Literature is full of secret doorways, but it’s a rare thing for a bookstore to actually find a hidden entrance behind one of its shelves. That’s exactly what happened two months ago at Words Worth Books in Waterloo, Ontario, just before the COVID-19 pandemic shut the retailer’s doors to walk-in traffic. (The store is still offering online sales and curbside pickup, with a percentage of its local delivery orders going to the Food Bank of Waterloo Region.)

Co-owners Dave Worsley and Mandy Brouse announced their plans on Instagram to turn the magical discovery into a cozy reading nook for its adult customers, similar to one they already created for younger readers.

The plan is to outfit the nook with pillows, lights, and a custom mural, described as a custom piece “that speaks to that love of reading we all have and try to share with you, that love that can transport you when the world is grey and topsy-turvy and confusing!”

To help pay for the mural and to off-set COVID-19 losses while supporting the city’s local artists, Words Worth – a mainstay in uptown Waterloo since 1984 – is now looking for donations. A donation of under $50 will score you an invite to the future opening of “Project Secret Door.” Those who give $50 or more will have an opportunity to have their name or the name of a favourite author included on the mural ($100+ gets a larger spot).

To donate, email co-owner Mandy Brouse at mandy@wordsworthbooks.com. Donations under $50 can be processed over the phone at 519-884-2665.

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A lifetime ago (aka, just about 2 months) a secret doorway was found behind one of our bookshelves. This lead to a flurry of interest and even was a springboard of inspiration for local writer and regular tor contributor, James Davis Nicoll, who has written an article all about the four types of portals found in speculative fiction. (Link in bio!) This clearly couldn't be the end of the story, so we wanted to hint at what's to come…we're making another cozy reading nook, with pillows, lights & custom artwork…but this time, it's for grown-ups! (Why should kids have all the fun?) This artwork in particular is something we are very excited for, a brand new custom piece that speaks to that love of reading we all have and try to share with you, that love that can transport you when the world is grey and topsy-turvy and confusing! What's more, we want you to be a part of it! You too can now become a permanent part of Words Worth's storied history, by being a part the custom mural being painted in our new nook! These are difficult times all around and every little bit helps us continue to provide for the community's reading, while also fairly paying local artists and crafts-people for their work. With that in mind, we will be accepting donations towards this project (and to off-set lost costs due to C-19 in general–we guess you could call it an IndieBookgogo campaign?). We are offering a couple tiers of support options: Donation tiers: ▪ Anything below $50: You have our eternal gratitude and an invitation to a future grand opening of Project Secret Door, a private event held in a post-pandemic future (details to come). ▪ $50 to $100 donations: we have a limited amount of spots available to have your name OR the name of your favourite author included within the mural! ▪ Over $100: we have a limited number of spots available for larger inclusion of your name OR the name of your favourite author included within the mural! Be a permanent part of the history of Words Worth Books. To secure your spot within our mural, contact Mandy at mandy@wordsworthbooks.com All donations under $50 can be processed over the phone, just call us at 519-884-2665.

A post shared by Words Worth Books (@wordsworthbooks) on Apr 25, 2020 at 10:52am PDT