Bookseller Profile

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Stella Books

About Us
Stella Books is a family-run business and is in fact two bookshops (Stella and Rose's) situated in rural picturesque Wales. Cliff, Chris and two daughters Sonia and Maria together with 11 other staff manage the shops, booksearch, mail order and internet businesses.

Stella Books itself is situated on the banks of the River Wye in the pretty village of Tintern. Here you find the 11th century Tintern Abbey, one of the loveliest and best-known monastic sites in the British Isles, the ruins of which have nestled deep in the wooded valley for centuries. Here too are waymarked trails allowing the visitor to roam the area and enjoy the beauty and peace of the Wye Valley on foot.

Rose's Books is located in Hay-On-Wye, a pleasant market town on the banks of the River Wye, dominated by its castle in the centre of the town. The Welsh mountain range of the Brecon Beacons is a magnificent backdrop to Hay and provides superb panoramas for the walker and tourist. Nearby is Kilvert's Trail, made famous by the publication of one of the most interesting and entertaining diaries ever written, that of the Reverend Francis Kilvert who lived in Clyro, just outside Hay, for seven years from 1865 to 1872.

Hay has come to be internationally known as "The Town Of Books" and rightly so. It was in 1962 that Richard Booth opened his first bookshop. Since then the bookshop trade in Hay has expanded to its current total of more than 30 separate bookshops with others in close proximity to the town. A paradise for book collectors!

How did you get started?
Cliff has always been a book-aholic and just like any other habit needed to become a seller to fund his habit! Chris became interested in children's books and began collecting first editions of Beatrix Potter's little books. Daughter number one Sonia is profoundly deaf but is ideally suited to the Internet business via ABE using email to communicate with our customers. Daughter two, Maria, also deaf, developed an interest in children's books and hence started shop number two, Rose's, selling only children's and illustrated books.

What keeps you doing it?
1) Addiction! 2) We actually like the feel, look, smell of books and for a short time we're privileged to have books like the beautiful limited editions of Arthur Rackham's illustrated books that we couldn't afford to own.

3) One meets such interesting and nice people. Some examples of the lovely things people say to us are…

"All's well that ends well...Thank you so much for your patience, understanding and your lovely emails...even though I have never seen or spoken to you, I'd like to tell you that you create an atmosphere of warmth and sincerity that is present in each and every email you write, and that is quite unique to say the least. Once again thank you for everything...Best wishes,
V.G. Poland "

"Yes, it is the book - an Internet miracle, no less. I've already replied to Maria at Hay on Wye and sent my order. It's just quite magical, as though I had the magic scissors myself ! Best wishes and thanks to you all for the unending pleasure and delights and surprises that only come from second hand booksellers !
J.D. Australia"

"The books arrived today and I am very pleased with them. This transaction was most enjoyable and I will be occasionally searching your inventory on Abe for more books! Thanks again, and have a great week! S.M. USA"

What is your speciality? How did you choose it?
We have a broad range of subjects from Archaeology to Zoology but the preferences of Chris and Maria show through in the fact that 50% of our stock is children's and illustrated books. We also have an extensive stock of antiquarian prints of Wales.

Do you collect anything besides books?
Cliff has a large collection of Meccano (an engineering based pastime) which stems from his childhood and his World War II jeep of which he is very proud!

Do you have shop pets?
Yes, several. The most important being Sonia's constant companion - Abigail, who is a Hearing Dog for Deaf People. In Rose's Books you will find Holly, Maria's dog, plus numerous cats sat on the radiators and bookshelves. In fact Maria was described in a Japanese book magazine review as "the nice lady with the cat on her lap"!

What's the most unusual book you have ever bought?
"The Stereotaxic Atlas of the Brain of the Pigeon"

Do you have any legendary stories?
We were amazed by the thief who kindly returned the books he'd stolen from us, along with a note to say he'd now finished with them and to thank us for the loan!

And then there are those people who complain that we are asking more for a book than what it says on the wrapper - when the book is 40 years old!

What are your favourite books?
Without doubt the Winnie-The-Pooh books by A.A Milne. They work at several levels, funny for children and hilarious for adults. In fact the older one becomes the more one appreciates the gentle humour.

Our feelings about books are reflected in Pooh Bear's thoughts about Poetry and Hums: "But it isn't Easy," said Pooh to himself, as he looked at what had been Owl's House. "Because Poetry and Hums aren't things which you get, they're things which get you. And all you can do is to go where they can find you".

- Chris, Stella Books

The views of the author, expressed above, are not necessarily those of the Advanced Book Exchange