The First Day of Business in Fox Curio’s Floating Bookshop
Meet new customers and fulfill literary orders as a journal records the cozy happenings with Fox Curio’s Floating Bookshop.
One of the hardest things for me in terms of keeping up with a solo journaling RPG is just that… Keeping up! Yet after my first day with Fox Curio’s Floating Bookshop, I was excited to continue this journey on the River. It was time to open up the bookshop for the first time and explore just who might walk through the door in search of a book or answer!
Game Overview
Game Name: Fox Curio’s Floating Bookshop
Publication Year: 2023
Designer: Ella Lim
Artists: Ella Lim and Linnea Sterte
Publisher: Lost Ways Club
Solo Mode: Designed for Solo (Included in the Base Game)
Cards and dice help provide random elements to write about on this lovely journey on the River. As a bookseller, there are tasks to be undertaken, customers to meet, towns to explore, and so much more! My River and Stone playing cards certainly fit the theme pretty well, too!
The First Customer
After Jenkin spent the first day participating in Rinse, the main holiday, it seemed like the right time to get down to business. The bookshop opened for the first time!
Cards provided the weather outlook for the day, along with the number of main customers. Note, though, that these are just the stand-outs, while more flow in and out.
The first one in the door was a very chatty little rabbit. I used some Once Upon a Time cards to generate details.
She was a pip, but settled on the best book: “How to Hide and Be Rescued Responsibly.” Wonder what she’s up to…
Another Daily Page
Initially, I wanted to give myself a reason not write so much, but who doesn’t get excited about the first wave of customers?! This day took up 2 full pages again.
Still, I didn’t feel like I was forcing myself to write more. It was sort of like a stream of consciousness, narrating some action and tossing in little details I liked the sound of.
Is this handwriting neat enough? Ha ha! This is also why I take a little extra time getting through solo journaling.
With some water and stream sounds in the background, time both moved slowly and flew by. So lovely!
Afternoon Complaints
A card corresponds with tables for different kinds of customers, and not all of them are the most pleasant.
This beaver came in with a mouthful of complaints, but Jenkin was observant enough. Her teeth were overgrown and she seemed to be in poor spirits over the discomfort.
He led her straight to a huge book filled with fairytale stories about Horace, the little lion. With any luck, she would find a comrade with similarly uncomfortable teeth!
I love how customers start off as these single encounters, but can eventually turn into regulars or friends. Clever!
Hiding in the Shadows
When it was nearly closing time, Jenkin was quite pleased with his little bookshop. But the day wasn’t done just yet… He practically ran over a very shy cat with tangled hair.
He chose a 5-book series in the horror or ghost realm, but didn’t speak a single word. I left the encounter rather short and filled with mystery. I do hope we see him again!
Jenkin set up a proper bookkeeping system in the midst of the day and sold 33 books for a total of 42 coins. Not bad!
Staying in Arborea might develop customers, but there are so many towns to float to. Jenkin will have to decide.
Can You Ever Do Solo Journaling Wrong?
No. Not at all! Technically, I played the first day wrong by forgetting to draw weather cards. Did that affect anything? Nope! My journal entry was the perfect introduction. This one does have some tracking in terms of elements like coins and books. Mistakes happen, and there isn’t any pressure to do everything exactly correctly all the time.
There are a number of different parts to the daily sequence. It will become easier to move through everything rather intuitively, but the relaxing theme helps solidify the idea that solo journaling is all about writing. I’m sure if a weather forecast or task doesn’t feel quite right, I’ll make some adjustments to make it fit in with the story I want to tell. Easy!
Keep in mind, too, that solo journaling RPGs won’t work for everyone since the rules are a little nebulous or malleable. Plus, the world-building forms a general foundation with lots of empty spaces to fill in. My descriptions of the River, towns, and animalfolk are going to be very different from someone else… And that’s a core part of the fun of this game!
Daily Bookkeeping
During those days when the bookshop is open, a roll indicates a daily task. Jenkin began with a desire to set up a proper bookkeeping system. A wise sort of move!
I had a little fun with this and added a couple of lines at the bottom of this journal entry. I’m also tracking coins and books on the calendar, too. This is an organized shop!
This could easily turn into a more detailed accounting record, but this is perfect for what I want from the game.
Besides, maybe Jenkin isn’t exactly the best bookkeeper… I do wonder what mishaps might befall the bookshop?
Playing a Bookseller
This was a fun first day! Plenty of interesting stories that might turn into something, but I loved thinking about the customers walking through the rows of bookcases.
I enjoyed being able to craft this story in my own way. It could have taken many turns, but I enjoyed adding just a touch of humor with the complaining beaver. Ha!
There was a lot of flipping around the book for tables and processes, although this went quickly with the PDF.
Jenkin was a most excellent bookseller already, and it looked like I could sneak in just one more day…
A Day of Crafting
Despite plans to open the bookshop, Jenkin came up with an idea! His daily task led him to close and work on creating custom book bags that he might sell later on.
I pulled out one of my least used decks for this to get a general idea of what he painted, and just to look at some of the very nice saying. Can’t go wrong with these cards!
Leftover fabric and creased leather formed the basis for this merchandise, and a bright splotch of color finished it.
Jenkin also tucked handwritten notes to inspire reading: “But they never again took any advice from a fairy.”
Continue the Conversation
What do you like about Fox Curio’s Floating Bookshop? It’s been an absolutely lovely experience so far, and I look forward to writing more about Jenkin’s time on the River. Do you have any other cozy solo games you enjoy? I probably won’t report on my daily adventures, but I’ll be sure to share recaps as the days flow by and books fly off the shelves!
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