Conversations With A Wounded Healer

Independent bookshops are magical places. But building that mix of quiet corners and convivial community doesn’t come without a lot of sweat equity. Indie bookshops thrive because of the booksellers behind them, real live humans who concentrate on more than just commerce.  Carolynn Bain, founder, and owner of Afrori Books in Brighton, UK, is “that” indie bookseller, an award-winning entrepreneur whose meticulously curated titles and culturally focused events define what it means to be an indispensable neighborhood resource. Since opening in October 2021, Afrori Books has become a “haven for books by Black authors” in Brighton and one of the only Black-owned, Black-focused shops in the UK. GUEST BIO Carolynn Bain is an award-winning entrepreneur, recognized as British Bookseller of the Year 2023 and Brighton Businesswoman of the Year 2023. She founded Afrori Books, a groundbreaking shop specializing in works by Black authors. Passionate about diversity and representation, Carolynn also created Brighton’s Anti-