“I like making people laugh when they come in. Especially the serious ones. It’s a goal. Even if it’s at my expense.”

In this episode, Redhawk chats with independent bookstore owner, David Fiorentino, who recently opened Libreria Books with his wife Crystal, in downtown Newton. Libreria is their retirement dream come true… before retirement. And David is Redhawk’s new best friend. He’s dedicated prominent space in Libreria for our titles, and he’s partnered with Redhawk for upcoming readings and events—one this month, on Saturday, June 13th with our author/attorneys Austin Allran, Jason Parker and John Rhea.

Every town that’s lucky has a place: the place. You know it as soon as you walk through the door. Hickory’s Taste Full Beans Coffeehouse is one such a place, where you find yourself humming beside the fountain, with a book from the shop and a cup of coffee in hand. Hosts Richard Eller, Patty Thompson and Jane St. Clair discovered that David has been about creating this place in Newton — what he calls a third space — on purpose. “It’s a place outside of work, outside of your homes…” There’s the big circle of vintage chairs in the center of the store, dubbed ‘The Chillatorium,’ which reads like a cool fort for grownups, furnished by your favorite aunts. One month in, and several book clubs have caught on. There’s a free library shelf by the door, free coffee and water when you sit down. There are Redhawk and other independent titles, alongside books you loved ten years ago and New York Times bestsellers. And then there’s David and Crystal, designing midstream. Crystal has plans for a young writers’ program. David is booking independent authors for readings and book signings. Books are the beginning: new and used books, but also artwork, clothing and gifts created by our local artists and designers. They are crafting a designated place for people to be: unhurried, curious, unburdened. Libreria is the place that makes room for genuine community.

Newton is experiencing a renaissance in this city block on North College Avenue, home to the NoCo ARTS collective/gallery and the New State Cinema, which shows family movies, first-run features, and Hitchcock classics. Now, with Libreria, Newton has a hub for readers, writers, and everyone in between, just one block from the courthouse square. “You couldn’t ask for a better spot,” David says of his retirement dream. Now that it’s starting to come true, he doubts he will ever retire. “But it’s the most authentic thing we’ve ever done.”

Folks, put Saturday, June 13th, on your calendar now! Libreria Books will host three Redhawk authors for our Literary Lawyers event downtown Newton. Attorney/Authors John Rhea, Jason Parker and Austin Allran will meet to discuss their books: Lifer, Prosecutor Boy and The Legend of the Isle of Cats. Admission is free!

Literary Lawyers

Saturday, June 13th at 1pm

Libreria Bookstore

111 N. College Ave.

Newton, NC 28658

REDPUBPOD HOSTS:

Richard Eller — Executive Director, Redhawk Publications

Patty Thompson —Editor in Chief, Redhawk Publications

Jane St. Clair — Associate Editor, Redhawk Publications

GUEST:

David Fiorentino – Owner of Libreria Books in Newton, NC

As always, we are honored to have RedPubPod sponsored by Scott Owens, Poet Laureate for the City of Hickory, as well as the owner of the best little coffee shop in all of North Carolina, Taste Full Beans! Be sure to stop by and let the super-friendly staff know you heard about “TFB” from your favorite literary podcast, RedPubPod!

Taste Full Beans Coffee, Tea & Café

29 2nd Street NW, Hickory, NC

(828) 325-0108

https://www.tastefullbeans.com/

Don’t forget to FOLLOW, SHARE, LIKE, & SUBSCRIBE to RedPubPod! Show some love for the written word by talented writers because carefully chosen words in the proper order can change the world.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RedhawkPub/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redhawkcreative/

#NorthCarolina, #RedhawkPublications, #RedPubPod, #NCBookStores, #NC #IndependentBookSellers, #CatawbaCounty #CatawbaCoNC, #CityofNewton, #NewtonNC, #Libreria #LibreriaNewton #IndieBookstores #IndependentBookstores #GoodReads #GreatReads

In this episode, Redhawk chats with notable North Carolina-based poet Tony Robles about “Soup for the Storm,” his latest poetry collection born in the dark (literally), written by candlelight in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina. These aren’t polished-from-a-distance poems; they are raw, immediate, scribbled-in-the-moment snapshots of survival, community, and the strange, beautiful ways people show up for each other when everything falls apart. He recalls helicopter evacuations, chainsaw heroes, turkey soup legends, and neighbors who don’t wait for help—they become help out of necessity. Robles talks about losing (and finding) his poems, writing through chaos, and why he sees himself less as a “poet” and more as a traveler collecting human stories. Listen up, prospective authors: Tony also talks about how to secure grants for writing. He emphasizes the importance of getting out and doing the work to market a book. Writers need to become their own best marketers, which means going from bookstore to coffee shop to library! Tony is dedicated. That’s the kind of knowledge you won’t find just anywhere. Only right here on RedPubPod. Just sayin’... And we acknowledge when we make faux pas. Yeah, we almost sent out the book with a name that could have caused trademark issues for Redhawk Publications. That was fun! (Not really...)

Bonus: the book gives back, the stories hit hard, and there’s a guy named Po’Boy you won’t forget anytime soon.

If you like your poetry a tad gritty, a little soulful, and deeply rooted in real life, this one’s for you.

Get your copy at: https://tinyurl.com/SoupForTheStorm

DON’T FORGET: Saturday, April 25th, 2026, should already be on your calendar. You will get to meet Tony, Ron Rash, Joseph Bathanti, Hilda Downer, Virginia Evans, Meagan Church, Joy Calloway, and so many more. The City of Hickory will hold its 2nd Annual Literary Festival, and Redhawk Publications friends and family will be in full force. Get info on the Hickory Lit Fest at https://www.hickorync.gov/hickory-literary-festival

REDPUBPOD HOSTS:

Tim Peeler – Associate Editor, Redhawk Publications

Patty Thompson — Acquisitions Editor, Redhawk Publications

Please don’t forget to visit RedPubPod’s sponsor, Taste Full Beans, the best little coffee shop in all of North Carolina! Be sure to stop by and let the super-friendly staff know you heard about “TFB” from your favorite literary podcast, RedPubPod! It doesn’t hurt that they sell Redhawk Publications books, so buy one while you are sipping on some coffee.

Taste Full Beans Coffee, Tea & Café

29 2nd Street NW, Hickory, NC

(828) 325-0108

https://www.tastefullbeans.com/

Please FOLLOW, SHARE, LIKE, & SUBSCRIBE to RedPubPod! Show some love for the written word by talented writers because carefully chosen words in the proper order can change the world.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RedhawkPub/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redhawkcreative/

For our 50th episode, RedPubPod hands the mic to two master-level poets who came to co-host… and accidentally became each other’s best critics.

With new books recently released by Redhawk Publications, Scott Owens (The Song Is Why We Sing) and Michael Hettich (Waking Up Alone) begin with what feels like a mutual admiration society. It quickly deepens into a candid examination of craft, free of pretense. Influences are acknowledged. Lines are scrutinized with care.

“I love it when I can read a poem and discern who you have read,” Michael observes, opening the door to an engaging exploration of poetic lineage, influence, and originality. Scott hears traces of Galway Kinnell and Li-Young Lee in Michael’s work, while Michael aligns himself with the Deep Image movement and the New York poets. Scott describes Michael’s poems as driven by “intentional unmindfulness,” shaped by an observant, associative narrative style.

The conversation then turns. When asked about his own influences, Scott readily names Galway Kinnell—his favorite—and Mary Oliver, from whom he learned the value of accessibility. Michael acknowledges that there may be a touch of Billy Collins in Scott’s work. Scott graciously accepts the note, but hopes it’s not with the punchline-driven variety common with Collins. The exchange between these two is generous and gracious.

This episode extends well beyond conversation. Poems are read aloud to one another—not performatively, but intimately. Listeners hear the pauses, the breath, the searching mind at work. Both poets speak candidly about their “feral mind” approach to language: allowing the associative imagination to roam freely, trusting surprise, and making room for play alongside intention.

Patty has the rare privilege of stepping back and letting this podcast salon unfold. Over the course of an hour, the episode becomes an ode to poetry—both the journey and the destination.

As a milestone installment, it offers a fitting tribute to fifty episodes: two accomplished poets modeling how to read one another closely, question thoughtfully, agree and occasionally disagree with grace, and sustain a sense of wonder and wildness on the page.

Grab a notebook. You’ll want to jot down the reading list—and perhaps circle a line or two to borrow later. Michael shares that he may just do that!

Many thanks to the North Carolina Poetry Society for awarding Michael’s book, “Waking Up Alone,” the 2025 Lena M. Shull Award. He finds the words for loss when there are none. He does this masterfully. Michael is a very worthy recipient.

DON’T FORGET: Saturday, April 25th, should already be on your calendar. You will get to meet Scott, Michael, and so many more. The City of Hickory will hold its 2nd Annual Literary Festival, and Redhawk Publications friends and family will be in full force. If you are a Redhawk author, we will have a table, free, so again, plan to attend.

We get to thank Scott twice. Not only as our guest host and author, but also because RedPubPod is sponsored by the best little coffee shop in all of North Carolina, Taste Full Beans! Be sure to stop by and let the super-friendly staff know you heard about “TFB” from your favorite literary podcast, RedPubPod!

Taste Full Beans Coffee, Tea & Café

29 2nd Street NW, Hickory, NC

(828) 325-0108

Don’t forget to FOLLOW, SHARE, LIKE, & SUBSCRIBE to RedPubPod! Show some love for the written word by talented writers because carefully chosen words in the proper order can change the world.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RedhawkPub/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redhawkcreative/

#NorthCarolina, #RedhawkPublications, #RedPubPod, #Poetry, #Poets, #NCPoets, #NCPoetrySociety, #ScottOwens, #MichaelHettich, #PoetryInfluences, #WritingProcess, #CreativeWriting, #LiteraryFestivals, #CatawbaValleyCommunityCollege