In this new instalment of our 5 questions with series, we interview Stacy Batchelor and Kristin Olsen, the owners of Fable Book Parlour. Located in Revelstoke, B.C., Fable is dedicated to carrying a wide and diverse selection of carefully curated new & used books, gifts, vinyl records, and music accessories.

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

Tough question! We can't pick just one.… Since there are two of us, we reckon a top three is in order: Jane Austen, Douglas Adams, or Louisa May Alcott. Can you imagine the discussions we could have?!

2. What attracted you to bookselling?

We love talking about books! Literature is such a great way to connect with people and when the only bookstore in town closed, we teamed up, dreamt up our ideal bookstore, and brought it to life!

3. What's the toughest time you’ve had as a bookseller and how did you tackle it or what did you take away from it?

I'd say our toughest time was starting up in the uncertainty of the pandemic. Our town is built around tourism, and people weren't really travelling at that time (we opened Spring 2021). The silver lining was that we learned we have enough local support to make our business successful and once tourism took off again it was fun to get busier and busier.

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

The most pressing thing affecting bookselling today continues to be big box stores undercutting pricing. We are so lucky to live in a town where people really value supporting local businesses, but our biggest competition (particularly in this penny-pinching time of inflation) continues to be Amazon and the like. We are also ever curious about how sustainability fits into the world of bookselling. Production and sourcing of books along with shipping and climate costs are topics we want to see brought to the forefront of discussion amongst Canadian distributors and booksellers.

5. What forthcoming book are you most excited about?

Another impossible question! So many titles to be excited about. To pick two: One: Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder by Salman Rushdie. Rushdie's writing is magical and poignant — reading his reflections post personal attack is sure to be both interesting and evocative. Two: The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley. There is much buzz surrounding this genre bending debut! We are eagerly awaiting its release to see how she can pull together genres ranging from sci-fi to historical fiction, romance to mystery.

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?

We would recommend The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery. Heartfelt and philosophical, this book appeals to those who are patient and reflective (read: Proust and embroidery) and also beautifully deals with tough topics for anyone experiencing the loss of a loved one. This title will leave tears in your eyes and a smile on your face.

Thank you Stacy and Kristin 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!