Fueled by Crucible

   For nearly a decade now, the city of Staunton has been home to performer, writer and creative - Summer England. Since 2018, Summer has woven herself into the local community through her creative pursuits—acting, gardening and the craft of storytelling that has led to her debut novel The Impossible Garden of Clara Thorne.

   With Summer’s background being Fine Arts in Shakespeare and Performance, her path to authorship came through the unsuspecting platform of TikTok. As a content creator sharing personal journal entries, Summer quickly built a following and gained recognition from literary agents.

   Originally envisioned as a rom-com memoir based on those viral TikTok stories, Summer's creative focus shifted and the idea for this book came to her while weeding broccolini beds at Malcolm's Market garden - a farm stand at the local Staunton Farmers Market. To her, this book will always be the one that began her hope in having a long and happy career in writing.

   For Summer, she finds the environment of our Staunton café to be kinetic, but not overstimulating. This has become her place to pop in, fuel up and break up the monotony of typing and listening to her own thoughts. As a former barista and coffee enthusiast, her appreciation for the craft runs deep. At the café Summer treats herself with an extra sweet and large iced oat milk matcha latte, while afternoons transition to an iced oat milk decaf latte, also large and also extra sweet. When at home, she favors a basic cup (or few) of black drip coffee dressed with a little cinnamon on top.

   Coffee is considered to be Summer's “co-writer” and accredits the beverage to getting her where she is today, without she’d be with less energy and a dusty mug collection. We’re lucky and honored to be the café Summer comes to to reset, escape the noise and be one of our Creatives Fueled by Crucible. Find The Impossible Garden of Clara Thorne online with publisher Hachett Book Group and in our local Staunton stores Words Matter Gift Shop and The Book Dragon Shop.

As Ever,
    Victoria // Marketing & Comm Director CCR