Some good books both to help you operate more effectively and some just to enjoy, always with bookselling in mind.
Every once in awhile, I crave a mushy sweet treat in book form. I won’t binge on romance novels, but I will choose a scrumptious looking title out of a box of Gothic sweets. This once popular genre was my diet for much of my preteen years. Newly married wives and mysterious possibly dangerous husbands … Read more
2012 Left Coast Crime, a convention for fans and writers of crime fiction will meet March 29–April 1st in Sacramento, CA for Mining For Murder. As I mentioned in my post about the Lefty Award, which is bestowed during the convention, there are a couple other awards besides the Lefty that are also given out. … Read more
Left Coast Crime is an annual mystery convention sponsored by mystery fans, for mystery fans. It is held during the first quarter of the calendar year in Western North America, as defined by the Mountain Time Zone and all time zones westward to Hawaii. This is a fan convention that I have never attended, unfortunately. … Read more
Recently, the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association voted on which books they most enjoyed selling. This award, among other mystery writers awards, truly reflects what most bookmen and probably customers find appealing, not necessarily the best written titles–although usually, the two are one. Mystery bookstore workers are passionate about their opinions, and strive to find the … Read more
My dad loved model railroading. The HO models–not the big antique things that are so valuable today, such as Lionel etc. He built his own layout in the basement, designed a coal chute, and a bridge that crossed the bottom of the stairs that could be raised for people to enter and leave. He belonged … Read more
I was flabbergasted. I thought I was the only human alive that could possibly know who Scarlet O’Neill was. After all, the book I own was printed during WWII with substandard paper which crumbles to the touch. Each time I turn a page, the corner clips itself off. Even if people had some how heard … Read more
One of the most erudite, funny, brilliant writers in today’s world of empty sentiments and repetitive story lines, Reginald Hill, has passed away. For those who have not read his work under his real and pen names, you have missed something very special. I was one who almost missed the boat. I attempted to read … Read more
I’ve always heard this expression as: Dead as a door-nail. A rather odd expression to begin with. So I checked on its origins. Apparently no one is absolutely sure of whence the simile came. The best scholars can theorize it is a reference to the nails used on large wooden doors back in the middle … Read more
