"Someday, I'll Live Near An Independent Bookstore"

I thought I'd have to move--but instead--a miracle: Scout's Tales opens August 1st in downtown Arlington Heights.

This is behind the register, which was busy the whole time. YAY!!!

Tomorrow, a woman-owned, independent bookstore officially opens four miles from my house! This is a dream come true, and I was lucky enough to be invited to a sneak preview event last night, so I can state with confidence that life is about to get a whole lot better around here! I just learned about Scout’s Tales and met the owner, Dana, in June, so this has all happened super fast for me (not for Dana, as you may imagine)! And no, I can’t write this post with fewer exclamation marks because this kind of thing is what they are FOR!

So cozy, and love the book tree!

I was so excited to get inside that I forgot to take a photo from outside the store, but rest assured, I’ll get one tomorrow. Actually, I’m hoping it’ll be difficult because it’s so crowded with customers. And I believe it will be. Downtown Arlington Heights is a great location, and this whole area has been wanting a bookstore almost as much as I have. I say that only because I can’t imagine anyone wanting this more than me.

From the moment I walked in, I was welcomed and surrounded by others looking as moony-eyed as I, just wide smiles, and yes, some mouths open with wonder, one of them being mine. To the right of the entrance is a comfy sitting area with a gorgeous professional photo of the owner’s dogs, above a very cozy couch and a coffee table piled with books. The book tree immediately caught my eye and drew me over, where I remarked to someone how much I’d like one of these in my house. I wonder how many other people made that same remark last night. I definitely heard a few others over the course of the 90 minutes I was there.

I’d been so distracted by the book tree, that I had to circle back later to the left side of the entrance, where the “Staff Picks” were, and where I was engaged in conversation with the owner’s wonderful husband and son (I’m pretty sure) and walked away with two more books. Good thing they sell gorgeous canvas bags, and bonus that Dana had arranged for someone to embroider bags for free for everyone invited. I was filling mine already. I had no trouble at all finding more books as I wound my way through the store.

The store is gorgeous, and also sells things like cards, stickers, and other bookish fare. The children’s section is so cute, but was also where they were doing the embroidering operation, so I didn’t photograph it yet. Hoping to do that tomorrow as well and will add here, but wanted to get this out today. I also bought the softest t-shirt, not because I need another t-shirt, but because it was irresistibly soft and cute, and I am here to support Scout’s Tales in ALL THE WAYS!!!

Some of the fun stuff. There’s more—just hard to photograph with the crowd!

Speaking of supporting this bookstore: I know many of my readers don't live nearby and sadly, can’t visit Scout’s Tales in person easily. But if you’d like to help my new favorite bookstore get off to a great start, you can support them by using Bookshop and choosing their store. Here’s a link:

You can also support Scout’s Tales by listening to audiobooks on LibroFM here:

Now—for a super fun update/aside..When I first met Dana, my friend Courtney Maum’s book was just coming out, and I asked her if she’d heard about it. She hadn’t, yet, but I was thrilled to see she had Alan Opts Out on her shelves!

Courtney’s book all the way on the right.

Then, this morning, I saw the best news from Courtney Maum: Alan Opts Out has been bought and is being developed by HBO as a half-hour comedy!

Read all about it here:

A Good Friday, indeed

And buy Courtney Maum’s book using this link to support Scout’s Tales:

I ended up buying six books. I’ve already bought several online using the Bookshop link above, and I’m sure to buy many, many more. I’m excited for some other possibilities, including offering some free writing workshops and starting a writing club, so stay tuned for more information on that.

In the meantime, here’s my haul:

This post will be updated tomorrow with more on the opening, but for now, I hope you enjoy!

In the meantime, remember me like this, beaming with bookstore happiness, just after getting home from Scout’s Tales: