Move Over St. Francis de Sales

Many booksellers serve as patron saints of favorite authors, but Susan Wasson of Bookworks in Albuquerque, New Mexico, went beyond typical high-volume handselling with Kris Radish's Elegant Gathering of White Snows, a 2002 November/December Book Sense 76 pick. Bookworks sold nearly a third of the entire first printing of the title, which was originally published by Spinsters Ink. Wasson also (with Spinsters' permission and blessing) sent a copy to Bantam, which bought the rights. Bookworks went on to sell nearly 400 copies of the Bantam edition. All told the bookstore has sold over 1,100 copies of Radish's novel.

Wasson, who is a part-timer at Bookworks, told BTW that she has "a horrid fear of missing a really good book," and so she assiduously reads ARCs, Publisher's Weekly, and Ingram's Advance catalog, where she saw a blurb for Elegant Gathering of White Snows in June 2002. She ordered a review copy, read it, and subsequently launched a one-woman media blitz, e-mailing editors and publishers with the pronouncement, "I wish I could buy a copy for every woman I've ever met." Bantam, which had bought the rights to another book previously recommended by Wasson (Into the Forest by Jean Hegland), took notice.

Elegant Gathering of White Snows follows eight women who start out taking an evening walk in a rural town, but decide to keep going on a days-long journey of discovery and friendship. Wasson explained that Elegant Gathering won her attention because of the way it limned the characters' friendship. "Friendship between women is very important. No matter what the women tell each other [in Elegant Gathering], they're so accepting and non-judgmental. As we get older it's not cars, trips, or houses that are important, but people, especially to women."

Bookworks hosted a tea party for Elegant Gathering of White Snows, whose title is taken from a type of tea mentioned in the book. Kris Radish gave a talk and also helped Wasson make cucumber sandwiches for the party, where Elegant Gathering of White Snows iced tea was served.

Bookwork's owner Nancy Rutland told BTW that over 200 women attended the event. "It was wonderful to see the women bonding, Kris [Radish] was nearly in tears," said Rutland. "Susan gave the book its initial push, but now it's taken off on its own merits." --Karen Schechner

Editor's Note: St. Francis de Sales is the patron saint of authors.