Meet Tammie Polk | Author, Speaker, and Book Expansion Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tammie Polk and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tammie, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I wanted to give my readers a different type of experience.

While sitting in Barnes and Noble one day, I thought about how I could create that same type of space with a little work.

Instead of being surrounded by endless choices by an endless number of authors, my bookstore would be filled with endless choices by me.

Most readers either never get to meet the authors of the books that impact them or they have to pay thousands of dollars to do so, stand in lines city blocks long, or compete in competitions with millions of others — I wanted to change that.

As the author of all the books that they see when they come, I’m able to give them insight they won’t get anywhere else. I can tell them everything they want to know about the books, the writing and publishing process, and the like.

They can come in, grab a snack and beverage, and do whatever they need to do — work, read, relax, or even nap!

My bookstore is a different kind of place and I’m happy to be one of my city’s hidden gems.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I opened my first bookstore location in April 2019 after doing a book signing that didn’t go as I hoped.

I rented a 10×6 interior office suite at a complex around the corner from my house and then printed flyers, introducing myself to every business in the complex.

I had about 50 books out at the time and didn’t really have room for them all, but that didn’t matter because I was willing to do whatever it took for my work to be seen.

I held a grand opening week with nothing more than trays of cookies and water….

Then, in September 2019, I went for a bigger space and that’s where I am today. I’m in a 1200 square foot walk up space in another complex close to my house.

When the pandemic hit, I made it through without any funding expect the PUA unemp for the self-employed. I made it because the aspiring authors came out of the woodwork and wanted to finally get their books done.

I’ve opened my space to other entrepreneurs and organizations who’ve needed a place to meet and have started building relationships with schools in the neighborhood.

What I do is bigger than me and always will be….

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We would definitely visit The National Civil Rights Museum, the Zoo, Stax, and a few others.

As far as eating, we’d have to go to Central, Interstate, and One and Only BBQ, Butterriffic Bakery and Cafe, Memphis Cookie Company, Sweet LaLa’s Bakery — there’s so much!

It really would take a week to really take in Memphis and all it has.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to give a shout out to my fellow authors! It’s not easy to put out hearts on paper and then share them with the world, but we make the world a better place!

Website: http://professionallysassy.me

Instagram: https://Instagram.con/dynamicallydifferentasc

Linkedin: https://Linkedin.com/in/tammie-polk

Facebook: https://Facebook.com/taicea