Kristian Strom, Bookseller

Rare Books Roadshow Coming to Manhattan This Sunday

noreply@blogger.com (Kristian Strom) — Fri, 17 May 2013 23:29:00 +0000

Would you like to learn how to spot rare and valuable books? This Sunday at 2:00pm I will be giving a presentation at the Manhattan Public Library (629 Poyntz Avenue / Manhattan, Kansas 66502 / 785-776-4741) with advice on how to evaluate books, along with stories of treasures I've found through the years.

Friends of the Manhattan Public Library and patrons are encouraged to bring a book or two to share!

http://www.manhattan.lib.ks.us/

A copy of Robert Frost's "West-Running Brook" with a handwritten version of "Sand Dunes" written by Frost on the half-title page. I found this beauty in the contents of a storage unit auction in 2006.

10 Action Steps You Can Take When Online Bookselling Sales are Slow or Stagnant

noreply@blogger.com (Kristian Strom) — Wed, 01 May 2013 18:48:00 +0000

Here is a list of ten practical things I have done during periods of slow or stagnant sales. I do realize that they aren't for everybody, and that the idea of haggling on Ebay can be a controversial topic among the IOBA membership, not to mention even listing on Amazon in any way, shape or form. Also, some of these tips might not be as practical for those with brick and mortar shops, and are more geared towards the online bookseller.

1. I added the "Best Offer" feature to my Ebay Store items. Whenever I receive a reasonable offer, I simply compare the offer to the current market (items in similar condition) and also factor in the period of time that I have had the book on my shelf.

2. I added Amazon's FBA program to my arsenal in 2009, and it has been the single greatest area of growth in my total sales. I typically use FBA for items not worth photographing and creating a comprehensive bibliographical description for, typically books ranging from $8-20 with an Amazon sales rank below 2 million.

3. I started using Bookscouter.com as a tool for converting items from collection buyouts that are not worth cataloging into a source of immediate cash (and/or Powell's and Amazon credit)

4. I have started listing more subject-oriented lots on Ebay and more complete sets on Amazon. The truth is that I list via FillZ to a variety of sites, but I have noticed a particular increase in sales of sets (yes, even Time-Life) via Amazon.

5. I will manually reprice my inventory using FillZ and SellerEngine Plus.

6. I will add photographs and modify descriptions for older listings that may not have been as professional or comprehensive as my current listings. This includes adding photographs of signatures and related ephemera laid-in to collectible volumes.

7. I will take 10 boxes of books in good condition to the Hastings in the area for either cash, store credit or gift cards.

8. I began listing several classic Book Club Editions that I once avoided like the plague and now bring $25 and up everytime. BookThink has some great resources on this topic.

9. I check out a book from the local library or refer to my personal collection of Firsts Magazine or "Books about Books" to educate myself on titles and authors that I had not been previously familiar with. I am constantly amazed and how much there is still to learn after 10+ years in the business.

10. I set up Google Alerts for booksale searches within my state (and surrounding states) to find library sales that I had not previously been aware of.

11. I throw my hands up in the air, dream about what might have been had I stayed in school and pursued an MBA, order a pizza and turn on the tube for a Black Books marathon.

12. I just remembered, I also started selling books in the local Antique Mall several years ago, and while it has not been the cash cow I had hoped it may become (I am proud to report that I have only had a negative balance for one month out of about 60), it has resulted in some excellent contacts and purchases of several large collections. It is also nice to pretend that I have a real brick and mortar shop, which I do always dream of opening someday...

Hitting the Jackpot...Three Times in One Week!

noreply@blogger.com (Kristian Strom) — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 01:11:00 +0000

Earlier this week, I made my best sale to date as an antiquarian bookseller- four books signed by Laura Ingalls Wilder (including Little House on the Prairie), which I had only just listed for sale at the beginning of March.

I felt like their sale was some kind of karmic justice, as I had devoted the past two weeks of my life to volunteering to organize and run the semi-annual booksale fundraiser for the Friends of the Wichita Public Library, and had little time for any kind of other work or cataloging around the office.

My sore back was still in recovery this week after loading, unloading, selling and cleaning up over 15,000 books. I have also been dealing with the worst case of seasonal allergies I've ever experienced. It's nothing too serious, just enough to have me wake up extremely congested in the morning and have eyes that won't stop itching and burning by night.

On Wednesday night, in a clouded and foggy state, I offered to take my fiance Emily out to dinner at the restaurant of her choice on Friday night, completely forgetting that both the Jayhawks and my new favorite cinderella story (the Eagles of Florida Gulf Coast University aka Dunk City) would both be playing their Sweet 16 games that evening.

Once I got home from doing some work in my storage facility this afternoon, I asked Emily where she had decided to go for our celebratory dinner date, and she reported that she was feeling a bit lousy after getting a Typhoid shot (for her upcoming service trip to an orphanage in Honduras) and that she was in the mood to stay in tonight and have a cozy night around the house. Not only that, but she knew how excited I was to watch the basketball games, and insisted that she pick up dinner while I watch the first half of the KU/Michigan game. Her words were like sweet music to my ears, and we promptly decided on a rain-check plan for early next week.

I can't help but feeling like I hit the jackpot twice in one week. Once for a great sale, which I'm glad to report will also benefit the Manhattan (KS) Public Library, but more importantly, in knowing that I somehow lucked out and met the most beautiful and sweet gal I've ever had the privilege of knowing.

Make that three times, my good friend Mark stopped by this afternoon with a surprise gift- my new favorite t-shirt.

Alright, gotta run...the second half just started.

A Rare Find- The Father of Stephen Crane's First Book

noreply@blogger.com (Kristian Strom) — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 17:05:00 +0000

The Right Way, or, Practical Lectures on the Decalogue by Jonathan Townley Crane

It's always interesting to discover books when you weren't even aware of their existence, even after over ten years as a professional bookseller. Vintage religious texts are a dime a dozen, and 99% of the time, are not worth much more than their sentimental or decorative value.

I recently discovered a volume that appeared to be scarce after conducting several searches via Abebooks, Bookfinder and Amazon, and obtaining zero results. After more in depth research, I discovered this mid-19th century text was written by the father of Stephen Crane, author of The Red Badge of Courage. Crane's father died when Stephen was only a boy (at the tender age of 8), and apparently also authored several works of fiction himself. According to scholars, Stephen kept a good portion of his father's writings and letters, and was said to have been reading his sermons on his deathbed.

Here is my description of the book, along with some additional background information on the author:

"1854 Carlton & Phillips. 277 pages, plus advertisements. The relatively scarce and out-of-print first book by Jonathan Townley Crane, a Methodist minister most widely known as the father of famous author Stephen Crane. A graduate of the Princeton Theological Seminary, Crane enjoyed an active career as an educator, pastor and writer. He was involved in local temperance movements, and strongly supported abolitionist causes. This hardcover copy (a series of reflections and essays on the Ten Commandments) has light edge wear, fraying and bumping at the corners of the decorative purplish-brown cloth boards. The text is unmarked, albeit foxed throughout. The binding is sturdy and intact, although the rear hinge is beginning to split at the foot. The remnants of a bookplate are affixed to the front paste down endpaper. 100% customer satisfaction guaranteed. We process and ship orders daily, securely and with delivery confirmation."

Price- 1,000.00 USD

Only time will tell if the demand for this book warrants a listing price reflective of its' limited supply.

Flashpoint: Paul Harvey

noreply@blogger.com (Kristian Strom) — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 22:10:00 +0000

Here is a quick flashpoint that I expect to have a relatively short shelf-life.

After an uninspiring slew of Super Bowl commercials, Dodge brought us the "God Made a Farmer" commercial featuring the voice of Paul Harvey, and sales of his out-of-print books (most available in no short supply) skyrocketed. Okay, maybe skyrocketed isn't the right word, but most titles are an easy $30-50 a pop.

I was lucky enough to find several copies of several different titles, all of which sold quickly. Pick them up in any binding and just about any condition.

Here are a few examples:

Gold for Online Booksellers: The Poem of the Man God - 5 Volume Set

noreply@blogger.com (Kristian Strom) — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 18:33:00 +0000

Maria Valtorta's The Poem of the Man-God

The Poem of the Man God is a five volume set of books (in seven parts) measuring approximately five thousand pages on the life of Jesus Christ written by the Italian mystic Maria Valtorta.

The book was originally published in Italian in 1956 and has since been translated into many other languages. It is based on over 15,000 handwritten pages written by the author between 1943 and 1947.During these years she reported having visions of Jesus and Mary and claimed personal conversations with and dictations from Jesus.

Over time, this set has been one of my most consistent sellers. I have sold individual volumes in the three figure range, and now it appears that complete 5 volume sets have eclipsed the $1,000 mark.

Learn to recognize the distinct cover, author name and publisher seal, and you'll be thanking me in no time. Happy hunting!

Volume One Cover

Spines of 5 Volume Set

Check Your Shelves for Evelyn Waugh's "Sword of Honour" Trilogy

noreply@blogger.com (Kristian Strom) — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 21:30:00 +0000

A quick post for bricks and mortar bookshop owners, booksellers, bookscouts and book collectors alike- take a quick look on your shelves to see if you might have a copy of the 1994 Everyman's Library edition of Evelyn Waugh's "Sword of Honour" trilogy lying around collecting dust.

I recently listed a copy (sans dust jacket) for over $100. I get the feeling that this is one of those temporary market spikes where copies have become relatively scarce and in high demand (273K sales rank on Amazon) around the Holidays, and it will most likely return to more realistic prices after the New Year. In other words, if you held stock in this book, now would be the time to SELL HIGH.

Here is a look at my copy without the jacket, listed at $105:

Now maybe my friend Tim O'Bryhim can tell us if the book is any good...

Five Last-Minute Gift Ideas for the Bibliophile in Your Life

noreply@blogger.com (Kristian Strom) — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 09:11:00 +0000

5. T-Shirts for Book Nerds

My two favorite places to buy book related clothing are Buy Olympia and Out-of-Print clothing.

My personal favorites are the Forest Green "Reading is Sexy" hoodie in XL, which is a cozy number. The Out-of-Print tees feature classic dust jacket art and designs, and are also printed on high quality shirts that are very soft and wearable. I order these for myself in an XL, as they tend to run a bit smaller than some other tees.

At the risk of being shunned and ostracized by some of my male friends, I've created a Pinterest Board with graphic representations of most of the items on my list here. Feel free to add your ideas in the comments section below and I will continue to update the board.

http://pinterest.com/kristianstrom/holiday-gift-ideas-for-the-bibliophile-in-your-lif/

4. Any Custom Creation from Juniper Books

Thatcher Wine at Juniper Books is a true craftsman, and was the first person I ever saw to create the now widespread Christmas tree made out of books phenomenon. But he didn't stop at a tree, he used books to spice up the staircase in his office and deck out a bookcase with an American flag. Check it out.

We have worked together on several projects, including the upcoming Extreme Makeover Holiday special and the Green Room at the Academy Awards. OK, so he did all the cool stuff, I just supplied some of the film books:)

For the ideal gift, choose one of his collections with custom created dust jackets based on the literary tastes of the Bibliophile in your life. Also, it looks like he is currently running a special with free FedEx Ground shipping on all domestic orders through December 20th, so make sure to get in your order early to avoid being empty handed later in the month! Here is his online store. Make sure to check out the sweet personalized Cook Book sets and the sweet Sherlock Holmes set.

3. Ahearn's Collected & a Subscription to Firsts Magazine

Ahearn's Collected Books is my favorite offline reference guide for determining the value of rare and out-of-print books, and also in figuring out whether or not you have a true 1st Printing in your hands. It is a must have for all aspiring book collectors and booksellers. I keep a copy right above my desk and I also never leave home without it! An I.O.U. for an annual subscription ($40 for 10 issues) to Firsts Magazine, another publication from the Ahearn's, makes a nice addition to any stocking. Or you can order a back issue or two to stuff in there as well, but make sure not to crease it haha...

"Allen and Pat Ahearn are the authors of Collected Books: The Guide to Values and over 200 individual Author Price Guides, all of which require they keep current on the market prices for collectible books and make them uniquely qualified to offer professional appraisal services and to establish fair prices when purchasing books or libraries."

2. Buy Local- A Gift Certificate to Your Favorite Local Independent Retail or Used Bookstore

For the past several years, I have been giving away Gift Cards to Watermark Books as gifts for people who have helped me out or had my back in one way or another throughout the year. A nice benefit of their gift cards is that if the person I give it to doesn't happen to be a big reader, they can always enjoy a great lunch or a few lattes instead.

Another book that I highly recommend is My Bookstore: Writers Celebrate Their Favorite Places to Browse, Read and Shop. It's an "enthusiastic, heartfelt, and sometimes humorous ode to bookstores and booksellers" where over eighty writers honor their favorite shops with short stories and essays. Perhaps I'm slightly biased, as I was immortalized by poet Albert Goldbarth on page 139, "Shirley King was whisked up to the podium too, and Skyler's friend Cindy, and rare-book dealer Kris Strom." First things first, Albert- I only let family call me Kris! Oh what do you care, you'll never read anything online anyways.

His contribution recounts his 1989 wedding at the original Watermark location, followed by the more recent renewal of his wedding vows where we all got to wear silly hats (except for him- his was cool), and is cleverly intertwined in a larger story about the renewal of our commitment to local bookstores and the books within them. On November 13th, Watermark hosted a reading to promote the nationwide release of the book, and Goldbarth mentioned that this would certainly be the only time in history where a story in an anthology he was featured in was followed by John Grisham. I'll be glad to sign page 139 for you if you'd like;)

1. Between the Covers Collectible Book Covers Card Sets

My absolute favorite gift idea for 2012 is a product I just discovered from Between the Covers, who also has one of my favorite websites for online browsing, which always does pale in comparison to the real deal (you know- browsing in an actual bookstore). I ordered these off their website on a curious whim whilst ordering a few scarce and out-of-print paperbacks they had in stock from local Wichita publisher Four Ducks Press, and I couldn't have been more happy with what arrived in the mail a week later.

Combining my youthful love of sports cards with my current love of rare and collectible books, this little set "contains 76 unique rare book trading cards, each card featuring one of the best first editions in the world, with a picture on the front and "stats" on the back. Includes mint copies, dedication copies, presentation copies and author's copies of such classics as Gone With the Wind, The Catcher in the Rye, The Sound and the Fury, The Great Gatsby, Huck Finn, Moby-Dick, The Wizard of Oz, The Lord of the Rings and many more. Each set is attractively packaged as a faux miniature book in an illustrated wraparound cover and clear plastic case. 228 unique book cards total (some representing different rare editions of the same title), plus three checklist cards." Are you kidding me? Now I can quiz myself, organize by author, re-organize by title, re-re-organize by publication date...a baseball card collector turned book dealer's dream come true.

They're a steal at $50 for the entire set of 3, or you can buy them one at a time for $20 each.

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I'm sure I've left off a few things. Jane Mount's "Ideal Bookshelf" and recently released book is the first one that comes to mind. Feel free to share other ideas in the comments selection below and I'll do my best to continue to add to the Holiday Gift Ideas for the Bibliophile: 2012 Edition Pinterest Board in a timely manner.

Happy Holidays!

How Should I Store My Score?

noreply@blogger.com (Kristian Strom) — Sun, 11 Nov 2012 01:33:00 +0000

How to Store Your Book Collection, or "Hints from a Famous Binder"

I recently received a question from an old friend who scored a nice set of books at a local estate sale. After asking the obvious question, "Are they worth anything?", he asked another question that I wish more people would- "How should I store my score?"

I can't tell you how many collections I have viewed where the value of certain books had been compromised due to improper storage or climate conditions, the most common of which is storing books in a damp basement, which can attract mold or mildew.

Without further ado, I present to you several excerpts from the following list of helpful hints (photographed below), found on a loose page laid-in to a volume I recently acquired. Credit must be given to the author of the short (and by no means comprehensive) list, Selmar Hess, a New York publisher who was one of the first to sell books by parts or subscription, and to make use of the photogravure process for illustrations. I have included my own comments below each "hint."

1. To open a book, hold the book with its back on a smooth or covered table, let the front board down, then the other, holding the leaves in one hand while you open a few leaves at the back, then a few at the front, and so go on, alternately opening back and front, gently pressing open the sections till you reach the centre of the volume. Do this two or three times, and you will obtain the best results. Open the volume violently or carelessly in any one place, and you will probably break the back and cause a start in the leaves.

-OK, so I doubt even good old Selmar did this with every book, but let me just paraphrase by saying that any book you deem to be collectible or at least potentially collectible ought to be handled with care.

2. Never try to force the back of a book to make it lie open flat, as you may injure the back. This book being sewed in our improved Whipstitch style makes the actual breaking of the back almost an impossibility, although an attempt to "force" it cannot, of course, be beneficial to the book. It must not be expected that an "Art Books" with many plates will lie open like a ledger.

-Books are not meant to lie opened and flat for long periods of time, as this tends to result in a creased or damaged spine. Books are, of course, meant to be read and enjoyed, but I would strongly advise against putting weight on the interior of a book in order to keep it open. A book in excellent condition should close itself when opened, as if some sort of ghost were urging you to keep its' ancient secrets revealed. I would also like to include that the style of my friend who asked this question can best be described in one word- "Whipstitch." This revelation was made during the course of reading Selmar's proverbs.

3. To let a book lie open when through reading is another detrimental habit of many people. When through using, a book should be closed, given its natural shape, and laid away with care.

-See #2. I'll call this the "paperback on the nightstand" condition. Instead of using a bookmark, people often just leave the book open flat to the last page they read. I must confess to being guilty of this one at times, and always wake up to regret it. Again, this is relatively harmless with reading copies of paperback books, but should be avoided at all costs when dealing with any collectible volume.

4. It is wise to lay books of this size and weight flat on their side, but if it is desirable to place them in a book-case or shelf, see that the row is filled from end to end to prevent them from sagging to one side.

-Anyone who has ever worked in a bookstore can tell you that the best way to store books on a shelf is side by side with the spine facing the customer, except when a particular book is being featured. There is also a certain art to filling a shelf until it is full, but not too tight. When books disappear from the shelf, make sure to replace them with other books or cap the end of the shelf with a bookend to prevent the remaining books from leaning on each other at an angle.

5. Do not keep books in a damp place, as they may become mouldy and the gold will lose its lustre.

-Enough said.

6. Never expose a book to the direct sunlight for any length of time, as the leather, cloth, and colored edge will naturally fade more or less and give the binding an ancient appearance.

-Anyone who needs proof of this can walk into the cafe at my favorite local independent retail bookstore, Watermark Books, and take a look at the color of the dustjackets on the shelf of Cookbooks below the counter. The color of your books, their bindings and their jackets will all fade over time if exposed to direct sunlight.

7. A book should never be exposed to extreme heat, that is, near the stove, or on a shelf over a grate fire. Keep it in a place where the temperature is moderate.

-In other words, don't go burning any books, unless it is in the dead of winter and you happen to have a box of Harlequin romance paperbacks handy.

8. If books should be delivered to you in cold weather, turn the volumes over occassionally- say every 3 or 4 days- to prevent warping.

-I have absolutely no idea what Selmar is talking about here, although I'm sure his subscribers in New York would have. I would, however, recommend a periodic dusting of your shelves and even flipping of a wood shelf (when applicable) to prevent bowing of the wood. I have also been known to carry around one of those air-spray bottles to attack particularly dusty tomes, and seem to have inherited this propensity from my father. Finally, I would encourage you to inspect any books you are bringing into your home (especially along the hinges of the front and rear endpapers and outer edges) for any signs of insects or infestation.

I hope that between Selmar and I, you have some new information regarding caring for your book collection, so that when I come to visit I am not scoffing in disappointment and disgust.

Brodart is my preferred vendor for all supplies and products related to archival storage and book repair. They have plenty of helpful information, videos and products available at their website, for those of you who are interested in taking your passion for book conservation to the next level:

http://www.shopbrodart.com/book-care-repair/

For Further Reading:

My Personal Favorite, a visual representation, which also happens to contain a few examples of how NOT to store your books at home:

Another frequently encountered title on the subject, readily available for a buck or two:

Amazon Adds a Simple Step to their Buyback/Trade-In Process

noreply@blogger.com (Kristian Strom) — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 18:28:00 +0000

While adding a book to my Amazon Trade-In/Buyback Program order today I noticed that they had added a small step in the process, requiring you to verify the ISBN number of each book entered for resale. I can only assume that this is to eliminate the amount of textbooks received in error during the busy back to school season.

I have been using Bookscouter for several years now as a way to get cash for books which I am not listing online. I highly recommend this website for any students who do not think they are getting enough cash from their local bookstore, or for those who do not want to mess with the hassle of shipping books to their customer. I regularly ship books to Amazon, Powells, Textbooks.com and Valore Books, all of whom provide free shipping labels and pay promptly after the books have been received and processed, Amazon being the quickest to process by several weeks. They will even return the books that do not meet their condition guidelines free of charge, although just about anything that is not damaged or missing contents will meet their requirements.

The other thing I appreciate about the Amazon Buyback program is that the funds can be deposited directly into your Amazon account in order to purchase items on your Wish List.

Here is an instructional article I wrote on how to use Bookscouter along with a link to Bookscouter owner Brandon Checketts blog post about the article.

Here are examples of two computer books I got over $50 in credit for using the Amazon Buyback program:

The Worst CD Cover Art in the History of Music

noreply@blogger.com (Kristian Strom) — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 20:50:00 +0000

Ladies and gentlemen, I bring you "the album" by Bernard Ghetz, not to be confused with vigilante justice advocate Bernhard Goetz. Goetz was infamous for shooting four alleged muggers on a New York City Subway train in 1984, and I can only imagine that this Corel clip art is some kind of homage to that violent episode. Produced sometime in the 90's by Headkrack records, this album cover is absolutely horrendous, not to mention horrifying. I can only imagine poor Bernard getting the call from the distribution company who pressed the CDs- "Hey bud, we've got fifteen minutes before the discs go to print and we still don't have that email with the cover art. Do you think you can put something together real quick?" Poor Bernard, having no formal training and only a dial-up Internet connection, whipped up a double gun toting stick figure (or is that one gun and one knife?), a few stick victims surrounded in pools of blood and some dotted lines in the background for effect. He also had a tough time coming up with the album name, and finally decided on "the album."

I come across some pretty interesting items in my bookscouting adventures and enjoy sharing some of the more humorous or disturbing ones. Here are two more album covers that nearly missed the cut, along with a link to some of the more horrendous vinyl album covers in history.

Hardhead "Enter At Your Own Risk"

"Check out the solid gold dollar sign trophy on my ultra-modern clear glass end table. I bought them at a yard sale for $3, but doesn't it make me look like a Grammy winning artist?" said Hardhead after returning home from getting his flat top serviced. Listen to this at your own risk.

H.Maxx "Don't Take Me 1/2 Way"

I think the grammar might be what bothers me the most, aside from the stirring graphic of the ring dripping in gold which is floating in the ocean behind H.Maxx, who is narrowly escaping being struck by lightning. The front cover reads, "Dedicated to all my fans and this album could not have been made without your love and support." That is clearly two sentences combined into one, or at least don't be afraid to use a hyphen H. Maxx! Track titles are similarly frustrating: "Don't Take Me 1/2 Way" (would writing out the world "half" take away from your mystique?), "I Wanna Get Inside" (of what?), "Goodbye Prelude" (isn't that an oxymoron?), "Don't Wanna See U Cry" (it's too late) and many, many more. I would also like to note that his managers phone number is listed on the back cover with a note that reads "Voice Mail Only" as if the phone is so busy with requests, fan messages and booking engagements that there would be no way possible to answer every call.

What is the most horrendous album cover you've ever had the pleasure of discovering?

For any future white elephant participant or collector of incompetent graphic design schemes, I will gladly ship the lot of 3 CDs to you at no charge, just reply in the comments section below and they are yours!

My 5 Favorite Out-of-Print Books about Wichita History: Book Scouting for Local History

noreply@blogger.com (Kristian Strom) — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 18:57:00 +0000

Contrary to what some of my friends and family back East might believe, the buffalo don't roam wild in Wichita anymore and you won't witness old-fashioned, revolver toting duels downtown on Douglas. Cowboys and Indians are a rare sight these days. You are more likely to see a few fellows in souped up pickup trucks and an extraordinary sculpture along the Arkansas River honoring the "Keeper of the Plains". Also, next time you're down on Douglas make sure to check out the old Sam Zelman clothing store location for the incredible window display that Seth Blume and his brother created for the Friends of the Wichita Public Library.

Yes, I do realize that stereotypes about Wichita are plentiful and often less than laudatory, but after having lived here for over ten years I have come to love the city that I now call home. Wichita also happens to be a great town for bibliophiles (luckily for me) and there is no shortage of bookstores, book sales and estate sales. Garage sale-ing is something of a Thursday morning Olympic sport in these parts.

In every city and county in America there exists a slew of books which will be plentiful at every type of local book sale and will consistently sell in the $25-75 range either online or at your booth in the local antique mall. One of the greatest advantages of having an online bookselling presence is being able to market your local history volumes worldwide for those folks who have relocated or have family in the area and have retained a particular interest in your area but are much less likely to come across these relatively common books in their neck of the woods.

Here are 5 of my favorite books to look for in and around Wichita. By no means is this a comprehensive list, or even a list of the most valuable and sought after local history volumes. These are ones I have come across time and time again that are either well-written, profusely illustrated or personal favorites. What are the top 5 regional history books in your area?

1. Peerless Princess of the Plains: Postcard Views of Early Wichita (Hardcover)

These used to go for much closer to three figures, but the price has come down a bit in the last year. Softcover copies are also available, but not nearly as valuable. Also, be careful to notice any binding issues with the softcover edition.

2. The Daylight Station of America by Craig Miner

Anything written by the late and great local historian Craig Miner is worth picking up. Not only was Craig THE local history expert, he has written several books on the entire state as well. This is one of his more scarce volumes.

3. Frank Lloyd Wright and Wichita: The First Usonian Design by Pamela Kingsbury

For more information on the Allen-Lambe house (built in 1916) you can visit this link.

For photographs of the Juvenile Cultural Center turned Corbin Education Center (1957) go here.

Wright designed the first of his many "Usonian" houses for a family here, although it was never built, but became the basis for other homes across the country. Here is that story:

4. Wichita Century: A Pictorial History of Wichita, Kansas 1870-1970 by R.M. Dick Long

Supply is on the high side for this one, but so is demand. I've probably sold 10 copies online and 10 more at the Antique Mall in the last three years. Values range from $25-100 depending on condition and the presence of a signature. Please refrain from childish jokes regarding the author's name.

5. Midian, Kansas: The history of an oil boomtown with an overall history of the El Dorado Oil Field by William Allen Green

Last but certainly not least, I can't believe I'm letting the cat out of the bag with this one, but I do hope that other local booksellers can profit from this little gem as long as I'm not around at the same sale haha! Here's a book I've consistently scouted and sold in the area (and online all over the country) for $75 at least five or six times.

I couldn't tell you exactly why demand remains strong for this discrete paperback (especially considering that today the town of Midian, which was actually located just outside Wichita in Butler County, officially exists only in cyberspace), but the link below will give you an idea. To add to the mystique of the story, the town was so named Midian was so named because of its mystical connections to the Masonic Order of the Midian Shrine and the biblical Midian, fourth son of Abraham and founder of a kingdom known by the same name. Local legend has it that in the basement of one of the small farm houses near the former site of Midian, a truly ancient Midianite shrine, possessed of supernatural powers, rests, long since forgotten. You can read more about the legend from the Kansas State Historical Society here.

Thanks for reading, and remember to comment, tell us about your top 5 regional volumes, share this post and share the love:) Also a brief reminder that anyone who shops on Amazon can use the banner at the top of my blog to be directed to the site to make their purchases and I will receive a small affiliate credit. If you benefit from reading the blog, I appreciate you using the banner link. Every little bit helps.

Put Down This Blog and Pick Up a Book

noreply@blogger.com (Kristian Strom) — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 21:39:00 +0000

ThaThanks

Many thanks to my big sister Sarah for giving my entire family a copy of this book last Christmas. Here we are eight months later and I've finally gotten around to devouring it. It's written by entrepreneur, copywriter and bootstrapper Michael Ellsberg and is entitled The Education of Millionaires: It's Not What You Think and It's Not Too Late.

The particular passage I'd like to share is from page 174, from an interview with Matt Mullenweg, the creator of WordPress. Michael is interviewing Matt about the importance of the lifelong process of educating yourself, a common trait among most successful entrepreneurs. What follows is a bit of advocacy for long-form books and libraries, coming from a surprising and unexpected source. I have selected the most crucial points in bold:

"A common quality I see of people who are successful is that they are voracious readers. The book as a format is underrated in the digital age. I'm the first one to say blogs are fantastic, obviously. But they tend to be shorter form. Longer-form works stretch my mind more. When you write a book, it consumes you. What you get when you read that book, then, is someone's entire life for several years or more, distilled into one work. That's really powerful."

He continues: "I feel like these things have super-cycles, and I think we're at the nadir of long-form writing. I think we might have just passed it, and it will rise again. The e-book revolution puts an entire library into something as small as a paperback. For me, as I stopped reading books in favor of Internet content, I felt myself getting dumber. Several years ago, I thought, "Man, I don't think I'm as smart as I used to be." I just felt a little duller. So I realized I had to start reading again...

...What's holding you back? It's your time and a few dollars. Or go to the library if you don't have a few dollars. And you can have access to the world's greatest wisdom on any topic."

Well put Matt! What do you think? Does reading long-form books versus Internet content and blog posts affect the quality of your life or intellect? Or is Matt just a pompous ass who can afford enough leisure time to actually read a book?

How Do You Find Your Flow?

noreply@blogger.com (Kristian Strom) — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 19:07:00 +0000

Finding Flow: The Psychology of Engagement with Everyday Life (Masterminds Series) is a quick, yet highly informative read on the psychology behind "Flow," or being in a focused state where one is immersed in a rewarding pursuit, which is a more quantifiable and desirable state than the generic and often fleeting state we call "happiness." The book is based on a scientific study the author (pronounced "Chick-sent-me-high", I had always wanted to know!) devised by monitoring the journals, activities and psychological states of his subjects over a period of time.

This book also offered interesting insights into achieving the desired "Flow" in relationships and family units. It confirmed some of my rationale for why being an entrepreneur is extremely fulfilling at times, and gave practical suggestions for how to find meaning, enjoyment and enthusiasm in the mundane tasks that consume much of our time. The differences between active and passive leisure time are worth noting, and should result in the change of several habits, especially the excessive amounts of television I watch when I'm exhausted.

I suspect that many booksellers are able or at least attempt to enter this optimal state while under the gun during the first hour of a crowded library book sale. What methods do you use to enter this state? I try to isolate a table or shelf in one of my particular specialties with at least a small batch of volumes with publisher's seals I know to be lucrative and then focus on that area before moving on to the next, as I find that when I am fluttering around aimlessly my boxes tend to stay only half-filled. Why does it often feel like there are better books in another section?

Highly recommended. You'll need a highlighter and a notebook for this one, and I suspect to reread selected passages throughout my life. I only wish it gave more tips on how to further my ambitions as a freestyle rapper.

Creating a Hashtag: "A Book That Looks Like Nothing" #abtlln

noreply@blogger.com (Kristian Strom) — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 15:11:00 +0000

Way back in the golden days of Internet bookselling, a group of dedicated Ebay sellers created a discussion board called "A Book That Looks Like Nothing," a forum to share books that they came across in the field which did not appear to be anything special or significant at first glance, but were, in fact, of significant resale value. The first example was for early editions of Benjamin Graham and David Dodd's investment classic:

Posters continued to share their finds in the field until a virtual treasure trove of information had been compiled, and continue to post on the forum to this day, although posts appear to be less frequent. I proposed that booksellers who are active on Twitter begin to post relevant finds and photos under the following hashtag:

#abtlln

Let the games begin! Also, feel free to share your finds on the original Ebay discussion forum. I'll get us started off with a recently published but already out-of-print paperback volume on Railway Travel which I scouted over the weekend:

Friday Morning Flashpoints: Haruki Murakami

noreply@blogger.com (Kristian Strom) — Fri, 25 May 2012 17:08:00 +0000

There is one modern author who I'm sure you've at least heard of, but perhaps weren't aware of just how collectible his books have become. Interest is currently near an all-time high with the recent release of 1Q84, and I would expect it to continue to grow over time. I was surprised to find that his works have yet to grace the pages of Ahearn's Collected Books, although I routinely sell hardcover copies of his novels for 3 figures, and even 4 figures one one occasion.

You can learn more about Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami's background here.

Several years ago, I was fortunate enough to buy and sell two Near Fine Japanese Edition copies of his 1979 Kodansha debut novel Hear the Wind Sing. Any paperback reprint is worth keeping an eye out for as well, as the only in-print version appears to be in Chinese.

I'm looking forward to listing a copy of another out-of-print Hardcover volume this week, entitled Dance, Dance, Dance and expect a relatively quick sale in the $75-100 range, even for my ex-library reading copy.

Another chance scouting mission to an off-the-beaten-path and off-line bookshop several years ago netted ten Fine copies of the Advance Proof for A Wild Sheep Chase, all of which I let go for a nice sum, although knowing what I know now, I regret not listing them at a higher price and letting them sit a bit longer. After that chance encounter, I now always politely ask the shop owners if they happen to have any shelves in back or behind the curtain that they wouldn't mind me taking a look at while I'm passing through town.

Several other titles I have sold in Hardcover for a nice amount include Pinball, The Hard-boiled Wonderland and the End of the World and The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle.

Make sure to offer International Shipping options on these listings, as Murakami has plenty of collectors worldwide.

On a more personal note, I'm looking forward to delving into his essays on running and training for the New York City Marathon, entitled What I Talk about When I Talk about Running. My girlfriend has recently inspired me to join her on some 4, 6, 10 and 12 mile runs (something I never thought I would actually enjoy doing, as I tend to prefer exercise via sport) so it seems like an appropriate choice for exhausted post-run bedside reading. The book opens with thoughts gathered while teaching at Harvard and running around Cambridge and deals with the themes of loneliness, isolation and introspection that run throughout his works of fiction.

Two Flashpoints for Online Booksellers: Bobbin Lace & B.T. Batsford

noreply@blogger.com (Kristian Strom) — Fri, 18 May 2012 13:37:00 +0000

I came across the out-of-print Dover publication pictured above at a library sale this past weekend. In fact, I seem to come across this same title at least once a year. This crafting classic was originally published in the UK by B.T. Batsford, which is also an excellent publisher flashpoint to remember.

From the Anova Books Group website: "Founded in 1843, Batsford is an imprint with an illustrious heritage that has built a tradition of excellence over the last 168 years. As a leading publisher of definitive books for the serious enthusiast and professional, Batsford has developed an enviable reputation in the areas of fashion and design, embroidery and textiles, chess, heritage, horticulture and architecture."

Here is an additional link to the Google Images listings for Batsford.

Craft books and books on "Bobbin Lace" tend to appear in droves, so make sure to keep a close eye out when you find one, as others are almost sure to be close by. Here are links to some additional titles I have sold on "Bobbin Lace" over my ten plus years in online bookselling:

One more additional and related flashpoint to explore: Torchon Lace and Lacemaking. Finally, you might be surprised to find what a Completed Listings search thread on actual vintage and antique "Bobbin Lace" brings up.

A Book that Looks Like Nothing: Mass Market Paperback Fad Diet Book

noreply@blogger.com (Kristian Strom) — Fri, 11 May 2012 20:46:00 +0000

I came across this little mass market paperback copy of Neanderthin at my last library sale and am confident that it will put a quick $30 in my pocket. Not bad, considering it cost a whole quarter.

Curiously enough, the hardcover edition is only selling for $20, but is still a nice pick up for a common title. Make sure to capitalize on the Neanderthal Diet fad while it lasts.

I have been keeping my eye out for Raw Cookbooks lately, more for personal reasons than for profit. Anyone other booksellers or friends out there experimenting with a raw diet?

Outdated Medical Textbooks- Worth a Second Look?

noreply@blogger.com (Kristian Strom) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 20:32:00 +0000

Here is an example of an "outdated" medical textbook that sold via ABE for $500 today.

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While the publication date of 1985 would appear to make this volume irrelevant and outdated, it remains a sought after and highly specialized title that will fetch a premium on the marketplace, especially considering the lack of copies available via a simple BookFinder.com search.

The moral of today's online bookselling blog post:
Don't overlook or discard Medical Textbooks simply on the basis of their publication date, as several remain seminal works in their respective fields. Having said that, I'm sure you're aware that 99% of these titles will not be worth their weight in recycled paper, but developing a feel for the right types to look for will result in some excellent sales over the length of your career as a bookseller.

Here are a couple other examples of relatively scarce Medical textbooks I have sold for three figures (or even four figures in one case) in the past year alone:

Heart and Coronary Arteries: An Anatomical Atlas for Clinical Diagnosis
Published in 1977, Sold for $1000

Congenital Malformations of the Heart
Published in 1975, Sold for $500 (with one additional copy available for sale)

The Lymphatic System

Published by John Wiley & Sons, in 1974, Sold for $750

Please feel free to share your experience with outdated medical textbooks in the comments field below. Also, I am currently in the process of cataloging a particularly impressive 30 plus volume set of facsimiles of Classic Medical Texts. I look forward to sharing this phenomenal discovery with all of you in the near future.

Out of Print Music, or My $750 CD Sale

noreply@blogger.com (Kristian Strom) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:52:00 +0000

I will always be a bookseller first, but as an avid audiophile, I am always on the lookout for out-of-print music, and I fear that a vinyl fetish may be blossoming.

With the steady rise of digital sales, many CDs would fall under the category of not WBW (worth bothering with). However, for the savvy bookseller, there are still opportunities to be had in this category, although your percentages of finding sell-able items are obviously much lower.

My most successful categories have always been Classical and Opera Boxed Sets, scarce debut albums, Gold CD original master recordings like this one by Stevie Wonder- Innervisions, soul, funk and jazz albums from minor labels and out-of-print albums with a cult following (collectors willing to pay hundreds of dollars for the ACTUAL album).

The first taste I had of compact disc gold happened many years ago, when I used to download the Buyers Waiting list from Amazon and use arbitrage to buy low and sell high. I found a seemingly ridiculous pre-order of a CD for $750, and placed wants/wish list orders on several websites. When a copy became available via half.com for $40, I snatched it up immediately and resold it the next day. I didn't do the happy dance until my International customer emailed to say that he had received the item and was very happy, considering the fact that he had been fruitlessly searching for this out-of-print album for many years to no avail. The album in question is "Tight" by Mindless Self-Indulgence, "an electronica band who are heavily influenced by 80s sub-culture with a sound that frequently shows the influences of hip-hop, rock and acid punk."

As you can see by the current price, the supply for the CD is now much more plentiful, and demand appears to have cooled off over time as well. If you didn't believe that this sold for $750, check out the recent EBay auction for a Promo Copy of one of their albums, which netted over $1000!

My latest score was yesterday- a $250 sale on Amazon for an out-of-print debut CD for Russian pianist Virtuosa Valentina:

If you are a Terapeak subscriber, make sure to check out her completed listings, and you will find that just about anything with her name on it is in high demand.

I hope this information is useful to a few of you who dabble in formats other than books. Please feel free to share the stories of your most successful CD sales via the comments section. Happy Hunting!

FBA Shipments with Multiple Quantities May Be Split

noreply@blogger.com (Kristian Strom) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 19:00:00 +0000

Received in an email this morning from Amazon, and effective February 25th, 2012:

"Dear FBA Seller,
Effective February 25, 2012, inventory may be assigned to multiple fulfillment centers at the ASIN level during the shipment creation process to help better position it to reach customers at the delivery speeds they choose. We anticipate that both you and customers who purchase your products will benefit from this change, including for the following reasons.

Products located in multiple fulfillment centers can gain a competitive advantage over products located in a single fulfillment center. Order cut-off times for Prime and expedited shipping can be extended by as much as three hours with inventory in multiple fulfillment centers, so your offers will more likely be available for last-minute orders in more locations.
Products can be available for fulfillment to customers sooner than if you shipped them to one fulfillment center, and we then transported them to other fulfillment centers.
The impact of regional and local events on your products will be reduced. Events such as snowstorms, flooding, and earthquakes can disrupt transportation in a region or local fulfillment center. Having your inventory in multiple locations during these events increases our ability to ship orders to customers on time.

Please visit Inventory Placement for more information. If you still have questions, please contact Seller Support (sign in required)."

At first, this seems like it will take a bit of getting used to, especially for FBA booksellers who ship multiple quantities of the same item. It may require setting several boxes aside, in addition to your normal ABE3 Pennsylvania warehouse location.

I will be glad to provide an attractive, brand new 2012 day planner to the first bookseller to provide a logical and workable solution to streamlining this process. My initial idea is just to keep several 12 X 12 X 18 boxes (which I get from ULine) going at once, with the appropriate warehouse labeled on the side.

Strombo | VIDEO OF THE DAY: The Bookstore After Hours | CBC Television

noreply@blogger.com (Kristian Strom) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 20:43:00 +0000

One of my new favorite videos, featuring books that come to life after the shop is closed:

Strombo | VIDEO OF THE DAY: The Bookstore After Hours | CBC Television

I can't imagine how many hours and shelf shifting went into the production of this video.

Also, I appreciate the fact that there is a website out there entitled Strombo.

The Things We Carried

noreply@blogger.com (Kristian Strom) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 21:46:00 +0000

I forgot I had lost the floppy disk the speech was on until I found this article from the local paper

Whew. It's been a busy week. The Friends of the Wichita Public Library Booksale is on it's second day (day four for me, including setup) and tonight The Big Read in Wichita reaches its' climax as author Tim O'Brien comes to town for an author reception, reading and book signing. Come out to the WSU Metroplex on 29th and Oliver if you're not going to the Wichita Wings opener or the George Bush Chamber of Commerce Event. This just might be the busiest night in Wichita since I moved here about ten years ago. I've got about ten minutes before I need to leave for the event, so forgive me for rifling off this post and not reflecting in more detail.

The Things They Carried, which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Critics Circle Award, left an indelible mark on me in my adolescence. I was introduced to the book in high school by one of the most influential people in my life- my Creative Writing and English teacher, Jeff White. I was enthralled by the book immediately, and each short story and character made a lasting impression, my favorite being "On the Rainy River," where O'Brien spends some time with a man in the north woods and makes a decision to fulfill his draft requirement instead of jumping ship and fleeing to Canada. Having a brother and a father who were both West Pointers and are now decorated Army veterans, I found myself in the author's shoes and having an imaginary struggle about what I would have done in his shoes.

For your enjoyment, I would like to share the speech I wrote for the Deerfield High School Graduating Class of 1998. I decided not to edit it, so it is slightly embarrassing, considering it was written at age sixteen. Don't get me wrong, attending high school in an upper-class suburb of Chicago has absolutely nothing in common with serving in Vietnam, but at the time, it seemed like an appropriate title for the speech. I look forward to sharing more about the event afterwards.

The Things We Carried

1998 Deerfield (Illinois) High School Graduation Class Speech

Good evening- Dr. Hanson, Principal Scornavacco, the Board of Education, teachers, parents, friends, my fellow graduates, the Class of 1998. My name is Kristian Strom and these are the things we carried.

The first day of school I carried a backpack full of pencil and binders, a Chandlers full of dates waiting to be filled with homework assignments, and a copy of Catcher in the Rye. I was the new kid. My dad was in the Army. We had lived in places like Germany, Spain and Israel. Deerfield was the seventh school I had attended. The last was a private Catholic school in Virginia. Most of the people were conservative and preppy. Here, there were preps, punks, jocks, skaters and all the in-betweens. I knew no one. I was known as “Virginia Boy.” People would give me funny looks in the hallway. Stacy Seidler even asked if I would come over and “harvest her corn” or “fix her tractor.” I tried to explain that I was from the other part of Virginia. At least they were nice about it.

I remember eating lunch on the first day. Sitting in the back carrels of the library, eating, alone. I remember eating lunch on the second day. Nick Senese carried a blue backpack with his band’s name, “The Dynomites”, sewed into the fabric. He asked if I needed a place to sit. In that invitation I saw a kindness that was not ordinary among kids my age. I learned that day that the students at Deerfield were a reflection of the things they carried.

As Freshmen, we carried a fear of Seniors through the hallway, until we realized that we didn’t fit into a locker room or trash can.

There was a shy girl who carried hope for next year and short boy who carried a tape measure. Only a few of us carried confidence.

Sophomore year, the guys didn’t part their hair on the side anymore and the girls didn’t get rides to school from their moms. Coolness was important.

I carried a beat up copy of Jack Kerouac’s On the Road in the back pocket of my wrinkled khakis. I wanted to be on the highway, chasing women and dreams. Two years later, my English teacher, Mr. White, would teach me how to do just that by sitting at a desk and writing.

Mike Saewitz carried a copy of the school paper underneath all of his books. He would write columns out in the courtyard, inspired by the comings and goings of the students. Two years later, he would become the editor of the school newspaper.

During the basketball season, Johnny Lyons carried a Scottie Pippen basketball card inside his backpack. Two years later, he would be the starting point guard on the basketball team.

Junior year, we carried the weight of an almost unbearable workload. It was the year you had to impress the college of your choice.

We carried bags under our eyes; proof of our late hours and endless cups of mocha at Barnes and Noble.

Greg Malek carried a TI-82 with games like Tetris and Frogger. He played them after he finished a Calculus test in Mr. Fitzgerald’s class.

Caroline Mao carried the badminton birdie that she had won her first match with in the sixth grade. The birdie brought her luck. Everyone had their superstitions.

Smelly gym clothes. Lucky hats. A favorite pair of blue jeans.

Jordy Hertzberg ate two desserts on the days of a math test.

Anne O’Donnell wore her lucky blue shoes on the days of Mrs. Weatherby’s in-class essays.

This year, our Senior year, we carried only the bare necessities. We left our books in our lockers and came down with a severe case of Senioritis.

We carried love letters and half chewed pieces of gum in our pockets.

We carried the brown bag lunches our mothers still made for us.

We carried the keys to our cars: our Jeeps, our beat up Chevys, our 1986 Honda Accords.

On the last day, we carried our year books to all of our classes, asking people we remembered from freshmen year to sign. “Remember the time when you were my lab partner and we had to dissect a frog. I got real nauseous and barfed all over you,” or, “I cannot believe we have been friends since the second grade. Time flies when you’re having fun. Is the treehouse we made in your backyard still even there?”

So now we have a book full of memories. Each face we look at in the yearbook carries a certain weight; each memory carries a certain sadness, and a certain joy.

Many of us are staying in Illinois for college.

Most of us are staying in the Midwest.

Some of us will be going straight into the workforce.

A few are going to places like California and Massachusetts.

Ten years from now, we are going to be even more spread out. Mirhee Kim displaying her paintings in a New York art gallery. Ariel Sznajder in Uruguay cooking over an open flame. Justin Goldstein in Israel studying ancient history. Brad Gold will be at a business meeting fixing his tie, and in between his Nutri-Grain bar and gulping down his coffee, he will remember the breakfast he shared with Mr. Scornavacco, a man who truly cared. Then someone will notice an article about Mrs. Kaplan running for the presidency in French Polynesia. We will look at the faces in our yearbook and remember-

“Jason Weitzman could suck Jello into his nose with a straw.”

“Jim Collins could really play the saxophone.”

Or “Jason Merz could burp the entire Star Spangled Banner.”

Ten years from now, when some of us will be trying to raise our own children, we will remember our parents and all they have done for us.

Throughout our four years, we carried heavy backpacks filled with novels, assignments and textbooks. We carried sports bags with cleats, water bottles, and dirt. We carried guitars, trombones, and flutes. We carried the responsibility of our education. We carried the joys of friendship and adventure, along with the sorrows of loss.

We will remember the face of Mr. Morenz- a man who was so alive. We will remember the “Deerfield air” that we once breathed in every morning on our way to the school on Waukegan Road, with the windows rolled down. We will think about life, and our lives, and what we have made of them. Some of us will be artists, some will work many long hours each week, working hard to make the rent, others will be coaches of little league baseball teams. We will all now be graduates of Deerfield High School- a reflection of the things we carried.

Extreme Makeover Home Edition: Hall Family Library Project

noreply@blogger.com (Kristian Strom) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 23:57:00 +0000

Here are a few of the photos taken from the Wichita episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

I highlighted the spots where my books were used around the house, along with a few other personal favorites. Books were also generously donated for the project by Watermark Books, Book-a-Holic and the Wichita Public Library. I even found a Newberry award winning children's book featuring the "adventures of the Hall family," which just so happened to be the name of the family whose house was built. Crystal and I will be heading to Joplin, Missouri tomorrow to help on move-in day of the current project. They are building seven houses in seven days, which is by far their most ambitious build to date! I'll post pictures from Joplin as soon as they become available.

I just thought this was a pretty awesome coffee table, discovered by the crew at a local Antique Mall.

Books as a stand for the retro telephone. Notice the copy of "Baseball Anecdotes" on the bottom. Carl Hall was a Hall of Fame baseball player for Wichita State who was paralyzed in a car accident.

I managed to sneak in a WSU Wu Shux ultimate frisbee to this sports display:)

When I wasn't working on the books I was building this outdoor dining set.

You can see the biggest bookshelf in the house in the background, complete with family friendly and religious materials.

There was a nice selection of cookbooks in the kitchen, although I didn't get a good shot of them. Carl's running joke was that when "Life gives you lemons, you make lemonade." He has an amazing attitude and spirit, and was well deserving.

A couple of the cookbooks.

Some nice rustic books looking good next to the flower pot.

My personal favorite picture of books and bookends in the house. It is a complete set of Victor Hugo's works.

Every kid's dream!

A view from the front of the finished house.

A Belated Wrap Up of the 21 Days of Golf & Tennis Challenge

noreply@blogger.com (Kristian Strom) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 23:32:00 +0000

My apologies to those of you who are following my year long series of 21-Day challenges for the delayed nature of this post. It is October 19th, and I have been heavily involved with my current 21-Day challenge- 21 Days of Fundraising & Volunteerism. More on that soon...

Here are the Top 10 Moments from September:

10. Selling a used copy of Tom Doak's The Confidential Guide to Golf Courses for $219.95. That covered a couple of rounds:)
&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;9.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;nbsp; Playing&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;

9. Getting a lesson from Greg Bray at Terradyne. Although I started taking lessons for the first time last year, Greg is the best and most professional instructor I could have hoped for, and he's right in my own backyard.

8. Playing late night rounds of tennis on lighted courts with my friends Mike, Tate and Brendan, all of whom were excellent high school players. Brendan played in college and whoops my ass just about every time, but I vow to take a set off of him by this time next year. Watch out.

7. Playing in the YWCA of Wichita 2011 Golf Classic scramble with some buddies from Wesley. We had a respectable showing of -11 at Willowbend, good enough for 7th place.

6. Winning the long drive competition at the YWCA tournament by striping one right down the middle and right into the wind. Good enough for a $25 gift certificate to the Green Mill, which I'm told has excellent pizza.

5. Getting to play both Alvamar courses in Lawrence while attending the Fall Book Sale at the public library. I purchased vouchers to play a bunch of KC area courses from KC Golfer Magazine, so all I had to pay was the cart fee. The greens were incredibly fast, so there were a lot of 3 putts, but the elevation changes were gorgeous.

4. Getting the chance to play at Tallgrass in the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame Tournament with K-State basketball legend and former WNBA player Kendra Wecker, along with former Bethany College head football coach Ted Kessinger, who brought his team's winning percentage close to perfection. With an over all record of 219-57-1, he led the Swedes into the NAIA top 25 poll 20 separate times. During his 28 seasons, Bethany College never had a losing season, making him one of the most successful coaches in NAIA history. Although we had some athletes on our team, our score wasn't so great, but we had a blast.

Steady Teddy always ripped his drives right down the middle

3. Did I mention the cost of the tournament was free? Thanks to my awesome girlfriend Crystal, who got me into the tournament and "helped" me win a brand new Coleman 8 man tent at the raffle...bonus.

Representin' Xclusive

2. While visiting Hutchinson to do some work at the library, I passed up the opportunity to play Prairie Dunes (way over my budget) to play the more friendly and affordable Carey Park, a fun little course my friend had told me about. She hooked me up with her friend Nick Mason, a professional golfer who finished 2nd in the Missouri State Open days after we played, and I fired off a respectable 79. He shot a casual 68. I don't think I've ever played with anyone who shot that low.

1. Getting in a bunch of rounds with my buddy Nate and getting my handicap down to single digits. I ended the month at a 9.7 (well almost a 9!) and Nate ended up with a 7. Although many of our rounds were neck and neck fights to the finish, he seemed to have my number this month, and won a nice little pile of one dollar bills from me with all of his style points (sandies, greenies, stickies, etc.). The best round of the year for me was when we played Clapp in Wichita for what we thought might be a farewell tour. Rumor has it that the city is no longer planning on closing the course- at least let's hope not. It's not especially hard, but it is an affordable option for hackers like me.

So, on a picturesque autumn day, I fire off a 77, my round of the year. Only problem was that Nate played out of his mind, finished birdie/birdie, and walked away with a 72! Congratulations Nate-Dog, I no longer consider you a hacker. Now, if we could only beat his girlfriend Lan.

Strom Dynasty in jeopardy after Wu-Tang Clan posts a respectable 72