Members of a literary group found they, too, were not immune from the COVID-19 pandemic closing the book on their desire to meet and discuss writing and various works.
“The Watershed Journal Literary Group couldn’t meet at any of our usual places,” said Jessica Weible, executive editor of the group. “We were even meeting in my yard and then it started to get cold.”
Then, inspired by their passion to promote literary works, the group decided to why not gauge the community on whether it would like to see a bookstore and literary arts center in Brookville.
Weible said the group then set a fundraising goal and the response was overwhelming. The group quickly amassed more than double its fundraising goal, enabling it to open Watershed Books at 108 Main St. in Brookville.
“Donations have been the key to opening the store,” Weible said. “We have had everything from shelves and carpet to a computer and a laptop donated. People with limited internet connection can come in here and utilize our resources.”
And, of course, books have been donated to the nonprofit.
“We had one person donate about 5,000 books. They had more, but we were only able to move so many,” Weible said. “We put out a call for volunteers and 15 people showed up. One person brought a horse trailer. There was a little bit of everything in there.”
Weible said so many books have been received that not all of them can be put out.
“What we can’t put out we can put away. We are constantly restocking our shelves,” she said. “We may soon have comic books. The books that we receive that are really worn we put in a box out front for anyone to take.”
Weible and her group are pleased with the response from within and outside the community.
“The response has been amazing,” she said. “We have had people in the store from California and Rochester and they became members on the spot. People are excited about our mission.”
Weible said the Watershed Journal Literary Group started two years ago with 20 members and has grown to 50.
The Jefferson County literary group serves 11 counties, including Clarion and Venango. It provides publishing opportunities, workshops and literary events.
“We promote regional authors. In our store we also have books by those authors on consignment,” Weible said. “This summer, we hope to have a book fair that will feature the region’s authors.
“Having this location (Main Street) is the culmination of all of our efforts.”
Weible published her first book, “Dead Letters,” in May and is working on her second book.
“I would never have published my own book without the support and momentum of a literary community,” she said. “What I have put into the organization, I have gotten from the organization.”
She said the organization is “financially sound” through this year.
“Our magazine, the Watershed Journal, is self-sustaining through sales and advertising,” Weible said. “All of our book sales go to supporting the store. Everyone here is a volunteer.”
And, she said, reading a book is a “good way to get through a pandemic winter.”