Interview with
Emoke B’Racz & Linda Barrett Knopp
Malaprop’s celebrated their 30th anniversary last month. The bookstore was also honored and recognized by the publishing industry in 2000 as the best in the country. First in the South! That next year Nancy Olsen of Quail Ridge Bookstore in Raleigh was honored. Emoke B’Racz and Linda Barrett Knopp took time to share their enthusiasm for books, authors, and Asheville.
Rapid River Magazine: How did Malaprop’s come about 30 years ago?
Emoke B’Racz: I spent 10 years learning what NOT to do in a corporate bookstore setting. I had to quit before I lost my soul there so I did. I spent a year traveling and thinking every day about *my* bookstore.
When I got done with traveling I got in the car again and spent time in looking at downtowns on the east coast. Asheville had the mountains, the architecture, and empty buildings. I loved the mountains and the architecture immedeately. When I heard that the good folks of Asheville voted down another maniacal plan to cement downtown over, I knew I could live and work here.
RRM: Tell us something about the history of Malaprop’s in Asheville. What role has Malaprop’s played in the local literary community?
EBR: I think that it is important to note that Asheville already had a pretty deep literary and artistic heritage with Tomas, Zelda, Wilma Dykeman, Gail Godwin, Fred Chappel, John Ehle and many others. Malaprop’s just had to show the people that we indeed were here to serve this community to the best of our ability. I chose to concentrate our initial efforts in poetry and international literature until we were well versed in the most important part, Great Southern Literature – the learning of which has been a wonderful experience.
My first books in English that I read were As I Lay Dying by Faulkner. I continued with Light in August, and read Ellen Douglas’s The Rock Cried Out,which I now think made me whisper to myself that *I could, and want, to live in the South.*
Took me awhile to get here, but here I am, and after 30 years I still love our Downtown Books and News (celebrating 24 years this July 1), and Malaprop’s Bookstore/Cafe (celebrating 30 years this past June). I can go on with praises for this community for making these bookstores this solid place to learn, teach, and entertain.
RRM: Tell us a little about Malaprop’s and how it differs from the national book chains?
Linda Barrett Knopp: We choose all the titles we stock, so we are able to offer our customers a hand-picked selection of the best new and classic titles available. We listen to our customers, incorporate their tastes into our title selection, and challenge them with surprising offerings, too.
We bring in authors we know our customers want to meet and support, and we create community events that will enhance our city’s cultural life. Our staff are empowered to contribute to title selection, merchandising, and event planning. You won’t find this kind of creative talent and responsiveness at a chain store.
RRM: What characteristics do you think a person needs to be a successful independent bookstore owner? What has been the key to Malaprop’s success?
LBK: I would say as someone who has worked with Emoke for almost 24 years, that she is both a creative genius, and an excellent businesswoman. She is open to new ideas and empowers her staff to bring forward new ways of selling books, gifts, and running our café.
If an idea makes financial sense and improves how we can serve the community and our staff, she’ll back it 100 percent. To me, the key to Malaprop’s success has been Emoke’s leadership and the uniquely talented and devoted staff who have given so much of themselves to the store over the years.
RRM: What do you most enjoy about being a bookseller?
LBK: I love connecting books with readers. I love being surrounded by books, meeting writers, and spending my working hours in a creative pursuit of making Malaprop’s the best she can be for our customers and staff.
RRM: If you could have any writer, living or dead, read at Malaprop’s who would it be?
LBK: William Shakespeare. I will spend my whole life in awe of his brilliant work and contribution to our culture.
RRM: What do you think the future looks like for independent booksellers?
LBK: The future is uncertain because of ebooks, though I am still very optimistic. We need customers to keep us in the loop for their ebook purchases through malaprops.com. The sale of print books is still very healthy and can sustain an independent bookstore, but much depends on how much ebooks affect print sales in the future.
RRM: What advice do you have to offer to an author who would like to conduct an event at Malaprop’s?
LBK: Visit www.malaprops.comand choose “Present an Event” from the Event’s tab. All you need to know is right there!
RRM: What kind of books do you personally enjoy? What types of books sell best in your experience?
LBK: My reading tastes are all over the place these days, but I’ve always loved character-driven fiction in which I feel, as a reader, that I learn something new about myself and the world. I’ve learned so much life wisdom from books, even from the silliest books, sometimes. You never know when an author will surprise you with the lesson you need to learn at that moment in your life.
Malaprop’s bestsellers have always represented the authors we host, and the tastes of our community. I can see where Asheville’s at by looking at our bestseller list. This week you’ll find a mix of touring author books as well as fantasy, regional, and erotic fiction.
Malaprop’s Bookstore/Cafe
55 Haywood Street, Downtown Asheville
(828) 254-6734, www.malaprops.com
