A Likely Story Turns the Page

A Likely Story, the 20-year-old children's bookstore in Alexandria, Virginia, has changed ownership, but otherwise has remained much the same. Although Dinah Paul became the store's new owner on March 1, the founder and former owner, Marilyn Dugan, continues to work there, as does the rest of the staff. Sheilah Egan, store manager and president of New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association, also eases the transition from past to present. Paul knows the staff well after working in the store for the past year and a half.

"When my husband and I moved to northern Virginia, I wanted to open a children's bookstore," Paul told BTW, "but I needed a lot of hands-on experience before looking for my own store. I loved working there. It was just great timing that Marilyn [Dugan] was interested in selling A Likely Story. She's staying on to help with the transition."

Paul wants to expand and build on some of the store's programs -- adding more storytimes, a writer's workshop, and a mother/daughter book club. The store is now open late on certain evenings, and Paul has instituted teachers' night. The store didn't miss a beat as the keys changed hands: On Paul's first week as owner, Christopher Paolini, author of Eragon, paid a visit to a throng of fans. --Nomi Schwartz