After two years of owning her late-father’s failing bookstore cancelled author Wren Wild reluctantly starts to entertain new ideas. Together, with the help of her impassioned cast of employees, they fight to keep the store, and the love of reading, alive.
A 30 minute TV show for people who love the witty comedy of Cheers, the deeply connected cast of Friends, the impassioned world of High Fidelity and the charming romance of You’ve Got Mail.
Store Leadership
Spencer Grammer is Wren Wild
Bookstore owner, cancelled author
Ajay Naidu is Murry Shankman
Not so silent partner, former agent
Tough, plucky, hardened because anyone would be after surviving the media onslaught she went through. She’s also scared about going through that level of media furor again which is why she isn’t writing and is instead hiding out in her cozy little bookstore. She doesn’t want to let her (dead) dad or any of the staff down but she’s not sure how she wound up in this life.
Kooky, warmhearted, empathetic. He feels guilty for pushing Wren so hard on the fourth book that it ultimately got her canceled. And, he will do anything he can to help her get back on her feet. Including investing his retirement savings in the bookstore. Including paying the bills when there isn't enough money. Including sabotaging another bookstore to drive book sales back to Wren’s store.
Together they are the team behind
the East Village's BOOKS.
What's New At Books
The bookstore is in financial trouble – not that that's new– but this week Murry decides to help out by bringing in a big name author. It turns out that the toilets at Barnes and Noble exploded and now Janet Lumpkin must do her reading here.
The only problem? Wren doesn't want any former book critics or media to find her in the store. But also, Murry agreed to purchase a stupid amount of books. Now, the whole crew has to come together to pull off a reading, sell all those books and keep Wren from losing her mind.
Bestsellers & New Releases
This week's episode includes the books you didn't even know you wanted to see, like your favorite dinosaur erotica and best-selling author Janet Lumpkin's new novel, Only Your Mom When I'm Sober.
Wyatt's Favorite
Read Aloud
Murry's Pick to
Save the Store
Abby's
Guilty Read
The Bookstore Crew
Like any worksplace there is a lot going on beneath the surface of this bookstore crew. Abby might be in love with Rodrigo... or anyone who will love her back. Rodrigo is just trying to make ends meet while caring for his daughter. Lex is clinging on to the only success she's ever found in life. And, Wyatt–well, he doesn't even want to be here. They are met with series regulars super agent Don Diamond who is pushing Wren to write again and Burning Dan whose one time appearance casts a big shadow on the whole first season. It's a place where everyone is looking for something but their shared passion for reading, book authors and books keeps bringing them together over and over again.
Read the News.
The Team
Conceived of by creative team, Tim Cahill and Kristina Libby, Books (the TV show) is a love letter to books, book authors, readers and everyone who has ever lost themselves in the pages of a book. The crew who led the development and shooting of the pilot came together after a serendipitous meeting at the Lake Placid Film Festival and a shared love of reading.
Assistant Store Manager
She was the FIRST person that Wren could get to work at the bookstore back when she could pay almost nothing. (Although she's not raking in the cash now.) But, because of that Wren loves and appreciates her, which means it's the first real home that Lex has ever had.
Sales Associate
Abby is also a charming weirdo who probably would struggle to find a job NOT in a bookstore, or a preschool, or stuck in some deadening receptionist role. She’s grateful to Wren for hiring her and has a real adoration for the “tough” businesswoman that Wren has become over the past five years.
Coffee Shop Manager
This solid, normal guy started working at the coffee shop in the bookstore because it gives him the right hours so that he can spend time with his daughter after school. She comes to work with him in the morning and studies in the same corner that Wren used to study with when she was a kid.
Henry Temple is Wyatt
Intern
Wyatt is the landlord’s son who Wren had to hire. Wyatt doesn’t giveafuck about books. He’s there to get enough money to start his own line of skateboards, or a record label, or a climate change company, or something. While he’s thinking it up, he stocks the shelves, helps where he can and offers oddball ideas.
Director
Micah Khan has directed and produced over 30 short films, the feature Zombie Wedding and is critically acclaimed for Meetcute on Danceworld.
Executive Producer
Patrick has been involved with numerous productions in the Capital Region and is one of three partners at 7th Draft Productions.
Creator, Executive Producer
Kristina is a writer, novelist, public artist and technology leader who has been published in the New Yorker, Elle, Boston Globe, etc.
Producer
Victoria is a director, producer and writer. Her most recent work is the acclaimed short Second Coming.
Creator, Executive Producer
Tim is a writer and advertising industry creative director best known for his work in the New Yorker and McSweeneys.
Production Company: 7th Draft Productions
Creators: Tim Cahill and Kristina Libby
Executive Producers: Tim Cahill, Kristina Libby, Patrick Regan
Producers: Micah Khan, Victoria Diana, Running Man Productions
Director: Micah Khan
Writers: Kristina Libby and Tim Cahill
Cast:
-
Spencer Grammer as Wren Wild
-
Ajay Naidu as Murry
-
Deepti Menon as Abby
-
Melanie Brook as Lex
-
Henry Temple as Wyatt
-
Ulisses Gonsalves as Rodrigo
Guest starring:
-
Casey Dunn as Janet Lumpkin
-
Ryan Santiago as Jon Diamond
-
Meighan Marie Jupin as Zibby Owens
-
Patrick Regan as Rob Brown
-
Spencer Sherry as Vic Lovelle
-
John Mac Schnurr as Burning Dan
-
Victoria Diana as Ayahuasca Jane
-
Laura Graver as Ayuhuasca Woman #2
-
Alexandra Lindsay as Ayuhuasca Woman #3
With Special Appearances by:
-
Gail Carson Levine
-
Daniel Mendelsohn
Extras (alphabetically):
-
Abanoub Said
-
Alex Diana
-
Alexandra Werner
-
Antonio Cordova
-
Arlis Monzeglio
-
Christopher Henderson
-
Cooper Holmes
-
Daniel Haggerty
-
Denee Zeigler
-
Donye Geary
-
Eden
-
Elise Bridge
-
Elisheva Novella
-
Ember Autumn Skye
-
Heather Frederick
-
Helen Boater
-
Hunter Frederick
-
Hunter Werner
-
Jaime Rosenzweig
-
James Jamieson
-
Jamie Rosenzweig
-
Janvi Sai
-
Joe San Agustin
-
John Yost
-
Karsten Frey
-
Katelyn Chrysogelos
-
Kathleen Goutos
-
Kay Goutos
-
Ken Williams
-
Kevin O'brien
-
Kierra
-
Kristen Chase
-
Kristina Libby
-
Lauren
-
Luca Hart
-
Maggie Cordova
-
Marley Bailey
-
Michelle Polacinski
-
Mikayla Schafer
-
Oliver Libby
-
Padrick Smith
-
Ralph Santoro
-
Sam Smith
-
Sarah
-
Sarah Doty
-
Stanley Hadsell
-
Susan Novotny
Credits
Crew:
-
Director of Photography: Adam Muro
-
Editors: Francesco Cordaro
-
Production Designer: John Stegemann
-
Prop Stylist: Ember Autumn Skye
-
Costume Designer: Quinlan Trask
-
Hair and Makeup: Lauren Moulton
-
Sound Team: Connor Grocki, Scott Clementson
-
Gaffer: Gary Flugge
-
Key Grip: Alec Wright
-
Casting Director: Caroline Sinclair
-
Casting Assistant: Bettina Bilger
-
Post-Production:
-
Music Composer: Jack Bradley and HiFi Project
-
Visual Effects Artists: Nelson Saavedra
-
Sound Editor: Soundtrack
-
Audio Engineer: John Raffaele III
-
Color: Running Man
-
-
Special Thanks (if applicable):
-
Susan Novotny and Market Block Books for their unwavering support
-
Ryan Walls for his jokes, guidance, writing, and continued championing of the work
-
Sue Wolf
-
Sam Smith
-
Sarah
-
Sarah Doty
-
Stanley Hadsell
-
Susan Novotny
