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But I always enjoyed just as much the funky little bookstore in the heart of Ann Arbor. The first time I visited I had a crowd of exactly one (plus Robin who sat with us). The last time they had to move the event to the library because there wasn't enough room at the store. And that was largely because booksellers like Robin and Jamie hand sold my books and introduced them to customers.
When my first mystery came out in 1997 (with a print run of 2500) there was zero publisher backing. I was on the last page of the catalog--actually only half the last page. No ads. Nothing. I was clueless about where to start. But I joined MWA and Sisters in Crime and fellow members suggested bookstores to me. Try Bruce at San Francisco Mystery Bookstore, they said. And Ed Kaufman at M is for Mystery wrote to invite me. As did Crown books. And Maurice Redbourn. Then Janet Dawson and Penny Warner invited me to join them on a tour of Southern California. We visited 7 mystery bookstores in the LA area. And I sold through that first printing!
For my next book my husband and I drove all the way across the country, visiting any bookstore that would have me. And do you know what? There was a mystery bookstore within driving distance every day! And they all made me welcome even though my audiences were pathetic at that time.
I consider myself really lucky that I had that opportunity. Alas I can count the mystery bookstores in the US on my fingers these days. I know online shopping is partly to blame but the first onslaught came from the big chain stores, and from greedy landlords who kept raising the rent. How I miss them: I miss the quirky pets--lots of cats, but dogs, birds even a pig.
Some still flourish: Otto's Mysterious Bookshop in New York, Barbara Peter's Poisoned Pen in Scottsdale, Murder by the Book in Houston, Mysterious Galaxy in San Diego and a few more beloved stores. But so many have gone: 3 in New York City, Kates from Cambridge, 2 from Denver, 6 from LA.I miss them all. Robin and Jamie, thank you for everything you have done for me and other mystery writers . We are forever in your debt. I hope you'll have a lovely retirement looking at the sailboats from Mackinaw Island.
So, dear friends, do share your bookstore memories. Which stores do you miss the most?
It’s a sad day when a bookstore closes. I am so sad to hear about Aunt Agatha’s closing
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, bookstores are a rarity around here. Our local bookstore closed many years ago, leaving us with the choice of a few shelves in Target or a forty-five mile drive to the nearest Barnes and Noble. It’s a depressing situation . . . .
that is depressing Joan!
DeleteI'm sad about this news in general, and sad about not making the trip to Ann Arbor in time to visit this store. How times have changed Rhys!
ReplyDeleteWe here in Seattle recently lost our mystery indie, but our Sisters in Crime chapter has doubled so you win some, you lose some. On the plus side, while the store has closed, as of April 1st (no foolin’), they are launching a “newzine”, a monthly blog post that runs on the first of every month! A small way to keep the energy going.
ReplyDeleteSo very touchingly sad—that store changed so many lives, right? Wow. I am so deeply grateful for Robin and Jamie—thank you for putting up that memorable photo, Rhys!
ReplyDeleteI know they have some fun things planned for what comes next, so that’s good—and we have to remember we are so lucky to have shared in that moment in bookstore time!
And oh-/the WINNER of Tina Whittle’s book is Coralee Hicks! Yay! Contact me via my website or fb with your address! Yay!
ReplyDeleteYAY!
DeleteI can remember visiting all four NYC mystery bookstores in one day back when the first in my Face Down series came out (same publisher and tiny print run as in Rhys’ experience.) They were welcoming, encouraging, and supportive, just as other mystery bookstores around the country were of my later books. Aunt Agatha’s was one of the best. Robin hosted a group signing for me, Sharan Newman, and the late Margaret Fraser when we were all attending the Medieval Conference in “nearby” Kalamazoo. The side-trip was well worth the long drive.
ReplyDeleteBetween the loss of bookstores and fabric stores, I feel like a walking anachronism. My two longest hobbies--reading and sewing--are losing ground so quickly.
ReplyDeleteThe saddest part of these stores closing is how few young people are interested in stepping up and continuing the businesses. It makes me wonder what kind of world we are leaving for the next generations.
Bookstores and fabric stores--heaven! When the boys were little, they loved to go to the fabric store with me--they loved the colors and feel of different fabrics and would spend hours playing with squares from my fabric bag. We're lucky to still have a JoAnne Fabrics nearby and a great little quilting shop within reasonable driving distance. The local crafts chain store now has fabric too--but it's cheaper stuff--you know what I mean.
DeleteAnd stationery stores!
DeleteThe closest thing we have to a bookstore is something like a half-price books at the local mall. Better than nothing, but just. Best part of traveling was stumbling across a bookstore. And I'd also like to lament something else here--took oldest nephew to the college 'bookstore' to pick up his books his first semester. Wow, what a surprise! I spent many happy hours in college bookstores, browsing poetry, fiction, picking up books for my latest classes. Now most of the ordering is done online--some of the books are even online, period. The bookstores now sell campus merchandise, backpacks--I think there were notebooks and pencils--coffee mugs. What a disappointment--but so glad there are still some bookstore people like Robin and Jaime--who care about the authors behind those books and provide a place to welcome them, help them out, and introduce loyal readers to them!
ReplyDeleteWe actually have two bookstores in our area now, as of this past week. One is a used bookstore that's been around for about 20 years, under new ownership. But the other, which opened Thursday, is a Half-Price Books, less than a mile from the other store. I hope it doesn't affect their business.
DeleteWe are fortunate enough to still have two Joseph-Beth stores, one in Cincinnati, and the other right across the river in Northern Kentucky. I'm smack in between them, too.
We used to have a used bookstore in the next town when I was a kid. My Dad would take us there on Saturdays to pick out books. They retired years ago and since Borders closed the nearest book store is a Barnes & Noble about 40 minutes away. Mostly I use the library these days.
ReplyDeleteThis is so interesting to read, Rhys. You were so resourceful and determined.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many bookstores that I miss. Top of the list is our own Kate's Mystery Bookstore - Kate Mattes ran it in a Victorian house (bookstore downstairs, she lived upstairs) on upper Mass Ave in Cambridge. I remember going to a Sue Grafton book launch there, line snaking out the door and up the sidewalk, with liveried waiters serving canapés while you waited. I had my first book launch there. No liveries or canapés. But we served ice cream from Toscanini's.
There used to be something like 8 mystery bookstores within driving distance of LAX. Now, what?
My favorite new independent bookstore *YES THEY EXIST* is An Unlikely Story in Plainville MA (not too far from the Patriots stadium) - owned by Julie and Jeff Kinney (The Wimpy Kid). They have a whole floor devoted to events and have discovered the key to getting people to sit in the FRONT ROW: Leather couches. Really gorgeous comfy leather couches. Instead of front row chairs. The manager is the brilliant Deb Sundin who used to own one of my favorite bookstores, Hearts and Stars, in Sharon, MA, and after that managed Wellesley Books. She's got a terrific staff.
I miss Kate's too, Hallie. Had my very first signing there as a Level Best Books anthology contributor. What a thrill!
DeleteI don't have a favorite bookstore because there aren't really that many non-chain stores near me. And the ones that do exist usually aren't carrying stuff I want to read.
ReplyDeleteI do know that if I had the time and money, I'd want to hit all these mystery focused shops that Rhys mentioned in her piece. That's a big desire of mine. I want to get to these places. Shopping in those stores would be great and they do events so that would be even more of a draw for me.
That mystery shop that was in Cambridge, MA would've been fun to visit but I didn't even know it existed until after it closed. I think the closest mystery shop to me is now a shop that my sister visited in Vermont called Mystery on Main Street. But that's 4 hours away I believe.
A slightly off the main topic aside: It would be nice if they could figure out how to get a mystery book convention up and running (or bring an existing traveling one) to Boston. That would get me off my butt to go to it.
Jay, we have a mystery conference near Boston! It's not a fan convention, but you are welcome to join in the fun at the New England Crime Bake. Registration will open in about a month, and you only have to travel to Woburn. I am co-chair this year and next, but Hallie and Hank and Roberta have played a major part in the conf since its beginning sixteen years ago. http://crimebake.org/
DeleteEdith, thank you for the information!
DeleteI was so sorry to hear this news. I loved Aunt Agatha's, and Robin and Jamie are the best. I know they hand sold my books, too, Rhys. But now I'm curious about what they have planned for the future!
ReplyDeleteAfter many years without a good independent bookstore in Dallas, we now have a real top notch store, Interabang.
And while it's not an indie, I have to say how much I love our local Half Price Books here in McKinney. Great store, great staff--these folks really love books. And, in case anyone doesn't know, Half Price does sell new titles now, and holds signings.
Ha. Interabang. I thought only printer's used that term. (I was a typesetter.) It is still commonly used in chess notation. A question mark after a move indicates a mistake or bad move. An exclamation point indicates a very good move. A question mark followed by an exclamation point (bang) denotes a move that would seem to be a mistake but in fact upon reflection denotes a counter-intuitive very good move.
DeleteRhys, I remember talking with you at Left Coast Crime in San Diego, sponsored by Mysterious Galaxy, when EVEANS ABOVE came out, and buying my copy in the book room there. You were delightful, and so was the sunny day, and I started reading the book that night. I still wish for a new one in that series...
ReplyDeleteI was sorry to read of Aunt Agatha's closing. Though I was never there, I know many people who were regulars, and one who worked there on occasion. Living in Portland, I'm lucky with book stores, with Powell's 3 locations plus two other mystery book stores and the usual B&N stores.
Sorry...Evans Above. Darn typos!
DeleteRick, that was exactly 20 years ago now! My first convention. I knew nobody but everyone was so welcoming and friendly and the hotel was great. Thank you for buying that copy of Evans Above!
DeleteRick, I’m with you on wishing for further Evan Evans’ stories.
DeleteWe still have bookstores in Houston but Murder by the Book is the only one specializing in mysteries. I don't go to very many author events there. I'd love to attend more but if you've been there you know parking is a big issue! My granddaughter discovered Half Price books on one of her trips here. That is someplace we have to go to now whenever she visits.
ReplyDeleteSaluting Robin and Jamie - when I went to their book festival in Ann Arbor, I even ate dinner at their house along with the other mystery authors. I wish you both a less harried future, and continued mystery in your lives.
ReplyDeleteLike Tessa, I mourn the passing of the Seattle Mystery Bookshop. JB, Amber, and Fran were wonderful, and they hand sold many copies of my books, for which I will always be grateful. I'm glad they have revived their newsletter since they always had great recommendations. It's not the same as the store, but it will have to do.
ReplyDeleteIngrid, I was sorry to read that SMB was going out of business as it was on my list of mystery shops I would love to visit.
DeleteI don't remember visiting a bookstore as a child. Except that in high school we needed to buy a French dictionary at La Librairie which was a French bookstore in Rockefeller Center in Manhattan. That was an hour subway right from my house but I loved visiting the "city" as a teenager. When I went to college we had the college bookstore with the obligatory textbooks. As a young adult however, I found all sorts of bookstores. I remember the "Strand" in Greenwich Village. I remember being there with my mother once and finding a three volume edition of Don Quixote. She bought it for me as a birthday present. I remember a Judaica bookstore on the upper west side that had a treasure trove of Jewish books of all sorts as well as bric a brac. Where I live now, Doylestown PA, we have a local independent bookstore which is large and seems to do all right. And we also have two used bookstores sharing space side by side also in the center of town. Each of these, have been there 20 plus years. For many years, before that we had a magazine and smoke shop which also sold books called Kenny's. Mr. Kenny died and his daughter took over until her passing perhaps 12-15 years ago. It closed and we all miss it very much. I had a German Shepherd, Bianka, who when I brought her in to Kenny's, she would expect her biscuit which Mr. Kenny would toss and she would catch. Lot of water under the bridge since then.
ReplyDelete17 years ago when I started to really get into reading mysteries as an adult, I loved all the mystery bookstores we had here in the LA area. I would watch their newsletters for signings, and if I thought I was interested in the series, I'd go and get the book. Yes, some of those books still sit on my shelves unread. I've always bought more books than I had time to read. This problem is nothing new.
ReplyDeleteHowever, some of my favorite authors to this day I found because of those signings.
And now there are none. Yes, we have independent bookstores in the greater LA area, but none are close enough to me to make me want to go and browse. And none are close enough to make me feel the gas money and time are worth it. Their events are by authors I have no interest in, most of the time.
I miss the signings I would go to, however. Sometimes, there was a crowd. Sometimes, I was the only one there. Either way, I had fun.
And Rhys, one of those booksellers hand sold me on you. It took her several times because I already had more books than I figured I could read, but I finally bought Evans Above. And I'm so glad she persisted.
I should have already done one of the things I've wanted to do for some time, take a bookstore tour, visiting mystery bookstores. I would have loved to have visited Aunt Agatha's, and now I fear it is too late, as I don't see a trip this summer on my horizon. I do still hope to get to some of these special bookstores and booksellers. I'm trying to figure out when I can go to Arizona, where I have two friends, one in Phoenix and one in Tucson (seeing the one from Tucson on a trip to our hometown this week). It would be great to time the Arizona trip when the Tucson Book Festival is happening, and then I could go to it, followed by a trip to The Poisoned Pen in Scottsdale.
ReplyDeleteI am always thrilled to get a taste of the mystery bookstores from the vendors at Bouchercon. Mystery Mike's is one I usually hit pretty heavily. But, of course, visiting the brick and mortar stores would be a dream come trues.
Oh this is sad news. Thank you for sharing the special history of Aunt Agatha's and how they (rightfully) embraced you. Do you recall any favorite bookshops in the Baltimore/DC area? I'd enjoy giving them our business.
ReplyDeleteWe used to have a lovely bookshop in Burlington, VT run by a dear British woman. I would go to work and daydream that I quit my job to become her apprentice and that after years and years of working with her she'd be ready to retire and would bequeath the store to me. A silly, romantic idea but it still resonates.
It is sad to hear about Aunt Agatha's. Fortunately for me, Mystery Lovers Bookshop in Oakmont (near Pittsburgh) seems to be thriving. And we now have five or six indie bookstores in the Pittsburgh area, although only Mystery Lovers is mystery-centric.
ReplyDeleteMary/Liz
This made me cry - what a lovely post, Rhys. Kathy Emerson: I loved the event you mention, medieval May was always one of my favorite events. I miss Gail Frazer. Deborah Crombie, A SHARE IN DEATH is one of our all time bestsellers. We handsell it constantly. And Rhys - and Hank - what a joy to know you both. Certainly the one of the very best parts of owning a bookstore is being lucky enough to meet so many wonderful authors. We will definitely miss that part. We hope to start a review blog after we close focusing on first mystery novels by women.
ReplyDeleteRhys, I WAS enjoying your company, although I admit I was somewhat distracted when that picture was taken. I remember it was a really fun event. I too will greatly miss Aunt Agatha's.
ReplyDelete