Exploring Life & Business with Katherine Smith of The Dog Ear

Today we’d like to introduce you to Katherine Smith

Katherine, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Growing up girls around me typically played with Barbies, dress-up, and make-up; they would be upset if they were grounded and sent to their room. But, I read the dictionary, drew floorplans, and always had a book in my bag. Don’t tell my mother, but I enjoyed being grounded since it allowed me to read all day. Yet, reading while I was growing up wasn’t what it is today. I was picked on and made fun of, so in an attempt to fit in, I tucked my books away.

It wasn’t until senior year of high school I met my English teacher Mr. Dan Murphy where he reignited my love of words, books, and writing. But I didn’t have any direction in life; had no idea what I wanted to do, where I wanted to be, what I wanted out of my own life. I attempted college only to stop attending classes. I joined the Army (of course some books came with me), yet my rotator cuff wasn’t as excited about the adventure as I was, threw a fit, and blew out during basic training. A few months later, my books and I were on a bus headed back home. Once back I grabbed the first job I could, saved up, and tried college again (and, dropped out again). I was floundering, hobby hopping, job jumping, struggling to find my place; to find me.

Lo and behold my now husband (Brandon) walked into my work one day with mussed brown hair, dressed for a soccer game, and swept me into a whirlwind relationship. Within a year we were married, I was a step-mom to my two beautiful step-daughters, and I felt little pieces of life fitting into place. Those pieces started falling away from me as we fell pregnant twice but also lost them both. I decided to try and do something for myself, gain some pieces back, ergo try college one more time, but this time straight for a degree in something I loved. Something I have loved since I was swinging my feet from the church pew drawing floorplans. Interior design. So, on the third attempt, I finally held a degree in my hand.

No shocker to anyone, that as I do love design, architecture, and building, I quickly realized it was something that I liked to do for fun, not so much as a nine-to-five. After two IVF pregnancies and two more losses, I was afloat again, lost without direction, and leaving my design job was an easy decision. From that moment on life became a blur of years, memories, and people; going through the motions to get to the next day. In 2019 our life flipped upside down and started the path that I am on today. In 2019 the pieces of me, my heart, and my life snapped into place. In 2019 we were foster parents to a baby girl and her big brother.

After adopting them in 2021 we fell into a comfortable life as a family of six. Being a stay-at-home mom was, and still is, wonderful, but again that itch was back. Books came back into my life in full force; reading every day, in every spare moment, and my books became an extension of my body once again. Thoughts started forming and swirling about how amazing it would be to own a romance bookstore, but I tucked it away. Until, one day all of us, all six of us, walked into the Town Square Antique Mall in Wentzville, MO for some good old treasure hunting. Once back in the car, I buckled up looked at Brandon, and said, “That might be the way to start my bookstore. Rent a booth at the antique mall.” He called two days later, and within three months I had my first little space in the antique mall as The Dog Ear Bookstore-Booth.

The kids run all over Missouri, and Illinois, with me to source books and get them into the hands of other readers for a good price. Books are extremely expensive and most reading apps are either costly or have an extremely long wait list. I want to make sure if someone wants to read a book, or own a book, that they can and not have to make any hard decisions when it comes to a passion of theirs and necessities. The Dog Ear is a passion of mine that makes me excited to wake up in the morning and get to work. It has given me the confidence to explore the other passion of mine that has been following me since those childhood days grounded in my room, the passion for words and the power they hold. Putting pen to paper (or fingers to keys) has been freeing, and invigorating, but still a mystery. So, for now, we will stay the course, keep reading, and see what the future holds for myself, and my family,

Most are criticized for not having a path, a clear choice, but I will stand firm on the fact that plans can, and will, change. People themselves change. I don’t know where The Dog Ear will go, or where my words will take me, but I know that life is most enjoyable when you are exploring, trying, and most of all, failing. The latter shatters so many more doors and windows than immediate success ever will.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It hasn’t been the smoothest road traveled, but nothing ever is. I would rather take a bike down a curvy bumpy mountain path than a freshly paved asphalt road. Juggling motherhood, kids in grades ranging from high school down to preschool, my husband (ladies, if you know, you know), and then things for myself, isn’t easy. But, when my head hits the pillow, may it be ten at night or three in the morning, I try to envision everything that is on my plate as puzzles rather than problems. I’m the word girl, the English nerd, but the husband is the math and analytical one. He is the rock on which I slam my head before helping me sort everything out and find the solution. Yet, confidence isn’t something he can help me with. No matter how many times he reassures me about x,y, and z it will continue to be something that only I can figure out on my own. The one struggle has been self-confidence. The self-confidence to put myself out there. To film videos. To talk to people. I like people, I like hearing their stories, understanding them, and making connections. But, it has never been a strong suit of mine. A skill that I am still learning, figuring out, and trying to grow within every day.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
The Dog Ear is a small bookstore-booth in The Town Square Antique Mall in Wentzville, MO. Though it may be small it offers genres from children and middle readers, to YA and adult, thrillers and horrors, rom-coms to fantasies. In addition to books at affordable prices, I also have handmade “bookish” goodies that I either create or support small designers and then print/make myself (t-shirts, pillows, crossbody bags, tumblers, candles, etc). Sometimes, if I’m lucky I will come across a special edition, a sprayed edge, or find one from my collection that needs a new home, and place them in the booth for others to enjoy on their shelves. In addition to the bookstore, I create and put together surprise romance book boxes that are only available at Main Street Books in St. Charles, MO. They include one romance blind date with a book (your choice of fantasy, contemporary, or dark romance) and full of handmade book-themed goodies!

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Books of course! But, I’ve already mentioned that, so I’ll let you in on the other loves of my life. My husband, Brandon is my biggest supporter, my anchor. Then the ones that keep me going, keep me striving to be better than I was the last day, my children. Human jukebox, Haley, soccer star, Hannah, dardevil, Gabriel, and dancing queen, Lasa.

The older girls and I love spending the day in a familiar, or new, bookstore, having reading nights on the couch, and we’re always keeping our eyes open for booksignings with our favorite authors. While, the little ones always make sure our cheeks hurt from a full day at the zoo or playing games in the backyard. It’s the little moments that make me the happiest.

I may have lost a few pieces of myself along the way. Fit some new ones in, too. But, my family? They have been the constant ones, the ones that held me together while I was searching for the missing ones.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @the_dogear