» travels

Toasting Independent Booksellers and Readers!

Josie — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 16:08:57 +0000

While I was in northern Michigan last week I visted the most fantastic bookstore in Gaylord: Saturn Booksellers. The staff eagerly chatted books with anyone who wanted to and left others alone to browse in silence. I watched as several customers who didn’t know each other picked up a lively conversation over a “staff recommendation” display. I sat in a comfy chair and browsed. I visited the coffee shop. I laughed over hilarious t-shirts and bumper stickers. I loved the stellar selection of books and marveled at the impressive programs of visiting authors. In fact, the author signing that night was Wade Rouse,whose memoir At Least in the City Someone Would Hear Me Scream chronicles his move with his partner from the city to the “wilds” near Saugatuck, Michigan.

So hear I am in Gaylord, a small town up north known for hunting and fishing and snow machines and the featured visiting author is and openly gay memoirist. And they were expecting a big crowd! Wow! I fell in love with this town, with this bookstore.

I couldn’t find WHACKED on the shelves, not even in the Michigan author section, which was sort of a bummer. But when I asked, it turned out they did have it, only mis-shelved. I signed it, promoted TOASTED and then had a good time spending some money. It’s the kind of place you want to buy stuff just to support them.

And then I noticed what I think is the best marketing approach I’ve ever seen for a bookstore: “Helping to keep Gaylord interesting . . . “. Not only do they claim their own value to the local community, but they also remind their customers of their own personal value to the community. It made me think, “Yeah! I as a smart, independent reader, am a natural resource for my hometown!”

Cool huh?

We discerning readers, who read beyond the stuff selected by the big chains’ corporate buyers, bring extra value to our worlds by keeping things interesting with our alive minds, the different things we know and have encountered, the unusual connections we can weave between ideas. We are percolators. In addition, we keep independent businesses alive– both local independent bookstores and specialty presses like Bella Books. These are business, voices, and perspectives that could disappear if we weren’t spending our time and money enjoying what they have to offer. Their presence keeps diverse possibilities open for ourselves and for those who come after us.

It’s a smart marketing campaign because it enlists buyers to be part of an effort to do well for their hometown by purchasing books, but it’s also smart because it’s true.

Researching the next Lonnie Squires Mystery

Josie — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 17:00:10 +0000

Just returned from a lovely relaxing trip into the “wilds” of northern Michigan (that’s the northern part of the lower peninsula) that was both vacation and research for the third Lonnie Squires mystery, DITCHED. Mancelona, Gaylord, Topinabee, Cheboygan, Mackinaw City and other wonderful places. I’m not going to say much else about it for now except that the Nun Doll Museum is something quite wonderful, as is the fudge in Mackinaw City, though in a different way. I think Lonnie would be interested in both. Still, who knows where that book will take her? At this point, I still don’t!

New York City Day Three Lambda Report

Josie — Fri, 29 May 2009 14:27:29 +0000

Holy cow, I WON!!!

Here’s a shot from the screen when it was announced!

It was a great evening even before this announcement. Bella author Karin Kallmaker won two awards–it was a great night for Bella.

Bonus: the award for best mystery was presented by none other than Kate Clinton, so I got to meet her (or at least hug her and say thanks).

Double bonus, the incomparable Mark Doty, who has been a great inspiration to me for years because of the beauty of his writing, also won a Lambda for poetry, and it was a huge honor for me to follow him to the podium.

Triple bonus: I have to admit, I found the clutch to be most serviceable for the evening. Thanks to YOSista for loaning it to me.

New York City Day Two

Josie — Thu, 28 May 2009 19:24:59 +0000

ADAM LAMBERT WAS HERE TODAY!!

My informant was wrong–he was on the Today Show today, which I found out when I woke up and turned on the t.v. at 9:30 this morning. I dressed and pretty much ran to Rockefeller Center. Missed the outside singing.

Sad.

BUT! Adam and Kris were on the Kathie Lee and Hoda show at 10, and though I didn’t hear them sing live or really even see them through the window (because the KLG and Hoda show is upstairs) I could see the studio lights and I knew they were there. Plus, we could see them on the outside monitors. Therefore, I can faithfully claim I was within 50 feet of Adam and Kris. So that’s a grand thing.

I ate in Rockefeller Center and took the B train uptown to St. John the Divine. Wonderful. I could spend a whole day there. Grabbed wonderful food to go from an Amish Market and found a free place to post and check the internet (none in my hotel! In NYC! Can you believe it?) So now it’s back at the hotel to shower, rest, change and GO to the Lammy event!!!

What a day it’s been already.

Won’t be able to update until sometime tomorrow when this little free internet spot reopens!

New York City Day One

Josie — Thu, 28 May 2009 02:14:59 +0000

Left the midwest in an astonishing downpour–the kind where it rains so hard it sounds like rocks are hitting your car. Also a damp spirit as I heard from a friend that ADAM LAMBERT was on the Today Show this morning and I’d miss him by just a few hours.

New York is drier, but overcast and foggy. I walked down to the Empire State Building (which is right across the street from where the Lammy Awards Ceremony will be tomorrow night) and couldn’t see anywhere near the top.

I had a bagel with Nova lox for breakfast in Grand Central Station, so I feel like I’ve arrived. Then I went straight to the New York Public Library, where I’d never been before. They have many treasures, including a Declaration of Independence in Jefferson’s handwriting, and a great collection of 20th century dime novels and comic books. On the third floor, in the hall outside the great reading room, was a great timeline display of the gay rights movement, particularly focusing on Stonewall and the Liberation of Christopher Street. Reading the weeklies, the fliers, and the letters from folks fighting the good fight in 1969 and 1970 was quite moving, especially in light of the horrible Supreme Court decision in California yesterday. Topped the visit off with a visit to the Children’s Reading Room, where the original toys that inspired A. A. Milne to write Winnie the Pooh are housed. That was a lovely surprise for me!

I also walked by the Episcopal Center, home base of the national church offices and checked out their little bookstore.

Ate at Don Giovanni’s–great home-cooked Italian food, huge portions, relatively cheap. It’s on 44th near 9th–one restaurant I always visit whenever I’m in NYC.

Walked up Broadway and down 5th in the evening–including time in the brand new Times Square pedestrian mall. The city has put lawn chairs in the middle of the former street. It’s a blast to sit an watch people and signs and traffic and everything.

Tomorrow will be fun!

Lambda Literary Awards, Here I Come!

Josie — Tue, 26 May 2009 17:00:41 +0000

The luggage is all packed and sitting in the hallway, causing earth-shattering consternation to the household pets. One of the cats even stole my wallet this morning, but I found it before he dispersed the credit cards all over the back porch. They love their sitter, but the luggage still freaks them out.

Flying freaks me out, but I’m promising myself not to expend the energy tomorrow when I leave the house at 3 a.m. (!) to get to the airport on time. I’ll need all my focus just to get in the right lines and not wind up in Maui. Which wouldn’t be bad, but it isn’t where the award shindig is happening.

Last night I put on my ceremony clothes and made sure I would be comfortable and functional. Why in God’s name are women’s dress clothes never both? The clutch I borrowed will barely serve–it’ll hold a lip gloss (my fancy make-up for the evening) and maybe a phone, but not a phone and camera. And of course, the clothes have no pockets. I won’t get started on my fashion rant here. It’s only one evening. I’ll survive. In fact, I’ll enjoy it–I’m really looking forward to the whole to-do. What an experience it will all be! Cocktails at 6, awards at 7, after party at 9:30. More social life than I usually have in a month.

And I’m spending an extra two days in New York City, which I’m really looking forward to. I hope to walk a lot, shop, eat cheap city food, and visit some Episcopal sights (always researching for Lonnie’s future adventures!).

I’ll update from there if I can, otherwise, check back in a few days!