help bring Sower Books to life
Help Tory open a welcoming, affirming, community-driven bookstore in Lincoln, NE!
Project Description
Hey friends! I'm Tory (she/her), and you might know me from Booktok, where I've been nerding out about books since 2021 under the banner of Chapters Books & Gifts in Seward, Nebraska. I've been lucky enough to spend the past SEVEN years learning the ropes of bookselling and running a bookstore, which is why I'm more excited than nervous to tell you... I'm going to be leaving Chapters to OPEN MY OWN BOOKSTORE!
Sower Books will be located in my adoptive hometown of Lincoln, Nebraska. Our name is both a nod to the iconic Sower sculpture on top of the Nebraska Capitol and an homage to Octavia Butler's "Parable of the Sower" -- a book about community care and building the better world you want to see.
What I envision at Sower Books is a spot where we're building that better world together. A place where:
- diverse and marginalized voices are uplifted and celebrated;
- small, local creators and makers have a place to showcase and sell their wares (think stickers, jewelry, bookmarks, buttons, etc.)
- there's room for friends, parents + kids, book clubs, crafters, etc. to meet up and hang out;
- everyone feels seen, valued, and welcome (unless they're a jerk. No jerks allowed!);
- there's always someone around with whom to NERD OUT about books!
You might also know that I'm an enthusiastic cat lady. (Has it come up once or twice?) To that end, I'm planning a partnership with local animal rescues to offer "Reading to Rescues," allowing kids a chance to practice their read-aloud fluency to adoptable cats and the cats a chance to socialize before being adopted out, and new cats brought in. As my husband Spencer refers to it, "a kitten library!" (No worries, those with allergies -- our planned Read with Rescues area will be enclosed.)
A short digression: I grew up military. "Friends are the family you choose for yourself" was our motto in a childhood spent far from blood relations. I'm not religious, but I'll easily use the term "blessed" to describe the chosen family I've made of my friends: both the ones I know from the "real" world and the ones I've made in the book world. All y'all make my life richer and more beautiful on the daily, which is what I hope Sower Books will do for all y'all (and the community, and the world, and the universe etc. etc.).
Bookselling and bookstores are a passion-based business. They CAN make money, and the end goal is to operate Sower Books in the black, but I don't want to "get rich" from this store. I want to put good books in the hands of people who need them; to make my customers and (eventual) employees feel loved and appreciated; to be a safe, welcoming, comfortable space.
It would mean the world to me if you want to chip in as I bring Sower Books to the world. And the universe, etc. etc. <3
Updates
The Campaign FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions:
- None so far! Lmk what you want to know!
You know me. I'm always going to appreciate you and show my appreciation.
When Sower Books has a logo (I'm working on it!), you'll get a dope vinyl sticker of it. It's gonna be great. Probably like, 3x3 or thereabouts. And a thank you note! Obviously!
You'll get a vinyl sticker with Sower Books' logo (once it exists) and a banner declaring you a PARTIAL OWNER* of the store! (Note: "partial ownership" confers no benefits outside of a dope sticker that people will ask you about -- "you're a partial owner of a bookstore?! That's so cool!" and then they'll give you their number. Guaranteed.*)
(*not guaranteed)
THIS vinyl sticker will be bigger and it'll announce that others should "Ask This Attractive Person About Their Bookstore". Maybe it'll be holographic? We'll see.
(Note: "partial ownership" confers no benefits outside of a dope sticker that people will ask you about -- "you're a partial owner of a bookstore?! That's so cool!" and then they'll give you their number. Guaranteed.*)
(*not guaranteed)
Do you want a shirt? a tote bag? a bumper sticker? We can make it work, dawg. I love you and I love that you want this store to happen. Ooh, what about a book sleeve with our logo and dino-print fabric?! (K now I need one too)
I love you, buddy. Free shipping for a year? Idk, maybe? Shirt, tote, ballcap? Beanie? A zip-up or hoodie? My mama Jeanne has an embroidery machine. I'm sure she can make you something cool. We'll be in touch.
Friendo. You'll get a custom piece of merch AND we'll name a bookshelf after you! Put your picture + name on the wall! Create a throw rug in your likeness! Or whatever else makes you feel valued and loved. Again, we'll talk! Whatever you want, we can dicker out the details. I appreciate you more than words can describe. And that's the TRUTH: I have the English degree to back it up factually. TM TM TM
(we're being silly but no less earnest about THANK YOU ETC, I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU ARE WILLING TO HELP SOWER BOOKS HAPPEN!) Tell me whatever you want and we'll probably figure out a way to make it happen.*
*no death, dismemberment, disembowelment, beating up of children (unless they're jerks), etc. Owner's decision is final.
Rewards
You know me. I'm always going to appreciate you and show my appreciation.
When Sower Books has a logo (I'm working on it!), you'll get a dope vinyl sticker of it. It's gonna be great. Probably like, 3x3 or thereabouts. And a thank you note! Obviously!
You'll get a vinyl sticker with Sower Books' logo (once it exists) and a banner declaring you a PARTIAL OWNER* of the store! (Note: "partial ownership" confers no benefits outside of a dope sticker that people will ask you about -- "you're a partial owner of a bookstore?! That's so cool!" and then they'll give you their number. Guaranteed.*)
(*not guaranteed)
THIS vinyl sticker will be bigger and it'll announce that others should "Ask This Attractive Person About Their Bookstore". Maybe it'll be holographic? We'll see.
(Note: "partial ownership" confers no benefits outside of a dope sticker that people will ask you about -- "you're a partial owner of a bookstore?! That's so cool!" and then they'll give you their number. Guaranteed.*)
(*not guaranteed)
Do you want a shirt? a tote bag? a bumper sticker? We can make it work, dawg. I love you and I love that you want this store to happen. Ooh, what about a book sleeve with our logo and dino-print fabric?! (K now I need one too)
I love you, buddy. Free shipping for a year? Idk, maybe? Shirt, tote, ballcap? Beanie? A zip-up or hoodie? My mama Jeanne has an embroidery machine. I'm sure she can make you something cool. We'll be in touch.
Friendo. You'll get a custom piece of merch AND we'll name a bookshelf after you! Put your picture + name on the wall! Create a throw rug in your likeness! Or whatever else makes you feel valued and loved. Again, we'll talk! Whatever you want, we can dicker out the details. I appreciate you more than words can describe. And that's the TRUTH: I have the English degree to back it up factually. TM TM TM
(we're being silly but no less earnest about THANK YOU ETC, I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU ARE WILLING TO HELP SOWER BOOKS HAPPEN!) Tell me whatever you want and we'll probably figure out a way to make it happen.*
*no death, dismemberment, disembowelment, beating up of children (unless they're jerks), etc. Owner's decision is final.