Flying Pig Lands Successfully in Shelburne

Founded in November 1996 as a children's bookstore in Charlotte, Vermont, The Flying Pig celebrated its 10th anniversary last Saturday as a general bookstore specializing in children's books in the neighboring town of Shelburne. In September, owners Elizabeth Bluemle and Josie Leavitt moved the store to the newly restored 200-year-old Shelburne Inn, where its selling space doubled to 1,400-square-feet.

Both owners have a dizzying array of talents, special interests, and associations: The two are former schoolteachers, sharing a background in adult literacy. Leavitt is an award-winning standup comic, and Bluemle recently authored a critically acclaimed picture book, My Father the Dog (Candlewick), a Book Sense Summer 2006 Children's Pick. Her second book will be published in fall of 2007.

Leavitt continues to perform regularly in Vermont clubs and teaches comedy classes as well. She is a weekly sidekick on a popular morning radio program, and for two years was the chief of Charlotte Rescue, the town's voluntary ambulance corps.

Bluemle co-founded the Charlotte BookShelf, a nonprofit organization that donates new books to Vermont families and programs in need, and the Charlotte Town Players, a multigenerational community theater, which donates all profits to BookShelf. She also directs the theater's productions.

The Flying Pig boasts about 38,000 books, but said Leavitt, "Thanks to our BookSense.com site, we have a database of over two million titles, updated daily. People often check the site," she added. "They read about our events and see what's new, but most people like to come to the store and visit in person. Some of our insomniac customers like to order books online in the middle of the night."

The Book Sense Picks lists proved to be especially helpful, according to Leavitt, as the store expanded its audience from primarily young people to readers of all ages. "We've just started using the Book Sense gift cards," said Leavitt. "People seem to really like them."

Flying Pig offers a variety of distinctive sidelines, including book-related toys, windup and balloon-powered toys, journals, and "an amazing array of cards."

The bookstore, which shares the converted inn with offices, a restaurant, and a new toy store, now has ample room for larger events. Leavitt and Bluemle plan to continue hosting appearances by many well-known Vermont authors, such as Chris Bohjalian, Katherine Paterson, and Karen Hesse.

"We went from [Charlotte] a town of 3,500," Leavitt said, "to [Shelburne] a town of 12,000. Our new community is so happy that we're here; people couldn't be nicer." --Nomi Schwartz