'Take 5' with Inklings Bookshop's Owner

"For 18 years, Yakima Valley bibliophiles have been able to satisfy their cravings at Inklings Bookshop" in Yakima, Wash., the Herald noted to introduce its "Take 5" series q&a with owner Susan Richmond. Among our favorite exchanges:

Why did you become a business owner?
I never had a hankering to be a business owner, but I did have a hankering to be surrounded by books and booksy people. Becoming a businesswoman was part of the deal and I've learned so much over the years. Having a business-minded husband has been my greatest strength. I am privileged to be part of an ever-changing industry that brings new surprises with every book order and I am so proud that our community wants to keep reading and growing too.

What is the most challenging thing about running a bookstore?
My challenge, like many business owners, is to remember to spend time on the important, not only the urgent. It is easy to be diverted from the big picture with the details of the day.

What was the strangest book anyone's asked you for?
As an independent bookseller, we believe in a customer's right to read anything they wish, so we try to reserve judgment on their choices. The strangest requests are usually those that the customer knows neither the title or author. Sometimes they only know the book had a blue cover. Surprisingly, on a regular basis, our booksellers can make an educated guess and come up with the book they are looking for.

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