About Us

CHRISTIN EVANS & PRAVEEN MADAN

Christin and Praveen are the new face of the Booksmith. They bought the bookstore from founder Gary Frank in 2007. Refugees from the Land of Corporations, they continue to have many exciting plans for The Booksmith. Their big, hairy, audacious goal - Create the Independent Bookstore for the 21st Century.

Christin and Praveen write about their bookstore experience on Huffington Post. They welcome your interest and participation.  Christin is actively involved in running and buying for  the bookstore with a great team of booksellers, and is active in neighborhood organizations.  Contact Christin.

Meet The Booksmith Staff!

Amy
                         

In a large bowl, mix: one part East Coast Cynicism, three parts feminism, two parts jerk, three parts intense exuberance, and a pinch of punk rock. Stir until lumps disappear. Bake for 27 years, and serve with a side of crippling unpaid student loans. Amy hosts our fabulous Bookswaps, and corrals people and details for other special events.

Camden

Camden reads an awful lot. He is fond of extremity. Lately he is interested in how things are different, also how they are the same. If you have some time he'd love to talk to you about that.

Cynthia

Cynthia is the honey badger of the Booksmith, which means you better treat her well or she'll attack ... She looks harmless enough, but watch out. Cynthia wants to know what you're reading. She doesn't give a $#*+ if you buy physical books or Google e-books. She only wants you to buy them from the Booksmith.

Greer

Greer thinks that tea is the answer to most things, except when the answer is a smoothie. She detests coffee, but is usually able to forgive people who drink it, as long as they don't make her smell it too strongly. Then she gets grumpy. When Greer is not reading, she is maybe writing. (Her first stories, written when she was six, were Angelina Ballerina fanfiction. She is happy to report she has since moved on to different subject matter.) One of her coworkers says she has a broken internal thermostat, which is a fancy way of saying she is probably currently too hot.

Kiara

A good day is spent on the couch with a book and a cup of tea. 

Usually, though, something happens or needs to be done. 

www.kiarabrinkman.com

Lauren G.

Reader, writer, ballerina, letter-writer.  Singer, swinger, paper and art book buyer.  Lover of London and Paris, New York and her bed, she's done the time and has got the street cred.

Lauren O.

 
Lauren has been an avid reader of children's books since the age of 4. She has Big Plans to whip the Booksmith's children's department into shape. When she's not searching for the perfect book for eager readers of all ages, Lauren can be found reading (on the BART, in line at the grocery store, or at home on the sunny side of the Bay), baking, and art-making. Ask her anything, we promise she won't bite.

Mc

Noted bigwheel enthusiast Mc Allen was born in enchantmentland in the latter half of the twentieth century. He is at home reading poems to strangers on the sidewalk, at home shelving stacks of paperbacks, and mostly at home taking care of his wonderful daughter.

Megan

Megan Kurashige is a dancer and a writer. She dances for Liss Fain Dance and burns : work in San Francisco. Her fiction and poetry has appeared, or will appear, in Sybil's Garage, Strange Horizons, and Electric Velocipede. She likes to rock socks and shake souls. She is also an inveterate reader, and when she is not dancing or writing, she is most likely curled up somewhere, turning pages and traveling to other worlds.

Melissa

Has been a bookseller since forever, is always looking for a story she hasn’t heard before, is doubtful there are ever enough books, produces Berkeley Arts & Letters events, and manages Booksmith’s author events, in between books.

Nick

Nick Romero is the store manager at The Booksmith. He is a former artist, curator and independent store owner and has a special affinity for any and all art books. He enjoys his fiction with a smattering of fantasy, horror and sci fi and a side of humor. He also likes comic books, video games and all manner of children's books since he has kids and he hears they like that sort of thing. Ultimately, he wants to be a millionaire philanthropist, but for now will settle for a good book and a cold beer.

Rachel

Rachel grew up literally and figuratively in San Francisco. She spent a long time away before she wised up and came back to "the city." When you don't know where to eat, what is happening in pop culture or want a book suggestion in a variety of genre's she is your gal. She is also called "411."

Sean

Sean is the Booksmith's staff artist. His chalkboard signage/murals adorn the length of the store's interior. To view a selection of these, click here (link).
He is also Booksmith's comics, graphic novel and calendar buyer. Besides working at the store, Sean is a cartoonist and illustrator. Visit his site www.seanchiki.com

 

Todd

-- Put the ram in the "ramalama ding dong."

-- Did it in the conservatory with the lead pipe.

-- Is a little bit country, a little bit rock 'n roll.

-- Left the cake out in the rain. (And it took so long to bake it, too! Grrrr.)

-- Sees dead people.

-- Would rather be a hammer than a nail. (Yes, he would. If only could, he surely would.)

-- Knows the victory of a cat on a hot tin roof.

-- Is the wind beneath your wings.

-- Can tell you how to get to Sesame Street.

-- Has heard the sound of one hand clapping.

-- Would rather be reading.

Whitney

Whitney Ochoa is a book reader and borrower, a book maker and seller, a book buyer and promoter, and a writer of shorts.