New resource available for local reads

Bookseller sets up shop in established Foul Bay Road café

Bibliophiles have a new spot to find local books.

Overleaf Books has relocated from downtown Victoria to a new home at Caffé Misto in Oak Bay.

Overleaf offers both new and used books, buying and selling used fiction and non-fiction, and specializing in presenting new books by local authors.

“Vancouver Island is seething with talented and creative writers, but for those without name recognition, finding buyers is an uphill battle, especially for authors published by small local presses or starting up their own imprints in home offices,” said Barbara Julian, Overleaf owner.

Julian is one of a team of Victoria authors, editors and publishers who produce the monthly book review newsletter Writers’ Choice Reviews (www.writerschoicereviews.com), which aims to bring local writers and readers together.

Caffé Misto is at 2865 Foul Bay Rd. Owner Sasa Petrovic welcomed the book shelves spreading along his walls with an open community spirit.

So far, the customer response has been very positive at the new home, Julian said.

A reading is planned around the fireplace on Dec. 3 from 3:30 to 5 p.m.

“(It’s) a chance to come in from the cold and warm up with a hot drink and a session of stories and poems,” she said.

Overleaf Books is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Saturday, and welcomes a growing stream of visits from writers and readers alike.

editor@oakbaynews.com

Did you know?

• Overleaf Books was formerly located in its own café on Pandora Street, but shifted gears to share space with Caffé Misto in Oak Bay.

• The first public event  scheduled for the new location is a reading on Dec. 3, happening from 3:30 to 5 p.m.

Oak Bay News