and a Bookshop Owner.

Hello Everyone! It’s me again.

Today I felt compelled to put a little information up on the site about myself. Maybe within the many conversations I’ve had with so many of you this information has come out and it is well known, but to others it may not be common knowledge.

With the updating of our website, as it grows I like to put new sections in that will help shine a light on ways I am hoping that this little shop in Mount Joy, PA can grow and enrich others in this area and beyond. Today’s big update includes a new page with information for “local” indie artists. Now, I know this is a bookshop, so the vast majority of artists that would like their work here within our store are going to be authors, but I do not want to exclude those who do other kinds of art.

Because all art is important.

From those who complete fabric arts, to painters, photographers, writers, and musicians. All of it is important and we are better as a people and a society when those who look to create get a chance to display what they’ve created, and us who can, get the chance to enjoy that new creation brought into this world.

Myself, I’ve been a writer of fiction both short and novel length on and off for 10+ years now. (There are currently 5 novels and two collections with my name on them) I used to be a lot more consistent with it, but as with many people, Covid time took its toll. I’ve dabbled with it here and there over the last few years but have struggled to get that groove again for what feels like forever.

Just the other evening, here at the shop, I had a customer who picked up one of my short story collections. I’ve got them displayed by the register for anyone who comes in, though now I need to find my other copies. 😀

This wonderful person was willing to give my writing a chance and even asked for it to be signed. My rather unreadable signature later, it reminded me what it feels like to see someone pick up a piece of art that you created and give it a chance. Do I hope this person finds something within the words written inside that they enjoy? Absolutely. As an artist can it scare the wits out of you wondering if they’ll like it at all? ABSOLUTELY!

But it also reminds me that not everyone gets that chance. Being a writer and having helped many others both write and publish, I realized I hadn’t actually set a way for this shop to be able to help artists get that chance.

Here on our site I’ve put up a new page that gives a brief walk through of how we can move forward. As with anything with a new and starting business, things may change, but this is a way to start the process for those in this community.

Can and will everything be accepted into this shop? Probably not. There is limited space here in this small shop and not everything is the best fit for it either. This does not mean what you have made is not welcomed to be considered, and regardless of the decision to stock the item here for sale or not, we here at Seymour’s Little Shop of Books appreciate the time, effort, and skill you put in when you created it.

No matter what your skill level, from first time creator to lifetime practitioner, all of it is worth your time and effort. Never forget that because the world is a better place with art in it than it is without it.

Take Care,

Bill Seymour