Kris Arnett is the proprietor of Kona Bay Books which is located in Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii. She also owns Hilo Bay Books in, you guessed it, Hilo, which is located on the other side of the Big Island of Hawaii.

I met with Kris recently at the Kona location to discuss bookstores. Among other things we talk about books touching everything and everyone, barbers, the Upstart Crow* bookshop in San Diego, Borders, driving across the Big Island, big box stores, suspense and romance, excitement about reading, the stereotype of book people being snobbish, treasure hunting, Hawaiian publishers, Pidgin to da Max, new age and military books, hiring criteria, Mark Twain: Literary Tourist, Gavan Daws' Shoal of Time: A History of the Hawaiian Islands, the 'Powell's of the Pacific,' and going to the volcano.

* Reportedly closing in 2018. Lease ends and the area will be redeveloped.

Bookseller Kris Arnett on Kona Bay Books in Hawaii