I know… I’ve completely neglected this blog.
The last time I sat down and actually wrote something on here was back in November. Then Christmas happened, inventory happened, baking happened, life happened… and somehow spring showed up before I even realized I’d stopped writing.
But there’s one thing from April I keep thinking about, and honestly, it felt like the perfect reason to finally sit back down at the keyboard again.
About a month ago, we had the incredible honor of hosting Kim Michele Richardson at The Kentucky Bookstore.
And what a day that was.
Sometimes I still have to stop and remind myself that this little bookstore inside Tastefully Delicious is real. What started as an idea tucked into a corner of our store has slowly turned into something alive… shelves full of Kentucky stories, readers who come in weekly to see what’s new, customers who now bring friends and family in, and now nationally known authors sitting right here in downtown Lawrenceburg signing books.
That’s pretty amazing when I really stop and think about it.
Kim Michele Richardson’s visit honestly felt special from the minute she walked through the door. The store was full of excitement all day. Readers lined up with stacks of books, people were talking about characters like they were old friends, and everywhere you turned somebody was saying, “I LOVED that book.” And I get it.
Her books have a way of getting into your heart. They’re deeply Appalachian, deeply Kentucky, and full of strong characters that stay with you long after you finish the last page. You can feel the mountains in her writing. You can feel the hardship, the resilience, the pride, and the beauty of this region.
And her newest book, The Mountains We Call Home… wow.
There’s just something about that title alone that hits you if you’re from Kentucky. It feels familiar before you even open the cover. Then once you start reading, you’re pulled right into the story in the way only Kim can do.
Watching customers leave with signed copies and huge smiles on their faces reminded me exactly why independent bookstores matter. These moments matter. Meeting authors matters. Conversations matter. Discovering stories written about places that feel like home matters.
And Kim herself could not have been more gracious or kind. That means a lot to me. Sometimes successful people can feel untouchable, but she made every single reader feel welcome and appreciated. Those are the kinds of events that people remember for years.
Now here we are already heading toward summer, and I can feel that exciting bookstore season starting up again. Spring has finally settled into Kentucky. Main Street is getting busier. Flowers are blooming. People are out walking again. And we’re getting ready for another full season of Saturday book signings here at the bookstore.
Honestly, I think our summer author events may be becoming one of my favorite parts of this whole adventure.
There’s something so special about a Saturday afternoon in a small Kentucky bookstore… readers browsing shelves, authors sharing stories, conversations happening all over the room, signed books stacked on tables, and people discovering writers they may never have found online.
That’s the magic of independent bookstores.
And around here, we’re just getting started.
– Gail