I’ve followed the writings of Victor Clevenger for a long while now and I’ve been lucky enough to have published some of his pieces in Hobo Camp Review. Since I don’t get out to the Midwest very often, I thought I’d check in to see what his favorite bookshop is out thataways.

Favorite Bookshop: Barb’s Books in Belle, Missouri

1. How did you discover the shop, and what do you remember about your first experience there?

Founded in 2017, Barb’s Books is a nonprofit bookstore created to serve the local Belle community and its overall mission is to support literacy and educational programs throughout the region. I began visiting Belle approximately a year before the store was founded due to the Osage Arts Community also being in Belle, Missouri. All my experiences, from that first one in 2017 up to my visit just last week, have been fantastic.

2. Does the shop have a particular vibe, theme, or atmosphere that stands out?

The shop has a very laid back and welcoming vibe to it, with a vast selection of books. Barb’s offers books to the community at affordable prices and offer books in trade for those who volunteer at the store. The store donates all proceeds after operating expenses, on a project-by-project basis for materials for our local public library and three school libraries. In addition, Barb’s Books also offers a variety of programming, including a monthly open mic series and book readings/author signing events.

3. What books have you bought there in the past?

I have purchased a great assortment of books from Barb’s, mostly poetry, but I also search out books with large glossy photographs for the purpose of collage art. I would say that my fondest purchase from Barb’s would be the Richard Brautigan reader containing Trout Fishing in America, The Pill versus the Springhill Mine Disaster, and In Watermelon Sugar. It was that very copy of Trout Fishing in America that I used to create my found poetry collection titled 47 Poems.

4. What part of the shop would we find you hanging out in the most?

You would definitely find me hanging out on the couch watching a good poetry reading/open mic. Barb’s puts on events that bring in poets and artist from all across the United States. It truly is something amazing to witness.

Victor Clevenger spends his days in a Madhouse and his nights writing. Selected pieces of his work have appeared in print magazines and journals around the world; it has also been nominated for the Best of the Net Anthology and the Pushcart Prize. He is the author of several collections of poetry including A Finger in the Hornets’ Nest (Red Flag Poetry, 2018), Corned Beef Hash By Candlelight (Luchador Press, 2019), A Wildflower In Blood (Roaring Junior Press, 2020), Scratching to Get By (Between Shadows Press, 2021), and 47 Poems (Crisis Chronicles Press, 2022). Together with American poet John Dorsey, they run River Dog. He can be reached at: crownofcrows@yahoo.com

His latest collection is 47 Poems, created in the found poetry & erasure poetry styles by collecting words from within each of the 47 sections of the Richard Brautigan novel Trout Fishing in America. Words were erased or rearranged on the page to create their own individual titles & pieces. People can purchase a copy from Crisis Chronicles Press or directly from Victor by reaching out to crownofcrows@yahoo.com