A women-authors-only, independent bookstore is coming to Katy. The Lost Story Bookshop will celebrate its grand opening this Saturday, August 29.
Located at 1001 Avenue B, the all-genre bookstore’s mission is to center women’s voices, with their Instagram bio stating “If a woman didn’t write it … it’s not on the shelf,”.
The Lost Story Bookshop Owner and author Afton Seeser said she aims to spotlight women in various genres. The store will provide new and used books from both traditionally published authors and independent authors.
“I just love listening to women's stories…I’m really interested in women overall, just getting together, sharing their stories,” Seeser tells CultureMap.
This spotlight on various genres is highlighted in the store’s layout and unique location, a house, with areas separated and color-coded by genre. The combination fantasy and thriller room is purple, the general fiction room is a deep green, and the romance room is pink, Seeser explains. Walking into the store, it is primarily yellow with a few reading areas and writing tables.
Being located inside a house makes the bookstore a space where customers can really hang out, meet up, and host book clubs, Seeser says. This atmosphere is emphasised by the couches in the reading areas and bistro-style tables throughout the store.
As part of its goal to center women’s voices both on and off the page, The Lost Story will host events such as book clubs, literary themed nights, astrology-inspired events, holiday parties, and an ACOTAR 6 midnight release party.
Seeser emphasises that the The Lost Story is a place where all women are welcome to come, whether they are there to meet new friends, discover new authors, or just read in a quiet place.
“I feel like you can't ever have enough spaces for women to gather,“ Seeser says. “I want it to be … more than a bookshop and [a place] for lots of different groups of women to meet.”
The bookstore has already hosted local groups such as the Espresso Society, a Katy book and social club. The store itself has already hosted two evening markets before opening day that included numerous vendors. They also plan on hosting vendors at the store.
“I’m going to have bookish vendors come in and then sell their products,” Seeser noted. “I want to work with local artists too, local vendors, everybody, just because it really helps, you know, build community.”
To Seeser, the store’s mission to center women’s voices includes empowering women generally.
“If you're talking, you're meeting with different people … maybe you can be inspired by these other women on how they live their life and you’re … more ready to center yourself and just your life to overall I feel like get better just being around more women, and you just step into really, a more powerful version of yourself,” Seeser said.
“I just want women-centered talks everywhere,” Seeser said. “Getting together and realizing you can change your life if you watch another woman do that.”
Seeser also hopes to change lives in a small way through The Lost Story Bookshop’s year-round supply drive for young, single mothers and their children.
“I was 18 when I had my son, so I saw a lot of ways young women don't get help,” Seeser shares. “I just want to help as many people as I can because I know there were some people that helped me along the way — just change somebody's life really like [in] a small way.”
The Lost Story Bookshop’s opening day will be from 10 am-3 pm, followed by an evening market in the courtyard from 6-9 pm.
In regards to finding female friendships, Seeser said the key is putting yourself out there.
“There's no reason to hold back, but just be your full authentic self, and you'll just find your people,” Seeser says. “You'll find your community. The more you put yourself out there, the more you'll find who doesn't work for you. And I feel like it's all that sweeter and more special when you find the people that are for you.”
