MEET OUR MEMBER: THE WANDERING ALBATROSS

“I've always dreamed of having a bookstore—I've pictured myself in one for as long as I can remember… Just when I started taking the idea more seriously, a tiny space I'd always liked became available for rent. It was something I could manage, and I thought: if I don’t do it now, when will I?”

The Wandering Albatross is a small bookshop in Bloomfield, Prince Edward County, ON. The new store carries an ever-changing selection of books including fiction, travel writing, history, nature, maps, and more. We spoke with owner Lindsay Casey about the store and her experience as a new indie bookseller.

Can you tell us about the store and how you became an indie bookseller?

The Wandering Albatross opened this past April on Canadian Independent Bookstore Day, which felt like the perfect day to open the door.

I've always dreamed of having a bookstore—I've pictured myself in one for as long as I can remember. Like so many others, I kept putting the idea aside, thinking it was out of reach for me. But over the last few years, the urge to make it real grew stronger. Just when I started taking the idea more seriously, a tiny space I'd always liked became available for rent. It was something I could manage, and I thought: if I don’t do it now, when will I? So, I just went for it! Six months after opening, I can’t imagine my life without it.

How do you decide what books to sell?

The collection is very much a reflection of my interests. I grew up with my head buried in books, always exploring far-off places & histories. I feel like I’ve travelled the world through books, and I want my little shop to feel like a gateway to anywhere a customer can imagine. Sometimes, I think of it as more of an art project than a retail space.

Someone came into the store recently and said to their friend: “Welcome to the inside of Lindsay’s brain!” I loved that. I carry backlist titles that are meaningful to me and bring in new books that spark my interest. I have a big selection of translated fiction, a section just on walking books, and a lot of non-fiction travel writing. I also carry quite a bit of off-beat history, folklore, mythology and geography.

Can you tell us about your team?

For now, it’s a one-woman show, but I am very lucky to have the help of my patient partner who jumps in when I need a hand. Since I also have another job, the shop is currently open only Friday through Sunday, but I’m hoping to be able to hire a team member and extend the hours next year.

We often ask booksellers about upcoming books they love but I’d love to know: do you have any backlist titles that are customer favourites and always in stock? 

Definitely! The Philosophy of Walking by Frédéric Gros, The Invention of Nature by Andrea Wulf, and The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa are three of my all-time favourites, and I try to keep them in stock at all times.

What do you love most about being an independent bookseller?

Everything. Nothing I’ve done before has ever felt this natural.