Amanda Edwards's long-time hobby "has blossomed into a new multi-faceted business," Page & Flame, located at 221 East Rutherford St. in downtown Landrum, S.C., the Spartanburg Herald-Journal reported. The indie bookstore and candle shop, which opened April 6, began its journey last July when Edwards started selling her hypoallergenic candle line, Green Creek Candle Company, at the Shops at LAM.
The book and candle shop, which has now expanded to a storefront inside the antiques mall, has been well received. Edwards estimated that more than 100 people came to the store's opening.
"I love how it's just bringing the community together, and people are saying how happy they are that we have a bookstore again," she said.
Page & Flame's collection of books is highly curated because of space constraints, Edwards added, but includes books from almost every genre. "And if anyone wants any particular books that I don't have, I will special order it for them."
She described her stock as a mix of Southern Independent Booksellers Association recommendations, popular reads in the Instagram and TikTok book communities, and indie authors. Edwards is a writer, too, working on a new adult fantasy book.
"I believe that there are stories that need to be told that aren't necessarily picked up by a traditional publisher. Just as a writer myself, I know how hard it is to crack into that industry and I like to support people who want to tell a story," she said. "I am discerning. I do require an author to send it to me so that I can make sure its well edited and... (something) that I think that my local community would enjoy."
Green Creek Candle Company offers more than 80 fragrances, many of them inspired by her favorite books. Her candle Lightning & Dragons is inspired by Rebecca Yarros's Fourth Wing, and the Of Mists & Shadows candle is based on the described scent of the character Rhysand from Sarah J. Maas's A Court of Thorns and Roses series. Many of the candles are placed with their corresponding books inside the shop.
Edwards plans for Page & Flame to be a hub of activity, offering author events, midnight release parties, and two book clubs.