At the heart of Busy Corner Books there is a simple, cherished memory:

It is May 2007, around quarter of a mile from our newly purchased countryside cottage, at the end a hogweed, daisy decorated foxglove lane, there's a small fork shape in the road — with a triangle shape of grass in the middle. A home-made junction leading off to the village farm and to our village centre.

It's here where we meet villagers while walking our dog, Jack. Our independent-when-she-wants-to-be Kitty-cat follows close behind with her dainty meow sounds of I want to come too? 

It's here, on the grass triangle, where we exchange casual conversation.

Being from the city, this connection feels both friendly and strangely unreal.

We share updates about our surprise cottage renovation stories; learn news of Mrs Woodstone's missing gloves, and how Mr & Mrs Smithson have now finished cleaning the old phone box, ready for the new home-made village swap-a-book library club.

Next, firm contingency plans are offered by the Parish Councillor for when young bullocks escape the farmers' field (they've pushed open the gate twice this week), and how to help an egg-bound hen, while on the look-out for the unfriendly village pheasant, taken to chasing anything within its path, especially at this time of year. Those pheasants are bold mannered, and equal in colour from April onwards — it's a seasonal thing.

Split conversations have become the norm, as we pause with child-like quiet excitement — "Look… a buzzard… the swifts have arrived early this year, a barn owl at four o'clock… a deer… a fox... a badger… bats!!"

There was something surreal yet comforting about it all, with just a hint of feeling like we were living in a dream. Avoiding conversation, out of the question — this was our new society, our community, people being genuinely friendly and helpful. Plus, did you know, there actually is a Hare Appreciation Society keeping regular count of those fluffy athletes?

And so, we affectionately named this chatty place, Busy Corner.

From our shared humble space of acknowledgment and connection… and my continued enjoyment of journal writing, something more was growing: As my counselling, psychotherapy studies and training placements ended; Spiritual Direction and discovering God in all places evolved: Busy Corner Books was delivered through graciously wanting to bottle the specialness of it all, along with a newer learning curve from self and mainstream book publishing. Unable to help with the renovations, I taught myself book publishing. And, Busy Corner Books was born.

From our tiny corner of the world, from everyone at Busy Corner: Welcome, we hope you enjoy your own special journey. All the very best, Paula.