The Shrinking Violets Do BEA 2008

Dear Friends,

There just couldn't have been a more perfect way to end May's celebration of National Independent Bookseller Month than for Robin and I to spend it at Book Expo America 2008 in Los Angeles. Wow! What an amazing event! We were up to our armpits in booksellers, authors, publishing houses, giant cartoon figures in those big floppy shoes (way scarier than clowns IMHO), and bibliophiles by the kabillions.

Robin was an absolute **rOcK sTaR** had a really great time all weekend-- rubbing shoulders with the likes of and was humbled to be in the same room with Ann Patchett and Sherman Alexie at the Book Sense luncheon yesterday where they honored all those Book Sense picks of this past year. She had two book signing sessions today, along with so many of our favorite children's authors. (I'm going to be in so much trouble with her for the rock star comment, but she like totally was. :->)

Wow! I have the energy reserves of a anemic gnat right now. Wow! This is diet coke (x 4) and a venti latte speaking. Mary Hershey crashed at approximately 3:45pm. But-- we absolutely wanted to check in with all of you before we pulled up the rug for the weekend to thank you all for all that you've done to join us in the month long celebration. It has been such great fun to discover all the indies that you love and the have you cheering alongside of us.

We will be back on Monday for the exciting finish to the month-long love-a-thon! Get ready! We're going to announce the WINNER of the 2008 Indie Bookseller of the Year! Do not miss it!

And we will be announcing which one of YOU will be winning our fabulous and biggest SVP prize ever-- TEN children's books, a Shrinking Violet coffee/tea mug, assorted sweets and schwag, and with your picture, bio and your book/future book/WIP posted in an upcoming blog with us.

This is the view from our room this weekend at the Hyatt Century Plaza Hotel, where the National SCBWI Convention is held ever year. It's our fave hotel in the universe on account of the Nap-Like-A-Dead-Girl event that we always enjoy while we are there. Totally random, but I did want to do a plug for Nationals.

Lastly, Robin thinks you should try and guess which of us is wearing which shoes in the pictures above and below. For bonus points, name the nail polish color.

-] -}
Over and out!
The Sleeping Violets

[Photos of feet by the awesome Thalia Chaltas, Because I Am Furniture, Viking, Spring 2009]

A Whale of a Bookstore!

This Southern California gem is located in Irvine California and is an enthusiastic and dedicated member of the community. Owned and managed by Alex Uhl for the last twenty years, they have won the prestigious Lucille Pannell Award “in recognition of its excellence in stimulating, promoting and encouraging young people's interest in books. Whale of a Tale embodies the unique creativity and effectiveness in bringing children and books together.”

Past author visits read like a Who’s Who of luminary children’s authors, including J. K. Rowling, Julie Andrews, Maurice Sendak, Lemony Snicket, Henry Winkler, Sharon Creech, and Brian Jacques.












And as if all that wasn’t enough, they give back in a major way to their community (can we say Karmic Marketing?) and donated over $40,000 last year to local charities and organizations.

They cater to readers of all ages and invite you to browse at your leisure (and what is more fun than spending hours browsing in a great bookstore?) or their dedicated staff will happily assist you in your selection.

I was lucky enough to get a chance to meet Alex at a booksellers luncheon, and she was indeed a huge wealth of information and her knowledge about the book world was encyclopedic. She was also warm and generous and funny. What’s not to love?

Next time you’re in the area, check them out!

A Whale of a Tale Bookshoppe
4199 Campus Drive, Suite A
Irvine, CA 92612

or find them on the web at:
http://www.awhaleofatale.com/

Also, there will be no indie bookseller featured tomorrow because the Violets are off to BEA! We'll try to report back to you and let you in on all the exciting goings on at the Los Angeles Convention Center. If any of you are planning on attending, Robin will be signing Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos at the ABA Author Autographing on Saturday at 2:00 then shortly after that she'll be signing ARCs of Theodosia and the Staff of Osiris in the Autographing Area in the West Hall at 3:00. Do stop by and say hi!

Until then...

Mary and Robin

"Before Ebay, before Amazon, There Was Logos Books & Records"

LOGOS BOOKS & RECORDS in Santa Cruz, California is nearing it's 40th anniversary as the "premier buyer and seller of books and music on the Central Coast."  They have grown from a small one-room store to a two-floor, 11,000 square foot building with over two hundred and fifty thousand used books, records, CDs and DVDs.  Thank you to Becky Levine for pointing recommending them!  If she hadn't, I would have had to, because my big brother works at Logos, and he is one of my heroes.  (Hi, Greg!)  Most all the employees at Logos wear the requisite Santa Cruz uniform of gothic black-- Greg wears Hawaiian shirts.  Love that guy.

With all of us being increasingly committed to a greener life and a smaller footprint on the earth, I didn't want our celebration to end without recognizing the critical role that used bookstores play in our world.  As Becky and I can both attest, Logos' children's section is large, well-organized, home to both classics and contemporary works.  These books are accessible to kids and families who may not be able to shop at a retail store.  And Logos buys books every day of the week.  They've been in the recycling business a long time!  Moving books in and out of the hands of readers.  Again and again.  Great concept.  

I bought my audio copy of Rain is Not My Indian Name by Cynthia Leitich Smith at Logos. And, many of the books from my childhood that I wanted to recollect for my current collection. Trixie Belden mecca!

Logos Books & Records

1117 Pacific Avenue

Santa Cruz, CA  95060

(831) 427-5100

Click for their website

Logos, thanks for keeping these thousands and thousands of books in circulation, and for all you contribute to the world of literature and music.

Rock on, Santa Cruz!

Mary & Robin

Like We'd Forget Florida!

VERO BEACH BOOK CENTER in Florida comes to us courtesy of the hysterical author Donna Gephart, who raves about this bookstore.  We couldn't possibly finish out our month without featuring them!  VBBC has a separate children's store with a stage, separate teen area, and plenty of author events.  I had a chance to visit them, too, during a trip to Florida a couple of years ago.  One step inside their children's store, and I wanted to leave my home, my kinsmen, and get a job there.  I know nothing about book retail, but I'm a heck of a duster.  Truly. Amazing.  Place.  Donna says check them out at this great website.

I love their store motto.  "We Wrap, We Ship, We Smile . . . Seven Days a Week." And by the by, I just discovered they are hiring!  (Just not dusters, dang.)

The Vero Beach Book Center recently took the Honorable Mention in the Lucile Micheels Pannell Award, in great company with the Flying Pig Bookstore and Kepler's.  Congrats, Vero Beach!

Coming up on their June event calendar is Doughnuts with Dad and Pajama Hour with Miss Julie.  Both sound irresistable. 

Here is where you can find them!

Vero Beach Book Center

2145 Indian River Blvd

Vero Beach, FL 32960

(772) 569-6650

Let's hear it for the Vero Beach Book Center team!

*** THERE ARE ONLY 4  DAYS LEFT IN OUR CELEBRATION OF NATIONAL INDEPENDENT BOOKSELLER MONTH.  

HAVE YOU SHOPPED YOUR INDIE THIS MONTH?***

~('-p    ~(:>]

Mary & Robin

And the Winner of the 2008 Independent Bookseller of the Year Goes To . . .

. . . goes to . . . WAIT!!! Stop the press! We haven't gotten your entry yet!

I know! It's hard when your eyes are spinning from the orgy of indies we've been teasing you with all month. Serious brain candy, I know. But now it's time to get down to some VIB. (Very Important Business).

It is time to select our Bookseller of the Year! That very special person of yours that has toiled for you, your friends, your family, your readers, your fourth grade class, for the elderly woman that takes forever to pick a book, and the lonely guy that waxes on about his old hometown bookstore --that special bookseller that happily climbs over the stack of kids splayed in the aisles, that really is the Yentl for books and readers, that never tires of talking up a a new work, that will jump on that sliding ladder to get you the book you need from the very tippy top shelf-- yeah, that's them. That's the person we need to know about. And, how will we know if you don't tell us??

Don't know their name? Call your bookstore right now. Uh-huh, n-o-w. Find out. And, then email us their name and why you think they should be Bookseller of the Year. Do you really want us to have this contest without your bookseller entered?

Didn't think so. Send it to Here's my bookseller, Mary!

We will be announcing the winner on Saturday from Book Expo America. Don't miss it.

Breathlessly,

Mary & Robin

Guess Where We Are Today?

Please join us by shopping at your local independent bookseller today,

or on-line at Book Sense.

Back on Monday, friends!

Northbound to Seattle!

I had the great pleasure of both meeting and recently interviewing indie bookseller Heidi Erdahl of the Magic Mouse Toys in Seattle. The store is located in the historic, underground part of Seattle, home to many restored, spacious buildings.

Heidi is, among other things, responsible for the store's children's book collection, which is sizeable, taking up almost half of their basement level floor. The store is owned by Pam and Walt Powers, who have run the store for "thirty plus" years. Heidi loves meeting with the books reps that come to the store, studying the catalogs and making book selections based on what she knows her customers will enjoy. She says the classics continue to be big sellers, as well as the poetry books for children.

Heidi is currently getting more acquainted with the 'tween genre, reading Gossip Girls and some of the newer titles. When pressed for her favorite author, and I did have to squeeze a bit, she said she was a big fan of Kate DiCamillo's. Excellent taste!

Her favorite indie bookstore is Powell's in Portland-- and I hope we get time this month to feature them as well. That place is truly a reader's mecca.

I asked Heidi if she'd ever want to own her own bookstore, and she says she goes back and forth on that. She knows first hand how much work it is, but thinks it would be a great life experience. She's been with Magic Mouse for twelve years and loves her work-- loves all the variety and fitting the right book to the right customer.

Her favorite customer is "um, the polite kind". :-)

Magic Mouse Toys

603 1ST Ave

Seattle, WA 98104-2209

Phone: (206) 682-8097

Website? These great folks are busy hand selling books and haven't yet set one. Gosh, I guess we'll just have to go to Seattle and visit in person.

Thanks, Heidi-- it was great talking to you! And, big thanks to Tracy Patterson for recommending the Magic Mouse!

:] :}

Mary & Robin

Violet Tour 2008