Punta Gorda's Community Bookstore Brings a Special Vibe to our Town -- Copperfish Books

Small independently owned bookstores are special places that add much to the character and vibe of a small town.  They provide a showroom for the latest published books, not just the ones being pushed by major publishers, but those treasured titles by local authors.  They are also a venue for authors to introduce and talk about their works and to meet and have discussions with their readers. They offer a quiet space to wander and actually touch and discover books that may have otherwise been lost to you.  

When I walked into our own community bookstore, Copperfish Books, on Taylor near the old Punta Gorda Train on a  rainy night last week, Serena, one of the owners, immediately helped relieve me of my wet umbrella and welcomed me to the store.  Like other independent bookstores from my past, Copperfish, for me, is a place of wonder, a place to stay, have a coffee and be around books and people who love them.  Here owners, Cathy Graham and Serena Wykoff, have created an exceptionally comfortable, nostalgic literary atmosphere where you can discover  a variety of used, new and antique books, and unique greeting cards and gifts.



This past week, this charming space whose owners make it feel as though it has been in Punta Gorda a much longer time, celebrated its first anniversary with events every day.  On the night I visited, Vernon Peeples, Punta Gorda's local historian and author, was giving a talk about a woman, Marian McAdow, who brought tropical landscaping to Punta Gorda and was considered the foremost proponent for use of tropicals in landscaping in Florida.  I settled into one of the store's comfy chairs among an audience, of thirty some people who braved the pouring rains that night,  to be spellbound by Mr. Peeples, whose recent work, Punta Gorda In the Beginning 1865-1900, is available at Cooperfish.   After his talk, Mr. Peeples chatted with visitors answering questions about Punta Gorda's past.

The enthusiastic and energetic booksellers, Cathy and Serena, have many events planned for the months ahead including author presentations, reader chats (where participants can talk about books they are reading, reader circles (drop-in book club type discussions), a parking lot sale and much more.  They also are planning another popular "Wine and Words" event in association with the Orange House. Check their list of upcoming events.

There are lots of reasons to support local businesses, whether it’s mom-and-pop specialty store, non-chain restaurant or one of our local farmers’ markets.  But when you buy from an independent bookseller, like Copperfish, there's another reason beyond the obvious. You’re helping to keep alive an important component of our literary culture.  So be lured to Copperfish to enjoy one of their events, buy a gift for a friend's birthday or a book, a real printed book for yourself.  By the way, Copperfish also has an on-line store where you can quickly locate and buy both books about our local area and books by our local authors.