Today we’d like to introduce you to Bryce McQuern.
Hi Bryce, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for sharing your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
I quit my job as a teacher, went not-so-temporarily insane, and began feverishly buying books to open a bookstore. The hardest part was finding an affordable commercial unit, and the second hardest was badgering my landlord to make the unit even remotely habitable and functional.
Would it have been a smooth road, and what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The business needs to pay my bills, but it’s getting closer to doing so. My work hours could have been better for my social life and sleep schedule.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about lowercase books?
I sell good books at an affordable price! I’ve tried to cultivate a lean selection of books with as little filler as possible but without having my stock seem hifalutin or decorative. I love trade paperbacks and pocketbooks. I also love Virago Modern Classics, josei manga, Valancourt horror reissues, vintage children’s and young adult books, and forgotten 20th Century authors. I have five boxes of records for sale that are even more tightly curated than the books. You will appreciate those five boxes of records if you are a huge nerd. My store has a modest reputation for being an all-ages DIY punk space. Other events include lit readings, occasional movie nights, a book club, and very irregular First Friday art shows; I don’t sell James Patterson books. I try to be democratic with my book stock, but I shelve airport books very sparingly. https://www.revolvermag.com/music/see-callous-daoboys-cover-deftones-my-own-summer-bookstore. The store was mentioned in a Revolver write-up recently!
We’d love to hear what you think about risk-taking.
I don’t consider myself a risk-taker, though some do.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lowercasebooks.neocities.org/
- Instagram: @lowercase_books
- Twitter: @lowercasebooks
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.ca/biz/lowercase-books-knoxville
- Other: https://twoelizabethtaylors.neocities.org/
