#wigtownbookfestival

[theopenbookwigtown]

A busy second day at The Open Book! I opened from just after 10 and after a quiet start, things really picked up around lunchtime.

A lot of people were visiting the area yesterday and popped in to look for books by local authors. If I didn't have what they were looking for, I sent them down the road to The Bookshop, The Old Bank Bookshop or Well-Read Books.

I sold books on how to be right, Victorian prophets, nature and freelancing as a journalist (I wonder who bought that one...) before breaking for a late lunch at Café Rendezvous. The salad was 10/10.

After lunch, I took a trip to Well-Read books (my neighbour!) and marvelled at their crime selection, as well as Number 11 is Wigtown Festival Company's book and gift shop.

Customers: 20

Takings: £31.85

Outgoings: 5 books, apple and caramel cake

Currently reading: Preloved by Lauren Bravo (finished last night,) The Glass Cliff by Sophie Williams

[robynqueenofstuff]

Paid a trip to Wigtown a few days ago and came back with a few goodies 🤗 #wigtownbookfestival #bookstagram #books #bookscavenging #circe #neverwhere #ivanhoe #thespooksapprentice https://www.instagram.com/p/B8jwxfhh-ZT/?igshid=1c83vu4cjs7l1

[theopenbookwigtown]

There's a fake book hiding amongst our shelves... can you help to find it?

This Thursday from 7pm, come by The Open Book for cheese, wine and book-hunting

Spread the word and I hope to see you tomorrow!

[theopenbookwigtown]

Good morning! The Open Book is open for my first day as a bookseller

I'm Izzy, a journalist from London. I love books (surprise surprise) especially literary fiction, biographies, graphic memoirs, cosy crime and books about film, fashion and music

I interview a lot of authors as part of my job, especially for my Substack newsletter Mixed Messages – https://mixedmessages.substack.com/

Hope to see you over the next week in The Open Book!

[theopenbookwigtown]

Day 3 at The Open Book was another quiet morning, so I scoured the shelves and pulled out some books I didn't see first-time round. I've restocked my display of books by authors of colour and tidied up the nature shelves.

I headed over to Creetown's Gem Rock museum at lunchtime, which is well worth a visit. A collection amassed by one family over 90 years, there's a lot to marvel at. If only someone wanted to buy me one of those diamonds...

On the way back, I browsed some of Wigtown's bookstores. I popped into Foggie Toddle books and loved hearing about the books they publish, as well as seeing a display of books on Black beauty and history.

I also headed to The Bookshop, where I nearly got lost in the maze of shelves and rooms, and finally browsed the shelves at Old Bank Bookshop. Normally I get too deep into conversation with Joyce and Ian, who are great!

To end the day we hosted a cheese and wine night at the shop – thank you to everyone that came. We didn't quite find the fake book, but we had a great evening chatting about local goings-on, where we've all lived and worked over our lives and - gasp - politics. Don't worry though, it didn't get argumentative!

Customers: 1 Takings: £0 Outgoings: An angelite stone, an onyx camel, more books Currently reading: The Glass Cliff by Sophie Williams

[theopenbookwigtown]

What a first day at The Open Book! I opened from 10-1, picking out some books from the shelves to plan my window display. It was a wet, rainy day so footfall was slow, but it meant I got to crack on with some work (arranging interviews, making TikToks, planning my next article) in these beautiful surroundings.

At lunch I headed to ReadingLasses and got the goats cheese, apple and honey sandwich – I think I had the best seat in the house, surrounded by books. There were some interesting titles! But I loved seeing the focus on women authors and a diverse range of writers. I think it's so important to read experiences outside of our own to better understand the world.

On my way back to the shop I stopped into New Chapter Books. At first I thought it was a small shop, then I saw the back room – wow! That coffee table is on my wishlist now. I also loved their display of things found in secondhand books, from photos to tickets, leaves to love letters.

The day ended with a double rainbow and chips and mushy peas from The Frying Scotsman while I watched Married At First Sight UK: The Reunion. Perfect.

Customers: 2

Takings: Pounds, zero. Experience, priceless

Outgoings: Eight books, a leaflet, a letter opener and a gilet for my goddaughter

Currently reading: Preloved by Lauren Bravo, Backstory Issue 1

[theopenbookwigtown]

Day 9

Last day for me at the Open Book ... the weather is appropriate: miserable, grey, rainy with nasty gushes of wind. But inside the Bookshop it is cosy and warm and people are out and about (and come in) despite the weather. Actually, some of them came in just to warm up.

I am surprised how popular the history-section at the shop is and customers buy too. It must have been the best-sold genre over the past two weeks.

Again, several locals I got to know during my stay here came in today to say good-bye and wish me a safe journey home. They really are the sweetest! Thank you Anne, Joyce, Rosie, David and last but not least Ruth for taking care of me during my stay in their lovely town and for making it an unforgettable adventure. Caroline

Ich bin ein Wigtowner!

Customers: 15

Books sold: 5

Till: 10,50 £

[theopenbookwigtown]

Day 8

The day started easy with coffee at cafe Rendezvous and a chat with Ruth from Well-Read Books and as soon as I opened up the shop, people started to come in. Very different genres went over the counter today, from crime, theology, music, travel, classics and sports to history and in the end today turned out to be the best day so far.

I also wrapped some more of the surprise books which is great fun. However, it is not that easy to find a short description without giving away too much!

Farewell already lingers in the air and several locals popped in to say good-bye since tomorrow will be my last day at the Open Book. I won't be packing yet nor will I think about my departure until the last possible moment. So ... talk to you tomorrow.

Customers: 14

Books sold: 13

Till: 45 £

[theopenbookwigtown]

Finally!

As soon as I read about the concept of the open book in Wigtown I applied. Now, 5 years, 1 ferry, 2 trains, 2 airplanes and 4 busses later I am finally here. And I am already in love. Due to the Christmas season customers are somewhat scarce and sales are slow, but that was to be expected. Yesterday was only my first day and I needed it to settle in and have a proper look at the bookshop. Joyce from the Old Bank Bookshop came in with some information for me, so did Rosie from the Wigtown Book Festival office, then Ruth from Well-Read Books next door came in to say hello and Ben from the Bookshop Band with his sweet daughter Amie passed by and stopped for a little chat. The Wigtown residents are really as welcoming and kind as everyone says/writes here.

To round the first day off, I was lucky enough to spot the Fish and Chips truck next to the Christmas tree on the town square and was rewarded with a tasty meal. An excellent start into a long-awaited adventure.

[theopenbookwigtown]

Welcome!

[theopenbookwigtown]

Last Day: Goodbye to The Open Book

Visitors: 106 Books Found: 10 (8 fiction!) Tally: £32 Our Week: £197.50

Our last day was a short one, we didn’t get back from Kirkcudbright until 12:30! We were happy to have seen highland dancing and the marching Pipe Band at the Scottish night, and also to visit our family. Ruth said it wasn’t busy in the morning, and later, Andy at the Emporium explained that afternoons usually are busier as people coming to Wigtown do so when they are heading somewhere else. He and I chatted about product placement, as his shop is beautifully set up. He said almost all the books he sells are in a bin outside the shop on the sidewalk. If we were staying I’d be tempted to carry the kitchen cart outside and fill it up as an experiment. Maybe the next booksellers! I might have bought some curios from Andy if I wasn’t worried they’d break in transit. He had several lovely porcelain collie dog statues, but none with a paw raised like the one in my story “The Dog I Loved”. About £23.

Another two surprise books went. Yes, to young women. And two books we had displayed: an illustrated Aesop’s Fables and Starting Over Scottish.

I forgot to mention that yesterday the postal delivery person came in. She was glad the shop was open and she delivered a package. I was thrilled to receive three new books (preview copies) from an independent publisher with a letter addressed to “Dear Bookseller”….put the books on the shelf right away. Ruth got them too.

Michael did a great job cleaning up the place. “Hoovering”.

A wee little girl came in and fell in love with a stuffed dog that was sitting on the chair. She carried it around and kissed it constantly. When her mum tried to take it away she toddled fast into the book shelves. Finally, I said, you can buy it for two pounds. Granny paid up. I suggested to Mum she wash it in a pillowcase in the machine.

Just as our day was ending we found the fake book (whew). We hid it again, but we also put a note for the next booksellers with instructions where to find the location IF they cannot spot it. I was so afraid we’d go home without ever finding it.

Our week here has been lovely. It was the second day before we realized there wasn’t a television in the flat, and we didn’t miss it at all. We’ve been reading and walking and sleeping in. We will miss Wigtown and the shop and hope to come and visit again someday. Thank you to everyone who has been so kind to us.

[theopenbookwigtown]

Day Two: Marketing Pays Off

Visitors: 47  Books sold: 26  Tally: 70.50

This morning we worked on our displays. Michael moved the Trains display to a smaller window and inside, hiding some ugly boxes on the floor. I had an idea for a “Who Needs Google?” window display, with books about how to. Some funny ones “how to walk in high heels” (Fiction) and “20 ways to cook minced meat” (non-fiction) and some serious. Also wrapped books which I curated. My criteria: general interest, and some illustrations. Something you could leave in a guest room or an Air BnB. Or by the toilet (but don’t!) Called them surprise books or blind date books. Take a chance!

To our surprise 8 plain-wrapped books were sold. Mostly young women buying them. With no indication of subject except fiction or non-fiction. Also, the mince meat book from the window sold. And a very busy day. So – marketing pays off.

We want to put some children’s books at eye level tomorrow. Had some wee ones in today. And two dogs had treats from the jar.

Thinking of Shaun’s 7 types you meet in a bookshop, we had a gentleman who bought two books, Faulkner and Heroic Plays. He was a buttoned-up type, with a small beard. Seemed annoyed we did not take card nor have any inkling of where the cash machine was. (We now know it’s up the street a bit.) He went off to get money. His brother-in-law told us our buyer was a professor at Oxford, and that he loaned him the 20 pounds he gave us.

Another guy (Specialist?) bought several heavy books on invertebrates and fresh-water algae. Finally, we spoke with a man who bought “England Without Richard” and explained to us how Richard-the-Lionhearted gets all the good press, but he was an absent King (not even buried on British soil) and how King John gets a bad rap. He was pretty passionate about it, and we assured him we would let everyone know the truth. Now you know.

Dinner was take-away haddock suppers from The Frying Scotsman. Excellent!

[theopenbookwigtown]

Sunday Fun Day

Arrived Wigtown through gorgeous Scottish scenery. First time we Canadians drove on the left! Can’t wait to open the shop tomorrow. One window display for Shaun B. And a wee display for the UCI events. Love the flat. Our plan is an author reading Friday at 4 pm. Authors can sign up. Jill writes short stories that are published in literary magazines. Hope others will come read their prose and poetry. Michael and Jill

[theopenbookwigtown]

Friday at The Open Book was a really lovely day – there were lots of customers visiting the area, and while I didn't always have what they wanted (One Day is popular at the moment, for obvious reasons!) others did find something else that tickled their fancy.

I headed out to lunch at ReadingLasses (I can't seem to stay away) and got the broccoli soup and a brownie – they really are famous for a reason. While I was there I met a lovely woman who is opening a chocolate shop nearby – check out OmeTeotl to find out when she'll start selling her artisan cocoa!

On my way back, I stopped into The Wigtown Emporium and loved exploring the three rooms for treasure. I couldn't leave without taking home a bronze camel, and I seriously love the elephant – not sure where I'd put it in my one-bed flat in London though! There's plenty to see so I really recommend a visit.

That evening, I headed to the Newton Stewart cinema to see Wicked Little Letters. Again, I really recommend checking out what's showing if you're in the area and spending an evening in the cinema's grand surroundings. If you can handle a bit (a lot) of blue language, I also suggest seeing this remarkable and hilarious true story.

Customers: 13

Takings: £10.50

Outgoings: Bronze camel, locally-made soap, a magnet and yes, some books

Currently reading: The Glass Cliff by Sophie Williams (finished), Small Worlds by Caleb Azumah Nelson

[theopenbookwigtown]

Day 7

I have not read as much recently as over the last 10 days. It gets dark shortly after 4 pm and since all bookshops close at 4 during the winter months, there is not much else to do than read. No distraction, no tv, e-mails, phone calls or similar. Snug up in the cosy apartment upstairs and read. Pure bliss!

Something I notice here is that people laugh a lot, they seem to have a natural sense of humour and do like to banter each other. To me as an outsider they just seem a bit more content and joyful than people elsewhere, which is beautiful to see. Chatted with a couple of locals this morning and appreciate that they recognize me and I even got invited to an open-house later today which I am looking forward to, before I hold my own little event in the Open Book at 7 pm. Oh, and I found the fake book in the bookshop too! Happy day!

Customers: 23

Books sold: 11

Till: 30,50 £

[theopenbookwigtown]

Day 6

Actually, it is day 9 of my stay here but to avoid confusion I do not count the Christmas days and just continue in chronological order.

I did open the shop on Christmas Eve morning, the town was already quiet but, lo and behold, two customers came in and I sold 3 books, last-minute Christmas gifts. Yay!

On Christmas day and Boxing day, David from the Wigtown Festival Company very kindly took me on a tour to the other side of the estuary and through The Machars. The weather was great and the scenery just breathtaking ... so much to take in. I I was very lucky to have such a knowledgeable guide.

Today, Wednesday, I was very much looking forward to opening the bookshop again. After having turned the lights on, I took down the dry Christmas wreath, vacuumed the window display, then dashed to Cafe Rendez-vous to get a coffee to go and was ready to go, a.k.a. sell. The weather was miserable, gray and very rainy but people were out and about and I got a few customers. Most of them were people from other places - as far away as Liverpool - who had spent the Christmas days with family in the Wigtown area.

Tomorrow at 7 pm I am going to hold a little speech/chat in the Open Book about my life on a tiny, traffic-free island in the north sea, which is quite different from life on the main land. Looking forward to that.

Customers today: 8

Books sold: 1

Till: 2 £