Around Indies

Fifteen Years for Taylor Books

Taylor Books in Charleston, West Virginia, has just celebrated its 15th anniversary. Owner Ann Saville still remembers the names of the store's first customers, something she shared with the Charleston Gazette.

Saville also owns the building that houses the store and an affiliated gallery, and lives above the business. “This is a marvelous way to grow old,” she told the Gazette.

Store manager Jennifer Waggener called Taylor Books “a cultural touchstone.” She added, “If I didn't work here, I would still come here.”

Lift Bridge Has Strong Local Ties

The Democrat & Chronicle this week featured a profile of Lift Bridge Book Shop in Brockport, New York, and owners Archie and Pat Kutz. The article emphasizes the store's connections to the community.

“To survive in this corporate climate, Lift Bridge reads the community. It is big on promoting local authors, like Peter Lovenheim, whose In the Neighborhood explores the Brighton street where he grew up after a murder-suicide there. A new program, Saturday Author Salon, showcases self-published locals such as Webster's Sally Bacchetta, whose What I Want My Adopted Children To Know: An Adoptive Parent's Perspective was to be featured earlier this week. And Saturday, Rochester children's writer Robert Djed Snead will discuss his two books,” wrote reporter Jeff Spevak.

Melville House Lauds Indies

As part of a series of posts explaining how Melville House was able to turn its reissue of the 60-year-old Every Man Dies Alone by Hans Fallada into a top seller, the publisher's blog Mobylives has been tracing the book's path to success. This week's posts have focused on the early support independent booksellers provided.

At Green Apple Books, co-owner Kevin Ryan “twisted a few colleagues' arms” to encourage them to read the book, which quickly became a staff favorite. Bob Sommer at Changing Hands Bookstore provided the blurb that appears on the Summer 2010 Indie Next List for Reading Groups. And Nancy Olson of Quail Ridge Books & Music is recognized for being one of Every Man Dies Alone's champions. “I feel strongly it is books like this that define the strengths of independent booksellers – finding the quality, overlooked books and getting them into appreciative customers hands, ” said Olson, who recommended the title for the April 2009 Indie Next List. “It sets us apart from stores that feature more commercial books.”