Welcome to Woodlander Books!
So thrilled to be writing this and to be welcoming you to our brand new shop.
Woodlander is an idea that has been rolling around in my head for the past ten years.
Ten years ago, my son was 6 years old. We were together just getting used to Grade One and to him being out of the house and away from me for hours at a time. Having been at home for six years raising him full time, I was still a newish mom who finally had a bit of time to think about life, outside of my domestic roles.
Being from an entrepreneurial family, I have always wanted to have my own shop. It’s in my blood. When I was younger, it was vintage clothes. In the 90s I was a DJ, so it was record shop, then a pool hall and always, there’d be coffee. But for the past ten years, I have nurtured this dream of owning a bookshop. Of being a Bookseller.
So, I got work in a local indie bookshop here in Vancouver. Banyen Books, also known as “Canada’s largest metaphysical bookstore” is a legend in its own time (52 years and counting). I wanted to learn the ropes, and I did for a time, but gone are the days when working as a clerk in a book store could pay the bills for a mom of a family of four - and with indie bookshops there’s not always room to move up, especially if people like working there and turnover is low (kudos to Banyen here!). So, after a few years I moved on and started another business with a partner in web design. We ran that successfully for seven years and it was good, but it was not a passion project. It didn’t light me up. And being at a computer all day was killer on my eyes and my back. It started to feel like it was time to move on to something new.
Ten years has gone by in a flash. My son has grown up and is often out with friends and needs me less and less, as it should be. My web business partner retired and left me woking solo. And I have been dreaming of Woodlander day in and day out. Literally, it’s been in my dreams.
I’ll tell you my vision.
Anyone read The Witches of New York? In this story a trio of witches end up together running a tea shop in New York. One of them reads tea leaves for all of the wealthy ladies in high society there. One of them has a pet raven named Perdu who is like the mascot of the shop. Then there’s the fireplace, the tea counter, lots of protections spells and oh, did I mention it’s 1880?
I see Woodlander like this. Once day there will be an old timey shop to come to, and tea leaf reader in the corner and lots of stuff bubbling in the cauldron. And there will be tea (well, maybe coffee actually) and there will be a fireplace and there will be a… cat. Though Perdu would be most welcome to visit. And of course, books. So many glorious books.
Until that time (I’m looking at a two year plan here in front of me folks), we have started this affiliate shop website to get the brand rolling and get to know you all. We are affiliated so far with Bookshop.org for US purchases and Amazon.ca for Canadian purchases. We will likely add to that as we go, (Abe Books, Indigo Books here we are!).
How to Use the Shop
Our shop is carefully curated. A lot of the books we have read, or want to read! They are not all the “newest thing”, in fact some are quite old. You never know what people have or have not come across in their journeys and we want to showcase the best of the best in all of our genres. Some books are classics, some are highly recommended, some we know by heart. Our niche is metaphysical, spiritual, self help, new age, psychology, health & wellness, alternative medicines and genre fiction. We strive for enchantment, in all things. You can read more about that mission and all about us here ☞
In the blog I’ll be writing about books, the shop, the vision and about living by the great Wheel of The Year. You may notice the shop tends to also be living by the Wheel, keeping us grounded and connected with the earth and the seasons.
I welcome your comments and helloos! if you’d like to be notified of future posts, you can sign up to our list on Substack here. You’ll also get our monthly newsletter, The Silver Branch, keeping you in touch with all things Woodlander.
When you purchase a book through our shop, we are paid a small percentage of that sale, for the most part. We do also feature favourites that can only be bought through their own websites. These are not affiliates and don’t generate any funds for us. We share here to support the writers and because we love what they do in the world.
All of your purchases help us towards our vision in one way or another. Thank you for supporting us! I look forward to meeting you and seeing you around the shop.
All the love,
Sky Bray, Founder
