if i owned a bookstore...

Last week, I was spending a bit of time watching some bookish YouTube, and I came across a fun questionnaire. It was entitled, "If I Owned a Bookstore...", and well, it seemed like just my cup of tea, so I decided to answer the questions in a blog post. The bibliophile that I was watching (Miriam Elizabeth Reads) mentioned that she used AI to create pictures to depict what she was describing through her answers. And as she mentioned, she isn't a huge fan of AI, and I am certainly not either, but I liked how she was able to really show what she imagined in her mind through the pictures that she shared. So I borrowed her idea and did the same thing...I've never used AI like this before, and while I'm not a fan of AI even in the slightest, I was pleased with how the pictures turned out. Because they turned out pretty close to what I had in my mind. But this is probably one of the only times I will ever actually use AI. {{smiles}}

I had so much fun pondering these questions and imaging all sorts of fun things to include in a bookstore, if I were to own one. So, I invite you to get comfy, pour a tall glass of iced tea, and join me for a bit of grown-up imagination and pretend.

What is the name of your bookstore?

The name for my bookstore-in-my-mind came to me quite quicky. It really did just come to me, not much thinking on my end. I knew that I would want it to depict two of my dearest loves: home and nature. Inkberry Hill Books. It seems quite perfect to me...and very much "me", as well. It captures the vibe and essence and ambiance that I would want my bookstore to hold and exude and feel. It's also the name of my blog, so it is definitely a "me" name. {{smiles}}

So, you are warmly welcome to...

Inkberry Hill Books

(come on in and stay awhile)

How does your bookstore look from the outside? Sleek and modern? Dark and brooding?

The exterior of my bookstore has so many elements of my dream home. I would love my bookstore to be an old home with a huge wrap-around front porch. Lots of flowers in the garden and hanging plants.

(the sitting room with a gorgeous view of the back gardens)

What are the hours of operation?

I think I would like my bookstore to be open Tuesday through Saturday, from around 9 am to 12 pm. Then I'd close for one hour for lunch. And reopen 1 pm to 5 pm, unless there was a special event. 

(the loft where you are welcome to sit a spell with a good book)

 Is there ambient music? What kind?

Instrumental music and favorite film scores of mine, very softly playing in the background. No vocals or boppy-type music. Very calming, soothing, peaceful, relaxing music.

(the kitchen and cafe)

 Is there a coffee bar? Do you serve alcohol?

With the bookstore being an old house and all, the kitchen would definitely be in use. I'd have teas of all sorts and coffees, hot chocolate and cider in the autumn and winter months. I'd have muffins, seasonal breads, cookies, and scones. In the summertime, we'd have fresh lemonade and iced tea with mint leaves and fruit or herb infused waters. Absolutely no alcohol, ad this is a wholesome environment, and family friendly at that. 

(the fireplace room for cozy sitting and reading by the fire)

  Are patrons encouraged to linger? Are there comfortable chairs? What kind of lighting? Are there tables? Are there areas for group gatherings? 

My patrons would most definitely be encouraged to linger...to get comfy and sit and stay awhile. I would want it to feel like a home away from home. With all the comforts and familiarity and warmth and coziness of how I believe a home should feel...the only difference is that here you can buy books.

The front porch is wide and spacious enough for lots of rocking chairs, with little tables graced with softly lit lamps, rugs and ceiling fans. There are blankets draped over the furniture for chilly weather, and the porch is wide enough to allow folks to sit outdoors even when it's rainy. There's also a back porch for reading, enjoying some peace and quiet, and just being surrounded by nature but with a tucked away feeling.

(the cash register corner to purchase all your bookish finds)

Indoors, seeing as how my bookstore is an old home, there are many rooms. In each room there would be a little cozy corner complete with squishy chairs or sofas for patrons to settle down into for a bit of reading or quiet chattering. The lighting is soft and gentle, though obviously bright enough to see what you are reading. {{smiles}} Lots of lamps and twinkly lights, think Kathleen Kelly's bookstore in You've Got Mail.

I'd also have a bookstore pet dog and cat that live in my bookstore...they'd obviously be my pets and perhaps I'd live in the upstairs of my bookstore, or in a little apartment in the backyard. And my fur babies would go wherever I went...to work in the bookstore or back at home. I think it would be so fun to have pets in my bookstore.

(when you walk into the bookstore)

 Is there live entertainment (poetry readings, author’s reading from their current works, lectures in literature)? 

I would love to have a book club weekly or bi-weekly. We'd choose a book to read and then gather together one evening after closing time, everyone bringing a dish to share potluck style. We'd have dinner together and then chat about the book until the moon was shining high in the sky.

(the back porch)

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? 

A small town would suit me just fine, I do believe. Being a Southern girl myself, I love the landscapes and scenery of the South, so my bookstore would be in a quaint little Southern town. Lots of trees and lush foliage and flowers and nature surrounding my little bookstore. I'd love to know my patrons by name when they walk in. I'd love to ask them how they're doing and them do the same towards me. I'd love to be able to know their personal tastes and show them a book or two that I think they'd love.

(the children's corner...a place for imaginations to come to life and where pretend feels real)

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? 

My bookstore would be nearly all, if not completely all, used books. I'd have some sort of system where folks could bring in their old books and I'd buy them for store credit, and then those would go into my inventory. I'd also scour different places to look for inventory, such as yard sales, old library book sales, thrift stores, etc.

My inventory would be mostly fiction, of a variety of genres, including a very whimsical and imaginative children's room full of delightful stories for young readers to enjoy. I would make sure the books I was selling were wholesome and decent and I would have a policy of feel-good books only. I do, after all, want everything about my bookstore, from the atmosphere and feel and what I offer, to be a sort of haven and deep-breath from the world. There would be some nonfiction, such as books on gardening, cooking and baking, crafting, and DIY, hobbies, and specific varieties of memoirs and such that I believe to showcase goodness, truth, and beauty.

(the window seat...another cozy little nook suitable for reading on a rainy day)

My bookstore . . .

My hope for this imaginative bookstore is that is would be a place for folks to come and sit a spell on the front porch or in the back garden, and be among friends and kindred spirits, perhaps reading quietly among one another or even sharing a story aloud. I would want it to feel like home, comforting and warm and inviting, like a haven and a breath of fresh air from the outside world. A safe place, a happy place, an imaginative place, for children and adults alike. That's what I would want if I owned a bookstore...

and, of course, you'd be most welcome to come by for a visit.