One Girl Collecting

AbeBooks' Bestselling Signed Books for March 2013

2013-04-29T09:00:00.000-04:00

AbeBooks' Bestselling Signed Books - March 2013

Wool by Hugh Howey
The childhood of Jesus by J.M. Coetzee
The Accursed by Joyce Carol Oates
Life of Pi by Yann Martel
Sum it Up By Pat Summitt
Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia
Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk by Ben Fountain
Beautiful Redemption by Kami Garcia
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt

Book Sale Extravaganza Weekend

2013-04-28T12:12:00.000-04:00

This weekend was the St. Francis Episcopal Church Book Sale, the First Friends Book Sale, AND the re-opening of our Ed McKay used bookstore. So, I'm a bit blissed out from a very book-intense weekend.

The St. Francis sale is my favorite of the local book sales. (That and the Durham Library sale, which I unfortunately missed this year, are highlighted on my yearly calendar). Like most sales, St. Francis has a slew of titles by the prolifer-azzi (James Patterson, the Kellermans, Danielle Steel...). Thankfully, the very helpful volunteers group those authors together so you can just walk right past them.

More importantly (for me), they have gently used copies of more collectible authors, sometimes signed. This year, I opted to wait out the crowds and attend the 2d day of the sale, and while I found a few good titles, most of the books were pretty well picked over. Lesson learned. Next year, I'll wade back in with the other collectors and booksellers jockeying for elbow room on opening day.

While I may not have had great luck at the St. Francis sale, I did manage a few finds at the Ed McKay (which was closed for a few days to embiggen & rearrange the store). I was hoping they'd reopen with a bit more organization (similar to the shelves at Half Price Books) but no. Books are still stacked two rows deep and while they do chunk books alphabetically by author, it's a total free-for-all within each categorized letter. Which just means that you work a little harder for your treasures.

Still, I managed to find an early Hilary Mantel (her fifth book, but the first to be published in the U.S. market), A Place of Greater Safety (Atheneum, New York, 1993). I would say the book is probably in Very Good condition with minor shelf wear and a small tear in the dust jacket. Listings on Abebooks and Amazon value the book between $118 - $140 (not bad).

Synopsis:

Mantel recounts the events between the fall of the ancien regime and the peak of the Terror as seen through the eyes of the three protagonists--Robespierre, Danton and Desmoulins--and a huge cast of supporting characters (including brief appearances by the scrofulous Marat). The three revolutionaries, longtime acquaintances, spend their days scheming and fighting for a corruption-free French Republic, but their definitions of "corrupt" are as different as the men themselves. [Publishers Weekly]

Mantel's novels:

Every Day is Mother's Day (UK: Chatto & Windus, 1985)

Vacant Possession (UK: Chatto & Windus/Penguin, 1986)

Eight Months on Ghazzah Street (UK: Viking, 1988)

Fludd (UK: Viking, 1989)

A Place of Greater Safety (UK: Viking, 1992; US: Atheneum, 1993)

A Change of Climate (UK/US: Viking/Penguin, 1994)

An Experiment in Love (UK:Viking, 1995; US: Henry Holt, 1996)

The Giant, O'Brien (Fourth Estate/Henry Holt, 1998)

Beyond Black (Fourth Estate/Henry Holt, 2005)

Wolf Hall (Fourth Estate/Henry Holt, 2009) *Winner of the 2009 Man Booker Prize.

Bring Up the Bodies (Fourth Estate/Henry Holt, 2012) *Winner of the 2012 Man Booker Prize

The Mirror and the Light: in progress

I found a signed, 4th printing of an Orson Scott Card title that I don't have. Since he's a local author, I started picking up signed copies of his books at pretty much every book sale or used bookstore I've visited. Of course, with Card, the brass ring would be to find a first (signed) edition of Ender's Game. (It could happen. it's doubtful, but you never know).

Synopsis:

Bestselling author Orson Scott Card uses his fertile imagination, and uncanny insight into human nature, to tell the story of a unique woman--one who is beautiful, tough, smart, and resourceful in an era when women had little power, and are scarce in the historical record. Sarah, child of the desert, wife of Abraham, takes on vivid reality as a woman desirable to kings, a devoted wife, and a faithful follower of the God of Abraham, chosen to experience an incomparable miracle. [Book Description]

Another local author I've had luck with is John Hart. This weekend I found a signed first edition of Iron House (valued between $35 - $65). Last year I found a signed first edition of his The Last Child at the St. Francis sale (valued between $60 - $145).

Synopsis:

There was nothing but time at the Iron Mountain Home for Boys, time for two orphans to learn that life is neither painless nor won without a fight. Julian survives only because his older brother, Michael, is both feared and fiercely protective. When an older boy is brutally killed, Michael makes the ultimate sacrifice to protect his brother: He flees the orphanage and takes the blame with him. [Book Description]

Iron House garnered starred reviews from Booklist and Publishers Weekly.

Hart's novels:

The King of Lies, (St. Martin’s Press, 2006)

Down River, (St. Martin’s Press, 2007) *Winner of the 2008 Edgar Allen Poe Award.

The Last Child, (St. Martin’s Press, 2009) *Winner of the 2010 Edgar Allen Poe Award.

Iron House, (St. Martin’s Press, 2011)

Surprisingly, I also found a reading copy of Wool by Hugh Howey, so now I don't have to feel guilty about sitting in the Barnes & Noble Cafe reading chapters (being careful not to break the spine) while I await my hardback copy. (What? I said I felt guilty.)

A Trip to Wonder Book in Frederick, MD

2013-04-18T11:10:00.000-04:00

This past weekend we visited friends up North, one of whom took us to Wonder Book - a used bookstore in Frederick Maryland. Filled with narrow aisles that are piled to the rafters with books in every possible condition, it's very similar to a bibliophile's flea market.

Books are piled and scattered on the floor - and aisles are narrow enough to let one person pass through, craning their neck to view anything on the top or bottom shelves. It is not a place you go if you get overwhelmed easily. But it's a treasure trove for anyone looking for inexpensive reading copies.

As with most used bookstores, I'm not quite sure how they determine their prices (I suspect Amazon.com plays a role). I found a signed, limited slip-cased edition of Danielle Steel's Daddy (#27/250) priced at $2.99. The only issue I could find with it was a remainder mark on the bottom - and while blemished, it wasn't enough to explain the steep discount. (later I would find this same title being sold on Abebooks for $125 by, none other than, Wonder Book of Maryland).

I found a number of signed, first editions - most of which were priced at $30 - $40. I can't tell you for sure why I passed up these books. Partly because I'd just paid my taxes and was feeling broke; partly because the manner in which the books were crammed in to the shelves left me a bit leery about their condition; and partly because I hadn't done my homework. Was a signed, first edition of Anne Rice's Violin worth $40? Answer: Yes... and no. If the copy was pristine - it might (MIGHT) be worth $80, but you can find signed firsts for this title for as low as $13.

I did find a very nice first (US) edition of Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall (sans the Booker Prize sticker). Something I've been looking for since it was up for (& subsequently won) the Booker in 2009. I paid around $10 for it and it's worth between $65 and $150.

I can tell you this, the next time I go (and I will go again), I will do my homework because there's nothing more exciting than finding a treasure socked away among thousands of books. I imagine it's the same high that extreme couponers feel when they've just saved a ba-jillion dollars on ramen noodles and glade scented candles.

Indiespensable Vol. 39: A Constellation of Vital Phenomena

2013-04-12T09:57:00.001-04:00

In my in-box this morning was an email from Powell's, announcing their next Indiespensable selection:

Indiespensable is Powell's book club, wherein subscribers receive a signed, slip-cased first edition every six weeks. Cost is $39.95 per shipment and includes shipping costs.

This Indiespensable package includes:

* A signed first edition of A Constellation of Vital Phenomena in a custom slipcase exclusive to Indiespensable
* A collectible booklet featuring the Powells.com interview with Anthony Marra
* Other special surprises!

This is Marra's debut novel and has received starred reviews from Booklist, Publishers Weekly, and Library Journal.

I mentioned this title in my Early Buzz post a few weeks ago.

Full Disclosure: I am a Powell's partner primarily because I believe in the power of independent bookstores but I also like a cup of coffee every once in a while.

Get This Book: Wool by Hugh Howey

2013-04-04T11:40:00.001-04:00

Although the title has been around for a year and a half, Wool by self-published author Hugh Howey, has been getting a lot of press in the past month. Rising popularity and interest in the movie rights by Ridley Scott have propelled Howey into the spotlight.

Wool was first released as a short story in July 2011 but readers quickly began clamoring for more, asking when 'the rest of the story' would be published. As a result, Howey began writing sequels until there were 5 stories in the Wool series, publishing each as an individual e-book and eventually as an omnibus.

Following on the heels of Wool's success, Howey wrote a prequel, Shift (currently available as an eBook) and a Sequel, Dust, which will be available later this year.

In addition to eBooks, print-on-demand paperbacks have been made available through Amazon's Createspace publishing platform.

Simon and Schuster (US) / Century (UK) bought the series and released the hardcover edition of Wool on March 12, 2013 with Shift and Dust, to be released later this year. (Shift will be released in April, and Dust in October).

Signed firsts of Wool are listing for $60 to $150 on Abebooks.com.
A limited signed & slip-cased edition of 500 was published by Century in the UK. These are currently listing for between $150 and $380.

If you'd like to read a sampling of Wool, Barnes & Noble offers a peek at the first 30 pages. (Click on the "Get a Free Sample" link next to the "Buy Now" button. You'll need the free Nook reader app if you don't already have it.) It takes a little patience to get into the rhythm of Howey's writing, but once there the story will hook you. This is being touted as "The next Hunger Games," and has garnered praise from Wired, Kathy Reichs, and Justin Cronin.

Where you can find signed hardback copies online:

A Trip to Half Price Books

2013-03-18T11:04:00.001-04:00

A few weeks ago I was visiting family in KC (Missouri), and took a trip down to the Westport Half Price Bookstore - a place where I can ALWAYS do some damage. Of course, there was a time constraint, as we had a dinner reservation. (Probably best, for the pocketbook's sake, but my goodness it was hard to leave).

We always manage to find great books at the Half Price Bookstore. Most are in Very Good condition, although you do have to be careful - check for wear, marks & scrapes, and the dreaded remainder mark (which I tend to miss when I'm excited to find a particular title).

The most exciting find: A first printing of The University of California's Autobiography of Mark Twain, vol. 1.

This was a GET THIS BOOK choice back in November of 2010. 75,000 copies were printed for the first run (although originally, it was believed to be 7,500 copies - but many credit this to a typo). It sold out in the first week. 2d print runs sold out nearly as quickly. I ordered a copy in the first week after it's release and was shipped a 3d printing of the edition.

First printings, in Fine/Near Fine condition, are listing for $200-$500 on Abebooks.

What amazes me is that even second and third printings are listing for up to $175.

This is slated to be a 3 volume set. Autobiography of Mark Twain, Volume 2, The Complete and Authoritative Edition is scheduled for release in October 2013, but can be preordered (at a 20% discount no less) from University of California Press (discounted price: $36).

Also exciting, although not as valuable:

The Eight by Katherine Neville. (Ballantine, NY, 1988)
I've been looking for a hardbound copy of this title for a long while now. I didn't find a first printing, but it is a nice, clean, crisp copy of an earlier printing. It's such a good book that it's just nice to have the title back in my collection.

Signed Firsts in Near Fine condition list up to $150.
Unsigned Firsts list for up to $50.

Swamplandia! by Karen Russell (Knopf, NY, 2011)
I found a First/First, but the jacket was price clipped. Otherwise it appears to be a Near Fine copy.

Signed Firsts list up to $125.
Unsigned can list up to $50.

side note: I understand the old idea of price clipping book jackets when the books were being given as gifts. Although, honestly, it seems a bit prideful to me to bring attention to the fact that you do not want someone to know how much the book may've cost you. Especially, when most people (these days) ignore the price. Not to mention, the price is also found on the back cover over the ISBN, but you don't see people cutting that out. (okay, that's the end of my rant).

Signed Limited Editions of Life of Pi and Dear Life

2013-03-07T10:12:00.000-05:00

Canopy is publishing a limited edition of 300 signed copies of Yann Martel's Life of Pi and a limited edition of 50 signed copies of Alice Munro's Dear Life to bring attention to their straw paper & forest initiative:

Signed special editions of Life of Pi and Dear Life, printed on paper made from left over straw rather than trees have been launched in support of Canopy’s campaigns to protect the world’s forests.

Life of Pi: $250 / edition of 300
Dear Life: $500 / edition of 50

Canopy doesn't state whether these are hardback or paperback, choosing to instead focus on the eco-friendly facts of straw paper. Nor does it mention anything about the longevity of straw paper.

I did find a marketing document on their Website listing the copyright statement that should appear in books using the "Ancient Forest Friendly" logo (associated with straw paper):

We are committed to protecting the environment and to the responsible use of natural resources. We are acting on this commitment by working with suppliers and printers to phase out our use of paper produced from ancient forests. This book is one step towards that goal. It is printed on 00% ancient-forest-free paper (00% post-consumer recycled), processed chlorine and acid-free and it is printed with vegetable-based inks.

Of note: In 2011, Margaret Atwood published a signed limited edition of In Other Worlds for Canopy, using straw paper. Abebook listings show the publisher as McClelland and Stewart, ON Canada. Descriptions state that this edition is hardback. Prices list from $48-$405. The number printed is not stated.

True firsts for Life of Pi (Knopf, Canada, 2001) list for $600-$1400+ (signed); $400-$500 (unsigned); & $350 for an unsigned, 2d printing. (These were small print runs).

True firsts for Dear Life (McClelland Stewart, Canada, 2012) list for $300 (signed), $50 (unsigned); US firsts (Knopf, NY, 2012) list for $60-$85 (signed).

Subterranean Press Grab Bags are Back

2013-02-25T09:15:00.001-05:00

Until they sell out, Subterranean Press Grab Bags are available over on their Website for $175.

From an email I received this morning:

For a Very Limited Time, Grab Bags are Back

We're back with one of our most popular promotions-the grab bags.

The last time we offered these, they sold out in a day, so don't hesitate!

Each bag will contain a mix of signed limited editions, trade harcdcovers, and possibly even a chapbook or two. We expect each to contain approximately 13 books, with a retail value of $500 or greater. Some of the books may be distributor returns, and not perfect, but at the price, we think you'll agree the overall package can't be beat. We're using a number of titles never-before-offered in a grab bag, so even if you're purchased one previously, you're bound to find a good supply of new reading material.

Each of the grab bags weighs approximately 20-22 lbs.

There's a limit of one grab bag per household, and quantities are limited, so please get your order in soon.

Grab Bag: $175

I've taken advantage of this offer before and they are true to their word regarding condition and value. Last time I received 4 signed editions in my grab bag and all were in fine / near fine condition.

13 limited edition books for $175 is a great deal, especially considering that even their lower priced signed editions sell for $45-$60.

Subterranean Press makes this offer available once a year.

Best,
-N

In the Post: The Flame Throwers

2013-02-21T09:00:00.000-05:00

In the mail this week, from Scribner & LibraryThing, is The Flamethrowers: a Novel by Rachel Kushner (April 2, 2013).

From the book cover:
The year is 1977 and Reno—so-called because of the place of her birth—has come to New York intent on turning her fascination with motorcycles and speed into art. Her arrival coincides with an explosion of activity in the art world—artists have colonized a deserted and industrial Soho, are squatting in the East Village, and blurring the line between life and art. Reno falls in with group of dreamers and raconteurs who submit her to a sentimental education of sorts. She begins an affair with an artist named Sandro Valera, the semi-estranged scion of an Italian tire and motorcycle empire. When they visit Sandro’s family home in Italy, Reno falls in with members of the radical movement that overtook Italy in 1977. Betrayal sends her reeling into a clandestine undertow.

Kushner's debut novel, Telex from Cuba, was a finalist for the 2008 National Book Award and the Dayton Literary Peace Prize. (Signed first editions list for up to $115, but can still be gotten for around $35; unsigned copies list for $10 - $25).

Book Buzz: Upcoming Fiction Titles for 2013

2013-02-19T10:50:00.000-05:00

The American Booksellers Association Winter Institute Fiction Book Buzz List:

On Sal Mal Lane by Ru Freeman (Graywolf, May 14, 2013)

Book Description: In the tradition of In the Time of the Butterflies and The Kite Runner, a tender, evocative novel about the years leading up to the Sri Lankan civil war.

We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo (Reagan Arthur/Little, Brown, May 21, 2013).

Book Description: Darling is only 10 years old, and yet she must navigate a fragile and violent world. In Zimbabwe, Darling and her friends steal guavas, try to get the baby out of young Chipo's belly, and grasp at memories of Before. Before their homes were destroyed by paramilitary policemen, before the school closed, before the fathers left for dangerous jobs abroad.

But Darling has a chance to escape: she has an aunt in America. She travels to this new land in search of America's famous abundance only to find that her options as an immigrant are perilously few. NoViolet Bulawayo's debut calls to mind the great storytellers of displacement and arrival who have come before her--from Zadie Smith to Monica Ali to J.M. Coetzee--while she tells a vivid, raw story all her own.

Life After Life by Kate Atkinson (Reagan Arthur/Little, Brown, April 2, 2013)

Book Description: What if you could live again and again, until you got it right?

On a cold and snowy night in 1910, Ursula Todd is born to an English banker and his wife. She dies before she can draw her first breath. On that same cold and snowy night, Ursula Todd is born, lets out a lusty wail, and embarks upon a life that will be, to say the least, unusual. For as she grows, she also dies, repeatedly, in a variety of ways, while the young century marches on towards its second cataclysmic world war.

Does Ursula's apparently infinite number of lives give her the power to save the world from its inevitable destiny? And if she can -- will she?

Darkly comic, startlingly poignant, and utterly original -- this is Kate Atkinson at her absolute best.

Life After Life by Jill McCorkle (Algonquin, March, 2013) -

Book Description: Jill McCorkle s first novel in seventeen years is alive with the daily triumphs and challenges of the residents and staff of Pine Haven Estates, a retirement facility, which is now home to a good many of Fulton, North Carolina s older citizens. Among them, third-grade teacher Sadie Randolph, who has taught every child in town and believes we are all eight years old in our hearts; Stanley Stone, once Fulton s most prominent lawyer, now feigning dementia to escape life with his son; Marge Walker, the town s self-appointed conveyor of social status who keeps a scrapbook of every local murder and heinous crime; and Rachel Silverman, recently widowed, whose decision to leave her Massachusetts home and settle in Fulton is a mystery to everyone but her. C.J., the pierced and tattooed young mother who runs the beauty shop, and Joanna, the hospice volunteer who discovers that her path to a good life lies with helping folks achieve good deaths, are two of the staff on whom the residents depend.

McCorkle puts her finger on the pulse of every character s strengths, weaknesses, and secrets. And, as she connects their lives through their present circumstances, their pasts, and, in some cases, through their deaths, she celebrates the blessings and wisdom of later life and infuses this remarkable novel with hope and laughter.

To add to the confusion-- both novels titled Life After Life will appear as the Indie Next Pick in April.

Brewster by Mark Slouka (Norton, August 2013)

Brewster is about two boys growing up in upstate New York on the cusp of the Vietnam War.

Book Description: The year is 1968, a year after the summer of love and the peak of the Vietnam War. The world is changing, and sixteen-year-old Jon Mosher is determined to change with it. Racked by guilt over his older brother's childhood death, Jon turns his rage into victories running track. When he meets Ray Cappicciano, a local legend in the making, a rebel as gifted with his fists as Jon is with his feet, he recognizes a friendship with the potential to save him. Realizing that Ray needs saving too, Jon sets off on the race of his life--a race to redeem his past and save them both. Reverberating with compassion, heartache, and grace, Brewster is sure to remind readers of Andre Dubus III and Richard Russo.

The Son by Philipp Meyer (Ecco, May 28, 2013)

deals with the founding of Texas as observed by many people across generations.

Book Description: Philipp Meyer, the acclaimed author of American Rust, returns with The Son an epic of the American West and a multigenerational saga of power, blood, land, and oil that follows the rise of one unforgettable Texas family, from the Comanche raids of the 1800s to the to the oil booms of the 20th century.

Harrowing, panoramic, and deeply evocative, The Son is a fully realized masterwork in the greatest tradition of the American canon--an unforgettable novel that combines the narrative prowess of Larry McMurtry with the knife-edge sharpness of Cormac McCarthy.

A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra (Hogarth, May 7, 2013)

* Marra's debut novel.

Book Description: In the final days of December 2004, in a small rural village in Chechnya, eight-year-old Havaa hides in the woods when her father is abducted by Russian forces. Fearing for her life, she flees with their neighbor Akhmed--a failed physician--to the bombed-out hospital, where Sonja, the one remaining doctor, treats a steady stream of wounded rebels and refugees and mourns her missing sister. Over the course of five dramatic days, Akhmed and Sonja reach back into their pasts to unravel the intricate mystery of coincidence, betrayal, and forgiveness that unexpectedly binds them and decides their fate.

With The English Patient's dramatic sweep and The Tiger's Wife's expert sense of place, Marra gives us a searing debut about the transcendent power of love in wartime, and how it can cause us to become greater than we ever thought possible.

The Blood of Heaven by Kent Wascom (Grove, June 4, 2013)

* Wascom's debut novel.

Book Description: the story of Angel Woolsack, a preacher’s son, who flees the hardscrabble life of his itinerant father, falls in with a charismatic highwayman, then settles with his adopted brothers on the rough frontier of West Florida, where American settlers are carving their place out of lands held by the Spaniards and the French. The novel moves from the bordellos of Natchez, where Angel meets his love Red Kate to the Mississippi River plantations, where the brutal system of slave labor is creating fantastic wealth along with terrible suffering, and finally to the back rooms of New Orleans among schemers, dreamers, and would-be revolutionaries plotting to break away from the young United States and create a new country under the leadership of the renegade founding father Aaron Burr.

Norwegian by Night by Derek B. Miller (Houghton Mifflin, May 21, 2013)

Book Description: A profoundly moving, deliciously suspensful novel about an American grandfather and a newly orphaned boy racing across the Norwegian wilderness, fleeing demons both real and imagined.

The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker (Harper, April 2013)

Book Description: In The Golem and the Jinni, a chance meeting between mythical beings takes readers on a dazzling journey through cultures in turn-of-the-century New York.Chava is a golem, a creature made of clay, brought to life to by a disgraced rabbi who dabbles in dark Kabbalistic magic and dies at sea on the voyage from Poland. Chava is unmoored and adrift as the ship arrives in New York harbor in 1899.

Ahmad is a jinni, a being of fire born in the ancient Syrian desert, trapped in an old copper flask, and released in New York City, though still not entirely free Ahmad and Chava become unlikely friends and soul mates with a mystical connection. Marvelous and compulsively readable, Helene Wecker's debut novel The Golem and the Jinni weaves strands of Yiddish and Middle Eastern literature, historical fiction and magical fable, into a wondrously inventive and unforgettable tale.

The Silver Star by Jeannette Walls (Scribner, June 11, 2013)

Book Description: It is 1970. “Bean” Holladay is twelve and her sister Liz is fifteen when their artistic mother Charlotte, a woman “who flees every place she’s ever lived at the first sign of trouble,” takes off to “find herself.” She leaves her girls enough money for food to last a month or two. But when Bean gets home from school one day and sees a police car outside the house, she and Liz board a bus from California to Virginia, where their widowed Uncle Tinsley lives in the decaying antebellum mansion that’s been in the family for generations.

An impetuous optimist, Bean discovers who her father was and learns many stories about why their mother left Virginia in the first place. Money is tight, so Liz and Bean start babysitting and doing office work for Jerry Maddox, foreman of the mill in town, a big man who bullies workers, tenants, and his wife. Bean adores her whip-smart older sister, inventor of word games, reader of Edgar Allan Poe, non-conformist. But when school starts in the fall, it’s Bean who easily adjusts and makes friends, and Liz who becomes increasingly withdrawn. And then something happens to Liz in the car with Maddox.

The author of The Glass Castle, hyper-alert to abuse of adult power, has written a gorgeous, riveting, heartbreaking novel about triumph over adversity and about people who find a way to love the world despite its flaws and injustices.

The Unchangeable Spots of Leopards by Kristopher Jansma (Viking, March 21, 2013).
* Jansma's debut novel.

Book Description: From as early as he can remember, the hopelessly unreliable—yet hopelessly earnest—narrator of this ambitious debut novel has wanted to become a writer.

From the jazz clubs of Manhattan to the villages of Sri Lanka, Kristopher Jansma’s irresistible narrator will be inspired and haunted by the success of his greatest friend and rival in writing, the eccentric and brilliantly talented Julian McGann, and endlessly enamored with Julian’s enchanting friend, Evelyn, the green-eyed girl who got away. After the trio has a disastrous falling out, desperate to tell the truth in his writing and to figure out who he really is, Jansma’s narrator finds himself caught in a never-ending web of lies.

As much a story about a young man and his friends trying to make their way in the world as a profoundly affecting exploration of the nature of truth and storytelling, The Unchangeable Spots of Leopards will appeal to readers of Tom Rachman’s The Imperfectionists and Jennifer Egan’s Pulitzer Prize–winning A Visit from the Goon Squad with its elegantly constructed exploration of the stories we tell to find out who we really are.

Kristopher Jansma has been named one of Flavorwire's "Up-and-Coming Culture Makers to Watch in 2013" and The Millions selected The Unchangeable Spots of Leopards as one their Most Anticipated Books of 2013.

Anyone wanting to read excerpts from these and other titles on their eReader can download a sampling from Ingram and Publishers Marketplace.

Book Sale Weekend

2013-02-17T18:26:00.000-05:00

One of the first book sales of the season was this weekend. They advertised over 40,000 books - which sounds a little more impressive than it actually was. As always, I went with a list of titles to look for - none of which, of course, did I find. Most of the books were in Acceptable to Good condition (honestly, what you'd expect to find at at $3 book sale). A few were in Near Fine condition.

Usually, I leave these sales having spent well over $50. This time around, because of the quality of books, it was fairly easy to show a little restraint. I ended up spending $30 and brought home just 10 books:

Number9Dream, David Mitchell (Random House, February 2002)

Nominated for a Booker, this is Mitchell's 2d book. (Cloud Atlas, Mitchell's 3d novel, also nominated for a Booker in 2004, was just made into a movie).

First U.S. editions in VG/NF to F condition list for $80-$100 (unsigned); $125-$175 (signed).

The Last Child, John Hart (Minotaur Books, May 12, 2009) - signed.

Winner of the 2009 CWA Ian Flemming Dagger, and 2010 Edgar Award. Rumor has it the movie rights have been sold.

First U.S. edition in NF/F condition lists for $35 (unsigned); $75 (signed)

Company Man, Joseph Finder (St. Martin's Press, 2005) - signed.

First edition in VG/NF condition lists for $30 (unsigned); $49 (signed).

Rather auspiciously, this is the first book I picked up while perusing books at the book sale.

Talking God, Tony Hillerman (Harper & Row, 1989)

First edition in NF-F condition lists for $40-$50 (unsigned); up to $325 (signed).

Whomever owned these Hillerman titles, either never read them or took amazing care of them, they're in nearly perfect condition - even the dust jackets are pristine.

The Shape Shifter, Tony Hillerman (HarperCollins, 2006)

First edition in NF-F condition lists for $25-$50 (unsigned); $65-$140 (signed).

Swamplandia, Karen Russell (Alfred A. Knopf, 2011)

First edition in NF-F condition lists for $50 (unsigned); $75-$125 (signed).
*My copy, unfortunately, would be considered Acceptable to Good condition because the former owner was nice enough to price-clip the cover and tear out the front fly leaf page (most likely because they wrote their name in the book). If these two things had not been done, it might be a Near Fine copy.

Love and Shame and Love, Peter Orner (Little Brown, 2011)

First edition in NF-F condition lists for $35 (unsigned); $50-$95 (signed).

The book has a quote by Daniel Handler, but was also positively reviewed by Dave Eggers (two authors I love), so how could I pass it up?

Gentlemen & Players, Joanne Harris (William Morrow, 2006)

First edition in NF-F condition lists for $10 (unsigned); up to $60 (signed).

I would've preferred to have found a copy of Chocolat, but I enjoy Joanne Harris' writing, so even a copy of one of her later books was a nice find.

The Art of Breaking Glass, Matthew Hall (Little, Brown and Company, 1997)

Hall's debut novel.

First edition in NF-F condition lists for $25 (unsigned); $30-$50 (signed).

Coraline, Neil Gaiman (HarperCollins, 2002) - Book Club edition (worth about $8). I'm a lover of all things Gaiman, but didn't yet have a copy of Coraline. So even though this is a Book Club edition, I grabbed it.

Sterling Signature Does Shakespeare

2013-02-15T11:55:00.001-05:00

I really don't know what I'll do when / if Barnes & Noble goes away... (our town has used bookstores, but no other independent booksellers). Like any good book lover, I celebrated my Valentine's Day at the book store with my sweetheart. We sat at the cafe, wandering from our encamped table in search of inspiration, knowledge, and the occasional conversation about Ukeleles... capped with a cup of coffee, in all, a perfect evening.

While wandering the stacks, I came across a series of four Shakespeare plays published for Sterling Signature's Children's catalogue (although they were shelved in the Shakespeare section, away from the children's books).

The books are beautifully designed with illustrations and laser papercuts by Kevin Stanton. The text, itself, is easily read with scholarly footnotes, but it doesn't feel like a child's version of Shakespeare.

Sterling published the first two titles, Romeo and Juliet and MacBeth, in May 2012 and the second two titles, Hamlet and Much Ado About Nothing, in November 2012. They have stated that they will see how well these titles sell before commissioning other volumes.

The books are cloth-bound with half dust jackets and laser cut images glued to the front cover. Each book has a set of five illustrative, tipped-in (hand glued) laser cuts. Additional mages can be found at Stanton's Tumblr Blog or on his Website.

Series: Signature Shakespeare

Publisher: Sterling Signature

Published: May 2012

396 pages

ISBN: 1-4027-9002-3

ISBN13: 9781402790027

$29.95 US

$35.95 Canadian

Hardcover with Jacket

Illustration Colors: Red / Purple

Size: 7 X 9 3/4

Series: Signature Shakespeare

Publisher: Sterling Signature

Published: May 2012

352 pages

ISBN: 1-4027-9003-1

ISBN13: 9781402790034

$29.95 US

$35.95 Canadian

Hardcover with Jacket

Illustration Colors: Green / Blue

Size: 7 X 9 3/4

Series: Signature Shakespeare

Publisher: Sterling Signature

Published: November 2012

360 pages

ISBN: 1-4027-9458-4

ISBN13: 9781402794582

$29.95 US

$35.95 Canadian

Hardcover with Jacket

Illustration Colors: Orange / Green

Size: 7 X 9 3/4

Series: Signature Shakespeare

Publisher: Sterling Signature

Published: November 2012

456 pages

ISBN: 1-4027-9591-2

ISBN13: 9781402795916

$29.95 US

$35.95 Canadian

Hardcover with Jacket

Illustration Colors: Red / Blue

Size: 7 X 9 3/4

Update: When doing research for these titles, I found an Australian store that displayed a different cover to the Hamlet edition shown above. Mr. Stanton has since clarified that this cover doesn't actually exist, and that all Hamlet editions use the cover shown above. [Thanks Kevin!]

New Gaiman Story & Lansdale Novella

2013-02-14T10:21:00.000-05:00

Subterranean Press just announced a new novella: Impossible Monsters

Limited: 250 numbered copies, bound in leather, signed by all contributors ($60)
Trade: Fully cloth bound hardcover copies ($35)

Table of Contents:

David J. Schow—Blue Amber
Neil Gaiman—Click-Clack the Rattlelebag
Cody Goodfellow—Cavity Creeps
Charlaine Harris—The Glitter of the Crowns
Tim Bryant—Doll’s Eyes
Neal Barrett, Jr.—Bloaters
Chet Williamson—Detritus
Anne Perry—Monster
Al Sarrantonio—Orange Lake
Selina Rosen—Nathan
Bradley Denton—Blood Moccasins
Joe R. Lansdale—The Case of the Angry Traveler (A Dana Roberts Novella)

A Very Limited Edition of The Forever War

2013-02-11T10:06:00.001-05:00

Centipede Press announced a VERY LIMITED edition of The Forever War by Joe Haldeman - with a forward by Ridley Scott. The edition is cloth bound with a slipcase, signed by Haldeman, Scott, and the illustrator Jim Burns.

Only 150 copies are being printed.

Price tag: $225

The book was originally released in hard cover by St. Martin's Press, New York, 1974, and in 1975 by Weidenfeld & Nicolson, in the UK.

US Signed first editions (in fine condition) list for up to $1,350 USD.

UK signed firsts list for about half as much.

Easton Press released a limited leather bound edition of this title in 1988.

Haldeman received a Hugo award for this title.

Dipping...

2013-02-07T09:00:00.000-05:00

I have a set of blogs that I troll on a weekly basis, partly because I quite enjoy them, and partly because they shine light on different genres of book collecting in which I am less schooled. As of late, more and more of these blogs have been mentioning collecting comics and graphic novels.

I know this genre is wildly popular, (I even, although briefly, owned a first printing of Neil Gaiman's Sandman, and not knowing what I had at the time, I gave it to a friend) but I have never quite gotten into it. Lately, however, I'm feeling a bit comic-curious, so...

Here are some interesting mentions from the blog-osphere as of late:

Oxen of the Sun: in a February 3rd post talks about B.u.L.B. Comix limited edition miniature books. This Swiss publisher prints comics and limited editions of miniature books illustrated by different artists.

Of note is their "2W" series: 26 lettered sets, each featuring 5 artists [View here]. Sets are 15 Francs each & it looks like all but 'Set A' are still available.

As a printmaker and book artist, I find these awfully compelling. And the fact that they're in miniature is just magnetic.

The New York Times ran an article on Sunday about the Fables series by Bill Willingham and Mark Buckingham which sounds quite interesting.

The series deals with various characters from fairy tales and folklore – referring to themselves as "Fables" – who have been forced out of their Homelands by "The Adversary" who has conquered the realm. The Fables have traveled to our world and formed a clandestine community in New York City known as Fabletown. [Wikipedia]

The series was started in 2002 and has reached issue no. 125.

The Windbag Litwag (formerly The Gripping Saga of an Amateur Book Collector) posted a couple of months ago about the growing popularity of European comic artists, focussing in particular on Nine Antico.

Also of interest is 10 to watch in 2013, a list of the top 10 graphic novels to be released in 2013 (from Newsarama). The list includes a new Sandman (Gaiman & Williams) to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the title's debut, and Grant Morrison's long awaited Multiversity.

Stephen King Collectible Editions Abound

2013-02-07T08:54:00.000-05:00

I just got an email from Subterranean Press announcing at least four new Stephen King collectible editions coming out this year, including:

The Shining (Subterranean Press; Gift edition of 1,500 unsigned copies. Limited and Lettered editions already sold out)

Doctor Sleep (Cemetary Dance; Gift edition of 1,750 unsigned copies in slip case; Limited and Lettered editions already sold out)

Christine (PS Publishing; Anniversary edition of 300-400 unsigned copies. Limited and Lettered editions already sold out).

Pet Semetary (PS Publishing; Anniversary edition of 300-400 unsigned copies. Limited and Lettered editions already sold out).

The announcement from Sub Press:

This year will be a bonanza for Stephen King's many fans, with no fewer than four collectible editions of his work being published.

They include:

The Shining, which we'll be doing our darndedst to make one of the best King editions yet. The Limited and Lettered are both sold out, but you can still preorder the Gift Edition for a limited time.
Doctor Sleep, the seqel to The Shining, which is coming from Cemetery Dance. We've locked in a limited number of copies of the Gift edition of this one for our customers, but don't expect copies to last long.

In addition, our friends at PS Publishing will be releasing two Anniversary King Editions with facsimile signatures, and print runs projected to be as low as 300-400 copies.

Christine-Featuring, among a good deal of original art, a brand new introduction by Ramsey Campbell.
Pet Sematary-This time around, Michael Marshall Smith is helming the intro. It, too, will include original art.

The Doctor Sleep edition was announced on Tuesday (February 5th) and almost immediately sold out of both the Limited and Lettered editions, according to StephenKingCollector.com.

Info on the print numbers from the publishers:

The Shining

Lettered: 52 signed, specially bound copies, housed in a custom traycase, with an original remarque by Gabriel Rodriguez -sold out-
Limited: 750 signed numbered copies, housed in a custom traycase -sold out-
Gift: 1500 unsigned cloth bound copies, housed in a custom slipcase ($95)

Dr. Sleep - 500 pages - Illustrated by Vincent Chong & Erin Wells:

• Slipcased Gift Edition - 1,750 copies printed in two colors with two-color hot foil stamping, a fine binding, and embossed endpapers ($95)
• Traycased Signed Limited Edition - 750 copies printed in two colors and bound in leather with a satin ribbon page marker and different embossed endpapers, signed by Stephen King and all of the artists ($450) -sold out-
• Lettered Edition - 52 illustrated printed in two colors and bound in two different fine materials with gilded page edges, imported endpapers, a satin ribbon page marker, and protected in a custom deluxe box, signed by Stephen King and all of the artists ($2,500) -sold out-

Christine

Facsimile Stephen King Autograph.

Two Signed pages by both featured artists

Four double page Color artwork spreads.

Color Cover

Illustrated Slipcase

Front and back endpaper art

Six Interior black & white illustrations

Anniversary Edition: Tentatively limited to between 300-400 copies. ($99)

Pet Sematary

Facsimile Stephen King Autograph.

Two Signed pages by both featured artists

Four double page Color artwork spreads.

Color Cover

Illustrated Slipcase

Front and back endpaper art

Six Interior black & white illustrations

Anniversary Edition: Tentatively limited to between 300-400 copies. ($99)

AbeBooks has a great Stephen King Collector's page with more info on the more valuable King novels if you're interested.

Barnes & Noble Leather Bound Editions

2013-02-05T09:00:00.000-05:00

I was in the Barnes & Noble the other day and was pulled, for the umpteenth time, to the Barnes & Noble Leather Bound Editions display. These prettily bound Leather editions with printed covers and gilt edges (donned in shrink-wrap) have always intrigued me. Clearly marketed to collectors over readers - or at the very least, people who want pretty books lining their shelves - I've wondered what their collectibility, in reality, is.

As soon as I got home, I jumped on the Internet and began researching, looking for ANY information on these collections (of which, I've focussed on 2 subsets: the Leather Bound Classics and Children's Hardcover Classics). Unfortunately there is simply not much in the way of information on these editions. Mostly, I found people exclaiming how beautiful the book covers are, and how they covet various titles in the collection.

I found several forum comments stating that the quality differs from title to title. I think this primarily refers to the weight of the paper. In some instances, such as Stephen King's trilogy, the paper weight is much thinner. This doesn't, however, mean that the paper quality is lesser. It just means it's a thinner paper. And I'm guessing it is thinner to compensate for the fact that it is a heftier book.

Of the few books that I've been able to actually open (not being one to just remove the shrink-wrap from un-purchased copies), there has been little to no information regarding printing or paper used (not surprising), so I can't tell you with any authority if the paper quality is lesser.

Anecdotally (and as a papermaker and book binder), I can tell you that the thinner paper does not feel or look of lesser quality. In my estimation, it is a far cry from Book of the Month Club stock. Many people have questioned how these books can be priced so cheaply if they are indeed bound in leather with standard to high quality paper stock. The copyright page on the volumes I was able to view, all state that they were printed and bound in China, which might go a long way to answering that question.

There are no numbers on first runs for any of the titles, that I've found so far. And no guesses as to how many were printed (sorry). This may be of less importance for these particular editions, however.

A few titles are already in early to later printings (4th to 16th), although that appears to have less of an impact on the value for most collectors of these titles. In researching the current listings for most of the titles, book vendor descriptions tend not to include the number of printing. (I think out of 100s of listings, I found two that mentioned what print run it was).

Based on unwrapped books at my local store, these are the titles in later printings:

Arabian Nights: 5th printing
The Divine Comedy: 10th printing
War of the Worlds: 4th printing
Complete Sherlock Holmes: 13th printing
Complete Edgar Allan Poe: 16th printing
The Iliad & the Odyssey: 9th printing
Jules Verne, Seven Novels: 6th printing
Wicked, Gregory McGuire: 12th printing

With these editions, it appears that the value, predictably, goes up when the title is no longer available at BN.com. Case in point: C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia, when you can find it, lists in the $200 range (with no specified print run listed).

Harder to find titles:

Chronicles of Narnia, C.S. Lewis: (sold out at my local store & on BN.com) Orig. price = $20; listing for $199-$247 online.
Persuasion, Jane Austen: (sold out on BN.com, sold out at my local store) Orig. price = $12; listing for $37-$99 online.
Great Expectations, Charles Dickens: (sold out on BN.com, sold out at my local store) Orig. price = $12; listing for $22-$99.
Anna Karenina, Leo Tolstoy: (sold out on BN.com, still available at my local store) Orig. price = $20; listing for $40.
Sense and Sensibility, Jane Austen: (sold out on BN.com, sold out at my local store) Orig. price = $12; listing for $17-$99.
Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte: (sold out on BN.com, sold out at my local store) Orig. price = $12; listing for $19-$99.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Frank Baum: (Children's collection; sold out on BN.com, just sold out at my local store) Orig. price = $10; listing for $22-$39.
The Story of King Arthur and His Knights: (Children's collection; sold out on BN.com, still available at my local store) Orig. price = $10; listing for $17-$41.
The Secret Garden, Frances Hodgson Burnett: (Children's collection; sold out on BN.com, still available at my local store) Orig. price = $10; listing for $21-$110

Most people are drawn to these titles because of the cover design. I can tell you that some of the designs (or at least the typography) is done by Title Case (Jessica Hische & Erik Marinovich), with art direction by Jo Obarowski. Jessica Hische is also the cover designer of Penguin's Drop Cap Series.

Number of Titles

Leather Bound Classics Edition: 62+/- titles, with some repetition and overlap with the children's series.
The Children's Classics series: 19 titles.

Cover Price: The "cover price" for these is fairly standardized.

Leather Bound Classics: $20 or $25, in the store, depending on the title. ($18 or $22 online)
Children's Classics series: $10 and $12, in the store ($8 to $9 online). Again, there is some overlap.

note: every once in a while they'll run a sale over at bn.com - last month it was 50% off certain titles, sometimes it's a buy 2, get 1 free deal. Just keep your eyes peeled.

Physical Attributes:

Leather Bound Classics:

Leather Cover, no dust jacket issued
Cover design is printed, sometimes with gilt lettering & details
Spine displays decorative, raised cords
Edges are gilt in gold, silver, or pewter
Satin ribbon bookmark
Decorative end papers
Size: 6.15" x 9.5"
Price: $20 and $25

Mid-level Leather Bound Classic Series:

Leather cover, no dust jacket issued
Cover design is printed
Spine displays decorative, raised cords
Stained edging
Satin ribbon bookmark
Decorative end papers
Size: 5.72" x 8.52"
Price: $12

Children's Classic series:

Leather cover, no dust jacket issued
Cover design is printed, sometimes with gilt lettering & details
Satin ribbon bookmark
Gilt edging in gold and silver
Decorative end papers
Size: 6.4" x 8.16"
Price: $10

A Sampling of Titles & Values:

*Values shown are highest priced (unsigned) listings as they appeared at Abe.com, Amazon.com, and BN.com. As with anything, the value is highest when the condition is best. Scuff marks, shelf wear, bent corners, folded pages, etc. reduce the value.

Preorder Signed Neil Gaiman

2013-02-03T11:09:00.001-05:00

On Friday, Neil Gaiman posted that his local book shop in Cambridge, MA, is offering pre-orders for signed copies of his new book, The Ocean at the End of the Lane, due out in June. (Price tag: apprx. $30 with shipping).

In December, Gaiman announced that this will be his last book signing tour.

Subterranean Press, also sent out an email this week stating that they still have a few copies left of the Wm Morrow signed, limited edition (priced at $150). This edition has a different cover and illustrations. Usually these are limited to 1,000-ish copies, although no numbers are mentioned on the Sub Press page. Copies can be got at a slight discount elsewhere, with a little Internet sleuthing.

To keep tabs on where Gaiman will be next, check out the Where's Neil? section of his Website.

Cloud Atlas vs. The Cloud Atlas

2013-01-31T09:00:00.000-05:00

It was recently brought to my attention, as my book club waded its way through David Mitchell's Cloud Atlas, that a second (highly reviewed) book with a similar title was released the same year. (What are the odds?)

I know there's a joke here somewhere....

Two book club members go into a bar. One says, 'hey have you read Cloud Atlas? I loved the premiss of stealth bombing missions as executed from air balloons in the Alaskan frontier, during WWII.' The other says, 'I know it was a complicated book, but when you say "stealth bombing missions," do you mean six short stories? ...by "Alaska" do you mean the South Pacific? And by "WWII" do you mean a post-apacolyptic future? 'cuz yeah, that was interesting.'

So here's the skinny:

First edition cover (Sceptre).

CLOUD ATLAS, David Mitchell (UK: Sceptre, 2004; US: Modern Library / Random House, 2004; CA: Vintage / Random House, 2004)

Synopsis: consists of six nested stories that take the reader from the remote South Pacific in the nineteenth century to a distant, post-apocalyptic future. Each tale is revealed to be a story that is read (or observed) by the main character in the next. The first five stories are interrupted at a key moment. After the sixth story, the other five stories are returned to and closed, in reverse chronological order, and each ends with the main character reading or observing the chronologically previous work in the chain. Eventually, readers end where they started, with Adam Ewing in the nineteenth century South Pacific. [wikipedia]

Awards: It won the British Book Awards Literary Fiction Award and the Richard & Judy Book of the Year award, and was short-listed for the 2004 Booker Prize, Nebula Award, Arthur C. Clarke Award, and other awards. [wikipedia]

Collectibility: Abebooks lists 20+ f/f copies ranging from $60 (unsigned) to over $1,000 (signed).

The Cloud Atlas, Liam Callanan (Delacorte Press, 2004)

Synopsis: Set against the magnificent backdrop of Alaska in the waning days of World War II, The Cloud Atlas is an enthralling debut novel, a story of adventure and awakening—and of a young soldier who came to Alaska on an extraordinary, top-secret mission…and found a world that would haunt him forever. [Amazon.com]

Reviews: A list of favorable reviews can be found at Liam Callahan's The Cloud Atlas Website.

Collectibility: Abebooks lists several f/f copies of Callanan's debut novel (& Edgar Award nominee), ranging from $18 to $45 (unsigned).

And, for poetry fans, there was apparently a book released two years prior titled Cloud Atlas by Donald Platt (Purdue University Press, 2002) which won the 2002 Verna Emery Poetry Prize. I found one paperback copy at Abebooks, listing for $40.

Barnes and Noble, the Long Goodbye?

2013-01-29T09:00:00.001-05:00

There's been a lot of fervor over the last couple weeks regarding Barnes & Noble's demise... or, more optimistically, its transformation. Sales for the last quarter, including Holiday sales, appear to have been a bit lack luster for the book giant. This, combined with the larger numbers of B&N store closings, has more than a few people worried.

Barnes and Noble has repeatedly stated that they're downsizing their physical presence. (that was pretty clear back in 2010 when they closed 71 stores, most of which were B. Dalton). According to the B&N Corporate Website, they "operate nearly 700 Barnes & Noble bookstores in 50 states." (In fact, they currently operate around 673/4). This is down from 723 stores as of April 30, 2011.

A Wall Street Journal article, published January 28, 2013, quotes Mitchell Klipper, CEO of B&N Retail Group, as stating that B&N will shutter 1/3 of its stores over the next 10 years (or 20 stores a year). The interesting thing is, 400 of the 670+ store leases are expiring over the next three years, making it more than possible that the brunt of the closings will occur during that period, rather than being spread out over the full 10 years (complete conjecture here since I don't have any insight into the lease agreements or negotiations).

This is unfortunate, since the strength of Barnes & Noble has never been its online presence (sorry B&N, but when I'm researching a book, I go to Amazon). It's the atmosphere created at the physical store that rocks the Barnes & Noble... the cafe, the music, the big cushy seats, book signings, and frantic (or frenetic) book sellers who (you can tell) would much rather be reading (but, at least they know their stuff). This is a far cry from the structure Jeff Bezos creates in his Amazon empire. The interesting part is that they're both customer-centric, it's just that Bezos has created a shopping experience that is stripped down. It takes a little less effort on the customer's behalf (but also offers less in the way of emotional reward).

It's interesting to note that Barnes & Noble in an effort to compete with Amazon, has unintentionally (one assumes) begun competing with itself. Employees and customers discovered that over the holiday season, prices at BN.com were undercutting the prices for products at their retail stores, without giving the retail stores the ability to match those prices. Additionally, the end of year sales report states that foot traffic was down in the stores this year... something that Mike Shatzkin suggests could be blamed on Nook sales.

The B&N employee forums are full of rumors, questions, and predictions. The favorites seem to be scenarios in which all of the bricks & mortar stores are closed and smaller "Nook Cafes" are reopened with a smattering of actual books; or as one employee suggested, more localized shops with a smaller footprint. Something, I think, Starbucks was attempting back in 2008/09 (and has had success with... in China).

Store Closings:

According to the Barnes & Noble 2011 Annual Report, 16 stores were closed in 2011. The number of locations dwindled from 726 (in 2009) to 705 (in 2011). At the end of the fiscal year 2012 the stores numbered 689 - a drop of 16. That number includes stores that closed prior to July of 2012, but in the last few months we've seen an additional 16 locations shuttered (or soon-to-be-shuttered):

2012

California - Campbell (December 2012)
California - San Jose, Westgate (December 2012)
California - Woodland Hills, Westfield Promenade (December 2012)
Colorado - Denver, Greenwood Village (December 2012)
Florida - Aventura (December 2012)
Georgia - Duluth (June 2012)
Illinois - Plainfield (December 2012)
New York - Greenburgh (May 2012)
New York - NYC, 8th Street, Greenwich Village (December 2012)
Pennsylvania - Philadelphia, Jenkintown (December 2012)
Texas - Irving, Las Colinas (December 2012)
Texas - Irving, Irving Mall (December 2012)
Texas - Westlake (December 2012)
Washington D.C. - Union Station (~~December 2012~~) They extended the lease on this store for one more year.

2013

Illionois - Plainfield (January 2013)
Texas - Amarillo (January 2013)
Virginia - Reston (February 2013)

The Take Away:

Clearly, B&N is attempting to become leaner and meaner. We'll probably end up with one bookstore per metropolitan area, as they refocus on the future of digital books/entertainment/education. I doubt we'll see the bricks & mortar stores go by way of Borders, at least, not in the next 10 years.

Further reading:

B&N: Nook Device Sales Shrink Over the Holidays (CNET: Jan 3, 2013)
Weak Nook Sales Lead to Disappointing B&N Holiday (Publishers Weekly: Jan 3, 2013)
B&N Results are Disappointing, and One Wonders if Prior Success with NOOK Might Deserve Part of the Blame (The Shatzkin Files: Jan 3, 2013)
Barnes & Noble Stores Closing - Beginning of the End? (Litreactor.com: Jan 8, 2013)
Is Barnes and Noble Next? (The Daily Beast: Jan 9, 2013)
The Wrong Goodbye of Barnes and Noble (Melville House: Jan 10, 2013)
Barnes & Noble Store Closings and eBook Struggles (Wm Morris)
Is Barnes & Noble Getting Out of the Bookstore Faster Than We Thought? (Jan 16, 2013)
Barnes & Noble Store Closings Likely as Chain Faces Uphill Battle with Digital Competitors (Retailtrafficmag.com: Jan 16, 2013)
Barnes and Noble Landlords Placed on Alert as Bookseller Weakens (The Cutting Edge News: Jan 25, 2013)
Shocker: B&N to Cut a Third of Stores Over Next Decade (CNET.com: Jan 28, 2013)

Collecting Small & Independent Presses

2013-01-22T09:00:00.000-05:00

There are so many small and independent presses out there that there is no way to cover them all. That said, most of us just buy our books from the regular bookstores and pay little attention to who actually publishes them. We're familiar with Simon & Schuster, Scholastic, DoubleDay, and the like, but there are a number of smaller entities making a big splash in the collectibles market.

We like small presses because they usually hand pick their titles and authors based on a theme (obscure, sci-fi, out-of-print, poetry, etc), and then they print a small run or limited edition. Some go so far as to print on a letterpress and/or hand bind their books.

Some smaller presses offer the same fare as larger presses and bookstores - with the prices being equal to those you'd find at any book shop. Others focus on specialty items: broadsides, artist's prints, limited edition titles, etc, with a costlier price tag.

City Lights | ABE Listings

San Francisco based independent bookstore and publisher. They publish "cutting-edge fiction, poetry, memoirs, literary translations and books on vital social and political issues." Some of their authors include Allen Ginsberg, Frank O'Hara, William Carlos Williams. Their earlier editions are most collectible (1950s-1980s).

Graywolf Press | ABE Listings

A not-for-profit publisher based in St. Paul, Minnesota, Graywolf is "[f]ounded on a dedication to the creation and promotion of thoughtful and imaginative contemporary literature essential to a vital and diverse culture, Graywolf Press publishes fiction, non-fiction, and poetry." Out Stealing Horses, by Per Peterson appears to be their big collectible title to date.

Pomegranate | ABE Listings

Specializes in art books, calenders, note cards, etc. Look for the higher priced newer items, or titles published between 1970 -1992. With these items, it's probably best to collect the things you like (ie: Edward Gorey calenders) because they have a huge catalogue and it's hard to know what will be worth $200 down the road and what will be worth $2.

McSweeney's | ABE Listings

(sorry, I'm pilfering a bit from Wikipedia here) an American publishing house founded by writer/editor Dave Eggers. McSweeney's also publishes the quarterly literary journal Timothy McSweeney's Quarterly Concern, ... the monthly magazine The Believer, the quarterly food journal Lucky Peach, the sports journal Grantland Quarterly.... The publishing house also runs several additional imprints including, Believer Books (works from some of the monthly magazine’s most popular contributors), the Collins Library (reprints of forgotten classics), and McMullens (their new Children's imprint). McSweeney's is famous for putting out several different editions of the same book without making mention on the copyright page if it's a first edition, first/second/third printing. Instead, they usually change the cover color.

Centipede | ABE Listings

This one's for all you horror genre junkies - limited editions, signed and unsigned copies.

Subterranean | ABE Listings

"Subterranean Press is widely considered to be among the finest specialty publishers in the horror, suspense, and dark mystery genres, and has published Peter Straub, David Morrell, Dan Simmons, Poppy Z. Brite, Robert Bloch, and others.Subterranean Press has a close relationship with Joe R. Lansdale, which includes an ongoing program to release much of his previously unpublished work in Limited Edition format, while offering his latest releases in finely bound signed first editions." They also do Sci-fi. Limited editions, some signed and hand bound.

Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill | ABE Listings

Publisher of literary fiction and nonfiction.

Copper Canyon | ABE Listings

poetry

New Directions | ABE Listings

earlier editions can be EXTREMELY valuable, especially if signed.

Arion | ABE Listings

hand-bound limited editions

Arundel Press | ABE Listings

bookstore and small press, limited edition books and folios.

The Permanent Press | ABE Listings

small press, reg. book prices.

Moving Parts Press | ABE Listings

a fine arts press, specializing in letterpress, broadsides, and limited edition artists books

Cadmus Editions | ABE Listings

limited, signed editions.

Edgar Nominees Announced

2013-01-17T09:58:00.002-05:00

On January 15th The Mystery Writers of America announced the 2013 Edgar Allan Poe Awards nominees. The awards will be presented May 2, 2013. Nominees include:

The Lost Ones by Ace Atkins (Penguin Group USA - G.P. Putnam's Sons)
The Gods of Gotham by Lyndsay Faye (Penguin Group USA - Amy Einhorn Books/G.P. Putnam's Sons)
Gone Girl: A Novel by Gillian Flynn (Crown Publishers)
Potboiler by Jesse Kellerman (Penguin Group USA - G.P. Putnam's Sons)
Sunset by Al Lamanda (Gale Cengage Learning - Five Star)
Live by Night by Dennis Lehane (HarperCollins Publishers - William Morrow)
All I Did Was Shoot My Man by Walter Mosley (Penguin Group USA - Riverhead Books)

The Map of Lost Memories by Kim Fay (Random House Publishing- Ballantine)
Don't Ever Get Old by Daniel Friedman (Minotaur Books - Thomas Dunne Books)
Mr. Churchill's Secretary by Susan Elia MacNeal (Random House Publishing- Bantam Books)
The Expats by Chris Pavone (Crown Publishers)
The 500 by Matthew Quirk (Hachette Book Group - Little, Brown and Company - Reagan Arthur)
Black Fridays by Michael Sears (Penguin Group USA - G.P. Putnam's Sons)

See a list of all the nominees at TheEdgars.com.

The Millions Most Anticipated Books for 2013

2013-01-15T09:00:00.000-05:00

The Millions posted their 2013 Book Preview last week. We noticed that Neil Gaiman wasn't on the list, but we forgive them their oversight. Included on the list:

Fiction:

Umbrella by Will Self
Short listed for last year's Booker prize.

Moving between Edwardian London and a suburban mental hospital in 1971, Umbrella exposes the twentieth century’s technological searchlight as refracted through the dark glass of a long term mental institution. While making his first tours of the hospital at which he has just begun working, maverick psychiatrist Zachary Busner notices that many of the patients exhibit a strange physical tic: rapid, precise movements that they repeat over and over. One of these patients is Audrey Dearth, an elderly woman born in the slums of West London in 1890. Audrey’s memories of a bygone Edwardian London, her lovers, involvement with early feminist and socialist movements, and, in particular, her time working in an umbrella shop, alternate with Busner’s attempts to treat her condition and bring light to her clouded world. Busner’s investigations into Audrey’s illness lead to discoveries about her family that are shocking and tragic. [Product Description, Amazon.com]

Vampires in the Lemon Grove by Karen Russell (Feb. 12, 2013)
Russell's 2d short story collection, follows on the heals of Swamplandia! (her Pulitzer nominated first novel).

A dejected teenager discovers that the universe is communicating with him through talismanic objects left behind in a seagull’s nest. A community of girls held captive in a silk factory slowly transmute into human silkworms, spinning delicate threads from their own bellies, and escape by seizing the means of production for their own revolutionary ends. A massage therapist discovers she has the power to heal by manipulating the tattoos on a war veteran’s lower torso. When a group of boys stumble upon a mutilated scarecrow bearing an uncanny resemblance to the missing classmate they used to torment, an ordinary tale of high school bullying becomes a sinister fantasy of guilt and atonement. In a family’s disastrous quest for land in the American West, the monster is the human hunger for acquisition, and the victim is all we hold dear. And in the collection’s marvelous title story—an unforgettable parable of addiction and appetite, mortal terror and mortal love—two vampires in a sun-drenched lemon grove try helplessly to slake their thirst for blood. [Product description, Amazon.com]

My Brother’s Book by Maurice Sendak (Feb. 5, 2013)
[Read the Publishers Weekly Starred Review]

Sendak pays homage to his late brother, Jack, whom he credited for his passion for writing and drawing. Pairing Sendak's poignant poetry with his exquisite and dramatic artwork, this book redefines what mature readers expect from Maurice Sendak while continuing the lasting legacy he created over his long, illustrious career. Sendak's tribute to his brother is an expression of both grief and love and will resonate with his lifelong fans who may have read his children's books and will be ecstatic to discover something for them now. [Product description, Amazon.com]

NonFiction:

The controversial Scientology "take down:" Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief by Lawrence Wright

The Book of My Lives by Aleksandar Hemon (March 19, 2013)

Aleksandar Hemon’s lives begin in Sarajevo, a small, blissful city where a young boy’s life is consumed with street soccer with his casually multiethnic group of friends, resentment of his younger sister, and trips abroad with his engineer-cum-beekeeper father. Here, a young man’s life is about poking at the pretensions of the city’s elders with American music, bad poetry, and slightly better journalism. And then Chicago: watching war break out in Sarajevo and the city come under siege, with no way to return home; the Hemons fleeing Sarajevo with the family dog, leaving behind all else they had ever known; and Hemon himself starting a new life, his own family, in this new city. [Product Description, Amazon.com]

For the full list, see The Millions Website.

Neil Gaiman Sets Out on His Last US Book Tour

2013-01-10T09:00:00.000-05:00

On January 6th The Huffington Post reported, with a headline stating "Neil Gaiman Quits Book Signing Tours," that the author will be embarking on his last ever book signing tour. (Which is his first in 8 years). Although he will most likely continue to do readings, the summer signing tour will coincide with his latest Adult release Ocean at the End of the Lane (also his first in 8 years).

The announcement was actually made in mid-December on Gaiman's Blog, in which he states:

I think the OCEAN AT THE END OF THE LANE tour will be the last actual signing tour I ever do. They’re exhausting, on a level that’s hard to believe. I love meeting people, but the sixth hour of signing, for people who have been standing in a line for seven hours, is no fun for anybody.

Ocean will be released simultaneously in the US and UK on June 18, 2013 by Harper Collins & William Morrow.

Book tour information can be got @ Where's Neil (on Gaiman's Website)

A limited, signed edition of 1,000 is being offered by Subterranean Press (pub: Wm Morrow). The price tag: $150. Gaiman's SubPress editions always sell out quickly and never go on sale.

Also available for preorder is the Limited & Lettered editions of Smoke and Mirrors. The price tag: $250 / $1500 respectively.

Amazon UK is also taking preorders for Wm Morrow's limited edition. Price tag: £83.66 (which is about $135 USD)

Murder By the Book...

2013-01-08T09:31:00.000-05:00

Shelf Awareness and The Oregonian have reported that Murder By The Book, the mystery bookstore founded 30 years ago in Portland, Oregon, will close in April unless a buyer is found.

The store will operate normally for the next few months but special sales will begin next week. New hardcover rentals and trade-ins will continue through February and gift certificates and special orders will be accepted through March.

A letter to their "loyal readers" is posted on the Website if you want more of the skinny. Book sales of 20-50% off begin January 12. I would suggest that anyone in the Portland area drop by, experience the bookstore while they still can, and help send them off with a bang. Who knows, maybe one of you will fall in love with the place and want to make it your labor of love.

Folks not in the Portland area can order items via the phone or through email (they don't post their catalog online, but would be happy to help you find what you're looking for):

email: books@mbtb.com
phone: 503-232-9995 (Portland, Oregon)
Shipping & handling charges: $3.50 for the first two paperbacks or for the first hardcover. Additional paperbacks are 50 cents each. Additional hardcovers are $1 each.

*Just a side note, this is not to be confused with the bookstores located in Houston or Denver that go by the same name:

Murder By the Book, Houston
Murder By the Book, Denver

P.S. Thanks to all those folks who sent letters of encouragement while I was recuperating from breast cancer treatment. We're hopeful that 2013 is going to be simply astounding, so pick up a good book & let me know what treasures you've found at your local bookstore!

xo all,