Celebrating Independent Booksellers: Meet Calvin Crosby
At the Collective Book Studio, we pride ourselves on promoting and collaborating with independent bookstores. Our publishing philosophy is rooted in the craft of bookmaking, and there is no one else who better understands a beautiful, quality book than an indie bookseller. They don’t have endless capacity when it comes to selecting books to sell, and moreover, they choose with personalized intent. Beyond just presentation, we look for genuine, moving content — our titles are produced with the intention of changing lives. Because, as founder Angela Engel says, “Books change lives. Books can create a movement in people. And when people are moved, they are able to change the world.”
Now, one person who comes to mind when I think of changing the world book by book is Calvin Crosby. You may know him as the former Executive Director of CALIBA, the new co-owner of the King’s English Bookshop, the co-chair of the Mosaic Community, or simply a real pro in the book world. Calvin’s introduction to the book industry started in Salt Lake City, where he lived as a teenager and discovered indie bookstores to be a safe haven for him as a native, gay kid. Now, after almost 30 years of working in and around independent bookstores, he has a wealth of insights, experiences, and reflections about the literary industry and what it has meant to him and will mean to future generations. Calvin was generous enough to share these musings with me in the following interview. I invite readers to also share their reflections with us — send your stories to us on Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn for a chance to be featured.
- Tell me about your history in the book industry — where did you start and what got you interested?
My inspiration to join the book world started when my family moved to Salt Lake City from rural Utah. I discovered Sam Weller’s (Weller Book Works) and then attended art school in Denver the Tattered Cover. My first bookselling job was very part time holiday help at Book Passage in Corte Madera. I was immediately hooked and quit a career trajectory at William Sonoma and by Christmas was full time at the bookstore.
2. What is the importance of bookstores to marginalized communities? How did they provide refuge to you as a native, gay kid?
Bookstores and libraries saved my life. They showed me a community I could not have imagined based on my home life and our socio economic status, as well as the color of my skin. I grew up in a time and a world where being dark was an immediate less than status — never mind being queer. I found escape and safety in the pages of the books I read and truly felt safe and that my status as “other” did not exist in these spaces. I was blessed with access. I see the shifting landscape with library funding decreasing and, despite the successes of Indie Bookstores, the amount of book deserts that surround even major metropolitan areas is vast.
I believe with my whole heart books change lives and access to books is marginalized.
3. What made you decide to move from working for CALIBA in the Bay Area to owning a bookstore in Salt Lake City? Have you encountered any challenges?
I have always wanted to own an Independent bookstore. Especially after almost 30 years of working in and with Indie stores. Betsy Burton, the former owner of TKE, called for advice on how to sell her shares in the store. That was a store where I spent a lot of time (and as much cash as I could afford) in my late teens and early twenties, and suddenly I knew that I had to make an offer. These advice calls are a regular part of my purview at CALIBA — my passion for the store took over and I knew I had to try. Ann Holman, my business partner at the store, is a long time friend who I have respected and loved across the years making this venture even more necessary.
I feel like there have been a few challenges, from the quick up turn in the SLC housing market just as we started to relocate, to movers bailing at the last minute, but nothing with the store. The staff is incredible, and long term for the most part, and they are committed to the success of TKE. They have been welcoming to both me and my husband. The long time loyal customers have been supportive and are supporting the store’s continued sustainability.
4. Do you have a personalized mission or vision for the future of bookselling and the publishing industry?
I hope to continue the work we started with CALIBA for the Mosaic Community, a group that I helped found with Nia McAllister from MoAD. The goal is to get BIPOC stores to network with one another, share best practices, and build education for this side of the indie channel.
My goal is to find that place where publishing can understand the uniqueness of POC stores and see these stores leverage their strength and passion.
I am optimistic about Indie bookselling in the future. We are scrappy and tenacious and, despite the parasitic attacks, we prevail and hold our space. Indie Bookstores are and will continue to be a safe space for like-minded people to gather, and a safe space for readers of all persuasion.
5. What is your approach to collaborating with other booksellers, publishers, librarians, etc?
Personally, I believe that we are stronger together and the love of reading is what keeps us united.
My new friend Kaitlyn here in SLC is opening a queer little bookstore downtown called Under the Umbrella. She has done a very successful pop up on our patio and we are trying to schedule another one so that she can fundraise to open her store — she has signed a lease, and getting her doors open only makes our book loving community stronger.
I am currently on the BINC Board of Directors and plan to continue serving BINC, especially with some new initiatives that they have coming down the pike. Our publisher partnerships are crucial for all of our stores, and the continuing of the good work and support since the shutdown will remain as important once we are really through with this pandemic. Librarians are shoulder to shoulder with us in putting books into people’s hands, and the more ways we can cooperate and work together the better the world — really, the better the world.
Visit the King’s English Bookshop’s website, Instagram, and Twitter!
Read more about the Mosaic Community, founded by Calvin Crosby and former Collective Book Studio Communications and Outreach Associate, Nia McAllister.
Thank you to Calvin Crosby for sharing his thoughts and story with me!
