The Saturday after Thanksgiving is a day for celebrating. That’s the day I became a used bookstore owner. Otter Creek Used & Rare Books became Otter Creek Used Books and it was mine. Never once have I regretted the purchase. Never once have I had a day of regret. How lucky am I? Very.

I went from this on Main Street in a basement….

…to the Historic MarbleWorks.

I miss the large space of the Main Street location with the large window overlooking the street and the storage. But I love the MarbleWorks with the nooks and crannies and the many windows. No worries for parking. I’m on one floor. And the community within the MarbleWorks is unsurpassable.

I’ve been working on ‘increasing’ the space by adding bookshelves and bookcases. I have a customer who’s become the store’s official carpenter. Those who stated there was no way I could fit another bookcase have been in the store and didn’t notice the additions until I pointed them out. I’m excited to say two more will be added very soon. Let’s see if you notice them next time you are in.

I think I’ve kept my philosophy of running the store the same as I did in the early days. It’s all about the books. All about coziness. To feel comfortable and not be totally overwhelmed. I work very hard to keep the store fresh by adding (and maybe subtracting) books, adding displays, shuffling around collections so all can fit in nicely. The store is designed to poke around. See what book finds you.

Following the advice of a bookseller whom I greatly admire and one of the founders of the Vermont Antiquarian Booksellers Association, Ben Koenig, of The Country Bookshop, years ago stated that if you are going to have a sale make it fun. Everyone has fun when the books are half off. Great advice. So, Friday 11/24 and Saturday 11/25 all books will be half price! Come and have fun!