the next week that like a few days after, and probably won't have time to like refill on inventory. But yes, I don't want to keep like too many extra copies of anything.

Jordan:

See, but I feel like that would definitely make sense. I didn't know that.

Stephanie:

With bookstores too, I kind of just I kind of just like always figured in the back, they had like a ton of stock and I don't know why I thought that, but I too, but I used to you um work at like express, the clothing store, like when I was in college, and the back room was filled with clothes and I just kind of thought that's how all stores was honestly same it's funny you say that because I also worked at express in college, like it was the season workers, so I like worked during like winter break and like summer break, oh um, but same.

Jordan:

Like there was like that back room that was just filled with and like everything was packaged individually too, so we had to like open it from the plastic. It was so bad, so bad, but I kind of just same, like that a bookstore would be like that too.

Stephanie:

So this shop that hosted the training they like gave us a tour of everything and, like, their locker room was like tiny, like the size of a closet, basically. So they didn't even have room for a bookstore. They just had books coming in like every day, basically, basically to fill in for the books that they didn't or that they sold.

Jordan:

Oh, that's kind of. That's kind of cool, because I feel like that also, like for you, helps in the sense of you don't have to order the same books either, like you can always be changing, like the books that are on the truck, and if you were to order like a bunch of inventory, then I feel like you would have the same books.

Stephanie:

Yes, and I feel like I haven't figured out what, like you know, subgenre will sell more on the truck, so it's like nice to be able to like switch it up easier too.

Jordan:

That's true, I didn't even think of that, and probably too would depend to wow, it would depend on the events too, especially like, let's say, if you were to do something like the panels definitely seems more contemporary. I mean, you do have the paranormal and the mystery, but then if you were to do RomanticyCon, you definitely would want to try to have like more Romanticy books. So I feel like, yeah, definitely, being able to like switch it up to four like events, I feel like would be good.

Stephanie:

Yes, yes, I'm winging it. We'll see how it goes.

Jordan:

I love that. I love that. Okay, so we are on the last question. What is one future goal that you would like to achieve, either long-term or short-term, either with the truck, bookish or personal too?

Stephanie:

Yes, I think like I would love to have just like a very steady schedule, like I said, of where I'm going with the truck and have like an audience who like will follow the truck to the different places in LA. I feel like that is something that like I want to figure out during this next like six months. Just like, how do I make this fun idea into something that is like a sustainable business? And I think there's like still so much for me to figure out.

Jordan:

Yeah, I feel like you could also too. Like this is me, I just love book clubs, but I feel like you could make it like a book club too. So it's like everybody like can eat. Like you figure it out too, in the sense of like people can hopefully like purchase the book through you and the truck and then you host like a book club, like at some spot with the truck, and then people can like also go shopping afterwards like I think that's so cool too.

Stephanie:

But that's me just like obsessed with book clubs yeah, no, I want to do, I definitely want to do book club and I also just want to have. I've been throwing events before. I had the truck for, like the bookish community in LA, so I've done two so far. We had high tea for Galentine's, which is really fun. So I want to continue doing fun things where I bring people together as well, because, like I said, I feel like when I meet all these bookish people from social media, it's like oh, we all just want to gather, but we need someone to like create something to do so.

Stephanie:

So I think like events where it's not even like reading a book, but maybe it's like we do something like ceramics, but then we can talk about books at the same time, like just like fun, different things where people who have a shared interest of books can gather, and then maybe, if it makes sense you know I can bring the truck as well but also like not necessary Cause I feel like it's also just fun to like connect with book people. I feel like that's how I've got momentum for so many things like the event and the parade. It was all just like me randomly connecting with people I volunteered with. So I think it's just fun to like meet people with similar passion and like see where things go, oh, oh my gosh.

Jordan:

Yes, no, that is like so cool, um, and I like can't, I'm like so excited to see how you grow this truck and where you like take it and where you go. Like personally, I'm just like so excited and I'm like I, literally I'm, I'm so happy you like post about it because I feel like I can follow along, like I can like follow along, so I like that you're like sharing it on social media, which kind of leads to. That was all the questions. So if you wanted to take the floor and like want to talk about like social media where people can find you, yeah, okay.

Stephanie:

Well, you can follow the truck at the philaria on instagram and tiktok, although I haven't figured out tiktok. So can follow the truck at the Feluria on Instagram and TikTok, although I haven't figured out TikTok. So much for the truck yet, but it's spelled like that. And then F-L-E-U-R-I-A. And then I also have my own personal social media where I feel like I'll probably post more like behind the scenes on the trucks, plus my own personal book reviews, which is what I've been doing. So things that like, if you are curious about what it takes to like be a little truck business owner, like that's probably where I'll be posting that information. Um, but yeah, and that is um, steffi Powell. So S T E P H I E P-O on Instagram and then Stephanie Powell on TikTok.

Jordan:

Ooh, okay, Okay. Well, thank you so much for coming on the podcast and letting me interview you. This was so cool and I yeah.

Stephanie:

Thank you for having me. This was so fun. You have such like a fun, like bright energy. I really hope we get to meet and hang out in person when you're back visiting your family.

Jordan:

Oh yes, Most definitely. I already know that I have to. It has to happen.

Stephanie:

Yeah, we can host some sort of book meetup or with other like bookish people. That would be fun, that would be so fun.

Jordan:

I just I love books and I love talking about them and I love meeting people. Yeah, it's just like Same Same. Okay, well, I guess we'll log off here, but thank you so much for coming on the podcast. Yeah, thank you. Thank you so much for coming on the podcast.

Stephanie:

Yeah, thank you. Thank you so much.

Jordan:

Thank you so much for listening. I hope you enjoyed this episode. Please feel free to rate and review us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen, and if there's any interviews or conversations you would like me to have with someone specific. Any interviews or conversations you would like me to have with someone specific, please reach out either email or through our Instagram, available in the show notes and happy reading.