Receipt from the Bookshop #29
Receipt from the Bookshop #29
Aren't you cold?
Ahoy, friends!
It is I, Captain of your Favourite Friday Newsletter and this is the next live report from that small independent bookshop in a town that no-one has heard of. Unless you play golf. Then you’ve heard of it.
Two people ran past me today to get into Cafe Nero before me this morning, which was embarrassing for them as they were both in business wear. I had a full loyalty card which meant my coffee was freeee so I could use my pocket money to buy a little treat (Cinnamon Swirl. Time of death: 10.02 am).
It’s cold but not icy, so there’s no real reason why we shouldn’t be flooded with customers today, other than the death of the high street, devaluation of books, cost of living crisis and the town’s general ennui. Let’s do this!!
First one through the door is a delivery guy who says “the box is broken”. Now, this isn’t unusual - cardboard boxes get bashed in transit all the time and there’s a strange phenomenon that means it’s six times more likely to happen if the books inside are valuable. Special editions? SMASH. Signed copies? THWACK. White dust jackets? FILTH. Anyway, this was a box of 40 copies of Cecile Pin’s Wandering Souls in paperback for our book club next month, and nothing was really ruined even though the side of the box had split open. The interesting part of this story is that the delivery man then ACTUALLY ENQUIRED ABOUT THE CONDITION OF THE CONTENTS. He wanted me to check that the books were all there! And he waited while I counted them! Like someone who cared! #angelswalkamongus
Second person through the door is Business Mum herself, on the way to bank all the stacks of money that we make from selling books. Lol! We took £16.98 yesterday, so by the time we’ve actually paid for the stock we’ve sold, there might be some change from a tenner to put in.
Next person has got to be a customer, right? Wrong, it’s my father-in-law just saying hello. What do you bet the next person through the door is just BM again on her way back. We should install a revolving door.
Well the next person who came into the shop was someone from Fylde Council, taking some pictures of the shop to include in the next brochure and he stayed a while because the bookshop was empty and we chatted about all sorts of things including the time Britney Spears played a concert in front of Blackpool Tower (it was awful!) and who the final reveal on the 2024 Lytham Festival line-up might be (Rick Astley was announced yesterday). The rumour is that it could be Green Day! Mr Council Man could not confirm, but said he didn’t think it was Green Day - boo. Anyway, I’m hoping it’s Arctic Monkeys. It won’t be, but that’s my wish!
I’m trying to come in but Ben has found a smell outside.
(Ben is a dog.)
Delivery! Let’s see what we’ve got… here’s the contents of the small box today. Some of these are customer orders and some is for stock.
Some other highlights from the big box include this and this and this.
Even though it’s absolutely freezing out there I’ve opened the door. Immediately, a man walks in. I cannot overstate how suggestive an open door is! He leaves without purchase but then someone else comes in!… She also leaves without purchase but while she’s in another couple enter!!!!… who leave without purchase. I mean now it sounds bad that no one is buying anything but the point is that they’re actually coming in, which is a step-up from this morning. Also, they all wanted incredibly specific things that I didn’t have in and they didn’t want to order them because they didn’t really know what they wanted (Something on Acupuncture? Something on Mushrooms?)
Any books on pies? My friend likes baking and I like pies, so I want him to bake me some.
Wahey! 12.58 and it’s the first sale of the day. Till absolutely freaking out (it’s happening! it’s happening!) It was this and a very handsome Scarlet Macaw hand puppet. Squaawwwk, No Returns!
Now, something that happened this week is that The Times ran an article called ‘12 of the UK’s best independent bookshops — as chosen by you’ and we were included in the list because one of amazing customers sent in a write-up and nominated us. We knew nothing about it until The Times contacted us for a photo (turns out the only photos we have of the exterior are from my own book launch - shame!) and it was such a sweet and unexpected surprise. Unfortunately, a local newspaper picked up on the fact that we were included in the list and ran a slightly mortifying article about how a national newspaper called us the seventh best bookshop in the UK. Of course, the article itself explained it was a collection of customer reviews rather than any sort of official chart, but still a bit misleading, and a lot of people congratulated us on something that wasn’t quite as prestigious as it sounded. I mean, as a bookshop that’s currently running zero events, takes less than £20 in a day, doesn’t pay half its staff (Business Mum is basically a volunteer) and opens as and when it pleases, I don’t think we can claim to be the best at anything bookshopwise, BUT our customers love us anyway and now the whole country knows it! Thank you so much to cherished customer, CH for our recommendation.
Are you not freezing with this door open??? Shall I close it?
Me, screeching. NOOOooooo
Two customers came to collect their orders taking the sales today over the £50 mark, as befits the seventh best bookshop in the country AS RECOMMEND BY YOU (CH).
Let’s look at some new picture books because there’s one here that’s called WAITING FOR FROGGO and I can’t ignore it any longer. *reads Waiting for Froggo in empty bookshop*
Ha!! Yes, very good. Of course, I can reveal nothing. Except that Jon Klassen changed picture books forever. Also new in is Snail in Space - the sort-of-sequel to Slug in Love or perhaps a prequel, I don’t know if Gail had already been to space when she met Slug. She did look quite (out of this) worldly, to be fair. Anyway, cracking rhyming text from Rachel Bright as per, and fantabulous illos from Nadia Shireen.
Another new pb I’d be picking up in any other bookshop is A Horse Called Now by Ruth Doyle and Alexandra Finkeldey, because I really like the traditional/retro vibes of the illustration, and illustrators often mention how difficult it to draw horses and this has one on every page, so we should reward the effort.
I have a terrible headache and here’s what I always think when I get a headache.
1. Have I had enough caffeinated drinks today?
2. Have I had enough un-caffeinated drinks today?
3. Do I need to get an eye test - OH MY GOD MAYBE I CAN GET NEW GLASSES!!!
4. Brain problem?
And I was like.. mic drop!!!
(wish I’d heard the start of this but let’s assume it was epic)
Proof parcel from Macmillan books: let’s see what’s inside.
Song of the Huntress by Lucy Holland, March 24 - a must read for fans of Circe (haven’t read it)
James by Percival Everett - an author I feel guiltier about not having read than I do about not having read Circe. This is a retelling of Huckleberry Finn from the pov of the enslaved Jim. By all accounts, Everett is an essential author.
The Psychology of Secrets by Andrew Gold - The back of this one says ‘97% of us are hiding a secret right now. On average we each hold thirteen at any one time. Andrew Gold takes us on a journey through the history and pschology of secrecy, from cult leaders and murderers to psychopaths, and even you.’
Eeek. I mean, it sounds to me like those other types of people all have quite similar secrets, and the psychology of it is that they’re insane. Anyway, could be interesting?
The Amendments by Niamh Mulvey - this is the proof I’ll be taking home from this box. I really enjoyed Mulvey’s short story collection Hearts and Bones (also one of my favourite Paul Simon albums).
There’s also a short sampler for Homebody by Theo Parish a graphic memoir of a non-binary trans teen, perfect for fans of Heartstopper.
Hey here’s a thing I can tell you about. I have a monthly subscription to chocolate. Yes! There’s a lovely lady called Annabel who makes the most incredible chocolates and as well as selling all her delicious inventions she has a subscription service where you get a box each month with some of her new flavours. Business Mum and I share the box of chocolates at the shop; if there are two of the same flavour we can have one each, but if there’s only one of the flavour, we cut it in half so we can both try it, leaving half a chocolate in the box for the other to finish. Then we discuss and rate them over Whatsapp. Is this disgusting or sweet? We cut them with a knife! Not our teeth!! Anyway, it’s only fair to share the delicious deets, so here’s a link to Annabel’s Patisserie website - don’t buy all of my favourites (Bangin’ Bites Tiramisu) and if you do place an order with Annabel be sure to tell her it was me who sent you!
Closing up now. Takings for the day finished at £139.91, which feels like a massive win for a windy day in January when the door was closed all morning. As ever, any books you purchase through the links here directly support my bookshop, and any upgrades to this newsletter directly supports me as a writer. Thanks so much for reading, see you next week.
I want to say, “argh you’ve got to read Circe it’s incredible” but I know that the more someone is told that, the less likely they are to do it. So...don’t read it. Really. Don’t. Seriously.
A lovely post, but I think you should bring back the selfie shot. It makes it easier to relate to being bundled up against the breeze from the open door.