So, my wife Ruth and I recently had the privilege to visit Talk Story, the western-most bookstore in the United States. It was a privilege for a number of reasons. The first being that very distinction, the second being that it is on the island of Kaua'i, Hawai'i (nice). But there are other reasons as well.
It was also a sincere pleasure to meet co-owner Cynthia Justus, and speak with her about books, bookstores and the book business. She was knowledgable and friendly and so willing to share, transparently, her passionate feelings about business, bookselling, indie publishing, and customer service. She can be frank, even bawdy at times, but you know she's shooting straight from the hip.
Photo source: Talk Story website.
When we told her that we were interested in opening a bookstore ourselves (coming to Harbor House this fall) she was so forthright and helpful, it was like getting a college course in "how to run a bookstore" in thirty minutes. Justus not only shared with us then and there, but said she is happy to help with advice in the future.
The successful (eleven years running) multiple award-winning bookstore, tucked into charming Old Town Hanapepe, Kaua'i isn't very pretty on the outside (the building is more than70 years old), but inside it is a sparkling treasure trove of new, used and rare books, plus much more. The selection of more than 100,000 books was great and the store was well organized. They move about 3,000 books a month!
And Celeste, the cat, was friendly, too. (I do wish I'd have met Cynthia's husband Ed, from this video he seems like he's got a great sense of humor.) Video source: YouTube.
Photo source: Talk Story website.
Justus was quite candid (blunt even) about indie authors (even though she knew I was one of them). She said that most of the indie titles that local authors bring into the store don't sell. "I can't give them away," she said, "they are so bad." She showed us the stack; they screamed amature indie all over. The covers were awful, the writing generally dull and poorly edited, sometimes the formatting inside was off as well. She said no one ever asks a bookstore owner how to put a cover together that will sell. She wasn't being mean, she wanted to sell indie books and willingly carries them.
One piece of advice she offered was don't sell coffee and books in the same shop (and gave several practical reasons why it wasn't good business). Well, I love coffee and books so...
Little Fish Coffee, Hanapepe, Kaua'i, Hawai'i
photo by Gregory E. Zschomler
It should be noted that just down the street is Little Fish Coffee, one of the best coffee shops in the U.S. (and you know I've visited quite a few from the Big Apple to the Big Easy and all along the western coffee coast, so I'm really saying something here).
The quaint and quirky shop serves 100% Hawaiian-grown coffee and it's delish. [Note: We also got to visit Kaua'i Coffee Co.'s plantation and visitor's center, but that's another fascinating story.] Little Fish also serves a nice selection of food items including bagels with NYC-style schmears (flavored cream cheese spreads)--which is something you can't get just anywhere.
Cynthia and Ed Justus, photo source:
http://www.bizjournals.com/
Anyway, it's a great place to savor a cup while enjoying the book you just bought from Talk Story. These two wonderful businesses (not to mention the warm weather, delightful beaches and breathtaking vistas) are just a few of the great reasons to visit the Garden Isle of Kaua'i.
Sunday, April 10th will be here before you know it and so will twenty-three (23) local authors from Washington and Oregon. Many of them are from the north coast area.
The event directly follows the Get Lit at the Beach event and attendees of the event are encouraged to come on over for the meet and greet.
All the authors will be available to discuss their books, their craft and sign their work.
Several of the authors participating have new books out.
Come on out, 12:30 to 3 p.m., Sunday, April 10 in the Garret Sea courtyard behind Jupiter's Books, 244 N. Spruce in Cannon Beach, Oregon. They'll be nearly a hundred indie titles and live music by Timothy Carroll (banjo and flute), too.
The first ever (hopefully to become annual) Cannon Beach Local Indie Author & Book Fair will take place 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, May 9 at Jupiter’s Books, 244 N. Spruce, Cannon Beach, Ore.
All twenty participating, independently-published authors are local to the Pacific Northwest and many live on the North Coast. A few have new works they will be debuting and signing at the event (denoted with an asterisks*).
Authors include:
David Robinson from Cannon Beach,Ore.
Gregory E. Zschomler from Cannon Beach, Ore.*
Jeva Singh-Anand from Seaside, Ore.
Chip MacGregor from Manzinita, Ore.
Holly Lorintcz from Manzinita, Ore.
Melissa Ousley from Warrenton, Ore.
Paula Judith Johnson from Hammond, Ore.
Tricia Gates Brown from Nehalem, Ore.
Travis Champ from Nehalem, Ore.
Julius Jortner from Pacific City, Ore.
Jan Bono from Long Beach, Wash.
Thomas Gondolfi from Yelm, Wash.
Andy R. Bunch from Vancouver, Wash.
April Bullard from Vancouver, Wash.*
Traci Leigh Taylor from Gaston, Ore.
Montgomery Mahaffey from Portland, Ore.
Jessica Cox from Portland, Ore.
Rita Traut Kabeto from Portland, Ore.
Maquel A. Jacob from Beaverton, Ore.
Donald McEwing from Tigard, Ore.
In addition Matt Love of Astoria will have his books available.
The event is brought to you by Jupiter’s Books and the Read Local Indie movement, a cooperative between indie bookstores and the indie authors around them. Contact: gregory.zschomler@gmail.com
It's a celebration of books and book lovers. Join us as we party morning, noon and night.
Beach Books, in Seaside, Ore. starting the morning with scones and mimosas at 9 a.m., cupcakes at 1 p.m., and wine and hors d'oeuvres for the Art Walk at 5 p.m..
There will be lots of prizes - scratch-offs for the first 50 kids and first 50 adults, a scavenger hunt, cool bags for the first 20 people who spend $50 or more.
Plus there will be face-painting from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., with authors dropping by (including moi) signing books, "and who knows what else might happen?"
I will be at the store from noon to 2 p.m. I'll be debuting my brand new book Louie, the Lonely Lighthouse.
Official Launch Party for my new book (above).
Why you don't want to miss this event:
Publishers, authors and artists have created special books and other items - maps, tea towels, signed prints, (why there's even a Guess How Much I Love You onesie!) just for these events. And they will only be sold on May 2 only at participating independent bookstores like Beach Books (which is the only one on the North Coast). They have done all this because it's so important to thank you, our customers for keeping us here.
"Consumers control the marketplace by deciding where to spend their money. If what a bookstore offers matters to you, then shop at a bookstore. If you feel that the experience of reading a book is valuable, then read the book. This is how we change the world: we grab hold of it. We change ourselves." -Ann Patchett, bestselling author and co-owner of Parnassus Books
Once again many, many local indie authors and their books will be all together in one place. There will be even more this year at the Spring Portland Home & Garden Show (and the booth is bigger, too). Mark your calendars and plan now to attend Feb. 19-23. Watch here for discount admission coupons and remember parking is FREE all day Thursday and after 4 p.m. Fri.-Sun. Many of us have new books, so come on out and see us.
Author Gregory E. Zschomler works the crowd of parade-goers.
It was a glorious day for a parade. As part of the Jacobson's Books entry for local authors of "indie-pendance" we hustled through oldtown Hillsboro, Oregon promoting our books and the bookstore. I say hustled because the two mile jaunt was quick.
While I would have liked to have had more time (I literally had to jog at several points the pace was so fast) I did manage to hand out over 400 promotional pieces. Maybe I'll garner a few sales from the effort?
In the meantime, some book sales are picking up. The cookbook sells steadily online and sales of "Lights, Camera, Worship!" are also taking off. I'm seeing some sales of the new book "The Amish vs. The Zombies," but nothing to write home about...yet.
Did you know that various businesses about town carry my books? Sure you can have them ordered into a big-box chain bookstore [Barnes and Nobel] or buy them online [Amazon] or even direct from me. BUT...
If you're out and about you can pick one up at an indie bookstore, a coffee shop or even a shipping store (for that last minute gift). In so doing you not only get an enjoyable read and support a local author, you are also supporting a local business (because they take a cut, too).
New locations are being added over time, meanwhile here's where you can find not only my books, but other local indie authors, too:
PAPER TIGER COFFEE ROASTERS, 703 North Grand Boulevard, Vancouver, Wash., is the newest business to carry my work. They're a small local roaster, a coffee shop, an art gallery, a restaurant and they have a variety of entertainment events that include open mic author nights.
They have a few local authors represented in their small retail display which also includes hand made gifts and other treasures. Plus they have a rack of loaner books and Wi-Fi.
INTERSTELLAR OVERDRIVE BOOKS, 7732 N.E. Hazel Dell Ave., Vancouver, Wash., carries a wide array of books by local indie authors even though they specialized in used Sci-Fi reading materials. They are hosting the BOOK LAUNCH PARTY for my upcoming release The Amish vs. The Zombies on June 21. [Mark your calendars and watch for details.]
JACOBSON'S BOOKS & MORE, 211 E Main St., Downtown Hillsboro, Ore. also stocks local indie books and probably has the widest selection. If you're in the Portland area this is your best bet for indie books, games, toys and other gifts.
Located in Old Town Hillsboro along with many other delightful small businesses (a hobby store, several great restaurants, a music store, an old fashioned soda fountain, a theater, and more) it is well worth the trip. I'm scheduled to walk with their float in the city's 4th of July Parade and will be doing a signing at the store in late July. [Watch for details and plan to come out.]
SALMON CREEK SHIPPING, 14300 NE 20th Ave., D-102, Vancouver, Wash., has been carrying my books the longest. I am the only author they carry. Maybe because we've been customers (our mailbox is) there for a long time, too. They have locally made fudge and a variety of handmade gifts for sale as well as secure mailboxes for business or personal use, shipping/packing services and supplies, FedEx, USPS, DHL, stamps, stationary, greeting cards, fax and copy services and more!
