By Kate Bartlett
Chautauqua Ink House is a new, online home for stories, readers, and creative people created by a couple in Chautauqua County. It brings together a collection of 200 original classics by owners and creators Shawn and Bria, along with interactive adventures where readers choices affect how the story unfolds. New additions continue to be added to the library with a rotating marquee that highlights different selections each week to help readers find their next book.
Bria Clauson and Shawn DiLorenzo both grew up in the Bemus Point area and have been together since 2014. “We‘ve built a wonderful life together,” says Shawn. “We love creating worlds that give people, ourselves included, a little escape from the routines of everyday life. Chautauqua Ink House is our latest adventure together.”
For both, storytelling goes back to childhood. “I wrote poems and scripts and tried creating my own versions of favorite movies and television shows,” explains Shawn. “I’ve also spent years writing lyrics and composing musical scores. Creating worlds through words and music has always been a deep-rooted passion of mine.” Recently, Shawn works third shift as an engineering technician while writing and building the digital side of Ink House.
Bria grew up making up vibrant, entertaining stories with her friends, sometimes drawing from things they had experienced or seen. She now works with children through the Healthy Kids Program at Bemus Point Elementary School, where she’s built strong relationships with students and parents. Her affection for the children and her imagination come through in her writing, especially her children’s stories.
“We began taking our creative work more seriously within the last two years,” explains Shawn. “At first, we were writing scripts and developing plots for animated short films. That interest didn’t last long, but the stories did. The work became the foundation for the fictional worlds we’re still developing today.”
Chautauqua Ink House started with a simple idea of having a place where Bria and Shawn could share their work. “As we built it, we started imagining what else that space could offer someone who came to visit,” says Shawn. “We both know how much a story can mean to a person. Sometimes you just need somewhere else to go for a little while, whether that’s through a book, music, or your own imagination. We wanted to give people a place to find that, with opportunities to connect with others who enjoy it too.”
That’s how the idea expanded into classic books, interactive adventures, and ways for readers to share the experience. “We also want other creative people to have an outlet to share their work and feel seen. There should be room for their stories alongside ours. Having free reading options matters to us too. Someone should be able to visit, find something they enjoy, and feel welcome without having to buy anything. Our own stories gave us a reason to start building Ink House. Imagining what other people could find there gave us a reason to keep going.”
The Ink House also offers different ways to enjoy reading. Story Mode adds optional scenery, atmosphere, and music around a book, while INK House Radio gives visitors something to listen to as they browse. “We’ve been building ways for people to make the experience their own. Readers can keep a Reading Passport, collect stamps, create keepsakes, and share a private buddy read with a friend. The Reading Circle brings readers together around books, and our Discussions forums give people room to follow conversations, join in, or start topics of their own.”
For people who write, there’s an Author Studio for organizing private projects and notes, along with a Community Library where members can submit their work for review. It’s free to join, with some additional books and features paid.
Shawn and Bria have learned a lot in the process of creating Ink House. “It’s been exciting, rewarding, and frustrating at times. What started as a fairly simple idea became a much bigger undertaking than we expected. There’s been a lot to learn while balancing our jobs, everyday responsibilities, and the creative work itself. It’s also been incredibly rewarding to see our early ideas taking shape. Worlds that began as scripts and plot notes have become books and interactive experiences.”
Bria and Shawn’s biggest hope is for Chautauqua Ink House to eventually grows into a full publishing house, while keeping the welcoming community that we’re building now. “We want it to be a place where someone can come to enjoy a book or conversation, but also find support for creating something of their own. That could be a beginner working on a first story, an independent author preparing a book, or an artist looking for a place for their work.”
Regardless of what evolves from The Ink House, both enjoy connecting with people who share the excitement for creating, and providing a platform for those connections to grow. “Writing can be very personal. You spend so much time with an idea, wondering whether it will mean anything to someone else. Finding people who understand that feeling, who want to talk about their work and hear about yours, means a lot.”
Bria and Shawn invite honest feedback. “That’s what makes building Ink House rewarding to me. Someone’s suggestion could help shape a feature. Their story could introduce us to a different perspective. A conversation could give them the encouragement to keep working on an idea. I want people to feel they have a voice here and that we’re listening. Having the chance to build that kind of relationship with a community is what excites me most.”
We also want to bring more people into the conversation. Their feedback will help us understand where to put our time and which ideas would make the biggest difference.
Right now, we’d love to connect with more readers, writers, and artists from Chautauqua County and beyond. Come explore, join a discussion, tell us what you’d like to see, or introduce us to what you’re creating. You don’t have to be an established author or have a finished project to have something worth sharing.
You can find us at chautauquainkhouse.com.