Independent Bookstore Love
In Praise of Independent Bookstores
Do you know what I love about independent bookstores? Yes, they have books, but they’ve got something more. They’ve got heart!
I was introduced to Rachael Lake of Lake House Books earlier this year. She opened Lake House Books last fall. When I met her, she shared that the bookstore was a new career path for her. She had left the corporate world and made the jump to business owner. Always a fan of books and reading, it was a great fit to open a bookstore. And what better name for a bookstore located beside a lake, than Lake House Books? Oh, plus her last name is Lake. Does it get any better than that? Heck ya!
While the vast majority of what Rachael sells is indeed books, she has far more items on offer than that. Her goal in locating to the small village of Port Stanley was to connect and feel like a part of a community. In inviting local artists and crafters to contribute to her store, she has done just that.
You will find journals and jewellery, soaps and stickers, calendars, cards, and more! Many of these items are sourced from local makers too, making her store a communal hub.
Speaking of hubs, the building she is located in is an artistic mecca for the area. Lake House Books is inside Port Stanley Festival Theatre! You get literature and theatre in one stop. Fantastic!
Am I just being nice in introducing you to this indie bookstore? Kind of. I DO want you to support a small, independent business owner for plenty of reasons.
- they typically give back to their immediate communities
- a higher percentage of money earned at a small business stays within their community
- you often get a more personalized and intimate shopping experience when dealing with small business
- small business owners have more flexibility to meet niche and specialized orders
- you are never just a faceless number
YOUR SUPPORT MEANS THE WORLD TO THEM!
Meet the Author & Book Signing
Oh, plus this particular small business is supporting ME in my author dreams of reaching a wider audience by hosting an Author Reading and Book Signing event.
I will be at Lake House Books on Saturday, March 23 at 11 am with copies of both Roughing it in Africa and my newest release Riding the Waves. My aim is to read excerpts from both books and draw a line between the journeys we make and how they affect a life lived. Questions are welcomed and I will gladly sign copies of books too.
Please RSVP to lakehousebooks1@gmail.com or send me an email to let me know you are coming. Space is limited, but as with the heart of any indie bookstore, Rachael welcomes you all to come. See you soon!
