We’re Finally Caught Up!
(i. e. Order Fulfillment Update)
As you may know, in late March, Maggie Weber (RefashionedHippie) posted a video review of our chocolate bars, which went viral. As of now, the video has approximately 700K views total across social media. Between late March and early June, we received around 700 orders (both retail and wholesale), which was simultaneously exciting and extremely overwhelming. With my wedding in early April, BookCon mid-April, and five additional in-person events from April through June, you can just imagine how busy we’ve been these past few months.
We’ve been working extremely hard to fulfill everyone’s orders. And now, we’re finally caught up!
There are a few BookCon orders that still need to go out. These orders are eligible for a complimentary pouch. As soon as our new-and-improved pouches arrive, we will send out these remaining BookCon orders.
We’re still getting a trickle of retail and wholesale orders almost every day now. We’re sending out 17 packages today! With the hot weather, we try to send out orders at the beginning of the week (Mondays and Tuesdays), so orders won’t sit at the post office over the weekend and melt. And we always include complimentary ice packs and insulated packaging.
Future Order Fulfillment
River-Sea Chocolates (who helps us make our chocolate bars) has offered to help us with order fulfillment going forward, which is extremely generous of them, and would be extremely helpful to us. We’re currently in the process of ironing everything out with them. So stay tuned for more details.
Thank you again for your support, understanding, and patience! 📖 🍫 💖
Two New Flavors & Upcoming Kickstarter
Recently, I’ve been working on putting together our upcoming Kickstarter campaign. Every year, we use Kickstarter as a way to fund our newest flavors, and for backers/customers/fans to be first in line to essentially preorder these flavors.
Currently, we’re planning on launching this year’s Kickstarter in early September for our two newest flavors. Every year, our goal is to send out Kickstarter rewards (i.e. chocolate bars) to backers well before December 25th.
Some of you may already know what our two newest flavors are (from our menu and/or from in-person events). But we haven’t announced them yet on the internet. So I thought I’d share some hints.
HINTS:
Flavor No. 1: When translated into English, the page count for this classic piece of literature has anywhere from just over 300 pages to as many as 600. This work was first translated into English in the 16th century. It’s been adapted and reimagined hundreds (if not thousands) of times.
Flavor No. 2: This novella utilizes a frame story and an anonymous protagonist. The story is a social commentary on the time period contemporary to when this work was first published. Some elements of the plot are inspired by the author’s own personal and childhood experiences — his family having spent most of their time in a dark, basement kitchen.
Can you guess what our two new flavors will be?
Please share your guesses in the comments.
😎 I’m a Superbacker!
In other exciting Kickstarter-related news, I’ve recently become a Superbacker!
Superbackers have pledged at least $10 to 25 or more Kickstarter projects in a year. What’s more, Superbackers make up the top 3% of supporters on Kickstarter.
Open Book Chocolates got our start in 2017 via a small but successful Kickstarter campaign. Kickstarter is one way many independent artists, bookstores, and creative small businesses like us get their start. So it’s important to us to support interesting and amazing projects on Kickstarter.
I’m looking forward to supporting more Kickstarter campaigns in the near future!
Bards Alley Bookshop Restock
On Wednesday, June 10th, after visiting River-Sea Chocolates in Reston, we went on a little side quest to drop off sixty chocolate bars at Bards Alley Bookshop in Vienna, Virginia. Bards Alley has been carrying our chocolate bars for five or six years now, and we just adore their cozy, little store. Plus, we’re very excited that they’re in the process of relocating to a new building just down the street. If you’re local to Virginia, we hope you’ll plan a trip to visit Bards!
Bards Alley Bookshop, 110 Church St NW (Early 2027, Moving to 103 Church St NE.), Vienna, VA 22180:
Find Us In Stores
As you may know, our chocolate bars are carried in a number of bookstores and gift shops across the U.S. We’ve recently updated our “Find Us In Stores” page, so please check it out:
If you have any suggestions for stores that you’d like to see carry Open Book Chocolates, please contact me (Geri) via OpenBookChocolates@email.com. Thank you so much!
New Merch in the Works
A few weeks ago, we placed an order with Alchemy Merch (alchemymerch.com) for new-and-improved pouches as well as brand-new bandanas!
Our new-and-improved pouches are full-color, heavyweight material with one design on the front and another design on the back. You can fit about four chocolate bars in a pouch, as well as your literary-inspired accessories (bookmarks, enamel pins, pens, pencils, etc.).
Our brand-new bandanas are 22 by 22 inches, full-color, and made of 100% cotton poplin. They will come packaged with a belly band.
We’re patiently waiting for the pouches and bandanas to arrive at Open Book Chocolates headquarters. Once they do, we’ll be sure to share some photos with you!
Both pouches and bandanas will become available as Kickstarter add-ons for all reward tiers.
Book and Bar: Gourmet Chocolate Tasting at Finist and the Owl Bookstore Recap
On Saturday, May 30th, we traveled to Bellefonte, Delaware (just outside of Wilmington) for a pop-up at Finist and the Owl. This bookstore is so incredibly cute and cozy, and it was fun exploring its various themed rooms. If you’re ever in the area, we recommend stopping by!
Finist and The Owl, 811 Brandywine Blvd, Wilmington, DE 19809:
My Big Finds Pop-Up Recap
On Saturday, June 6th, we were once again at My Big Finds in Kentlands (Gaithersburg, Maryland) for an in-store pop-up. We hadn’t seen the owner, Jodi, in some time (she’s a very busy lady), so it was wonderful catching up with her.
Even when we (Geri & Irene) are not at My Big Finds for a pop-up, our chocolate is always in the store. Plus, My Big Finds just restocked our bars, so (if you’re local) be sure to stop by for some Father’s Day and/or graduation gifts.
My Big Finds, 129 Commerce Square Pl, Gaithersburg, MD 20878:
Voices of Care
On Friday, June 12th, our chocolate bars were featured in a free community event promoting a book called Voices of Care at the Cameron Center in Wailuku, Hawaii. The book’s organizer, Carl J Powell, is a wellness instructor and good friend of a family friend we’ve known for many years. The book is a collection of real stories written by caregivers of loved ones with Alzheimer's, dementia, or chronic illness.
We’re excited that our chocolate bars arrived in Hawaii without melting, and that they were a hit with everyone at the event!
You can learn more about the book by clicking the button below:
What We’re Reading
Geri’s Picks
As a fan of The Terror (both Dan Simmons’s 2007 novel as well as the series), I’m always looking for books of a similar vein. I just finished reading The North Water (2016) by Ian McGuire. Although I’d already watched the 2021 series starring Colin Ferrell and Jack O’Connell (which was very well done), I thought the novel was that much more effective and absorbing.
My next read is The Abominable by Dan Simmons. In addition to The Terror, I very much enjoyed his novel Drood, inspired by Charles Dickens and his BFF (or, in Simmons’s interpretation, “frenemy”) Wilkie Collins (who is one of my all-time favorite authors, best known for The Moonstone and The Woman in White). Unfortunately, Simmons passed away this past February (though I’ve heard rumors that Simmons had some problematic opinions; which is unfortunate, since he was a skilled storyteller). I’m curious to see what mysteries The Abominable contains.
When season 3 of The Terror was announced, I immediately read The Devil in Silver by Victor LaValle. I’m looking forward to watching the adaptation, especially since I enjoy actors Dan Stevens and Aasif Mandvi.
Irene’s Picks
Irene is currently on an Anthony Trollope kick.
“Most of these books deal with the role of marriage for men and women in the Victorian era. Some characters have titles and money, some have titles and no money, and some have lots of money and are seeking titles. Many of the characters have made bad decisions in their marriage choices, and are immovable from these decisions, either because of pride, societal norms, or pure stubbornness. Because these stores were often written for periodicals, the characters are written into corners. So it is fun to discover how Trollope will resolve their dilemmas!”
Phil B.’s Picks
Phil B. (Geri’s husband) enjoys reading manga, manhwa, and light novels (in both print and audiobook formats). He especially enjoys the Isekai subgenre of high fantasy fiction, in which characters are transported to another world. His current favorite is Lout of Count's Family. Translated from Korean to English, nine volumes of this series are currently available from Seven Seas Entertainment. A tenth volume is being released this December. Plus, it’s hard to resist Raon Miru — the lout’s cute, black-scaled, blue-eyed dragon!
Phil G.’s Picks
After rewatching the 2002 series starring Damian Lewis, Rupert Graves, and Gina McKee, Phil G. (Geri’s dad) visited our local used bookstore to procure a copy of The Forsyte Saga by Nobel Prize-winning author, John Galsworthy. This copy includes three novels, originally published between 1906 and 1921. There are two more trilogies that follow, plus several interludes, collectively known as The Forsyte Chronicles. Season one of a brand-new adaptation premiered on PBS Masterpiece earlier this year, with two more seasons in the works.
For more info about the books mentioned above, as well as further book recommendations, please visit Open Book Chocolates on Bookshop.org:
Upcoming Events
Here at Open Book Chocolates, we’re very excited for our upcoming events August through November:
Friday August 7th through Sunday, August 9th: Key City Steampunk Convention in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
Saturday, November 7th through Sunday, November 8th: DMV Chocolate & Coffee Festival in Boyds, Maryland.
Saturday, November 14th through Sunday, November 15th: DMV Chocolates & Coffee Festival in Sterling, Virginia.
Friday, November 27th through Sunday, November 29th: Maryland Christmas Show in Frederick, Maryland.
We will be announcing additional events (September through December) as soon as more information becomes available.
If you’re local to Pennsylvania, Maryland, or Virginia, we hope to see you there!
Please visit our events page for more details:
We hope you stay cool and enjoy your summer. ☀️ ⛱ 😎
See you next time!
Best regards,
Geri
Open Book Chocolates