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behindthebookshop

@behindthebookshop

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I’ll admit, last school year was challenging for me. But one of the things that kept me excited was the idea of opening the mailbox when I got home, and maybe finding a few postcards waiting for me. In the in-between, waiting for my @postcrossing cardsto be registered, I found myself looking around and wondering who else I could mail to. I knew there were 1000s of mail clubs, but where were the ones run by bookshops? It made sense; readers already show an interest in analog activities. For many of these readers, writing seems like a natural fit. So I did it. I discussed with some of our devoted customers, ran it by not 1, but 3 of our postal workers, and started planning. ​ Everything was ready to go… when I noticed that our logo said "boookshop" with 3 O’s! How was it possible that I printed it on all kinds of things, and posted it online, and not once did I notice, nor did another person point it out! ​ We took all of the misprinted items, set them aside, and started over. This took us time and set us behind, but I am excited to finally say that ALL envelopes went out last week! And… here, you're looking at a sneak peek of some of what was inside. Each comes with banded washi and ephemera packs, as well as a reading tracker, postcards, and a monthly newsletter. Monthly members also received a member sticker and instructions for setting up their member card, which you will receive in your next mailing! Because we were running behind this month, I've also chosen to send another mailing to our one month participants. This means that if you chose the option for one month only, rather than a subscription, you will be receiving this mailing, as well as the one for the month of September. Thank you for supporting what it is that Seven Stories does, and encouraging me to branch out and incorporate more of what I love! It means so much to be in month one, and already have so many fantastic people joining us. ❤️ ✉️ 🫂 ​ If you are interested in joining our mail club family, you can find more info at shop7stories.com. This bookshop mail club is $9 per month. You receive a 5x7 envelope with bookshop themed fun, and journaling ephemera!
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Curious about the Journal Bag? We carry it! Our partnership with Paulina began years ago, at our 2nd-ever location. 450sq ft, across from Shawnee City Hall. It was August of 2024. I had removed EVERYTHING from my store, replacing it with Asian-authored & illustrated titles, products from Asian makers, and language-learning material. Asia is made up of 50 countries, thousands of languages, hundreds of ethnic groups, and is 59% of the world population. I wanted to share the numbers, address the tension around saying the authors’ names out loud, and challenge the idea that every title is about struggle. Among these creators was Paulina. ​ She’s a great example of the people we work with. Her business is a labor of love, and like us, she does not just take a casual and token interest in her community. ​ When I saw this bag, I knew I needed one, and later, that turned into multiple orders, a dedicated shelf, and became one of my favorite items to talk about in the store. ​ Some use it for journaling, as a daily purse, or to carry reading materials. I’ve used mine for more than one of these, and it deserves all the attention it’s getting! Available in EVERY solid color, each comes with an adjustable crossbody strap, mesh panel for pins, sticker sheets, Velcro storage pouch, 6-ring binder system, and side folders. ​ All of that to say… this is a product I believe in. At Seven Stories, we don’t buy based on popularity and whatever publishers tell us is the next big hit. We buy based on the work, the creator, customer feedback, and ultimately stock products that we are willing to stand behind. There are reasons why we do things the way we do. I’m happy to tell you about it! But what you need to know now is that we started in an untraditional way, and when we did open, there were no other bookstores to pattern ourselves off of. That's a good thing! So, while we might not have every book out there, we hope you will take a chance with us and try out something new. ​ To our regulars, thank you for spending your time, energy, and money with us, and for sending us into year 5 (more on that to come!) with good energy! ​ We'll be here Sat 10-6, and Sun 9-3. We'll see ya!
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Had fun today doing the Book Crawl with Chelsae and the girls! We hit up several of our favorite shops!! Ran into my friend, Kriste, while out too! Lots of squinting pics with the bright sun today! I was excited to see the Shop Dog, Dolly, at Truly Madly Depot! We finished day with lunch at Tay’s Cheesesteaks!
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I found the best postcards from makers like @hammerpress @foundimagepress and @a.b.newton at Seven Stories bookstore @shop7stories in Shawnee, KS. This independent bookstore was founded by teenager Halley @behindthebookshop who started off with a free library when she was 12 years old. She now has a carefully, curated, unique bookstore that is a must visit. Not only are there books, but a wide selection of stationery, including postcards, notebooks, pens, journals, the list goes on. The store also has a wide selection of crafts, games, local art and handmade gifts. The children corner is oh so special, I can imagine little ones sitting there enjoying their new book. Oh and did I mention the @littlegoldenbooks section? The shop has the widest selection of Golden Books I have ever seen. There is truly something for everyone here. #postcards #shop7stories #letterpress #independentbookstore
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Today’s Outgoing Mail 📬🐌💌🌸🦋 birthday greeting, a couple direct swaps and surprise mail to my @midwest_mailers crew and a couple others. #snailmail #mailmeansmore #sendlovesendcards #snailmailrevolution #longlivesnailmail
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Midwest Mailers Postcrossing Meetup – June 28, 2026: Part 1 We definitely scored with this meetup lineup! 🥅 ⚽️ Thank you to everyone who joined us for our second meetup at the Merriam Community Center. The afternoon began with a wonderful presentation by Halley @behindthebookshop from @shop7stories , a local independent bookstore in Shawnee, KS featuring stationery, unique gifts, and a fantastic selection of postcards. We recommend visiting her shop. This young lady is quite the entrepreneur. Frank @yofrankay1204 shared information about The Greater Kansas City Stamp Show taking place July 24–25, 2026 at the 1st Presbyterian Church, Westminster Hall, 417 W Lexington Ave, Independence, MO 64050. Frank is a member of the Midwest Philatelic Society, one of the three hosts of the show. Next, everyone enjoyed a fun-filled soccer and snail mail trivia game—where everyone came away a winner! Thanks to the generosity of so many donors, we had an amazing assortment of prizes and giveaways. We wrapped up the day with our prize drawings, ending an afternoon filled with friendship, fun, and a shared love of snail mail. 1. Welcome desk and sign in. 2 & 3. Group Photo – Unfortunately we were missing a few people who planned on attending. We missed you Amy @amesjo11 , Michelle @michelle_2064 , Andrea and Heidi. 4. View of our large meeting area. 5. Welcome desk all decked out in soccer and personalized Midwest Mailers M&M’s. Thank you Shannon @gabelshannon for this great idea! 6. Prize Table – Donations from Kerri @letterstokerri – Commemorative sheet of Vintage soccer stamps she purchased at the Boston Stamp show, @MidwestMailers a FIFA filled bucket of goodies, @lillianmaryvintage vintage stamps, @apostcardshopusa three $15 gift cards and the Grand Prize – donated by Amanda @amandadoespostcrossing who handmade a stamp themed tote bag filled with goodies. And lastly Coors and Michelob FIFA shirts, scarf, horn and cups donated by a local distributor. 7. Drop & Take Table – We had so many wonderful postcards donated, even a virtual attendee from California sent us postcards and stickers. I hope everyone found some spectacular treasures. 8. Stamped postcards
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THIS MONTH'S COZY AZN PICK IS.... My Grandfather The Master Detective!! I'm really excited about this one because while it fits within the genre of healing fiction, it also provides a bit of a departure. Our main character solves mysteries, versus other cozy Asian main characters that often have some sort of mental block they are trying to work through. This book is partly based on the author's experience caring for his own father, dealing with dementia. In Japan, the gateway to publishing is often through entering literary contests and this book followed that pathway. Upon being awarded a literary Grand Prize, this debut novel was published in Japan in 2023 and only recently has become available in English. This book's translator also worked on The Cat Who Saved Books and The Hanjin Murders. Because this book Is a little bit more involved with the plot line and because we're heading into summer with a lot of changing schedules and people going on vacation, we are going to split this pick into two months. I would like for you to read to page 160 by the time we meet at the end of May and then we will complete the second half in June. Book club members already have copies reserved in their name up at the front desk! Just stop in when you can. No rush.
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ROUND 1 of Indie Bookstore Day photos! 📚 • • Yesterday we saw a 49% returning customer rate! That kind of loyalty doesn’t go unnoticed, and we’re incredibly grateful. Wether you're new to the store, or a seasoned patron, we thank you! Indie Bookstore Day is a celebration on one day of the year, but supporting local doesn’t start and stop there. It shows up in where you spend, what you share, and how you choose to show up. We say it all the time... but our family works HARD to make this all happen. Sometimes things are not the ideal, sometimes not everything gets done, but seeing YOU in this bookshops makes all of those pressures feel a little less relevant. If we missed you (or if you didn’t get a photo), there’s still time to do so! Pop back in today and we’ll make it happen. We’re open until 3 today (Sunday), and we’d love to see you and hear about your Indie Bookstore Day adventures! -H ❤️ Ps. A big thank you to our volunteers, both in-store yesterday and behind the scenes this past week while we shifted things around. Your time and willingness to stick with us means everything. 💖 🫂
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Over the last 4 years—from lawnmower bookmobile to opening a bookstore, to watching the Kansas City book community grow alongside us—Seven Stories has been building something since 2022, serving books up through Shawnee and surrounding areas. All of this brings us to... our 3rd Indie Bookstore Day on April 25th (THIS SATURDAY!! 👏🥳). If you’ve been around for a while, you know this is kind of our favorite day of the year. Its a celebration of everything indie bookstores are built on. Community. Connection. Getting to be surrounded by longtime customers and new friends all in the same space. Honestly… it feels a little like our birthday. So... here is your first look 👀. ———— We’ll be here 8AM–8PM, with plenty of things going on throughout the day. Hidden somewhere in the store, is our Golden Ticket! It’s good for 12 audiobooks through @librofm . Alongside that, we’ll have a full lineup of Indie Bookstore Day exclusives, special extras, and a few things we’ve been saving just for this. Don’t forget to use us as your Indie Bookstore Day photo moment. Grab a pic in the shop, with our sign prop, and if you have a “Book People Are the Best People” shirt, this is absolutely the day to wear it and snap one with your people. Excited to see you this Saturday. 📖 -H ❤️ Ps. Keep an eye on our stories + our Indie Bookstore Day highlight on our profile. We’ll be dropping new teasers throughout today and all day tomorrow, including new merch, signed editions, and even a heated rivalry tote! #IndieBookstoreDay
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For many of you, Today marks No Kings Day. We want to say this first... we support you. We support expression, civic engagement, and people showing up for what they believe in. That ALWAYS matters. At the same time, we’re going to be real with you. Historically, protest days have been one of the slowest days for our store, and it often lands at the end of the month on what is usually a really important day for us. That’s just the honest reality of being a small, independent bookstore. So instead of fighting that, we’re leaning into it. We know reading is resistance. So let’s do that. Stop by anytime throughout the day. Head to the back desk, grab a pair of headphones, and settle in. Shop while listening, or find a cozy spot and just be for a while. It’s a way to engage quietly — a kind of everyday resistance without needing to be loud about it. Call it active self-care, call it reflection, whatever YOU need TODAY. Plus... if you’ve ever been curious about our audiobook club, consider this a live preview 👀 We’ll have audiobooks, podcasts, and poetry running all day: 📚 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM “On Civil Disobedience” — starting the day very much in the spirit of what today is about. 📚 12:00 PM – 1:50 PM On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder — been meaning to read it? need a refresher? consider this your sign. 🎤 Poetry Interlude Audre Lorde — “A Song for Many Movements” 📚 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM Selections from Letters from an American, Heather Cox Richardson. We can’t fit the whole book, but we can catch up on this week together. 🎤 Poetry Interlude Langston Hughes 📚 3:00 PM – Close Fight Oligarchy by Bernie Sanders. Narrated by Bernie himself. If you’re able to support small businesses today, it truly does make a difference for us. And if not, we’re still glad you’re part of this community. We’re open 10 AM – 6 PM. Good luck today. Make today what you want it to be! -Halley & Seven Stories
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Who’s ready for the most “fuck the government” Super Bowl to ever Super Bowl?
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We’ve carried a line of 60+ Cozy AZN titles in the store for a while now, and are happy to finally announce our Cozy AZN Book Club! 🤍 If you’re new to the concept, Cozy AZN is a genre known in Asia as healing fiction–stories meant to offer rest. Not escapism, not pressure. Just moments of calm for when everything feels like a little too much. And honestly, right now, a lot of us could use that. Part of why this felt so right is this: you don’t have to power through a full novel to belong here. Cozy AZNs are often made up of short, translated stories that follow different people whose lives briefly intertwine in unexpected ways. You can read one section at a time, put it down, come back later—and still feel complete. That matters. Sometimes reading needs to feel good again. No guilt. No deadlines. No feeling like you’re “behind.” Our first Cozy AZN Book Club pick is The Passengers on the Hankyu Line by Hiro Arikawa. I chose this book because it follows a cast of characters whose lives briefly intersect during short train rides through Japan. It’s an easygoing entry point for anyone new to book clubs or curious about the genre, but it also reflects something many of you have shared over the past year—those brief, unplanned encounters with people where something about their story stays with you. The book club always meets on the last Wednesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. For February, the meeting will be hosted @gochashawnee !!! I really hope you’ll join me at the end of February. Sign-up is linked at the top of our profile (and no, you do not need to buy the book to participate). -Halley 🫂 🤗 💖 P.S. If I’ve seemed a little quieter lately... yes, that’s real. December left me with stitches and some noticeable facial scars, and that experience made me think a lot about healing, in more than one way. I’m okay now, and things are looking much better, but I did step away for a bit. So, in the meantime... here’s a low pressure photo of me with our first pick 📖
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