Meet the Team
Kaeleigh Stewart | Chief Literary Officer
"What's one fictional world you'd move into tomorrow?" As cliché as it sounds, definitely the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. I’d pack my bags for Hogwarts in a heartbeat.
"What's the one book that made you fall in love with reading?" I can’t pick just one - I fell in love with reading through series like Percy Jackson, Harry Potter, The Pendragon series, Eragon, Leven Thumps, and Gregor the Overlander. Those were my staples when I first started really diving into the literary world.
"What's your go-to book to recommend to everyone you meet? Honestly, my recommendations change weekly! Right now, I can’t stop talking about The Knight and the Moth, Shield of Sparrows, and the From Blood and Ash series.
"If you could have one magical item from a book, what would it be?" Definitely a want. The idea of cleaning my house with just a swish and flick sounds absolutely amazing!
Amelia Gale | Chief Digital & Data Officer
"What's one fictional world you'd move into tomorrow?" I’d move to Velaris, no question. Give me all the starfall celebrations, art, wine and river walks I can handle.
"What's the one book that made you fall in love with reading?" I was a voracious reader when I was young and my favorite books were The Babysitters Club series and Victorian era classic literature [Jane Austen, Louisa May Alcott, Charles Dickens, etc.]. What brought me back to reading was Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros - it reignited my passion for reading and I’m not looking back!
"What's your go-to book to recommend to everyone you meet? I feel like this is an impossible question to answer with one book. But, twist my arm and I’m saying “A Court of Thorns & Roses” series, solely for the second book, “A Court of Mist & Fury” journey.
"If you could have one magical item from a book, what would it be?" I’ll take one dragon, please. Not only would it provide a cool mode of transportation, but it’s also a damn good security system.
Kiki Stech | Chief Community Weaver
"What's one fictional world you'd move into tomorrow?" Harry Potter all the way! What I would give to be able to shop in Diagon Alley!
"What's the one book that made you fall in love with reading?" As a kid I absolutely loved Junie B. Jones books and Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. But The Two Princesses of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine sparked my love for fantasy.
"What's your go-to book to recommend to everyone you meet? Good Me, Bad Me by Ali Land. While I may recommend it to everyone, it’s a psychological thriller that definitely isn’t for everyone.
"If you could have one magical item from a book, what would it be?" Picking just one is tough, but I think I’d take a wand. Feels like I could cheat a little and use my magic wand to create other magical items!
Emily McClung | Chief Visionary Officer
"What's one fictional world you'd move into tomorrow?"
Harry Potter. Hands Down. There really is no other option.
"What's the one book that made you fall in love with reading?"
I honestly don't remember NOT being in love with reading. I remember Junie B Jones and Sideway Stories from Wayside School making a memorable impact. Then, like most millennials, life happens and didn’t read a book for 8 years. When I had my most recent baby, I actually started reading again when I was up in the middle of the night breastfeeding (thank you Kindle) - the very first book I read was Bridgerton. Highly recommend for a spicy period romance! That reminded me how much I love reading and have been reading 3-4 books/month since.
"What's your go-to book to recommend to everyone you meet?
Right now my absolute obsession is Silver Elite by Dani Francis and Dire Bound by Sable Sorensen - I promise you wont regret it.
"If you could have one magical item from a book, what would it be?"
Magic wand obvi
Now Casting: Main Characters for Our Meridian Debut
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Location: Meridian, ID, in-person
Compensation: $15.00/hour + tips
The Role
The Book Lounge is a community-focused bookstore and licensed lounge designed for adults to escape, explore, and connect. As a Lounge Lead & Bookseller, you are a brand ambassador for our "living-room-away-from-home" concept. This is a dual-responsibility role for a book lover who can seamlessly pivot between recommending a curated fiction title and managing a high-quality beverage service.
Key Responsibilities
Provide exceptional, high-touch service, acting as a stable anchor for the lounge while allowing community connections to flourish naturally.
Prepare and serve a curated menu of locally sourced craft beers, wines, mocktails, treats and premium coffee/tea.
Act as a subject matter expert for our collection, providing personalized recommendations across fiction, "BookTok" trending titles, and local authors.
Drive the growth of our loyalty program by actively enrolling members and processing special orders through our modern POS system.
Maintain a clean, "social-media-ready" environment; oversee the merchandising of books, branded "swag," and locally sourced snacks.
Assist the founding team with the setup and execution of book clubs, author readings, and themed literary nights.
Qualifications & Skills
Voracious Reader: You must be an avid reader with a genuine passion for fiction and the ability to discuss books with infectious enthusiasm.
Leadership Presence: As a "Lead," you are comfortable maintaining the lounge atmosphere and making immediate operational decisions while the owners are on-site in the office.
Experience: 1+ years in a retail or hospitality environment is preferred. Previous experience in a bookstore or wine bar is a plus.
Availability: Must be available for weekday daytime shifts and weekend coverage.
Compliance: Must be 21+; we will provide and pay for your Idaho Alcohol Server Certification training.
Perks
Competitive Pay: $15.00/hr base + tips.
Employee Discounts: Generous employee discounts on books, beverages, and merchandise.
Resume-Building Experience: Gain "founding team" experience in a unique, data-driven experiential retail startup.
How to Apply
Tell us all about you by filling out this Google Form - CLICK HERE!