Connie Cox: How long have you been a bookseller?
Kay Meriam Vamvakias: I have been a bookseller since the end of 1995.

How did you get into this career?
Steve Aymond (now at Barnes and Noble) is the one responsible for getting me in this business. I was hired as part-time Christmas help and then Steve made me a part of the staff. The reason I was hired is that Steve and his staff knew me since I would go in and buy my books several times a week. I would bug them to make sure that the series books were put out when they came in and that the new releases were on the shelf. In other words, I was a real pain to them. So in Steve's wisdom, he put me on staff to let me handle his romance section. At that time, romance was in the corner by the kids' books.

Are you a reader yourself?
Yes, I do read alot and I read almost everything in the romance section.

What do you like to read?
I am not fond of time travel and RARELY read those. The next on the list that I RARELY read is historic Americana, but I will read all of Winnie Grigg's. The main reason I have stayed mainly in this one section is that I have found over the years that if I want to dip into any type of book, I can satisfy that in romance. You can get mystery, sci-fi, paranormal, historical and contemporary, plus you are going to get a good ending.

Why do you invest the time? What do you get out of reading?
My love for romance most likely goes back 20 or so years. Things in my life were really rough and I wanted happy, feel-good books. I didn't need reality, I needed escapism and that is what I always got. I believe that is why most readers read romance, to escape the negatives of life.
Reading has always been a major part of my life, both of my parents read and my father made sure I always had books. He and I would go to the bookstore whereever we lived and load up. Reading is a way for me to relax, that has not changed and I look at my reading not as a part of my job, but as a part of my life.

How many books per week do you read?
Before all the major changes in my life in the last couple of months, I was reading about 30 or so books a month. I will get back to that as I really miss my books.

Has the price of books and the economy in general changed what people buy?
Romance readers are very loyal to their books, they will go without other things to have their books and that goes for me also, I just thank the publishers and authors for ARC's.

Have you seen any trends in what readers want?
I think that romance readers are the same around the world. They want a good book with a strong story that is believable. It is what I want. Whether it is a paranormal or contemporary, it has to be something that, in your mind, you can see happening. That is what the authors of today give the reader.

What are some of the things publishers and individual authors can do to get more of their books into the hands of the buying public?
The Internet has helped a lot to get the word out about new books, but I think what still sells is word of mouth. I have seen this take a book to the top and, on the other side, kill a book.
I like to do booksignings to give the public a chance to see the authors are just ordinary people like us. It gives the bookstore, the author and the buyer a chance to come together.

What convinces your readers to choose one book over another?
Covers still are a major part of why a customer picks up a book, but the book has to have substance. Personally, I read the ending of a book. If the ending hooks me then I will read the book to see how they got there. You would be surprised to find out how many others do this. Going back to covers, readers will quickly let you know that the publisher didn't pay attention to the descriptions the author gives her "people" by putting the complete opposite on the cover. Something as simple as putting a blonde on the cover when the woman has flaming cascades of flaming red curls really bothers the readers.

What do you feel you can offer your customers that an online bookstore or discount store can't?

As a bookseller, what I can offer my customers is the fact I have read a lot of the books. I can share my enjoyment or tell them which authors will best suit their wants where an on-line or a discount store doesn't give the one-on-one service. Most of the time, a customer will try a book I put in their hands because of my joy from it. I have read so many books and for many authors I have read EVERYTHING they have written. So if you like a certain author then I can recommend another author that has the same type of story line. Because I do read so much I feel like I can cover a great deal of subjects. Usually what happens is that I will talk to readers in the section. Most romance readers are friendly, outgoing women who like to share their love of the genre. What customers look for, to my way of thinking, is a place were they can go and find the books they want and someone who can tell them about the new books.
In Shreveport, once readers found my store, they came back. They would tell me about books they read or authors they discovered and I would tell them what I found. I am in the process of doing the same thing at my new Houston store. You just network, and romance readers often tell friends where they find their books and the group just grows. I think it is basic human nature to share what you love and I attempt to make an atmosphere to allow that to happen. It becomes personal, it is not just a bookstore then, it is visiting with a friend.

I can personally vouch for the wonderful ambience in your store. Thank you, Kay, for this interview and for all the wonderful visits I've had. You are truly a great friend.

For all you booklovers who would like to visit, Kay says Welcome. Drop in at B Dalton #95, 379 Memorial City Mall, 1-10 & Gessner, Houston, Texas 77024. Or give the store a call at (713)4642951.

Interviews may not be copied or distributed, except for personal use, without permission of both Connie Cox and the interviewee.