As an author, I’m always open to new opportunities. I’m also a firm believer that you never know where one thing might lead to another. Such was the case recently, when my husband and I decided it was time to sell a pair of antique stacking bookcases.

Now, I’ll admit, the decision was a long time coming. Every time the subject came up, I’d remember how happy Mike and I were when we bought them at an auction in Keswick, Ontario, many years ago. I don’t even think we were married at the time. But we had books. Lots and lots of books. And now we had a place to put them.

Those bookcases moved with us to three different houses, and the books that didn’t make the move were quickly replaced by others. And then, five years ago, we downsized significantly. Most of the books were donated to charity shops. And yet, the bookcases remained. Since that time, they’ve been sitting, unloved, in our lower level living area — which mainly serves as a home gym — bookless. One day, dusting the empty shelves, I realized it was time to let them go.

Here’s the part where one thing lead to another.

I contacted Cookstown Antique Market, a multi-vendor store and asked if there might be a vendor interested in purchasing them. There was, and we were duly introduced. After negotiating a price that was fair to both of us, and as much as it was difficult to let them go, I knew those bookcases would find a better home, where they would once again be filled with books.

That could have been the end of the story, except on learning I was an author, the vendors suggested I contact Diana Robinson, the owner of Cookstown Antique Market. I did, and two days later my Glass Dolphin and Marketville series, both with antiques tie-ins, are for sale in the store. Even better, we’re planning a High Tea Lunch Book Club meeting on May 26th (Covid restrictions permitting, of course). The back-up plan is late October, when hopefully, life will have returned to semi-normal.

Now…if we’d kept those bookcases, I never would have met Diana, and this new opportunity would never have presented itself. Sometimes you just have to let go of the past to welcome the future.

You can watch the video where Diana and her husband Bill talk about adding my books to their store (about the 6-minute mark) and while you’re at it, take a tour. And seriously, aren’t those wine glasses to die for?