Haunted Burrow Books Cultivates Local Creative Literary Community
Interior of Haunted Burrow Books
The Evergreen Echo
Nestled on a dark block of 15th Avenue in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood, Haunted Burrow Books doesn’t immediately stand out. The plain black storefront can be easily overlooked as one is walking by; what is harder to ignore is the giant stitched rabbit (named Poe and a probable witch) watching window shoppers from behind the counter. The inside of the shop is tranquil, and yes: there are a lot of horror books! And not just from big-name authors— Haunted Burrow Books makes an effort to lift up voices from smaller presses and places special emphasis on local authors and artists. But don’t worry: If horror isn’t your jam, there are other offerings as well, especially in mystery, sci-fi, and fantasy.
Owner, bookseller, Horror Writers Association member, editor, and writer Roxanne Guiney was kind enough to meet with me to talk about Haunted Burrow Books, its mission, and why local literature matters.
Izzy Christman (IC): Tell me a little bit about how Haunted Burrow Books got started.
Roxanne Guiney (RG): I started doing vendor fairs. I am an editor by trade and worked a lot with the Seattle writing community. So, I was already pretty well-versed in genre fiction. It was just something to keep me engaged in the writing community when editing work was slow. I had an opportunity to move into the retail space on Capitol Hill to test the [brick-and-mortar] model.
IC: And tell me about yourself!
RG: I have my own editing company: Shadow Puppet Editing. I got my Certificate in Editing from UW. I’ve worked in localizing, line editing, audio transcriptions. Before that, I actually worked in research. I’m also a writer! I’ve published short horror, and my first novel is horror/magical realism.
IC: What is Haunted Burrow Books’ mission?
RG: Finding homes for scary and fantastical books while supporting the reading and writing community and uplifting marginalized authors and readers, including queer/BIPOC/femme authors.
IC: Why horror?
RG: I like it! If I was going to make such a risky move (starting an indie bookstore), it needed to be something I was comfortable learning about.
IC: Why local?
RG: It was never really a question for me. I see myself as a community bookstore, and the Seattle writing community has always been my home. It was only natural for local authors to be the faces at my events.
IC: And I couldn’t help but notice your logo, so…Why rabbits?
Haunted Burrow Books logo on a handmade banner
The Evergreen Echo
RG: I am absolutely a bunny lover. I think they’re adorable and fun little creatures. They are bossy and bratty and destructive, but they are also happiness in a little tiny package. If I was [sic] an animal, I would most certainly be a bunny. I am made of anxiety. I am always ready to move and do what I need to do. I love snacks. I can be a little bossy. I am the original bunny for Haunted Burrow Books. The character in the tapestry is Poe. The logo was designed by Seventh Heaven and the tapestry was made by my mom.
IC: What’s next for Haunted Burrow Books, and what would you like readers to know about the store?
RG: The next couple months are going to be pretty slow for author events, but we do have two coming up—one in February and one in May. We also have three book clubs a month. Stephen King on first Sundays, after hours general horror fiction, speculative fiction club. Hugo House silent reading night! I have been absolutely pleasantly amazed by the enthusiasm people have been showing for physical books. The excitement people show when they find a book has just brought so much to me. I especially love when somebody’s eyes light up when I can help them find a book. It’s just the most wonderful feeling when I can put a book into someone’s hand and know they’re going to enjoy it. Giving them a rec and having them come back and tell them how much they loved it.
IC: What kind of events are you interested in hosting?
RG: I have been fortunate enough to try all the things. [Book clubs] have been well attended. The writing groups are pretty small…but I’m mostly interested in events about books and authors. Local signings, release parties, and book clubs are faves.
IC: And finally: what are you reading right now?
RG: Catabassis, The Bookshop Below, and I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast Is Me. Also the [advance reader copy] for Tradwife.
Roxanne has worked hard to cultivate a unique space that not only feeds a niche market; it also has become a third space for horror lovers of all kinds. To learn more about Haunted Burrow Books, check out the website.
