30 Comments
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Alice Mac Gorain's avatar

This is the best news I’ve read in ages. Lovely email, great recommendations, bring it all on. Look forward to following developments here and spending all my income on books with wine this summer! (Please say it’s going to be Balham!)

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Tom Rowley's avatar

Thank you SO much Alice. Very excited to welcome you soon (and watch this space!)

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Michael Mohr's avatar

🙌🙌🙌

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Tanya Lynch's avatar

Man after my own heart! I think you’re really brave and courageous and think you’ll be a huge success. After all doers just DO! I’ll look forward to following your journey, best of luck!

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Tom Rowley's avatar

Thanks so much Tanya :) How lovely of you to say. Really hoping to see you in person in the bookshop before too long!

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Michael Mohr's avatar

Yeah!!!

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Daniel Silva's avatar

I love your passion and I´m so excited for you. I wish you the best, Tom. I really do.

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Tom Rowley's avatar

Thank you so much Daniel. Please tell me when you make it to the shop once we’re up and running and I’ll put the kettle on.

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Michael Mohr's avatar

👍

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David Rose's avatar

Lovely email. Read the Catherine Belton a while ago and it explains soooo much now. Loved the other non-fiction recommed. Good luck (though you wont need luck as you have ability) and look forward to finding and visiting when you open en route between NHS Trusts-work travels.

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Tom Rowley's avatar

Thanks so much, David. Really glad you liked the picks. Can't wait to see you in person. Tom

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Angela L.'s avatar

Hope to visit your shop once it opens when I’m next in London. Until then, I will follow along for the ride and will be rooting for you from afar!

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Tom Rowley's avatar

Thank you so much :)

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Sam Buchanan's avatar

Congratulations and wishing you the best best of luck! I quit my well-paid job at the end of last year to pursue my love of photography - I’ve never been more terrified and happy in my life!

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Tom Rowley's avatar

That's so kind Sam. Thank you. What kind of photography? Tom

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Sam Buchanan's avatar

Street and documentary historically, but focusing on environmental portraiture for my MA. Sam

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Tom Rowley's avatar

oh cool - send me a link to some of your stuff? tom AT backstory DOT london

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Sam Buchanan's avatar

No MA stuff on their yet but plenty to look at. https://sambuchananphotography.com/

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Michael Mohr's avatar

❤️❤️

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Martin Cowley's avatar

The smell of the newsprint and the roar of the press...Unrivalled joy. But you are so right, too, Tom, about bookshops being a people experience: it's the people behind the counter and the browsers one encounters who make bookshop visits enjoyable and memorable. I've never met a independent owner yet who was lost for words. I'm looking forward already to making your shop a favourite haunt. All the best.

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Tom Rowley's avatar

Thanks so much Martin! I can't wait to welcome you to the shop. Tom

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Michael Mohr's avatar

Yes absolutely 💯

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Anne Marie's avatar

I will never order a book at Amazon again!

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Tom Rowley's avatar

Crikey - that's commitment!

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Helen Pine's avatar

I love this. It's like I wrote it myself. Except better. Look forward to hearing more about your journey and drinking wine (and reading) in your bookshop.

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Michael Mohr's avatar

❤️❤️

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Gabrielle Treanor's avatar

So happy to have found you on Substack and very excited to see how your journey develops! I worked in a bookshop as a teenager and almost all my wages went straight back into the till. Having had a career in magazine publishing, run my own stationery business and now as a positive psychology coach I still dream of having my own bookshop…

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Michael Mohr's avatar

Ha!! Exactly! Work to buy books!

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Claire V.'s avatar

Wishing you good luck !!

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Michael Mohr's avatar

Yes!!! I’m with you good sir. I LOVE the smell of books, particularly old classic used books. I also massively dig that you’re quitting your conventional job to run a bookstore. Good on you!

Michael Mohr

‘Sincere American Writing’

https://michaelmohr.substack.com/

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