{"id":43548,"date":"2018-01-25T13:10:32","date_gmt":"2018-01-25T19:10:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/?p=43548"},"modified":"2018-01-25T17:03:07","modified_gmt":"2018-01-25T23:03:07","slug":"mississippis-first-queer-and-feminist-bookstore-opens-in-water-valley","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/mississippis-first-queer-and-feminist-bookstore-opens-in-water-valley\/","title":{"rendered":"Mississippi’s First Queer and Feminist Bookstore Opens in Water Valley"},"content":{"rendered":"

Violet Valley<\/strong> Bookstore<\/strong> is Water Valley<\/strong>\u2019s most recent addition to Main Street<\/strong> and possibly the state\u2019s first lesbian and feminist bookstore. The brainchild of Jaime Harker<\/strong>, a professor at the University of Mississippi<\/strong>, the store was launched with the aid of a Kickstarter campaign that rapidly met its goal.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOwning a bookstore was always a dream, like anyone who loves books,\u201d said Harker.\u00a0\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

The store\u2019s initial stock came from the American Association of University Women<\/strong> as well as donations of new and used books from individuals, explained Harker as she unpacked two large boxes that barely fit in each of the upholstered reading chairs. Harker has received a box of books either dropped off or mailed to her almost every day since the announcement of the Kickstarter campaign.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAlmost everything here was donated,\u201d said Harker. \u201cWe just got our Kickstarter money and made our first order so everything here except maybe a handful are donated.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Located at 303 Main Street, the space was previously Coulter Fussel<\/strong>\u2019s studio until her needs outgrew what was, years ago, a two chair barber shop.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCoulter started working with quilts and they just wouldn\u2019t fit, it\u2019s only 10 feet wide here,\u201d said Harker. \u201cI talked to my wife, Dixie<\/strong>, she\u2019s the cook at B.T.C next door, about my idea and since she sees Coulter all the time I asked her to see if there were any plans for the space.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

From there things began to accelerate for Violet Valley.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShe told [Coulter] the idea and she loved it and said let\u2019s do it now,\u201d said Harker. \u201cI wasn\u2019t really ready. . .but it\u2019s such a good opportunity it would be a shame to waste it.\u201d\u00a0\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

Their conversation took place in the spring of 2017, but Fussel had a show in October, giving Harker some runway to get everything in order.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIn the meantime I started doing some research,\u201d said Harker. \u201cI had a former student, Elizabeth Anderson, who worked for Charis Bookstore in Atlanta so she has been really helpful in telling me who to talk to and how revenue works. I talked with a lawyer in my network of friends about whether it should be for-profit or non-profit.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Harker decided to go forward as a non-profit.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI work for the university. . .I\u2019m the director of the gender studies program,\u201d said Harker. \u201cI didn\u2019t want there to be any perception that I was benefitting financially, though anyone who opens a bookstore knows you don\u2019t do it for the money.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Violet Valley, though already garnering attention from national press and booklovers alike, is still in its very early stages as a business. As of now everyone working at the bookstore is on a volunteer basis and puts in time when they can. The extent of the support for Violet Valley took Harker and everyone involved by surprise.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt just spread,\u201d said Harker. \u201cWe put out a Kickstarter and people started sharing it with friends. We didn\u2019t know if we\u2019d make our goal and we made it in four days.\u201d\u00a0\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

Though headlines highlight that the Violet Valley is a lesbian and feminist bookstore, the customer base is as varied as they come and Harker is just along for the ride to see what it turns into.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been somewhat of a mix,\u201d said Harker. \u201cSome locals, folks from Oxford, but the words getting out with book lovers. One person came in and said her friend from Georgia sent her a link and someone heard we had a soft opening when their friend in Brooklyn heard about us on the web. I don\u2019t know if we\u2019ll get people to come visit and be a tourist thing or if locals and people will come from Oxford. It\u2019s all just an experiment.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Violet Valley Bookstore is open Friday and Saturday from 10 am\u20134 pm and located at 303 Main Street in Water Valley. Violet Valley Bookstore will be hosting a “Grand Opening” party of February 2, 2018 at 6 pm.\u00a0\"The\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n