Author: seymourslittleshop

Being an Indie Artist

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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

Wolf Worm by T. Kingfisher Review

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One of the things I enjoy about being a bookseller, especially in a small town bookshop like ours, is that I get to share with you all my love of stories and the books that bring them to life. Spending hours sitting in the store speaking with each and every one of you about things we’ve all enjoyed, loved, hated, and honestly found meh makes me one of the happiest people in this world.

With that, I want to take this little space of mine and add a little bit of that conversation here on my site where I can add what I choose and do not have to worry about algorithms letting you know about it or not. This is Seymour’s little space on the internet, and here is where you will get a little glimpse of what is going on in the story world here at Seymour’s Little Shop of Books.

To start off these book reviews I first want to point out that the reviews you see will always generally be positive. Everyone has their own taste in reading. Literally in one day I spoke with two customers about the same exact book no more than an hour apart from each other and one marked it as one of their favorite of 2025. The other barely made it through to the end and only finished it because they are the type of person who always finishes a book.

Which one is correct?

Neither, and both. Each person has their own opinion and us as readers ourselves have to make our own opinion. That being said, I will always do my best to share with you all positive feelings toward a story or book. Let you know that I felt it was worth my time and that if you are so inclined you should do the same. If you decide to read it and don’t feel the same, then that is how you feel, but you got the chance to read and experience it yourself and make that decision. Should I give you a negative feeling toward the story or book and it could have been something you really loved, then it is shame on me because you missed something because of my personal opinion.

If I find something not to my taste, I will not share it here, as that is my opinion and I do not want to help shape yours. But, I do not have a problem sharing with you all the books I do find worth the time to read and that is what I will do.

To start off this glorious endeavor, I was able to receive an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) of T. Kingfisher’s Wolf Worm that comes out in March, 2026. Below is a brief paragraph as I do not want spoilers and this blog is already long enough. Reviews as I continue along may become more in-depth, but until then, please enjoy. 😀

Wolf Worm – T. Kingfisher – 3/26/2026

This is another great one from T. Kingfisher. Really fast read that sucks you right in with mystery from the beginning and a dark brooding horror that holds you tight long after you’ve closed the book. From the beginning to the end, you find yourself thinking you know where this is going until it hits you and everything just makes sense when you let yourself look at what you missed along the way because the story pulled you along. Terrific in its execution, a great horror that I can’t wait for others to get a chance to read.

Simple, yet expresses my enjoyment of the book. A solid 4.5/5 stars for me. I will have this in shop the first day I can so that those who love T. Kingfisher’s writing or want to give her a chance will have them here to find.

😀

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Pardon Our Tidy Mess

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Hello Everyone!

Welcome to the newly improved, returned, and still untidy website. I’ve been working and reworking after mistakes made to improve this site. My goal for the site is for it to become the updated center of what we have here at Seymour’s Little Shop.

Facebook and other social media are terrific, in their own ways. The big thing, and I believe we all know, is that it really doesn’t belong to us either. Not when things like algorithms and other methods of monetization are in place to control what we see and who we see.

At least here at this site, you know what you see is placed here by us and you can see whatever it is we put on the site because there is no algorithm. Only my clumsy hands and intention to make this look and feel like I want it to.

One of the first things you’ll notice that I changed is that up at the top of the site you’ll notice a dropdown menu that brings you the options of ebooks, audiobooks, and online shopping. In the background of everything here at Seymour’s we are constantly working on ways to bring stories to you in every way we can. Some people prefer paper, others electronic, and some prefer to listen. Maybe you can do all of them like I am with the current 4 books that I am reading or in the midst of listening to.

This little shop is a place where we want you to feel honestly and wholeheartedly welcomed, but also a place where if you want a story, we are going to do are darndest to get that story to you. So, here through our physical store, or one of our affiliate links, you have the options of getting stories any way you want.

Electronic, Paper, Audio, and soon maybe even an actual person reading to you. (With obvious exceptions :P)

But outside of just how you enjoy your stories, we want you to have the chance to shop any way you want. In person is great because I get to see you all and ask a million questions about what you are reading and what you have liked. Sometimes that isn’t really possible and staying home and warm beneath a blanket is better. Now you can shop online and still support our store. I’ve mentioned it before via Facebook and other posts, but I’m trying to centralize it to make it even easier.

The correct story in your hand at the correct time is what we care about. All of this supports us and most importantly, it supports your love of stories, just like ours. So, please shop as you feel best. With everything going on in this world, there is little that can’t be cured by reading.

Trust me.

Every person has gone through things in their lives no matter how large or small. Reading provides one of the few escapes where it’s you, it’s quiet, and you can find yourself in a different place at a different time.

Here at our shop, we welcome everyone with a big hello and a warm smile. Come on in and join us. There are more stories to tell than there is time. 😀