Not Your Typical Bookstore
By: M.T. Decker Photos By: Josh Triggs Located at 18 N. Main Street in Boonsboro, Maryland, “Turn the Page” is anything but your typical bookstore. Family owned and operated for 21 years, Turn the Page is an independent bookstore, with strong ties to the community of Boonsboro. Owned and operated by Bruce Wilder, the bookstore focuses on novels by Nora Roberts/J.D. Robb; but, they also carry books by local authors and books about local historical sites. The store includes custom printed ‘green’ cards, Nora Roberts related souvenirs and collectibles. They also support local businesses and artisans selling scented oils, soaps and soy candles that have been specifically designed for their customers, or based on Nora Roberts’ characters. The people at Turn the Page’ have worked hard to build a relationship not only with the town of Boonsboro, but with Nora Roberts fans world wide. When I arrived at the bookstore, they were in the process of getting ready for a book signing, one of the six they hold every year. This book signing event marks their 9th annual book signing, and people have been coming from all over the country to connect, not only with their favorite authors, but with other book lovers.”It’s a low key weekend,” Janeen Solberg, manager of Turn the Page explains. People will come early, opt to stay in the area and make a vacation of it. “With the shops and local historical sites, there is never a lack of something to do. Some visitors opt to stay at the Inn Boonsboro and will visit historical sites in nearby Shepherdstown, Harper’s Ferry and Antietam. The store itself is welcoming, and the staff is quick to greet customers. The first thing I noticed when I walked in was the scent of honeysuckle, combined with patchouli, fresh coffee and new books. The scents help to create something magical that you can only get in a small, family run shop. This atmosphere only serves to enhance the experience. That feeling, that sense of connection, is something you can only get in a physical book store and it is something the folks at ‘Turn the Page’ are very proud of. Janeen admits that connection is something they’ve worked hard to establish, both in the store and online, through their Facebook page and website. Their Facebook page is active and between it, Nora’s blog, and newsletters, there is a relationship that makes ‘Turn the Page’ more than just a book store. It is part of the community not only on-line, but in Boonsboro itself. “It’s not uncommon for customers to come in and resume a conversation they started on-line,” she...
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