Flordia Keys - Dream Home or Nightmare?

I received some discouraging news this week. Another local business has shut down after being open less than a year. Maybe what retail businesses need to survive in this market is a gimmick. Take this story about a neighborhood convenience store in Marinette, WI. You can’t buy advertising like that!

I don’t have a shoplifting seagull, just great books and there are plenty of those!

Duma Key was my latest escape from the reality of a harsh Wisconsin winter. Now when I think of Stephen King , I think horror and sleepless nights. Imagine my surprise to discover his latest novel is actually a memoir – not that of the masterful storyteller, but of a simple Minnesota construction worker who is, shall we say, a little down on his luck. Okay, maybe it’s not a true story, but I feel so connected to the characters, they must exist somewhere. Edgar Freemantle, or “Eddie” as I now think of him, lost his right arm in a construction accident and his marriage ends. Instead of giving up on life as he originally intended, he takes his psychologist’s advice of a “geographic cure” and rents a house on Duma Key off the Florida Coast. As the future winner of the Dream Home Giveaway, which so happens to be located at The Shore at Islamorada in the Florida Keys, this setting appealed to me immensely.

Eventually Eddie begins his movement out of a life of solitude and meets his neighbor. Wireman has had struggles of his own and his story absolutely breaks my heart. My eyes well up just thinking about what that poor man has been through. I still have to sleep with the lights on and I’m no longer sure about moving to the Florida Keys, but there is more to this story than just horror.

Sleep, Sex, Fight or...

Last night I read a great blurb in the Green Bay Press – Gazette about how Americans are spending their time thanks to the writer’s strike. For the life of me, I cannot find the article now, but I remember the top five:

1. Sleeping
2. Cleaning the house
3. Sex
4. Fighting with spouse
5. Fighting with children

I understand 1 and 3 completely. 2 wouldn’t even cross my mind. 4 and 5 haven’t been an issue – YET.

My number one option is not listed, though. With the temperatures still below zero, my first choice would be to curl up in bed with a good book. Currently that choice is Stephen King’s Duma Key . I won’t fill you in on any details until I’ve finished; however, I will tell you that I am still able to sleep at night.

How about you? How have you been surviving without Desperate Housewives or CSI?

Wisconsin Thaw

Yesterday we received six inches of fresh snow and today we are under a wind chill advisory. On my way to the store today I was trapped behind a ‘Conga Line’ which, according to Bonnie Stewart and Cathy McGlynn’s It’s So Cold in Wisconsin, “refers to a formation of snow plows, not a Latin dance”. This weather makes me thankful that I will not be one of the brave souls at Lambeau Field this weekend watching the Green Bay Packers in their final victory before the Super Bowl. At least that’s what I keep telling myself.

There is some good news though. The release date of the third title in Christopher Paolini’s Inheritance Series has been moved up to 12:01 a.m. on September 20. It has been a long wait since the second in the series, Eldest, was first published in August of 2005 and Eragon began the excitement in 2003. The title of book three, Brisingr, is an Old Norse word for "fire," and is the first word in that language that Eragon hears.
According to Knopf Books for Young Readers, Brisingr will have a first printing of 2.5 million, which is the largest initial print run to date for the Random House Children's Books division. Paolini's first two books, Eragon and Eldest, have sold 12.5 million copies worldwide. Watch for a midnight release party at an independent bookstore near you!

How about you? Are you anxiously awaiting the arrival of Brisingr and will this release be celebrated as much as a title which shall not be named last summer?

Death of a Bookseller?

Since BayShore Books opened almost two and a half years ago, I have been asked many times if I am crazy. Assuming this is a rhetorical question, I just smile, but the truth is I have asked myself this same question many times. Book selling is a dying profession, or I should say dream since this can in no way be considered a JOB. Thanks to the internet and electronic readers, who needs paper books? Pretty soon independent bookstores will be extinct. Right?

I admit if I need facts and need them now, I have never shied away from Google. Reading for pleasure is a whole different story, though. Sure, purchasing books online may be easier, but it can not compare to browsing shelf after shelf of dusty books searching for the one to take me on a magical journey. How do you run into friends and neighbors at an internet bookstore and enjoy a lively discussion on your fantasy love affair with Nicholas Sparks? Is purchasing a pre-signed copy of Dead Madonna the same as having an intimate chat with Victoria Houston?

To my great surprise, I am not alone in my thinking. In 2007 American Booksellers Association welcomed 115 new independent bookstores. ABA CEO Avin Mark Domnitz stated, "this is very good news and an indication of a growing trend among communities that are recognizing the unique contributions of local independent businesses. These new ABA member stores offer a one-of-a-kind environment and knowledgeable owners and staff who are dedicated to serving their neighborhoods."

In Wisconsin, we are fortunate enough to add three new bookstores this year. Annz Books & More will be a great addition to Chetek with it’s woodsy, cozy feel and Amish built shelves. After teaching reading for 34 years, the owner is sure to have an exciting children’s section!

If science fiction is your genre, Mr. Baggins’ Book Shop in Williams Bay is a must. There you will find a wide selection of new and used books as well as games.

While in historic downtown Mosinee, stop in to see what The Beacon Bookshelf has to offer. Enjoy a beverage from Beatitudes Coffee, Tea, Bistro after Book Club or Story Time.

Another personal favorite in Wisconsin is The Reader’s Loft in Green Bay. Store Manager, Melissa Olm’s advice was invaluable on our mission to open BayShore Books. Menominee Michigan bookstore Aurora Books has also received high praise.

Now is your chance. Tell us about your favorite neighborhood bookstore and give them the kudos they deserve!

A Great New Year

The new year is here. Where has the time gone? In case you haven’t noticed, I seem to have misplaced a week of my life. I completely missed last week’s blog. I was so busy trying to come up with a new year’s resolution I could not find the time to write even one word. What will it be this year? Should I vow to give up smoking, eating, drinking, or swearing like 99% of the world or shall I be more creative? If I give up all of my vices I may be too perfect and become the most hated person in America. This year’s resolution should be to become more organized...hm. Maybe next year. This year I think I will try to become less of a procrastinator.

2008 will be a great year, though. How can it not when I have Steven King's latest, Duma Key, to look forward to?

John Grisham also has a new legal thriller coming out this month. The Appeal will be the first since The Broker in 2005.

Next month I look forward to diving into 7th Heaven by James Patterson. The TV series occasionally keeps me entertained on a Friday night, however, it is on hiatus until the end of the writer's strike. Nothing compares to curling up with a good book anyway.

How about you? What do you look forward to reading in 2008?

Merry Christmas!

I realize I should be wishing you “Happy Holidays” but this year I have decided to give up on all that nonsense. If you are not a Christian, please accept this greeting as one of goodwill as it is intended and not as the gun draw some may imply.

No matter what your beliefs, everyone feels a little more deeply this time of year. Whether it is the feeling of joy, love and happiness or the feeling of loss and loneliness. This is the time of year to come together and support one another.

This has caused me to ponder the reason for my own existence. As a business owner, albeit a new and struggling one, there must be more I can do for my community and the people who live here. Since I had the choice this year to either convince my own children they have been too naughty for a visit from Santa or explain to them the real reason for a lack of gifts, becoming a Secret Santa , although a more joyous experience I can not imagine, is a financial impossibility.

Thus the Christmas Book Drive was born. While planning this, an idea born of Give-A-Kid-A-Book, I failed to take into account the limitations of my community as a whole. Although 40 donated books is a start, overall my community does not have the financial ability to help others when they are in need themselves.

Based on the Socks Save Christmas Blog , the idea of Sorrows for Socks has been bouncing around in my overworked brain. The idea is simple – encourage area angels to donate the most outrageous socks imaginable and those in despair can stop in and choose a pair to brighten their day. Crazy idea, I know. The largest hurdle would be the same as in the Christmas Book Drive – finding enough donors. In addition, when I am most in need of the comfort of socks, I am in no mood to leave the house. How would I find those most in need of the psychological hug?

I’m counting on you, dear readers, to share your ideas on becoming an angel not only this time of year, but all year long.

2007 Bestsellers

The holidays are fast approaching and I finally have about two minutes to catch my breath. Two minutes really is not enough time for even me to come up with a creative blog idea so this week I'm going to cheat. The 2007 Book Sense Bestsellers list has been released, so my question for this week is:

How many books on the 2007 Book Sense Bestsellers list have you read and which would you recommend?

2007 Book Sense Bestsellers from sales at independent bookstores with Book Sense nationwide. For the Book Sense store nearest you, call 1-888-BOOKSENSEor visit www.booksense.com

TRADE PAPERBACK FICTION

1. Water for Elephants
Sara Gruen, Algonquin, $13.95, 9781565125605

2. The Memory Keeper's Daughter
Kim Edwards, Penguin, $14, 9780143037149

3. The Kite Runner
Khaled Hosseini, Riverhead, $15, 9781594480003

4. The Road
Cormac McCarthy, Vintage, $14.95, 9780307387899

5. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
Lisa See, Random House, $13.95, 9780812968064

6. Suite Francaise
Irene Nemirovsky, Vintage, $14.95, 9781400096275

7. The Inheritance of Loss
Kiran Desai, Grove, $14, 9780802142818

8. The Alchemist
Paulo Coelho, HarperOne, $13.95, 9780061122415

9. The History of Love
Nicole Krauss, Norton, $13.95, 9780393328622

10. My Sister's Keeper
Jodi Picoult, Washington Square, $15, 9780743454537

11. Middlesex
Jeffrey Eugenides, Picador, $15, 9780312427733

12. The Emperor's Children
Claire Messud, Vintage, $14.95, 9780307276667

13. The Namesake
Jhumpa Lahiri, Mariner, $14, 9780618485222

14. The Whistling Season
Ivan Doig, Harvest, $14, 9780156031646

15. Astrid and Veronika
Linda Olsson, Penguin, $14, 9780143038078



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TRADE PAPERBACK NONFICTION

1. Eat, Pray, Love
Elizabeth Gilbert, Penguin, $15, 9780143038412

2. Three Cups of Tea
Greg Mortenson, David Oliver Relin, Penguin, $15, 9780143038252

3. The Glass Castle
Jeannette Walls, Scribner, $15, 9780743247542

4. The Year of Magical Thinking
Joan Didion, Vintage, $13.95, 9781400078431

5. The Worst Hard Time
Timothy Egan, Mariner, $14.95, 9780618773473

6. Into the Wild
Jon Krakauer, Anchor, $13.95, 9780307387172

7. The Devil in the White City
Erik Larson, Vintage, $14.95, 9780375725609

8. The Measure of a Man
Sidney Poitier, HarperOne, $14.95, 9780061357909

9. Dreams From My Father
Barack Obama, Three Rivers, $14.95, 9781400082773

10. Blink
Malcolm Gladwell, Back Bay, $15.99, 9780316010665

11. Mayflower
Nathaniel Philbrick, Penguin, $16, 9780143111979

12. The Omnivore's Dilemma
Michael Pollan, Penguin, $16, 9780143038580

13. Night
Elie Wiesel, FSG, $9, 9780374500016

14. Mountains Beyond Mountains
Tracy Kidder, Random House, $15.95, 9780812973013

15. 90 Minutes in Heaven
Don Piper, Revell, $12.99, 9780800759490



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HARDCOVER FICTION

1. A Thousand Splendid Suns
Khaled Hosseini, Riverhead, $25.95, 9781594489501

2. The Yiddish Policemen's Union
Michael Chabon, Harper, $26.95, 9780007149827

3. The Children of Hurin
J.R.R. Tolkien, Houghton Mifflin, $26, 9780618894642

4. For One More Day
Mitch Albom, Hyperion, $21.95, 9781401303273

5. Nineteen Minutes
Jodi Picoult, Atria, $26.95, 9780743496728

6. On Chesil Beach
Ian McEwan, Nan Talese, $22, 9780385522403

7. Lean Mean Thirteen
Janet Evanovich, St. Martin's, $27.95, 9780312349493

8. The Good Husband of Zebra Drive
Alexander McCall Smith, Pantheon, $21.95, 9780375422737

9. Playing for Pizza
John Grisham, Doubleday, $21.95, 9780385525008

10. What Is the What
Dave Eggers, McSweeney's, $26, 9781932416640

11. The Maytrees
Annie Dillard, Harper, $24.95, 9780061239533

12. Water for Elephants
Sara Gruen, Algonquin, $23.95, 9781565124998

13. Bridge of Sighs
Richard Russo, Knopf, $26.95, 9780375414954

14. Run
Ann Patchett, Harper, $25.95, 9780061340635

15. Plum Lovin'
Janet Evanovich, St. Martin's, $16.95, 9780312306342



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HARDCOVER NONFICTION
1. The Secret
Rhonda Byrne (Ed.), Atria/Beyond Words, $23.95, 9781582701707

2. The Dangerous Book for Boys
Conn Iggulden, Hal Iggulden, Collins, $24.95, 9780061243585

3. Animal, Vegetable, Miracle
Barbara and Camille Kingsolver, Steven Hopp, Harper, $26.95, 9780060852559

4. I Feel Bad About My Neck
Nora Ephron, Knopf, $21.95, 9780307264558

5. The Audacity of Hope
Barack Obama, Crown, $25, 9780307237699

6. A Long Way Gone
Ishmael Beah, Sarah Crichton/FSG, $22, 9780374105235

7. Marley & Me
John Grogan, Morrow, $21.95, 9780060817084

8. God Is Not Great
Christopher Hitchens, Twelve, $24.99, 9780446579803

9. The Assault on Reason
Al Gore, Penguin Press, $25.95, 9781594201226

10. You: On a Diet
Michael F.Roizen, M.D., Mehmet C.Oz, M.D., Free Press, $25, 9780743292542

11. Einstein
Walter Isaacson, S&S, $32, 9780743264730

12. I Am America (and So Can You!)
Stephen Colbert, Grand Central, $26.99, 9780446580502

13. Deceptively Delicious
Jessica Seinfeld, Collins, $24.95, 9780061251344

14. The Omnivore's Dilemma
Michael Pollan, Penguin Press, $26.95, 9781594200823

15. The Best Life Diet
Bob Greene, S&S, $26, 9781416540663



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CHILDREN'S FICTION

1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
J.K. Rowling, Scholastic/Arthur A. Levine, $34.99, 9780545010221

2. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
J.K. Rowling, Scholastic/Arthur A. Levine, $9.99, 9780439785969

3. Twilight
Stephenie Meyer, Little Brown, $9.99, 9780316015844

4. Eclipse
Stephenie Meyer, Little Brown, $18.99, 9780316160209

5. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
J.K. Rowling, Scholastic/Arthur A. Levine, $9.99, 9780439358071

6. Bridge to Terabithia
Katherine Paterson, HarperEntertainment, $6.99, 9780061227288

7. Forever in Blue
Ann Brashares, Delacorte, $18.99, 9780385729369

8. New Moon
Stephenie Meyer, Megan Tingley, $18.99, 9780316160193

9. Eragon
Christopher Paolini, Laurel-Leaf, $6.99, 9780440238485

10. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
J.K.Rowling, Scholastic/Arthur A. Levine, $6.99, 9780590353427

11. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
J.K.Rowling, Scholastic/Arthur A. Levine, $8.99, 9780439064873

12. Eldest
Christopher Paolini, Knopf, $12.99, 9780375840401

13. The Golden Compass
Philip Pullman, Laurel-Leaf, $7.50, 9780440238133

14. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
J.K.Rowling, Scholastic/Arthur A. Levine, $8.99, 9780439136365

15. The Lightning Thief
Rick Riordan, Miramax, $7.99, 9780786838653



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CHILDREN'S ILLUSTRATED

1. Goodnight Moon
Margaret Wise Brown, Clement Hurd (Illus.), Harper, $8.99, 9780694003617

2. Where the Wild Things Are
Maurice Sendak, Harper, $17.95, 9780060254926

3. Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy
Jane O'Connor, Robin Preiss Glasser (Illus.), Harper, $16.99, 9780060542139

4. Fancy Nancy
Jane O'Connor, Robin Preiss Glasser (Illus.), Harper, $16.99, 9780060542092

5. Oh, the Places You'll Go!
Dr. Seuss, Random House, $17, 9780679805274

6. Dog
Matthew Van Fleet, Brian Stanton (Illus.), S&S, $14.99, 9781416941378

7. Flotsam
David Wiesner, Clarion, $17, 9780618194575

8. Pat the Bunny
Dorothy Kunhardt, Golden, $9.99, 9780307120007

9. Love You Forever
Robert Munsch, Sheila McGraw (Illus.), Firefly, $5.95, 9780920668375

10. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
Bill Martin, Eric Carle (Illus.), Holt, $7.95, 9780805047905

11. Good Night, Gorilla
Peggy Rathmann, Putnam, $7.99, 9780399230035

12. Pirates Don't Change Diapers
Melinda Long, David Shannon (Illus.), Harcourt, $16, 9780152053536

13. Puff, the Magic Dragon
Peter Yarrow, Lenny Lipton, Sterling, $16.95, 9781402747823

14. Skippyjon Jones
Judith Schachner, Puffin, $5.99, 9780142404034

15. The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Eric Carle, Putnam, $10.99, 9780399226908