Ok, so technically, summer doesn't start until the end of June — but it's Michigan, and we're the kings of looking at "summer" as being the road-construction period between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Let's see what the warm-weather months have in store for, uh, the store.
Schedule
This year, our summer schedule seems to be a bit more predictable. As always, check our online calendar for specific hours by day, as they may be subject to change with little notice. (Hey, I'm a one-man shop here!)
During the week of Memorial Day, we're closed on Monday (for the holiday) and Friday (for a weekend writing retreat on Lake Erie).
We close Friday, June 20, and do not reopen until Monday, July 7. This two-week "summer vacation" actually accommodates a five-day vacation Out West, plus a business trip to Minneapolis, plus the Independence Day holiday.
We do not anticipate any other closings through the end of the summer.
Inventory
We are taking the slow boat on our inventory swap. We switched systems in the late winter, but progress on updating SKUs has been delayed because of some non-bookstore-related obligations.
But we're still working on it! Cade should be back in the office starting this week, which will help immensely.
And if you haven't seen the newest addition to our crafting shelves, you really should. Local artist Riley Woodwyk has made several small prints, and a bunch of hand-drawn stickers, available for purchase. And he takes commissions!
Special Events
We've got some treats planned for you!
First, our Book Club event for June is a little different. The assigned text is Warwick Schiller's The Principles of Training. Ostensibly a manual for training horses, it's actually one of the best and most accessible human-psych texts I've read in a very long time. Book Club will not meet in the bookstore, however — we'll be at the barn, where we can talk about the book then explore some of the lessons in the round pen with Jason's horse, Tyr, and Cade's geldings, Oliver and Kodiak. (And then, we'll head to the nearby Berlin Fair for some country-style fun.) Space is limited; if you'd like to join, please contact us to get on the list.
On Saturday, July 26, we'll host the Summer Writers' Conference. This one-day event, delivered by the West Michigan Author Alliance, will include the TNT awards from the 2024 season. More details to come!
Keep your eye on our calendar. We still offer our Salon program on Wednesday evenings. Every other week is open-floor writing — no cost or RSVP required; just drop in, write, and edit in peace. The "other" every-other week flips between Book Club and Craft Night. On Craft Night, we socialize while knitting, sewing, leatherworking, or painting.
Thank you for your patronage and your support. We wish you the very best of happiness and health for Summer 2025!
