Hello, folks!! And happy first day of summeeeer!!!!! Eep! I can’t believe how fast time has flown by! And while we shall most certainly miss dear old spring over here, I’m also very much looking forward to everything that summer shall bring!! (I’m also hoping to post a rather lengthy list of summer reads for midddle-graders… would any of you like to see that?)
(I also found this picture on Pinterest and it’s oh-so summery, isn’t it?? I also desperately wish I was at the seaside now. XD) Alas, I am not at the seaside and am instead deep within the first-drafting trenches (currently 70K words into a new MG fantasy!), as well as brainstorming ideas for a certain pair of Twin Libraries in my novel! So while we might not be at the seaside, it’s certainly been a lot of fun!
I was also so incredibly excited to share a lovely Q&A with young writers over on my YouTube channel!! ^^ It was truly wonderful getting to share this compilation with everyone, and I loved hearing all of the fantastic answers from all the young writers!! So make sure you go check that out!
Ahem. Now onto the bookish tag! :))
I confess to not actually having being tagged for this. XD
However, I saw this tag over at the wonderful Lillian Keith’s blog, and I could not resist from shamelessly snurching it since owning a bookstore (specifically one for children’s books!!) is something I have dreamed of doing for so long now!! And so without further ado…
Welcome in to the bookstore! :))
1. What are the hours of operation?
9:30 AM to 7:30 PM, I think. I fear I’m not an early bird, but I’d like the bookstore to remain open throughout the morning, afternoon, and early evening!
2. Is there ambient music? What kind?
I actually haven’t been able to decide on it. XD Sometimes I don’t mind ambient music in bookstores (and deathly silence can be a tad unnerving), but at the same time, I struggle to read with music. So I’m not sure! If there were to be ambient music, probably something soft/soothing? Perhaps guitar or piano music.
3. Is there a coffee bar? Do you serve alcohol?
I think yes, there would be a little cafe area on the side to serve some snacks and drinks!! You wouldn’t be allowed to take food into the bookstore where the books are sold (for reasons obvious) though. And we’d probably serve tea, coffee, and pastries! No to alcohol, since it’d be a children’s bookstore!
4. Are patrons encouraged to linger? Are there comfortable chairs? What kind of lighting? Are there tables? Are there areas for group gatherings?
Yes, yes, yes, and yes!! I’d love to just have places where there’d be little book nooks for kids to read! (As well as some books that can be read in the bookstore!) There might be some odd/quirky chairs scattered about (be it ludicrously polka-dotted ones or Victorian armchairs) and tables by the cafe area! I’d love to have a bunch of old-style lanterns around the bookshop too, to give it a nice, warm lighting! In the daytime, there’d be lovely sunlight streaming in through the windows! There might be an area by the entrance for group gatherings (book clubs and author events!).
5. Is there live entertainment (poetry readings, authors’ readings from their current works, lectures in literature)?
Yes!!! I would love to host author events, especially book signings and poetry readings! (Poetry readings would be such a fun thing to have!) I’d also love to bring author workshops to this place for any budding writers! (Though is that more of a library than a bookstore thing…?) And definitely lots of book clubs! ^^
6. Where is your bookstore located? In the busy heart of a large city? In a neighborhood of a large city? In a suburban strip mall? In a small town? In a rural area?
Tucked away in a small town. (Alas, yes, I know tis probably not the best choice for a bookstore if you want lots of people… so perhaps a busier town. One that’s still lovely and cozy though!! And perhaps a tad chaotic. For some reason, I’m picturing something like Diagon Alley from Harry Potter. XD) And somewhere with a good mix of sunny days and rainy days too.
7. How does your bookstore look from the outside? Sleek and modern? Dark and brooding?
A two-story building made from warm, worn stone, a cozy-looking door (perhaps something wooden?), lots of windows, and a sign sticking out of it with the name of the bookstore. Also flowers in the windows, because flowers make things so very cheery!
8. What’s your specialty? Used books? New? New and used? Only fiction? Only non-fiction? Fiction and non-fiction? Does your bookstore specialize in a particular genre?
Children’s books!!!
Picture books, chapter books, and middle-grade! Most of the books would be new, I think, but I might sell a few used ones (though probably not those in terribly bad condition!!). I’d also love to have a lot of classics in the bookstore — L.M. Montgomery, Louisa May Alcott, etc. There’d also be a good mix of traditionally published books and indie books!
There’d be books of all genres too, but I think we’d mainly have fantasy, historical fiction, contemporary, and mystery!
9. What’s the name of your bookstore?
Ooh, I had to think a lot on this question. (Because I can debate library, bookstore, and character names for hours. XD) But I’d go with Pages & Pen! It reminds me a lot of Pages & Co. by Anne James (unashamed stealing of bookstore names hehe), and I just think it has such a nice ring to it!!
10. Tag some friends.
I hereby tag…
Lola Mae
Journey Bloomfield
Hallie Kropf!
Aand that, folks, is the tag! 😀 I had a great deal of fun doing this (as well as brainstorming ideas for an imaginary bookstore!), and who knows? Perhaps someday I shall actually open a bookstore and it shall be titled Pages & Pen! (In which case you shall all be cordially invited to its launch).
Do let me know down in the comments what you thought, if there’s anything you’d like to add to this bookstore, and also if you’ve ever wanted to open your own bookstore! ^^ I love hearing from y’all!
Till then, I shall be hidden away in my writing shed surrounded by first drafts, Latin translations, and also a concerning amount of cookies (yes, I bribe myself with cookies, what of it? XD).
Till next time and wishing y’all a wonderful summer!!!
-Isabelle
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