Independent Book Store Day is just around the corner! Thanks to the pandemic, it was moved from its traditional date in the spring to August 29. If you’re like me, you love seeking out quaint little bookshops and often the best ones can be found in small towns.
Wild Geese Bookshop, which opened in 2016, is nestled into the downtown area of Franklin, Indiana. The store gets its name from a poem of the same name by author Mary Oliver.
Owner Tiffany Phillips, who still works as an attorney during the day in the space above the shop, told Book Riot in an interview that her daughter was the one who encouraged her to take the leap and open the bookshop after they moved to Franklin in 2015.
“I COULDN’T NOT DO IT WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS WATCHING. I WANTED HER TO SEE ME, A WOMAN IN THIS TIME, START A BUSINESS. IT WAS SO IMPORTANT TO ME THAT SHE SAW THAT,” she said in the interview.
When you walk in the store, which is currently only letting shoppers in by appointment only due to the pandemic, you feel like you’re in a happy place. There’s a fun room filled with children’s materials as well as gifts and other curiosities that give the shop a sense of community and uniqueness.
The store is only 500 square feet, but there’s still so much to choose from and Phillips has one of the biggest hearts in the community.
If you don’t see something you want, they can always order it for you!
Phillips also told Book Riot having a diverse collection on the store shelves is very important to her.
“I WANT PEOPLE WHO WOULD NEVER STEP INTO A TRADITIONAL BOOKSTORE BE ABLE TO FIND FAITH [BOOKS] HERE. AND I WANT PEOPLE WHO WOULD NEVER STEP INTO A FAITH BOOKSTORE TO BE SURPRISED. […] IT’S IMPORTANT TO ME THAT BOOKS ABOUT GOD AND SOCIAL JUSTICE ARE NOT FAR APART”
Wild Geese turns four on November 6th. Check out their Facebook page for all the special events they have going on and for information on their book clubs.
Make sure you get out or virtually support your local independent booksellers for Independent Bookstore day on Saturday, August 29, 2020. If you don’t live in the Indianapolis area but are looking for other bookstores to support during the pandemic, check out this post of Five Bookstores to Support During Quarantine.
Happy reading!
