Specialties
Lyric writer, poet and author Terah Cox opened Words Matter in October of 2020, with the idea of bringing some heartful and intelligent words to the community at a time when much of the public rhetoric in America was anything but. We started with poetry and word-art, greeting cards, journals and books by Terah, and then added a "Book, Mind & Thinker" corner with exceptional books by nature-writers, scientists, visionary thinkers, authors local and beyond, ancient and modern poets, and award-winning "children’s books for adults" from classics to present-day. We also feature handmade papers & DIY stuff, stationery, stickers, crystals, suncatchers, candles, quilling art ornaments, bookmarks, magnets and more.
History
Established in 2020.
"There is a special feeling in here," our visitors tell us again and again. Word-lovers and the curious of all ages and kinds are drawn to our inspiring words-vibe, our thoughtfully curated collection of books, the soft background music, an atmosphere of welcoming and kindness—and the wonderful serendipitous encounters and conversations we've become known for. While we feature a unique variety of artisan works, our specialty is helping people find just the right word-gift for any sentiment or seasons of life—from weddings, anniversaries, graduations, births and birthdays, appreciation, and encouragement for life challenges—to life tributes, sympathy, and memorials. If meaning and mattering matter to you, we think you’ll love our little corner of Staunton!
Meet the Business Owner: Terah C.
I’ve been a reader, writer and word-lover my whole life—and I love to share my ongoing enthusiasm for the power of words as gates to meaning and connection. A lyric writer for most of my writing career signed to various music publishers in the U.S. and across the world, a yen for other kinds of writing eventually took me beyond the music business into other word seas: back to my roots in poetry, my love of short-format inspirations, and a calling to write my own books. I got lucky with my first two books, which were published by major publishers—and then I started my own self-publishing company. I’ve published 10 books so far, two of which, The Story of Love & Truth, and Different Ships, Same Boat ~ Songs for the Soul of America (released in 2024), are my favorites (see TerahCox.com or Amazon). Sharing the magic and mystery of words, both written and spoken, is the raison d'être for Words Matter!