Good News

"Even in this soft retail environment across America, the book business is stubbornly holding up."--Barnes & Noble CEO Steve Riggio in a conference call with stock analysts yesterday as quoted by Reuters.

"People have been painting apocalyptic scenarios for the last 10 years, but in the midst of a horrible environment, we sold more books than last year."--Riggio in the same call, quoted by the Wall Street Journal.

I guess we're still reading. Yeah. I think store sales are down a little, but on-line sales are up. That, of course reflects the gas prices and the general economy.

Breaking Dawn

Yesterday, I worked from 9-5. I got to B&N about 8:30, and this is the sight that greeted me.

Customers had been lining up since before 6 AM, by the time we opened, the line (from the first photo), had stretched to the back of the building.

Inside we were all ready. Lines and arrows to control the line-up at midnight, were in place. Children followed the arrows, all day long, it was too cute.

My job was to give out red wrist bands to those who had pre-ordered the book, Breaking Dawn, the 4th and final installment of the Twilight series, and white wrist bands to those that were gambling there'd be enough books to go around. It was a lot of fun, I'd done the same job for the Harry Potter releases.

I was happy to leave at 5, and I have no idea how it went last night, but be have an excellent young manager, and I'm sure it went off without a hitch.

Mystery Shopper

Talk about a surprise, I helped a customer at the bookstore and it turned out to be some one I know! One of my blog pals was in the area, took a chance that I'd be at B&N, and stopped by to meet me. I was truly surprised. It was Katney, of Katney's Kaboodle. She and her husband are visiting her brother, and I got to meet them all. As I said, it was a surprise, and it left a smile on my face that lasted all day.

Where I live

When we moved here, 10 years ago, because of retirement, we were ready for a change. Boy did we get a change. Part of it was great, part has been weird. When we moved to Murrieta, we left a very liberal city, Long Beach. I was born there, and Bob lived there since he was in Jr. High. Long Beach is so liberal it has the 2nd largest gay and lesbian population in the U.S., more than S.F. , but less than NYC.

I'm pretty liberal, and Bob's pretty conservative; as I’ve stated previously, we have a mixed marriage. Oh, he's in the right spot when it comes to really important things, like women's rights; after all, he has me and two fiery daughters; and discrimination.

One of the first sights we beheld was anti-abortion marchers. They were marching in front of the neighborhood Carl’s Jr., that bastion of conservative philanthropy. (It's been 30 years since I've eaten at Carl's Jr.) In addition to marching back and forth, they were carrying graphic signs and wearing ketchup soaked clothing; very gruesome appearing, but handy if you get fries with your order. I turned to Bob and said, “Oh, we may have made a mistake.” I’m all for freedom of speech, but this made me very uncomfortable. I’ve marched for the other side, and had similarly attired spectators shout nasty things at me.

So, fast forward, 10 years, moving to Murrieta has been great for both of us. It truly is a great community, and Bob and I have made many wonderful friends. Our lives are full, retirement really isn’t for sissies. Yesterday, when I was driving home from work, I noticed this truck in front of me.

They're still out there. They're the same people who come into the bookstore and turn every book by a liberal author over, so the cover doesn't show; or they accuse the staff or hiding conservative titles. They place Christian Inspiration books in the Gay and Lesbian Cultural Studies section, and in the New Age section. They attempt "conversions" in the aisles. True. They just don't get it. We're in business to sell books. We don't care which books, but the more books we sell, the longer we can stay in business, the more payroll budget we have to keep everyone employed. People are amazing.

Tales from the Bookstore

Today I had a real chuckle at the bookstore. A woman asked for the new childrens book by C. S. Lewis. Now, as you probably know, he's been dead for a long time. Here's the first paragraph about him on Wikipedia:

Clive Staples "Jack" Lewis (29 November 1898 – 22 November 1963), commonly referred to as C. S. Lewis, was an Irish writer and scholar. Lewis is known for his work on medieval literature, Christian apologetics, literary criticism, and fiction. He is best known today for his series The Chronicles of Narnia.

See, dead for almost 45 years, not writing new books.

We booksellers are frequently amazed at the questions we hear on a daily basis. Here are some of my favorites:

I can’t believe you know who wrote that. (Clockwork Orange, Hamlet, To Kill a Mockingbird, etc.)

This is a incoming phone call:

Do you have a Scrabble Dictionary handy?

- Yes, I can get one from the shelf; do you want me to put one on hold for you?

- No, I have a problem, sort of a bet, and I need you to look up a word for me! ! ! I left him on "ignore".


Is there any one who works here who's an expert on a IMAC? - Not that I'm aware of - I don't believe you, let me talk to the manager!

There’s a new movie out, “Pride and Prejudice”, was that a book first?



These 3 are similar:

Are they (the books) arranged by title?

How are the books arranged?

I need an Anatomy book, are they filed under "A".

Amazing, but fun; customers like these are one of the reasons I keep going to Barnes and Noble three days a week.

Author, Author

Last month, some booksellers from Barnes and Noble, Borders and Vroman's were invited to have lunch with a new author. I've attended several of these lunches or dinners, courtesy of the Random House rep., Wade. I'm mentioning this again, because two good things have happened.

First, the book,The Opposite of Love, , has been made a B&N Discover Title. This is a great thing for a new author.

Second, Julie Buxbaum, sent us Thank You notes. This is a first. Of course, she is a very nice woman. I picked up her thank you note when I went to the bookstore for some new reads. (I'm still on convalesense leave. I go back to work in about 10 days).

Good Friends

It's been a week since my emergency appondectomy. I've had lots of phone calls checking on my well-being. (I'm good, still a little tender but feeling good.)

One night my friend Tom, from the bookstore, brought Bob and I dinner. Way nice, and his wife brought us a new rose bush. It really doesn't get better that that.

I've gotten lots of get well cards, even two the exact same. The card must "look" like me!

Karma

Last month, I posted about knitting or crocheting a scarf for a stranger. It is a project by Ellen, a cool kid in San Francisco. I got started, and decided to ask the women I work with at Barnes and Noble if they wanted to participate. Three others decided to join me, and today I have a total of 5 scarves to mail to San Francisco. I really do work with some great people. I work for Barnes and Noble for the books, but after 7 years, I work there for the great people, too.

Quotes from the Bookstore Frontlines

Most of the customers I deal with when I work at the bookstore are nice, they're intelligent, and fun to help. You notice, I said most. The following quotes are not made up - people actually said them to me. People are fun, yes they are.

Can I check this book out?

There’s a new movie out, “Pride and Prejudice”, was that a book first?

Where’s the non-fiction? When I explain that most of the store is non-fiction and inquire what they’re looking for; I’m frequently given a blank stare. Today, after my explanation, a woman said, “Just point me in the right direction”.

Are all the Dummy’s books together? And/or “Where are the Dummy’s books”.

My daughter told me to buy a book; do you know which one it is?

Will you turn down the music; I’m trying to read?

Are they (the books) arranged by title?

Are the books arranged alphabetically?

How are the books arranged?

I can’t believe you know who wrote that.

Good Friends

One on the reasons I keep working at Barnes and Noble, is the great people I work with. Recently, a few of us were on break in the backroom, and I mentioned I wanted to get a new fountain for inside the house, my old one had gone to "fountain heaven". Melody said she had one she didn't use, and she'd bring it for me. It just doesn't get better than that. This giving and caring atmosphere is wonderful.