- Tell us a little about yourself. Where are you from, and how did you first discover the
world of book nooks?
I am a Florida native from Daytona Beach and I was an Army brat until I was 12 when I
returned to Florida. After seeing many Amazon ads for Book Nooks, primarily MiniCity, I
ordered my first kit and was immediately hooked. - What was the very first book nook or miniature kit you built, and what do you remember
most about it?
My first Book Nook was the MiniCity – Beyond Library Max. What I remember most wasn’t
the almost 200 books that you start with but being worried that I would break the pliable
acrylic panels for the railings. Although this kit is considered an advanced kit, I was happy
to have a larger format kit to start with allowing for more working space to learn the craft. - What keeps you coming back to the hobby? What do you enjoy most about building?
This hobby is typically extremely calming for me unless I hit an unusually frustrating issue. I
enjoy the varied themes available out there and that the manufacturers are catching onto
the fact that they can do more than libraries and stores. Some of the mechanical builds
have proven to be some of my favorite builds simply because you are building this wooden
puzzle and thinking there is no way this is all going to work and when it does, you feel both
amazement and accomplishment. - How would you describe your building style in three words?
Focused, Curious, Methodical - Which completed project are you most proud of, and why does it stand out?
Whale Ark of the Universe
It was my first mechanical kit and I literally set a Book Nook aside that I was working on
when it arrived to build it because I was so excited for it. It did not disappoint and is still a
marvel to admire for me. - Do you prefer building straight from the instructions or adding your own customisations?
Can you share a favourite modification?
I do tend to build as instructed most of the time with the rare deviation. I am still learning
customization techniques, but I do feel comfortable adding lighting, specifically flicker
bulbs, to fireplaces. I haven’t done enough customization yet to truly have a favorite yet. - What essential tools, glues or materials could you not live without?
Tweezers, B-7000 glue, scissors, a large filing board, brown markers, angled nail clippers. - Which manufacturer or designer consistently produces your favourite kits, and what
makes them special?
MiniCity is still safely my favorite kit designer. Beginning with one of their later kits, it was
almost like a step back in time when I received their very first kit and how different that
assembly was from what I am now used to from them. I could clearly tell the many ways
they have made improvements in their kits and instructions since that first kit from both
experience and customer feedback. Their themes span the gambit, and they have both
beginner and unexpectedly advanced builds providing something for everyone. - What’s the most challenging build you’ve ever tackled, and how did you overcome the
difficult parts?
The Kaayee Retro Train kit. This kit is notorious in the community for being one of the most
challenging kits on the market and does not receive positive reviews for multiple reasons. It
went on sale for such a low price, I couldn’t resist the challenge of seeing for myself just
how bad it could be. This kit did not disappoint in safely being the worst kit I have built to
date from the poor quality materials, the design of a structure within a structure, directions
that were questionable at best and lack of instruction on wiring placement on one of the
most convoluted lighting and mechanical systems I have ever seen. I did persevere and got
it built confirming every challenge that had been documented about it. To date, the rear
wall still needs removed most of the time to get the gears to move when activating the
moving scenery so I can’t say that I overcame it. - Have you ever had a build go completely wrong? What happened, and what did you
learn from the experience?
I can’t say that I have had a build go completely wrong YET. Part of why I enjoy Book Nooks
is the act of troubleshooting issues when they arise such as two hours spent figuring out
that a magnetically powered moving box needed the magnet to protrude slightly under the
box to keep the box itself from dragging on the surface it was traveling on. I have removed
components of certain builds multiple times trying to sort out why they were not resting flat
as designed and usually figure it out. Do I expect one day that I will meet my nemesis build,
yes, however that day has not arrived yet. Perhaps it is already somewhere in my
ridiculously large stash of unbuilt kits. - What tips would you give someone building their very first book nook?
Test the lights at the beginning and pay attention to the instructions. When you get to what
should be the end of the build and you have leftover pieces that are not spares, going back
through the instructions to find those pieces is a completely new adventure onto itself. - If you could improve one thing about today’s book nook kits, what would it be?
Listen to the community. This community is passionate about what they would like to see
beyond libraries, magic themed kits and stores. In 2025 when a few horror themed kits
were introduced, they were greeted with enthusiasm for being something we hadn’t seen
yet. Ask us for ideas and inspiration, you may be surprised at what we would like to see
without infringing on copyrights and intellectual property. - Where do you find inspiration for your projects? Books, films, architecture, travel or
somewhere else?
The kits I find most inspiring are the unusual kits that veer from the standard mentioned
previously. The recent architecture series from MiniCity was a welcome change and I do
wish there were more Sci-Fi themed kits available. The Rolife Haunted Candy House was a
nice entry into the Miniature House lineup for Halloween as well. - What techniques have you learned that instantly made your models look more
realistic?
Being the “Out of the box” builder on the team, I haven’t veered as far into the
customization area as the other builders. I have added foliage of different types to kits to
provide some visual and tactile realism. Also, I do try and bring life to the fireplaces found
in many kits by adding or replacing flickering bulbs to the build. - Do you have a dedicated workshop or crafting space? We’d love to hear about your
setup.
My workstation is a sewing table that was given to me. Although it didn’t get used for
sewing, it has become my Book Nook workspace. It has become many different things over
the past 15 months including a cat nap station, photo booth and video studio. - If money and time were no object, what dream book nook would you love to create?
There are so many ideas running around in my imagination, I am not sure I could narrow
this down to one. There is one that I would love to see developed of a castle design and an
animated fireplace without going into further detail. - Which upcoming kit or project are you most excited about?
Currently the Fifijoy Abandoned Asylum has my interest piqued. This could change next
week of course as new kits are being released at such a rapid pace. - What advice would you give to someone who wants to start designing their own original
book nooks?
Do mockups of a practical build, don’t rely solely on AI. Something that looks cool in AI,
may not be possible in real life ultimately. - What does the book nook community mean to you, and how has it influenced your
hobby?
The Book Nook community has shown a passion that I never expected to find in a hobby. I
am happy to see positive feedback even when builders do not have the greatest building
experience. I am blessed to have been selected as a member of this team and have been
pleasantly surprised by all we have achieved in such a short time. - Finally, where can readers find you online, and is there anything exciting you’d like to
share with the Book Nook Workshop community?
I am currently a member of numerous Facebook groups including community based and
manufacturer created groups. I have a fledgling TikTok channel I welcome you all to join
with possible other social media accounts on the horizon. Once I am permitted to, I will
have an exciting announcement about a first in the community. Please be patient as all the
i’s are dotted and the t’s crossed.
One or 2 word answers
- Coffee or tea while building? Morning coffee followed by iced tea throughout the day
- Daytime or late-night builder? Night on workdays and all day otherwise
- Tweezers or fingers? Both
- Warm white or coloured LEDs? Whichever is appropriate for the step
- Your dream book nook theme in one word? Space: The Final Frontier
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