Morganton Moms is all about connecting our local community. We want local businesses to thrive here in Burke County. Adventure Bound Books will open its doors for the first time on June 23 to welcome in local bibliophiles of all ages. Morganton book store owner, Angela Shores, is passionate about spreading a love for reading and literacy in our community. I had the joy of sitting down with her recently to chat about books, inspiring young readers and her new store.
P.S. READ TO THE END FOR SOME EXCITING NEWS!!!
Angela has a professional background in mental health counseling and is a former university professor. She is the mother of two daughters and has lived in Morganton for 8 years. Enjoy our conversation!
Was this always a dream to have your own bookstore?
Angela: Yeah, in retirement, but then I thought, “Why wait?”…I wanted a bookstore in town and thought surely I’m not alone.
All time favorite book across any genre/level?
Angela: I just got through putting together my Top 10 list and that was really hard to put just ten on there. A favorite from my childhood would have been Anne of Green Gables, the whole series, loved them. I’ve fallen in love with so many books since then. I didn’t read Harry Potter until my mid-thirties and so I very much loved those books. I think I was able to appreciate them better reading them older.
Top 5 favorite authors?
Angela: J.K. Rowling, Victoria Schwab (A Darker Shade of Magic), Pierce Brown (Red Rising Trilogy), Amor Towles (A Gentleman in Moscow) I don’t want to leave anyone off by picking a fifth one! It’s really hard to pick that fifth one!
What is your vision for a new bookstore in this community?
Angela: I want to connect with the people of this community. I want to connect with individuals and families. I want it to not just be a place people come to buy books or book related things. We want to do programming. We are doing some youth events. We are partnering with Sketch to do a Book/Art Club. We are partnering with Me, You, & Some Glue to do some crafty book things. I’ve had some top secret conversations with another collaborator. I want to be able to collaborate and offer things for families. I had someone volunteer who wants to do a bilingual story time. I want to be able to reach out to diverse parts of the community. I want to be here and be something that is part of the community longterm.
That brings me to my next question, how do you see this bookstore as playing a part in literacy in our community?
Angela: I want to be a part of literacy and increasing literacy, and I haven’t put my finger on the ways that I can do that yet. In general, having a bilingual story time and expanding people’s access. Finding partners and seeing the need and how to have new ideas to address that.
What is one recommendation to parents for getting their kids to read?
Angela: Be patient. Put lots of different kind of books in front of them. J.K. Rowling and James Patterson. It’s not that kids or adults don’t like reading, it’s they just haven’t found the right book. I think that’s true with kids as they figure out what they like to read and how they like to access that material. Give them access to things like graphic novels, audiobooks or short stories. Anything that can propel them to a love of reading later on. Unlimited, no-pressure reading time is critical.
Tell me about the opening events for the store!
Angela: Opening day is on June 23rd. We’re having a Grand Opening. We’ll have facepainting from 11:00-12:30. A ribbon cutting and bookmark making later in the afternoon.
Interviewer’s Note: Angela and I kind of went in a million directions at this point because book lovers are gonna talk! We had to work out some details because Adventure Bound Books is partnering with Morganton Moms for a bit of summer reading goodness!
Are you a mom who loves to read? Does mommy brain have you missing out on reading good books? How about you join us this summer in making reading a priority? Truly the best way to develop a love of reading in our kids is for them to see us loving to read.
That leads me to some FUN BIG NEWS! Morganton Moms is issuing a 3 in 3 Summer Reading Challenge for moms. For the months of July, August and September choose a fiction, non-fiction and a book you love and want to reread. That’s one book a month – two chances to discover a new treasure and one chance to fall back in love with an old favorite.
Angela at Adventure Bound Books is is offering a 5% off your entire purchase coupon for anyone who participates!!! How fun is that? 5% off your whole purchase of books and other fun bookstore goodies like bookmarks by Kyle Joy Buttram (you may have seen her phenomenal watercolors and wood prints at the Morganton Farmer’s Market –swoon!) What a great way to support the new bookstore and get your read on!
If you want in on this the 3 in 3 Summer Reading Challenge head over to the 3 in 3 Summer Reading Challenge Google Form to sign-up! You will receive an email confirming your participation in the challenge and information on how to take advantage of the Adventure Bound Books participants coupon. SIGN-UP will CLOSE on JUNE 30th.
NOTE: Morganton Moms does not sell or use your information for any other purposes. The form is simply to confirm your participation in the challenge.
Y’all, I was in Adventure Bound Books a couple of weeks ago for this interview and I can already tell it’s going to be a special place. I am ready for a visit with fully stocked shelves. The book lover in me can hardly wait!