Well, that’s the thing! About almost everything else in my life I have doubts and crippling thoughts and I’m cynical. But for some unknown reason, I don’t have to fight anything at all when it comes to Biblio. I have no doubts whatsoever, even when I almost feel as though I should, that Biblio will be totally successful online and in bricks and mortar. Whenever I have thoughts about it—for instance when I woke up this morning, the first words were about which tea company I would use—it’s all like it’s really happening. It’s so real to me, and I feel somehow certain that it will be special enough that it will not flop, even though businesses are closing all over the place here, even similar ones. I believe people fail, not businesses. Where there’s a will and a solid plan, there’s a way.

And I’m not about to fail at the only thing I’m truly good at. I know there are people like me out there who appreciate the finer things of life—anything books and tea—so I have no doubt that Kindles and Amazon and such will not shut me down. There is a place for Biblio, and I know it’s up to me to make it real.

I love how energetic and focused you become when you talk about this. The energy is infectious.

In our small little town, there is a second hand book store and as I read this I am thinking of that place. it’s small, intimate, there is coffee, tea, little chairs to sit and read…

The owner is also an artist and their are excellent paintings and framed photos for sale all over the shop giving it beauty and ambiance. They have an online presence and search for antique books for people. They do shop readings, lectures.

It is an adorable place to spend time. Competing with the Amazons and on-line book stores of the world is difficult for the “supermarket bookstores” they are having a run for their money and some have predicted the decline and eventual end of the physical bookstore in our future. However I believe that true lovers of books- people who actual feel restored in the presence of the written word- will always want a haven of books.

It’s creating the haven of restoration of the Book Lover’s soul that they will always come for.

And yes…by appealing to all the other senses besides the physical touch, this can happen on-line as well….and should. It’s a delightful and inspired idea.

I got Sawtelle and OfS because of those lectures and readings we went to at Hart House. So I think I got them at the same time, even.

Edgar Sawtelle is a gorgeous book. The design is really well done. Reminds me a bit of The Origin of Species. And both are the same in that you can get right inside the character’s heads.

T: I love it when you talk like that! Seriously, it makes me happy to read it.

As for the authors doing readings: well, in my ideas book I have Atwood and Huggan lined up for sure. I feel certain they’d come, esp. Huggan, who was once the local newspaper editor here. But I also have the idea written down for the online Biblio. I can post video or audio of authors reading, either ones they do for Biblio or ones I might get permission to use. After all it’s promoting them and their books, so I don’t know why not, unless there’s some weird copyright law. I’ll have to find that out.

PS. Thank you.
PS. I LOVED Sawtelle. It’s also physically one of my favourite books. It smells like heaven, and feels like a piece of it too.
PS. I think the Book of Negros might be my next one. I have a gorgeous illustrated edition.

P.S. I think this is my favourite theme so far…most fitting for you.
P.P.S. I’m just started reading Edgar Sawtelle. I rented the audio book from the library but renewed it twice, and never got to finish it! Anway, it is FANTASTIC. Really beautiful.

Right now being published is going to have be a dream. There’s too much going on in my life to adequately pursue it, a sad reality. Mine’s more related to my Quality of Life. I have stopped eating sweets entirely (one and one half days without so far, no big accomplishment, but the start of a life change), am walking twenty minutes a day, and have set myself a small list of goals to accomplish in whatever time I can, but I try to knock one or more off per day.

Writing fantasy refuses to come to me, and I simply can’t force it. Even sitting to write and forcing the first pages won’t scrape deep enough to give me something ‘real’. To that end my concepts are more bare-bones than usual and my book is stalled for the moment. I think this is stress related. I’m hoping it will lift when I’ve improved my life.

In the meantime, I can’t wait to see your Biblio progress. I’d love to hear about it if I ever catch you online again, but I’ve been busy lately so it’s not likely for a while. If you do what C said and record bedtime stories for Biblio you know I’ll make use of them, and not for my kids! As much trouble as I have sitting down and reading getting to hear books is a real treat.

Keep in touch, Lady, and keep dreaming. Dreams can become reality given time and dedication.

I’m curious as to where you’re going with your ideas. I mean, I know the author one, but you said also not in a professional capacity (I think of being published as rather professional after a time). I know you have a ton of challenges right now and without having a modicum of stability it’s really hard to direct your life, isn’t it?

Nevertheless, keep on some sort of path. I admire your strength, really. You sound quite grounded.