A Ghost on a Hill

There are few things that I absolutely love but simultaneously give me anxiety, one of which is reading.

One issue I've always struggled with is finishing a marvousl book/book series & being able to move on from it. I believe this is referred to as a Book Hangover & I couldn't agree more because that is exactly what it feels like. The last book I read, The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, wrapped me up in a wonderful world of magic, light romance, engaging characters, & a wicked twist every few chapters. The Night Circus easily became one of my all time favorite books.

But, moving on from it? No, don't think I will. You want me to go into the numerous bookstores & read the back of every book & cause myself even more anxiety? Ha, no thank you. Couldn't be me. I have no direction or inkling of what to read next & will be avoiding the bookshops thus far. Thanks.

Well, that is what I thought anyways. In the city that I live there is a district referred to as the Cargo District. The Cargo District is exactly what it sounds like, numerous cargo containers coexisting in one area. Those cargo containers not only functions as homes for people but also as local businesses, this community is one of the purest I've ever known. They're very supportive of one another & typically hold events where they gather & create a sort of "walk through" of the businesses they have to offer. One particular day a indie book store was featured on a instagram page that I follow, it was going to be at one of the events, but I-uh, well I missed it.

Okay, listen, it was a saturday & I had been up late drinking & playing D&D with my friends the night before. Okay? I overslept, just a little bit, & the indie book store left a little early because it was raining. Malum consilium quod mutari non potest.

Moving on, a week & a few days passed & the 2 year birthday of a local coffee shop arrived. The coffee shop, Social Coffee & Supply Co. (@socialcoffeesupply on Instagram), was throwing a weekend event. Basically, they had a special latte & goodies that they didn't normally carry. It was also Valentines weekend, so how could I not go? Plus, Social is a wonderous coffee shop that is always bathed in sunlight with pretty art on it's walls.

Sorry, continuing the story. Okay, so I planned on going to the event but, a day or so before hand, Social announces that they are having a special guest in celebration. It was the indie book shop! When I tell you that I double check my alarms & message the two owners of the shop to ensure I wouldn't miss them, I'm not lying.

The Ghost Hill Press is not your typical indie book shop, or at least it is not what I think when I hear the words "indie shop". Anytime the word "indie" is used I can't help but picture the usual etsy girl who overcharges for items she finds at thrift stores because she bedazzled them or whatever. The girl who post pictures of her feet on the beach with a cheesy caption like "Sandy toes & salty kisses", right?

Wrong.

These two women, that also happen to be sisters, are both down to earth, intelligent, & friendly book lovers that most likely don't post a photo of a ice coffee that is mainly creamer & extra caramel with a caption like "Need more Caffeine!". Like, tell me you don't like coffee WITHOUT telling me you don't like coffee.

Sorry, let me refocus. The two sisters that created Ghost Hill Press, Pam & Kimberly, are real people with a real love of books. They are also incredibly brilliant! Pam has not one but two master degrees in Gothic Literature & Publishing Studies. (I didn't even know you could get a degree in those!) & Kimberly, has a Ph.D. in Modern History, is an educator, & is a Podcaster. Not to be overlooked: they also lived in Scotland & experienced some of the most independently creative & one of a kind bookshops.

You can find these two brilliant woman over on Instagram @GhostHillPress & their personal account are most likely linked somewhere on the page. Side Note: Can we talk about how badass their name is, Ghost Hill Press. Just think about it for a second, the way it feels to say & then look at their logo. A skeleton hand holding a lantern? Definitely gives me gothic european vibes, maybe during the plague. I digress, it's a badass name no matter the direction you look at it. Maybe, just maybe, I am partial because I also have press in my name. Who knows.

They take the anxiety out of finding your next book obsession by aiding you in the process. I filled out a short survey to which they used to find 1-2 books that matched a few of the items that I wrote on the said survey, & they also provided a short summary of each of the books. They walk through the book finding process with you, they listen, they adapt, & they offered relevant bookish advice.

(The flowers in the photo are from Serendipity, a local floral shop that specializes in events, mainly weddings I believe.)

Happy to say that I not only took this picture but also posted it all within the same week. A step in the direction of romanticizing my daily life until I'm living the life I've always dreamt.

See you guys later,

-Arrivederci-