Unexpected Treasures

As both a reader and a writer, I enjoy spending time in book stores and libraries. This year some of my reader/writer friends and I went on two Used Book Store Tours. If you haven’t been on a Used Book Store Tour, I encourage you to take one. We spent an entire day in a specific area exploring all of the Used Book Stores in that area. It was a fun and exciting adventure.

The store, where I took the above photo, had four floors of books. As we explored each floor, we found the history section and one of my friends asked me, “Are you still interested in the Old West time period?”

I replied, “I certainly am.”

So, he showed me a book he had discovered, and I quickly asked if I could take a look at it. He handed it to me and I sat in an old wooden rocking chair to peruse the pages. Not only did I find the book fascinating, but the illustrations were unique, and the most exciting thing was that there were two newspaper clippings tucked inside the front cover.

The book is about Virginia City in the 1860s and 1870s. The newspaper clippings were also about Virginia City – one from 1997 and the other from 2004. I was so excited as my mind started to consider the treasure I held in my hands.

At the checkout counter, I feared the clerk may confiscate the newspaper clippings, but to my joy and relief, he didn’t.

Now, I eagerly await the opportunity to sit down and read this book and these clippings, as I know a story idea will form in my mind. I will learn of interesting characters from history, a city I don’t know anything about, the history about that city – not just Old West history, but even a bit of more recent history, thanks to those newspaper clippings, and who knows what kind of story will begin to form in my head.

In another used book store on that same day, I found a book about a particular group of military men from a period in history, and as I read the inside of the dust jacket, the idea for a story pricked my brain.

This delightful experience taught me something I hadn’t considered before – a book store isn’t just a place for the reader in me. It’s also a wonderful place for the writer in me to find treasures that will lead me to my next story.

In the past, I have always gravitated to the historical fiction section of a book store or library. Now, I know to also check out the nonfiction history section. Not only can I learn something about history, but I may find my next story idea in a history book upon those shelves.

We plan to do more Used Book Store Tours in 2020 and I can’t wait to see what treasures I find on those tours.

Kelly F. Barr lives in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. She is married and has three sons. She writes historical romance. She has also been a blogger for ten years, and every Friday, you can find her Flash Fiction stories posted for your reading pleasure. She loves her family, including the family dog, books, walks, and chai lattes.

You can find her online at:

Website: https://kellyfbarr.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kellyb_26

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