LPTrendsPeople&Books. Tina Ferguson is an El Dorado Hills mom with daughters getting ready to take flight and determine their own futures, giving Tina a moment to take pause and determine her own as well. Now that her daughters need less of her on a daily basis, it’s time to turn the page on parenting, to perhaps, owning a bookstore.
Tina has always been passionate about reading. She and her husband have lived in this area most of their lives, having been raised here themselves. They remember when the prestigious housing development of Serrano, now considered one of the largest master-planned housing developments of Northern California, was just a rumor here.
Tina tells me that when growing up, Town Center consisted of a drug store, grocery store and diner or two. Now it is filled with architecturally impressive storefronts of sophisticated and diverse eateries, boutiques, and other small businesses, complete with a state of the art cinema. Wide-open spaces more described the community of her youth. Reading was a godsend for little girls like Tina, who relished getting lost in a good story.
Opening a bookstore seemed like a natural progression of Tina’s passion. Her vision was to make it a hot literary hub of this small community she has always called home. Finding the perfect name for her bookstore was one of the many challenges Tina faced until one day while having coffee with a friend. They were lamenting over the closure of Border’s in Folsom when her friend asked why she thought bookstores were closing. Tina replied, “People spend too much time on their computers… they should get off of Facebook and get their face IN a book! Walla! A name is born.
Tina in her store. Face In A Book.
Tina has a constant parade of local authors in her store for book signings. She not only supports local authors, but local organizations as well, such as Run For Courage.
You might remember when I profiled Ashlie Bryant, who heads up this cause for stopping sex trafficking. Tina sells the t-shirts worn by runners in this race to help humanity. It’s all documented (ironically) on her Facebook page for Face in a Book.
She has indeed made her warm and inviting bookstore a thriving hot bed of literary excitement. It is a classy store (just like it’s owner) with meticulously designed and specialy ordered shelves to perfectly accommodate the space she has rented in Town Center.
The bookstore houses a chalkboard out front that let’s you know when the next event will be, or what’s on sale today. A teal awning gives distinction to Tina’s storefront and shades this quaint form of communication. The awning has Face in a Book sprawled across it in bold letters. Everything about the store is as warm and inviting as Tina’s smile and cheerful demeanor. If not already addicted to reading, just a few trips to this bookstore will create that addiction, because you will want to just keep coming back!
Books are carefully selected and even more carefully arranged. You won’t find trashy paperbacks here, but you will find an endless source of literary genres and eras, from the latest releases to the most popular classics. The children’s department is well stocked with all of the most imaginative, artistic, cutting edge or classic delights to offer your child of any age.
Below are some questions Tina answered recently for Style magazine.
Describe your business. Did you find it, or did it find you?
Face in a Book exists for two reasons: for the love of books and for the love of the community. We are a general bookstore with all new books; in addition, we carry unique gift items, from travel accessories to journals and greeting cards. I’d always wanted to own a small business in our community, where I would have the opportunity to interact with people and offer them something special.
How are you involved with the both the community and the customer?
We are involved with the community in two ways. First, we carry items in the store from local authors – including Cindy Sample, Amber Garza, Lori Mortensen and others – and businesses. We also offer coffee and tea from local roasters El Dorado Coffee and Tea. Secondly, we are partnering with local community groups Hands for Hope and Run for Courage to carry their hats and T-shirts. Customers are the heartbeat of our store! We will do whatever we can to find just the right book for people. If we don’t carry something, we have the ability to order nearly 9 million titles, and there is no charge for shipping items to the store.
What’s your favorite childhood memory?
Other kids had a favorite toy…I had books! A favorite memory is reading Nancy Drew books while lying on my stomach in my father’s Ford pickup truck when it was winter. Outside it was freezing, but with the windows rolled up and the sunlight pouring in I was 100-percent cozy. You can never go wrong with a comfy seat and good book!
You may visit Face in a Book at: 4359 Town Center Boulevard, Suite 113, El Dorado Hills, or call at: 916-941-9401. The store website is: http://getyourfaceinabook.com/ and Face In a Book is on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/getyourfaceinabook.
This story by Kathryn Mattingly.
Tags: bookstore, community causes, literacy, literature, local author events, small business