PenThrill's ‘The Story Keeper’ unveiled in Kohima

KOHIMA — PenThrill’s retail store ‘The Story Keeper,’ featuring its in-house design partner Think Designs, was formally inaugurated by Rev. Simon Raikhan, Pastor of New Spring Minister, Kohima, on Monday.

Housed in the YouthNet Office Building in Kohima, the physical store is co-owned by Jabu Krocha of Think Designs, PenThrill's in-house design partner.

Publisher of PenThrill Publication House, Vishü Rita Krocha, said that being in the publishing field, it only makes sense that there is a physical store where people can have easy access for the books published under PenThrill.

Also, the experience with reading a physical book is “entirely different and much more profound” than reading an ebook, she shared.

Krocha revealed that opening a physical store for PenThrill had been a long-held dream, spanning four to five years, and she expressed joy at finally realising it.

“This idea of starting a bookstore—when you know a lot of them are closing across the world—may not be the best business venture.

Also read: PenThrill Publication House unveils two new books in Dimapur

The White Owl launches new website to spotlight books from Nagaland

But I think if you look at people who are story sellers, whether as a writer or as a publisher or even as journalists, I think we don't write or tell stories to make money out of it but only because we love stories and we like to tell stories,” she said.

The stories of the people are “very important” and so the space is not just going to be about books, but also about sharing and learning about each other's story, she shared while speaking of the store name, ‘The story keeper'.

The store showcases a mix of new and old – books by local and international authors, design services, preloved books, and stationery, with PenThrill’s old stocks available for INR 50 each.

On upcoming projects, she said there are some books in the pipeline for publication, but the name ‘The story keeper’ has also inspired her with more ideas of bringing up stories.

She is now considering on working on a particular series of books on stories with focus on entrepreneurs, musicians, bakers, farmers, women vendors etc.