Vanishing Ink Books & Ideas Is a Dream in Progress for Hastings
Vanishing Ink Books & Ideas Is a Dream in Progress for Hastings
Local author Allyson McCabe is starting a virtual and pop-up store with plans for a brick-and-mortar store soon
by Janine Annett
Hastings-on-Hudson — As a journalist and author, Hastings resident Allyson McCabe understands the importance of bookstores and fostering a sense of community. That’s why she’s getting ready to open Vanishing Ink Books & Ideas in the village.
Currently, Vanishing Ink has a virtual storefront on Bookshop.org where customers can purchase books and have them delivered. A pop-up version of Vanishing Ink made an appearance at the Queer Market at The Good Witch Coffee Bar on April 20 and will be a presence at the Friday Night Pride event on June 7. Vanishing Ink hopes to find a permanent brick-and-mortar home by summer or fall; McCabe is scouting for the Goldilocks of spaces that will be just the right fit.
At the bookstore, McCabe plans to carry bestsellers alongside works by local authors and a selection of music, arts, and culture-focused books for adults and kids alike. In addition, she plans to host events — including readings, film screenings, art installations, listening parties, and workshops on topics like hosting a podcast, creating a zine, and writing a memoir. There will also be a curated collection of items that stoke creativity.
When McCabe was on tour for her book, Why Sinéad O’Connor Matters, published in 2023, she realized that many of the people who attended her readings were talking not only about the book, but about broader issues related to the book (including the way the singer/activist “never stopped trying to change the world,” according to McCabe) and beyond. Bookstores serve not only as transactional places, but as places to engage, and McCabe wants to bring such a venue to Hastings.
“We can have community discussions, workshops, art, music, and more,” said McCabe. “There’s so much creativity and talent in Hastings.”
McCabe plans to start crowdfunding soon to help make her bookstore dreams become a reality. “This is a little corny, but I’m going to say it: It takes a village,” McCabe added.
“Vanishing Ink is set up as a public benefit corporation,” McCabe explained. “That means it’s a mission-driven, for-profit enterprise that allows us to be innovative, inclusive, and sustainable.” McCabe is also taking part in initiatives such as Launch 1000, an entrepreneurial training program that helps new businesses; is being mentored by SCORE, an organization that helps new businesses grow; and has become a member of the American Booksellers Association.
As for the name Vanishing Ink, McCabe says it’s a nod to the idea of the written word disappearing. “Book bans, censorship of curricula, the disappearance of local news, a diminished public media — I’m trying to be the antidote to that,” McCabe said. “I want to create a place where the ink never vanishes.”
To keep up with Vanishing Ink Books & Ideas and sign up for updates, visit https://vanishinginkbooks.com/.
Looking for another way to support Rivertowns Current?