In this episode of Behind the Publisher’s Desk, Colin Mustful is joined by Elle of Elle Reads Library Books for a thoughtful conversation about reading, libraries, and the communities that grow around books. Elle shares how her Substack began as a way to create space for readers who love books but cannot always afford to buy them, and why she wanted to celebrate libraries not just as institutions, but as lifelines for curiosity, access, and literary discovery.
Together, Colin and Elle talk about the kind of content that resonates with readers on Substack, from under-the-radar historical fiction recommendations to monthly reading roundups, paid subscriber extras, and the small “Easter eggs” that help deepen community. They also explore why historical fiction remains such a powerful gateway into culture and history, especially for readers who want to move beyond the most familiar time periods and settings.
Elle also reflects on her lifelong relationship with libraries, her reading habits across formats, and what it has been like to build a reading life as an American living in Brazil, where book access and library culture can look very different from the United States. If you care about books, reading access, and the role literary communities play in keeping curiosity alive, this conversation offers a warm and insightful look at why libraries—and the people who champion them—matter so much.
