We’re back with another instalment in our 5 questions with blog series. Our guest this time is Anjula Gogia from Toronto’s beloved Another Story Bookshop.
Another Story Bookshop is an independent bookstore located in the West end of Toronto, with more than 30 years of service, the bookstore has become an icon among the Canadian literary community. One of the reasons many love Another Story Bookshop is because they've used their business as a platform to promote the work of marginalized authors. The bookstore’s physical and digital shelves are filled with books for children, teens, and adults about themes related to diversity, social justice, and equity.
Before COVID-19, it was common for the Another Story Bookshop team to host book fairs and author events where many would gather to discuss, learn, and grow surrounded by books. Nowadays, they’ve been hosting authors for safe book signings with no attendees as well as online events like this In conversation session with Carmen Maria Machado and Silvia Moreno-Garcia that took place this past Monday.
Author Munira Premji signs copies of her book Choosing Hope outside Another Story Bookshop. Picture by @mawenzihouse.
Now, without further ado, let’s get to Anjula’s answers to our questionnaire.
1. Which author would you most like to have for an event in your store (living or dead)?
Dionne Brand. I have launched several of her books over the past two decades, and she remains one of my favourite authors to hear. I would love for her to read for one hour at least from a poetry book! She did that years ago for Land To Light On at George Ignatieff Theatre. The audience was mesmerized, which is not that often for poetry readings! But our store would be too small for Dionne — she attracts a huge crowd!
I had the immense pleasure of hosting one of my dream authors in 2017 — Arundhati Roy. I had been in contact with her agent for 15 years and when her tour was announced for The Ministry of Utmost Happiness I was thrilled to finally organize an event with her. We had over 1,000 people attend the sold out event, and she was gracious and brilliant.
2. What attracted you to bookselling?
Bookselling was an accidental career. I spent my teenage years working at a library shelving books, as well as at my mother's Indian food business. When a job came up at the Toronto Women's Bookstore in 1995, I thought I would spend a year working there until I figured out what I wanted to do with my life ... that turned into a 25 year labour of love. I consider myself an activist bookseller, and I have been fortunate to combine my passion for books, commitment to social justice, and community with a knack for business.
3. What's your favourite bookselling war story?
I have several. One of my favourites took place in August 2003 during the blackout. I was the co-manager of the Toronto Women's Bookstore at the time, and we had a launch scheduled for Strong Women Stories: Native Women and Community Survival from Sumach Press. It was the first day of the blackout and no one knew what was going on. We also had no way to contact the authors or customers. Well, by 6 p.m. one of the editors, Bonita Lawrence, showed up, as did some of the other contributors, with food. We set up on the sidewalk outside the store and had a magical outdoor book launch.
4. What is the most pressing issue facing bookselling today?
Surviving the pandemic. Surviving Amazon. Reaching out to customers who are saturated with social media. How do independent bookstores, who for the most part have small stores, sell enough books with limited customers browsing in the store?
5. What forthcoming book are you most excited about?
Jordan Abel's NISHGA, coming out in May 2021. We had a launch booked with him in Spring 2020 before the world changed. It got cancelled, of course, and his book got pushed up. I love reading prose by poets, there is a cadence and sensibility that is truly unique to their writing. His memoir explores, via photographs, poetry, documents, and transcriptions, the legacies of Canada's residential school system on his family.
BONUS: An aunt comes in looking for a gift for her niece, who likes embroidery and Proust, just got a new job on a cruise line, and whose beloved schnauzer just passed away. What do you recommend?
The Stationery Shop by Marjan Kamali. I loved it! It's an engrossing tale of love, loss, and memory set in 1950s Iran. It has a beautiful cover that will appeal to her niece's creative impulses.
Thanks to Anjula for taking the time to answer our questionnaire. Here’s to many more years of bookselling and event planning adventures!
Find all of our bookseller responses to this questionnaire here.
This month’s podcast episode is a chat about the ACP’s salary survey, pay equity, inclusion, and more.