Books are her business – and business is good.
“It is fantastic, actually,” Elizabeth Schlaudraff told a visitor last week.
Earlier this year, Schlaudraff opened Title Euphoria Books & Gifts in Burnet at 107 E. Jackson St. along the south side of the Burnet County Courthouse.
“Our goal is to create a community-hub type of thing and get people talking about books and to encourage literacy,” she said.
Her bookstore offers “a little bit of everything” including new and old hardback and paperback books for all ages, all genres, plus artistic figurines, bookmarks, craft kits, puzzles and specialty binding for classic books written by Jane Austen and others.
Schlaudraff estimates her store contains more than 3,000 volumes. Furthermore, if anybody cannot find a book in her store, she can facilitate special orders through the American Booksellers Association and other online outlets.
“I love books,” Schlaudraff said. “I love taking to people about books and readers. It is a big passion of mine.”
As any given customer enters the Title Euphoria front door, they are met by several well-made wooden shelves stacked with dozens of books for children, large yellow bean bags and small yellow seats. As they move forward through the shop, they can see gads of fiction and non-fiction books suitable for older customers.
“We try to make our place comfortable for everyone,” Schlaudraff said.
By any chance, does Title Euphoria feature books written by local authors?
“We have tons of them,” Schlaudraff said.
Her shop carries books by local authors including Liz Caitlin, Judith Conklin, Shanna Fancher, Betty Predmore, Shannon Prothro and Christopher Schlosser.
“And, we would like to get more (local authors) as often as we can,” Schlaudraff pointed out.
During future weeks, she plans to develop additional space toward the rear of her store for events, meetings, readings and even a “study-nook” for earnest students.
Schlaudraff grew up in Burnet County, where she graduated from Marble Falls High School in 2013. Then, she assisted her stepfather Joey Proctor as the general manager and home automation program specialist in the Marble Falls Business & Technology Park at Imagine Solutions. Also, she attended classes at the Austin Art Institute.
But books persisted as her main motivation.
Later, with assistance from Justin, her husband, Schlaudraff operated a mobile bookstore and appeared as a book vendor during several Marble Falls Main Street Market Days, also during the annual Burnet Christmas Parade activities and Saturdays at the Burnet Farmers Market.
Schlaudraff and her husband have one son, Bennett.
With so much electronic media available for education and entertainment, why do people still read books?
“Books can take you places,” Schlaudraff said. “They encourage creativity that is fun.”
Yet, she harbors no negative attitude toward electronic devices.
“No matter if it is an audio book, a personal desktop or laptop computer, electronic I-pad or a physical book, reading is reading, no matter how you do it,” Schlaudraff said.
Title Euphoria is located in Burnet at 107 E. Jackson St. Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, Saturday. For more information call 512-295-0220 or e-mail TitleEuphoria@gmail. com.
