Between the Shelves: A Conversation with Ana Buckley of Fables and Fancies
By Elizabeth Converse
When did you first start loving books? I was a very very young child. When we visited my aunt — she lived up in the mountains — she had a little library on the bottom floor of her house, and while my parents and my aunt and uncle had conversations, I would be downstairs going through the books. She was a huge Lord of the Rings fan! There were so many Lord of the Rings things down there, with dragons and things, and I was like, well, this looks exciting. So I forced myself to read it, because even though I loved it, it was pretty advanced reading for a child. But I got through it, and that just set me off on my journey. It's an escape, it's learning and growing and experiencing. My favorite thing in the world.
How did you come to choose Sierra Madre? I've always thought Sierra Madre was a beautiful walking community, that had a gap that needed to be filled. Books are kind of a luxury now — they're not something people seek out.
What is your favorite thing about Fables and Fancies? The community that's grown around it. People are wonderful here — welcoming.
What do you offer besides selling books? We do children's story time and crafts — free, every weekend. Book clubs, author events, women's groups, activism events. It's a packed calendar. Beyond selling books, we try to be a hub. We offer third space for kids. There's a lot of spontaneous volunteers who just show up and never really leave, so I make them alphabetize things.
What are these volunteers like — school-age or adults? Young people, 12 to 24, who stamp bags and alphabetize — and want somewhere to be, somewhere they feel safe, accepted, seen.
I see you also exhibit art. Tell me about that. That happened organically. My brother is an artist, and I've always had his pieces here. Once the Art Walks started, it occurred to me we could just keep showing art and inviting artists to share their work. So now we have a gallery railing and a rotating collection. Also, bring your dog in — I take pictures of every one, and there's always a fresh water bowl and treats waiting.
What does Fables and Fancies specialize in? Just books, really — new and used. I prefer fiction, and there's far more fiction on the shelves, but I try to carry a little bit of everything. Sierra Madre is kind of insular — once the community's bought a book, they're not gonna buy it again. The places I worked before were tourist traps; you could carry the same book forever. Here I have no choice but to go through all the new releases constantly. It's actually a fun challenge.
Is there anything that particularly attracts Sierra Madre readers? National parks. Books about national parks just move — mysteries, unexplained occurrences — people love those. People love their trees out here. Beyond that, our top sellers are never the national top sellers. I've had books that were number three in the country sit on the shelf for a month and a half with no takers. Sierra Madre does not go for that. They're more individualized — maybe picking up easy bestsellers somewhere else and coming here for more specialized titles.
Do you have a favorite category yourself? Fiction — horror, sci-fi, fantasy, YA, depends on my mood. Right now I'm reading Witches by Brenda Lozano, a Mexican novel translated from Spanish. It's about Curanderismo — faith healing — but really it's exploring women who are othered because of what they do or what they are. It's told in two voices: the interviewer's chapters are very linear, and the healer's chapters are dreamy, poetic — you almost have to sound it out to get the meaning. It's just astonishing. I ordered three copies for the store.
Any other reading recommendations? Reservoir Bitches by Dahlia de la Cerda — short stories about violence in the border towns, nominated for the Booker Prize. I am Mexican, and I seek out Mexican authors. It's what I know, it's what I am. I plan to include more underrepresented authors as I grow!
What's your dream for the shop? Self-sustaining. Enough staff to run the shop, More. community-oriented things and the time for behind-the-scenes work. Longer term, I think about publishing under the Fables and Fancies imprint, and I'd love another tree.
You've been part of the Art Walk since it began. What's your experience been? I love it. Sierra Madre, is a sleepy little town— by 3 o'clock it's tumbleweeds going down the street. Evening events that get people out are vital. I look forward to seeing more people, and using social media to spread the word in a highly effective way.
The next Art Walk is June 19th, 4 to 8.