A few month’s ago a pop-up book cart appeared outside of Artique in Kamas known as Paige’s Pages created by Paige Guion from Wanship. You’ll be pleasantly surprised to find an amazing selection of Utah and western authors. We wanted to learn more about Paige’s Pages and hear what she’s got planned next! We’ve asked her a few questions to find out more. You can stop by and talk to her yourself and browse the books from her pop-up shop Wednesday through Sunday from 11:00 to 6:00 at Artique in Kamas!

Arts Council: Can you tell me a bit about Paige’s Pages? How did you get started? Where can we find you? What are your hours?

Paige Guion: In my dream Paige’s Pages began as a brick and mortar bookstore complete with a cat, stacks of dusty books waiting to be sorted and a community of loyal locals who come seeking interesting titles and who offer intriguing recommendations. But every article I read on owning an independent bookstore pointed out that simply loving books was not enough.

A bookstore is a business first and foremost. I confess my naïveté because I really just love books and know nothing about business ownership. So I took several small business classes and quickly realized the expense and risk were not reasonable. The biggest question being - could Summit County as a community support another bookstore? So the vision was whittled down until I settled on the current model which is a portable, transit cart that can carry 36 titles give or take a few. This portable pop-up model will allow me to be in the community and get a more clear idea of how we read and what we read.

It took about eight months to configure and build the cart, get a business license, start building relationships with local publishers, and create accounts with distributors. So I missed the season to be outside at local coffee shops, farmers markets and the Park Silly Market. Which are all venues I plan to attend next year.

Katie Jean, the owner of Artique which is a quaint little artists co-op shop in Kamas, has been incredibly generous and supportive. She has offered the back room of her store for Paige’s Pages to have a warm, cozy place to be through the winter. Artique’s hours are Wednesday through Sunday from 11:00 to 6:00.

AC: What kind of books do you feature? Do they rotate out often?

PG: I decided to focus on regional independent publishers - Torrey House Press, The University of Utah Press, University of Arizona Press. Because I had no idea what would be of interest to our community. The initial inventory is a reflection of my own interests. Stories of the impact of mining and energy development on our public lands and waters, the cultural history of The Bears Ears, how we can improve the health of ecosystems, Gay Rights and the Mormon Church and current research into the use of psychedelics for PTSD, Depression and end of life anxiety. I also offer a few elaborate kids pop-up books because they’re beautiful, unique and I thought they would make great gift books.

Now that I’ll be at Artique through the winter I’ve added used children’s books, memoir, non-fiction, poetry and fiction. I try and rotate these weekly. Not the whole inventory of course but I’ll remove some and add new finds I’m excited about. Right now I’m really just trying to get a sense of what folks are interested in.

AC: What was your inspiration for this?

PG: Honestly? After 25 years of nursing I was exhausted, burnt out, and completely disillusioned with our healthcare system. As a family we decided that I would take a year away from health care, focus on self care and rediscover things that bring me joy. I took a bookbinding class at the University of Utah, which was delightful, and remembering my love of books the idea unfolded from there.

AC: Do you have a background in books or publishing?

PG: No! But since I’ve begun meeting bookstore owners, talking to publishers, and attending authors lectures I wonder why in the world I wasn’t involved with this industry before the age of 55!!

AC: Do you plan on growing?

PG: Gosh - wouldn’t it be fantastic to have a warm little community bookstore tucked away in a secret corner of Kimball Junction? A place for writing groups to meet, afternoon story time for children and book-signings by obscure and brilliant authors. Sigh.

We’ll see. But honestly I quickly deduced that it would have to be a collaboration. Maybe someone out there wants to open a cafe, serve great coffee and treats? You’d have to sell an awful lot of books to make a profit and pay commercial rent prices - but a collaboration might make it feasible.

AC: Do you have a favorite book?

PG: Wow! I had to think about this! No. No, I don’t have a favorite book but I have A LOT of books that are favorites! East of Eden, The Crossing, The Bone People, One Hundred Years of Solitude, Nickeled and Dimed, Quiet, The Emperor of All Maladies and on and on! For me the effect a book has is influenced much more by where I am in my life and not just by good or bad writing. A book I pick up but quit reading after a handful of pages may seem very different at a different time. This may explain the precariously stacked pile of books most ‘readers’ have on their bedside table.

AC: Do you have a website? Social Media?

PG: Right now Paige’s Pages is attached to Artique via Facebook and Instagram.

AC: Anything else you want to add?

PG: It has been such a pleasure to meet fellow book lovers!! They have informed me of events I never would have known about, recommended great titles for me to explore. This has been incredibly rewarding! I look forward to more and more connection and sharing of ideas!

Stop by Artique in Kamas Wednesday through Sunday from 11:00 to 6:00 to visit Paige’s Pages pop-up book cart.

Paige's Pages // A Pop-up Book Cart in Kamas