By: Liz (Don't call me Betsy) McCall
From: The Vintage Toyshop Mysteries
First book: Death of a Toy Soldier
Hi, there. I think I’m in the right place. See, this is my first time here.
I’m Liz McCall, and I manage Well Played, a vintage toyshop in East Aurora, New York.
The shop was actually my dad’s dream of a lifetime. When he retired from the police force, he sank most of his pension into the storefront on Main Street. He and I moved into the small apartment over the shop, and soon started filling the retail space with toys from all decades, all carefully cleaned and restored.
One would think that a toy shop would be a draw for children, and I guess most of the kids who come in like us just fine. But it’s really the adults drawn to the shop. Some collectors, yes, and even a few interior decorators, if you can imagine that. But for most of our customers, nostalgia lures them in…and brings them back.
It’s hard to walk down any aisle and not see something that immediately takes you back to those— hopefully happy—days of childhood. Maybe it’s that doll with the eyes that opened and closed, that you carefully tucked into its bassinet at night. Or a cap pistol that you were sure would allow you to catch all those desperados roaming around the neighborhood. Or even the Scooby Doo lunchbox into which your mom would pack a PB & J, an apple, and a Thermos of milk.
Whether it’s an action figure from a cherished movie or TV show, or that board game played on rainy afternoons, those memories might be distant, but they run deep. It’s not surprising that the most repeated sounds in our shop are happy squeals, followed by, “I remember that!”
TODAY’S GIVE AWAY is the pictured VINTAGE TOYSHOP Super Swag Pack PLUS a somewhat rare advance review copy of DEATH OF A TOY SOLDIER. To enter, leave a comment below, including your email address in a safe, spam-free format (ie. cozyreader AT myhost DOT com). International entries permitted. One entry per person.
Occasionally blogger hiccups and loses comments. If you have trouble posting a comment, alternately you may enter here. Winner will be chosen at random and notified via the email provided.
Question for discussion: Do you have a favorite toy you remember from your childhood?
Occasionally blogger hiccups and loses comments. If you have trouble posting a comment, alternately you may enter here. Winner will be chosen at random and notified via the email provided.
Question for discussion: Do you have a favorite toy you remember from your childhood?
Posts
Am I allowed to enter your giveaway as I live in the UK. I remember a sack of toys was giving to us by someone whose children had grown out of them well as I was a bit of a tomboy my favourite was a little tin garage with 3 tin cars. My email if I'm allowed to enter is [email protected]
ReplyDeleteYes, you can enter. Thanks for doing so!
DeleteThank you
DeleteJacks. Did anyone else play with these? We spend hours sitting outside playing with them.
ReplyDeletekpbarnett1941[at]aol.com
I liked them, but I was awful at it. So good for developing coordination, though.
Delete