Growing up in Edgard, Kelly Roussell had access to books through the local library, but a local bookstore was not to be found. Inspired to bring romance novels to small towns in south Louisiana, Roussell bought a trailer last year and opened her own mobile romance bookstore, Lattes and Love Letters.
Roussell, a mother to a 3-year-old girl and 7-year-old boy, is a respiratory therapist by day. Although her days are filled with priorities and responsibilities, reading and operating a mobile bookstore are her passions. She makes time to do something she loves.
Roussell understands the power of a good book. Most of her life, she has enjoyed reading casually, but she truly became a bibliophile in 2019 when she was pregnant with her son. Diagnosed with preeclampsia, Roussell was prescribed bed rest.
Kelly Roussell, owner of Lattes and Love Letters mobile romance bookstore, holds some of her favorite romance novels that she sells at pop-ups and festivals.
“It kind of saved my mental health,” Roussell said. “I’m a romance girl. I love all things romance and romantasy. I was in the house and I wasn’t doing anything, or I was in the hospital and I couldn’t move, so I started reading.”
She kept at it, and now she says she reads about 100 books a year. She likes to sell books that she has read herself, so she can discuss them with her customers.
When Roussell decided to open a bookstore, she chose mobile over a brick-and-mortar spot so she could be flexible and bring the books to her customers. She keeps busy on the weekends, attending local markets and pop-ups.
“Literacy is important in the community,” Roussell said. “Reading romance is still reading. Bringing books to the community is important, and it’s also just fun for me. I love meeting new people, and I love selling these books. It’s always a good time.”
One of Roussell’s best sellers at Lattes and Love Letters is “You’ve Got a Place Here, Too: An Anthology of Black Love Stories Set at HBCUs.”
Roussell keeps the mobile bookstore stocked with 250-300 books. She says her top five bestsellers are “Demon’s Dream: An Unexpected Love” by Elle Kayson, “For the Fans” by Nyla K., “Graves” by Katelyn Taylor, “Den of Vipers” by K.A. Knight and “You’ve Got a Place Here, Too: An Anthology of Black Love Stories Set at HBCUs” edited by Ebony LaDelle.
Lattes and Love Letters also features local authors. Roussell likes to host them at her store so people can have their books signed.
One of Try-Me Coffee Roasters special blends “Spiced Possession,” a pumpkin flavor, that Lattes and Love Letters sells.
The latte in Lattes and Love Letters comes from Roussell’s partnership with Try-Me Coffee Roasters out of New Orleans. The unique flavors, along with coffee mugs, are her most popular items. Her most popular coffee flavor is a caramel nut flavor, “Lattes and Love.”
One product that Roussell loves to put together is the Blind Date with a Book package. Customers can choose which genre of romance to be surprised with and will receive a wrapped surprise book, cocktail recipe, reusable cup or mug and extra goodies like stickers, bookmarks and reading guides.
Two of her favorite events to attend are the Full Moon Market, a night market in Plaquemine, and the Look Who’s Reading Book Festival in Thibodaux.
“It’s about the experience,” Roussell said. “It’s about supporting someone in your community and making relationships with other readers. The conversations and connections are special.”
Lattes and Love Letters will be at Pints and Pages Book Club from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Grain Creations Brewery, 14141 Airline Highway, Baton Rouge. Roussell is also looking forward to BookTok Bash on the Bayou from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 18 in Plaquemine.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.nola.com ’
