Connie Brooks informs me that the Recommender-In-Chief idea is catching, authors are popping up in bookstores from Seattle to New York City to meet readers, recommend books, support bookstores. This is one of the more worthwhile endeavors in my life, another way to use the blog for good. I will be at my bookstore, the wonderful Battenkill Books Saturday morning from ll a.m. to 1 p.m. with the Red dog. I will be available to speak to people at the bookstore, take telephone orders and make recommendations on the phone, or we can receive queries via e-mail – [email protected]. This idea has really worked. Connie is selling books all over the country – the book reviews are part of this also – and I’ve got some happy telephone regulars. It seems that every week someone from the blog pops into the store to meet me and Red. We enjoy it, Red has evolved from working dog to professional greeter and media hound, as my dogs tend to do.
I’ve got a good list of wonderful and readable books to recommend. People seem to think books are dying out, but I am not seeing that. A lot of good books are coming out every month and a lot of people are buying them. I’ve got a strong list of novels, non-fiction books, mysteries and I am confident about my ability to match people up with the right book. I don’t think I’ve missed yet. This new job with Connie has really focused my reading and I have good book for you or someone in your family or as a gift. I do not recommend my books, but I will surely sign any for people and Connie takes Paypal on her site and will ship them anywhere in the world. I do ask that if I give a recommendation you purchase the book from Battenkill. That’s the point, it might cost a few dollars more than a Kindle costs, but it is a small price to pay to help re-bounding independent bookstores thrive and support creativity, individuality and the notion of buying local. You can call the bookstore at 518 677-2515 or e-mail Connie at [email protected] or visit the store’s website. Lots of ways to read good books and go good. In the Corporate Nation, they are buying up our culture, they got newspapers, TV, the movie industry. Don’t let them get the bookstores too.
People like Connie Brooks are fighting back, and they are gaining ground. This is one of those worthwhile fights to join. Talk to you or see you tomorrow I hope.