Soul Book Nook is a book store.

And it's located in in downtown mainstreet in Waterloo, Iowa.

And I like to say it across the bridge.

It just has a story sound to it.

You know, across the bridge.

It's a community bookstore.

An African American, women ran bookstore, that's been providing resources literary publications to the community.

I mean, we have history we have art We have people perform here with the spoken word.

We want to become a community fixutre.

But we are a bookstore.

If they're still living they would have to be at least 80 years old.

They liked all of the tweets that we put out on them.

So we should see if one of the would speak... Amber: I was running with a dream in my head and hope in my heart.

that a book store would help our community to heal, relax, recover.

But the dream has always been with me to own a bookstore.

And "Book Nook.

” 'nook' I always think of a comfortable place.

I use to go under a big tree when I was young, and I could get off and read my book I would hide under a huge tree out in the yard.

And to me that was my nook.

And I would read until the sun went down.

So that's where I got "Soul Book Nook."

So my daughter what she does is she's the tech that handles the Facebook.

"We Like to Move."

Exercise is fun.

Amber : And that's it.

We just want to be that local bookstore where people can come sit.

Drink a cup of tea.

Talk.

We want to be a place where book clubs can take up residence.

on the calendar.

We want to be a place where we offer those podcasts and those virtuals where they can connect with the outside world far away with other authors.

We're bringing those who we never thought we would be able to engage with we're not engaging with through technology.

So we also want to be that place that stays progressive.

And meeting the needs of the community as a bookseller, as a bookstore.

We do have books here by local authors.

We take those local authors and display their books like theyve been writing for ages.

That they're prolific too, on the New York Times Bestseller list.

We put them, right up there with renown authors.

Just because they haven't been discovered that doesn't mean they aren't just as prolific.

I wanted to create an awarness that there were more books to pull from that had to do with African-American history or that could educate.

That could be part of a curriculum.

That could be in a lesson plan.

Theres more history, you know what Im saying, there's C.T.

Vivian who worked in in the Civil Rights movement with John Lewis.

There is Toni Morrison Theres Nikki Giovani.

There works are so prolific they need to be studied.

And also, it makes it relevant.

There needs to be more diveristy in what we offer in lesson plans and currciulums, because it makes us all better.

That is the purpose of the store to create an awareness of literary works and publications and talent out there that are full of African-American faces and backgrounds and history.

I have a human concern.

Im concerned about the souls of humans.

None of these books can get us to salvation, but we can help each other get there.

What they can do is they can increase intellectual power and insight.

They can give you a different perspective.

I can get a different perspective of you, if I read a book.

Or why an author writes a book and talks about his experiences, but it relates to your culture or your people.

Why cant we just pick up books and read them, and find out about different people?

Why should you not pick it up?

It liberates us.

You see what Im saying?

When were liberated we cant go back.

You may go back with guilt.

You wont go back the same way you came.

Once you read a book.

Once you read a book about me.

And so its important for us to read.

And gain insight.