(This is my Interview with Karen Wagner, my mother, a writer, and business owner of Sophiste Cafe Coffee now located online and at local farmers markets near Plantersville, Texas.)

 

 

N - What made you want to open a bookstore? 

 

K - Well I've always enjoyed reading and writing and one of my favorite activities was going to the library. When I had read most of the books in the school library my parents started taking me to Waldenbooks. I fell in love with the store and when I was 19 I went to work for them. It was and still is my favorite job. I ended up going into education but never forgot my love of books. When I imagined what my perfect job was, I imagined opening a used bookstore and writing when I had time off or on breaks. I really wanted to finish at least one of the books I was writing.

 

N - Why did you call it "Sophiste"

 

K - The sophists were traveling philosophers in Greece in the 4th century who would gather people together along the way and offer classes in culture, philosophy, mathematics, rhetoriand athletics. They were the first teachers.

 

N - Did you ever finish a book? 

 

K - Yes, I completed a poetry book called The Journey which was published online and more recently a novel called Revelations Angels, a biblical science fiction/fantasy saga. I'm still working on the editing. I'm about halfway through that challenge.

 

K - Also, when you were about ten, I was working on a historical series set in Galveston during the civil war to the late 1800s. I just loved my story idea and I had the first book completed when my computer went down, this was before the cloud storage of course. Always backup your manuscripts! I'd like to work on rewriting and continuing that project. 

 

N - Why did you change your business focus from books to coffee?

 

K - These days I'm more interested in cultural investment and doing interesting, but important work. Books are available online and though I still yearn for a bookstore, it's not necessarily a viable business idea these days. Though I will say there are used and new bookstores staying afloat, I'd have to come up with the perfect concoction to make it work. I'm not ruling out books as part of a future endeavor but I definitely see a broader picture when I look at my busines future now. 

 

K - Due In large part to that experience; seeing what brought people in. It was not the books, not initially. It was the opportunity to connect with like minded, creative individuals who found inspiration by coming together.

 

K - When it was over, I no longer wanted to sit in a lonely bookstore writing fiction. I wanted to explore my options and the world around me and the people in it. I am pulled in the direction of bringing people together, drawing the creativity out of people, serving coffee, tea and a fun healthy menu while discussing current events, sharing ideas, and bringing culture and insight to my community. 

 

K - Artisan Roasting coffee and selling unique items at the farmers market just seems like a good start, experience wise. Something I failed to get before I spent my retirement on a bookstore business. 

 

N - What are you doing different now?

 

K - Learning business and marketing skills in a safe nurturing environment like the farmers market and social media, obtaining knowledge of the particulars like location, foot traffic, and current local trends. Improving money management skills, and raising enough capital to run things until I at least break even and can pull an income, are my current business goals.

 

N - So what's next?

 

K - I'm going to take one step at a time and complete the projects I've mentioned. Finish my book, send it out, work on my business plan and continue learning, growing and improving everyday, no matter what I'm doing. I have a life plan and a business plan and they are always evolving, just like I hope, I am.

 

N - Thank you Mom, that went well.

 

I think my mother is an amazing woman and she inspires me everyday.

 

Article by

Nicole Wagner

April 11, 2022