A portion of the storefront of Wendel's Bookstore & Cafe

In this new instalment of our 5 questions with series, we interview Milena Raschpichler, Buyer and Manager at Wendel's Bookstore & Cafe.

Located in Fort Langley, B.C., a small, picturesque village, Wendel's Bookstore & Cafe offers a wide selection of new bestselling titles, greeting cards, fun gifts, and delicious eats and coffee.

1. Which author would you most like to have for an event in your store (living or dead)?

The first person to come to mind is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. I suspect that he would be the last to come to mind as well. I cannot envision a public event in a space as small as ours. It is an intimate and cozy setting better suited to a quiet evening gathering with a handful people over a cup of tea. Perhaps, once our doors close at 10 p.m. and the village of Fort Langley settles in for the night. As we navigate our way through our ever changing world, the world yearns for the wisdom and vision of this extraordinary man and all that he embodies.

2. What attracted you to bookselling?

Many years ago, when my daughters were very young, I would escape for a few hours to our local library. It was a quiet refuge for me and it felt as if I was entering a church every time I walked through the doors. A few years later, I applied at my favourite local bookstore for a part time position. It has been my privilege to have been an independent bookseller for the past 33 years. It is honourable profession. I believe I have the bestest job in the world. My employer allows me to love and care for this store as if it were my own. I hope that if you are reading these words, you feel much the same way about your store and your position in it.

3. What's your favourite bookselling war story?

I honestly cannot say that I have one. Each day is unique and whatever the issue or demand may be, we do our best to rise to the occasion.

4. What is the most pressing issue facing bookselling today?

I scanned some online articles as I considered that question. And I agree with so many of the pressing issues of the day regarding pricing and inflation, supply and demand, and employment issues. The first thing that comes to mind for me is perception. The perception that bookstores are at risk of disappearing. That the book, which is perfect in its design can be replaced by an alternate format … a digital one. Those perceptions are usually formed by non book lovers who speak those words loudly. People who believe in and espouse the virtues of technology. I am always surprised by those declarations because I encounter people who quietly celebrate and cherish the “book” in all of its perfection, on a daily basis. I do not imagine that those perceptions will ever change as AI evolves and social media holds sway.

5. What forthcoming book are you most excited about?

Doppleganger: A Trip into the Mirror World by Naomi Klein 🍁. She seems to put her finger on the pulse of society with the timely release of each of her books. From the description of this upcoming book … the content and timing seems prescient.

BONUS: An aunt comes in looking for a gift for her niece, who likes embroidery and Proust, just got a new job on a cruise line, and whose beloved schnauzer just passed away. What do you recommend

In a case like this one, I would consider something that would bring some sense of comfort and perhaps a moment of joy. The first item I would suggest is Cute Dogs to Needle Felt and then a Paperblanks journal and Proust in Search of Lost Time.

Thank you Milena for answering our questionnaire! Read more instalments of our 5 questions with series here.

Are you an independent bookseller, small publisher, or library staffer interested in being featured in our 5 questions with blog series? Send us an email!