Installing the first custom stained glass window at the bookstore

Since 1991

Humble Beginnings, Hard Work, and Steady Improvement

Thirty-four years of books, cats, remodels, and one bookcase that will never sit straight again.

“Never limit yourself because of others' limited imagination.”

Mae Jemison

1991

Six layers of clothing and a hot pot of tea

College seniors Cinnamon Dokken and Bryan Peterson took a leap of faith and opened A Novel Idea Bookstore with a stock of 2,000 books. Shelves were made from scrap lumber. The store was in an unheated basement in an old warehouse on the edge of downtown Lincoln.

It was a long year. In the winter, we wore six layers of clothing. We used our hot pot to make tea for customers, so they'd have something to keep them warm while they shopped. We had old space heaters near the desk. Every now and then the heaters would blow the fuses and we'd all be left in the dark — customers would use flashlights to browse while we worked to get the lights back on.

It was a long year, but the shop paid its bills and we increased the stock to about 20,000 books.

1992

Windows, heat, and the first cat

We moved to our present location in downtown Lincoln, which had glorious amenities like windows and heating.

One of our regular customers found a feral kitten downtown and brought him to us. That little grey tabby inaugurated a tradition of cats in our shop. We have had five over the years. Princes, every one. Each year we publish a Books, Cats, Life is Good calendar that features quotes and photos of our famous felines.

An early photo of the bookstore's first shop space

1994

Katherine arrives; Bryan heads to Japan

Katherine Bergstrom, a book lover since birth, came to work in the shop. Bryan headed to Japan to teach English and to pursue his avocation in Martial Arts. Cinnamon became the sole proprietor and Katherine became the store's in-shop manager.

Mid-90s remodel of the downstairs, built with family help

The remodel years

Built hell for stout

We spent the next several years remodeling the store with the help of family and friends. In Cinnamon's dad's workshop, we built new shelving featuring inset tiles and relief carving.

If you look closely at the bookcases in the literature section, you'll find the case that fell from the trailer and dragged behind for quite some time before we noticed the sound it made. The bottom corner of that case was rubbed off and it still sits at a slant. However, because the cases were built “hell for stout” as Cinnamon's dad says, it still does a fine job of holding the books.

The satellite shop in Brownville, Nebraska

2006

Chapter Two, population 145

We opened a satellite shop in the small town of Brownville, Nebraska, right on the Missouri River. With a population of 145, the town had a winery, concert hall, summer stock theater, floating hotel, several museums and four bookstores.

A Novel Idea Bookstore: Chapter Two was open Thursdays–Sundays, April–December. We had a small apartment below the bookshop and spent a charmed five years as part of the community. It was a nice bit of extra income and a whole lot of fun.

One of the bookstore's custom-designed stained glass windows

Ever since

Oak, glass, and a staircase painted like old books

We continued developing the store, reinvesting as we went, focusing on an improvement project each year. We commissioned an oak counter with lit glass shelving. A local artist painted our staircase to look like old books. We installed two custom-designed stained glass windows. We created another rare book cabinet.

The bookstore occupies two floors. Patrons browse a fascinating collection of used, rare and out-of-print books, a wide selection of hardcover and paperback fiction and non-fiction, along with fun sideline items such as Blind Date Books, postcards and buttons.

More recently we've expanded our web and social media presence, and we now offer new books through our partnership with Bookshop.org — which is sort of like the Rebel Alliance to the Empire of Amazon.

What hasn't changed

Quality books, personal service.

We are members of the American Booksellers Association, Midwest Independent Booksellers Association, and the International Online Booksellers Association. Community is important to us and we have a longstanding tradition of involvement and investment in education, the arts, social justice and helping to meet people's basic needs.

We offer an ever-changing inventory of books and literary gifts including socks, NovelTeas, notecard sets, tarot decks, puzzles, candles — and even our own artisanal chocolate bars. As always, we'll happily recommend books to you in person, on the phone or by email, and we continue to offer curbside pickup and shipping via USPS.

We've built our business on finding quality books and providing personal customer service. Our staff is knowledgeable, friendly and reads like crazy. Whether you're looking for a relaxing browse, searching for a particular title or selling a collection, we think you'll enjoy visiting our store. Thank you for your support — we greatly appreciate your business!

The literature section, with a shop cat keeping watch