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04/27/2016 06:00 AMSo much has changed in the book-selling business since Maureen Corcoran became part owner of Breakwater Books in Guilford in 2007.
“We were not even on the Internet then. Now, most publishers use a digital ordering system instead of sending paper catalogs and reps,” says Corcoran, who has been a bookseller at Breakwater for two decades. Then, of course, there is the competition from Amazon, which is “fierce and unbalanced. Brick and mortar stores are under assault on every front and I often remind people that our small stores exist on the periphery of our beautiful Green only as long as they are supported.
“And, yet,” she says, “books, unlike other commodities, are deeply personal and resist the impersonalization of the computer era. We feel that we are lucky to have a bookstore in town. It’s part of the attraction for some people who move here, and we would like to keep the readership of Guilford happily supplied for another generation.”
The sentiment is echoed by other independent booksellers along the shoreline, including R.J. Julia in Madison, the Griswold Inn in Essex, Harbor Books in Old Saybrook, and Burgundy Books in Westbrook. Several of those bookstores will be celebrating Independent Bookstore Day on Saturday, April 30 with special events, raffles, concerts, and an invitation to all to attend.
Samantha Schoech, program direct of Independent Bookstore Day, says the good news is that, nationally, there are more independent bookstores opening than closing. “So, the standard story about independent bookstores, that they are dying, is just not true anymore. There are flourishing indies all over the country in huge markets, and tiny ones,” says Schoech, who is married to the owner of Green Apple Books in San Francisco. “For many communities, independent bookstores remain a sort of anchor, a community hub.”
What makes for a successful indie bookstore?
“How a bookstore operates and runs and its entire personality depends on where it is and who’s running it,” she says. “And that’s part of their success. They remain in tune with their specific community. It’s not like a chain store, where there is the same thing in every store. Indies are tailored to where they live. And they’re always filled with passionate readers, who love what they do and love to recommend books to others.”
On Independent Bookstore Day on Saturday, April 30, more than 420 bookstores are participating by “throwing a big party that day,” she says. “There will be exclusive items and literary art pieces procured especially for that day and only for bookstores. Other than that, some will be children’s parties, there will be drinking contests, scavenger hunts, lots of author appearances, live music. With 420 bookstores, there will be 420 fun parties.”
To find out more about Independent Bookstore Day, visit www.indiebookstoreday.com
R. J. Julia:"We Will Only Do More, If Anything"
R. J. Julia Stays Busy in Connecticut, Expands Its Expertise to Long Island
Roxanne Coady, the owner of R. J. Julia Booksellers rocked shoreline readers in 2012 when she announced she was thinking about selling the store she founded in 1990 and built, book by book, and booklover by booklover.
A few years later, there have been no announcements about that recently one way or the other, but, the store recently celebrated its 25th anniversary with Coady as involved and committed as ever. When asked about progress on the sale of the store, bookstore Manager Lori Fazio says, "RJ's is RJ's. This is keeping us quite busy handling both stores. We will only do more if anything."
What?! Both stores? Did we hear that right?
Yes, R. J. Julia's crack team of book lovers and retail experts is not only running the Madison store, they have teamed up with another store in East Hampton, N.Y. that was slated to close its doors. It's called BookHampton and is scheduled to reopen sometime in May. The new owner, Caroline Brody, has lived in East Hampton for 30 years as a summer and weekend resident, according to a report in the East Hampton Star newspaper.
"We will be their Operating Managers," Fazio says. "It's an exciting and wonderful opportunity."
Marketing and Events Manager Liz Bartek says they will be offering the exclusive Independent Bookstore items on Saturday, April 30 at RJJ's, including
• Raymie Nightingale. A special signed & numbered edition of the new novel by two-time Newbery Award winner Kate DiCamillo. Includes a special note from Kate.
• Duck & Goose Print. This wonderful pro-reading, pro-friendship print was drawn especially for Bookstore Day by Tad Hills, the bestselling creator of the Duck & Goose books.
• Neil Gaiman Coloring Book. This book features colorable illustrations by Chris Riddell from Neil Gaiman's Coraline; The Graveyard Book, and Fortunately, the Milk.
• Curious George® plush doll. This collectable Curious George® plush doll sports a t-shirt that reads READ TO ME on the front and the IBD logo on the back.
There also will be giveaways, including advanced reading copies from some favorite authors and book swag (bookmarks, buttons and more); a raffle for all customers with any purchase entered into a raffle for a $50 gift card; an R. J. Julia Scavenger Hunt, where everyone who enters will receive a prize; a Make-Your-Own-Bookmark or Mother's Day Card event in the Children's Department; and, while supplies last, literary temporary tattoos courtesy of Lithographs (http://www.litographs.com/collections/tattoos).
For the past 26 years, R.J. Julia Booksellers has opened its doors nearly 10,000 times, welcomed over 3,000 authors, donated over two million dollars to charities , nd introduced five million books to readers, Bartek says.
Fazio says the folks at RJ's are looking forward to helping BookHampton serve its local community.
"BookHampton is similar to RJ's. ... Like us, we know it has had loyal customers throughout its years. Right now, we have it closed as it undergoes changes to give it a fresh look. We plan to reopen Memorial Day weekend," she says. "We would love everyone to stop by if they are in the neighborhood! 41 Main Street, East Hampton, NY."
R. J. Julia Booksellers is located at 768 Boston Post Rd, Madison, and can be reached at 203-245-3959
Breakwater Books: "The Rewards Outnumber the Challenges""It isn't luck. We work very hard to preserve what feels like a simple luxury now."
Breakwater was founded in 1972 by Marion Young and Marion Harold, both Guilford residents, in the space that is now occupied by the Country Grocer, says Maureen Corcoran, the current owner.
"The bookstore moved to the Green about 25 years ago in its current location (which happens to be the oldest building on the Green), at which time Marion Young was the sole owner until she passed away, in 2006. Jane Harder was the sole buyer from 1972 until 2006, when she also stepped down. In 2007, I became the owner/manager/buyer, while Marion Young's three children retained a half ownership but I've worked at the store for about 20 years," she says.
While there are many challenges, she says, the rewards outnumber the challenges.
"As for the rewarding part — it is all rewarding! We have booksellers who currently work here whose mothers worked here. We love to see readers taking their time with selections, we love to see children get excited about books, we love to make suggestions," she says. "It is rewarding to entertain the GHS musicians on the night of the town tree lighting, or hosting our wonderful local authors, or having a party on IBD or World Book Day."
To celebrate Independent Bookstore Day on Saturday, April 30, Breakwater has invited Illustrator Abby Carter to visit from noon to 2 p.m., and author Ann Hodgman from 2 to 4 p.m., at the store, located at 81 Whitfield Street on the Guilford Green. They also have several other events coming up:
• Carter, who has drawn all her life, has numerous books to her credit, including Ollie's Class Trip: A Yes-and-No Book by Stephanie Calmenson and Ollie's School Day: A Yes-and-No Story by Stephanie Calmenson, Daddy's Back-to-School Shopping Adventure and Daddy's Zigzagging Bedtime Story by Alan Lawrence Sitomer, Scooter in the Outside by Anne Bowen, Daddies Do It Different by Alan Lawrence Sitomer, The Best Chef in Second Grade by Katharine Kenah, Andy Shane and the Queen of Egypt and Andy Shane and the Barn Sale Mystery by Jennifer Richard Jacobson, Maggie's Monkeys by Linda Sanders-Wells, and Emma Dilemma Series written by Patricia Hermes.
• Hodgman is an American author of more than forty children's books as well as several cookbooks and humor books and many magazine articles. She was raised in Rochester, New York and graduated from Harvard College, where she was a staff member on the Harvard Lampoon and the Harvard Advocate. She was the food columnist for the magazines Spy and Eating Well. Her essay, "No Wonder They Call Me a Bitch," about taste-testing various dog foods, was included in "Best American Essays." Hodgman is also known for her three cookbooks, Beat This!, Beat That!, and One Bite Won't Kill You. She is the author of the 6-book vampire series My Babysitter is a Vampire and the nonfiction memoir, The House of a Million Pets.
• Later that week, Breakwater will team up with Comfort Keepers of Guilford to welcome journalist and scholar Ann Neumann for a reading and signing of her book, The Good Death: An Exploration of Dying in America, on Wednesday, April 27th at 7 p.m. at the Atwater Memorial Library, 1720 Foxon Road, North Branford.
As for upcoming events, Breakwater says its focus will remain on local authors and books for children, peppered with some larger events at both The Guilford Free Library and The Atwater Memorial Library. In May, Breakwater has invited Barry Schaller, Marc Nadeau, and Michael C. White at The Guilford Free Library; and June 8, Susan Strecker has been invited to talk about her sophomore novel, Nowhere Girl.
Breakwater Books is located at 81 Whitfield Street, Guilford. For more information call 203-453-4141.
Burgundy Books: Author Events, Writers Workshops, Community Events
Burgundy Books was founded in 2006 in East Haddam, just up the street from the Goodspeed Opera House, and opened its Westbrook location in 2013. They offer a variety of author events, and on Saturday, April 30 at 1 p.m. will host Barry Schaller, the author of The Rimadi Affair, a novel about "a decorated vet of Iraq who is now a judge. Politics and haunting memories of combat create the platform for reflections in morality," the bookstore says on its website.
In addition to author events, the store also sometimes offers organized writers workshops and other community events.
Burgundy Books is located at 1285 Boston Post Road in Westbrook, and can be reached by calling or texting 860 391-9525 or by emailing burgundybooks@gmail.com.
The Griswold Inn Store: No TVs, Lots of Books
When the Griswold Inn Store opened its doors about six years ago, they initially stocked selected titles for guests of the venerable Griswold Inn, which opened in 1776 on Main Street in Essex, and where none of the rooms have that newfangled technology called a television set. The goal was to pick books that would enhance visitors' visits to the Gris and to the Essex area.
"Although our store is first and foremost a museum style gift shop for the historic Griswold Inn, we have expanded our book selection as demand has grown and to fill a niche for both tourists and area residence," says store manager Karen Davison.
The store, owned by the Paul family, is called Goods and Curiosities, and stocks merchandise as well, including items that reflect New England history and tradition. "This rings particularly true with our book selection, that is constantly evolving and covers a myriad of genres and topics—fiction, local history, curiosity, and special interests—we are always on the lookout for a new PageTurner," Davison says, referring to the book reviews the store contributes to Shore Publishing newspapers.
To celebrate Independent Bookstore Day, the store will offer 10 percent off all books purchased on Saturday, April 30, when the special day is mentioned, Davison says. "Come talk books with us!" she says.
Davison says May will mark the store's sixth year in business. "We have found, through the growing support over the years, that our customers appreciate just how important brick and mortar stores are—and we are so very grateful! The interest in books is so strong that we have an exciting development in the works for this coming fall, fueled by customer interest—a Gris Book Club! Members of the club will have special preorder incentives as well as energized monthly book meetings held in the historic Inn," she says.
Davison says, "we understand why so many small bookstores nationwide have been unable to compete with large online booksellers— we empathize with this and face those same challenges."
Still, she says she expects the store at the Gris to continue to thrive. "The conversations that become a part of the experience—it's not just about buying a book. We really enjoy when people come into the store and comment on the selection—and also give recommendations of their own. This is what it's all about," she says.
The Griswold Inn Store is located at 47 Main Street, Essex. To find out more, call the Griswold Inn store at 860.767.0210, or visit www.griswoldinn.com or www.griswoldinn.com/about/about_us.html.
Harbor Books: The Source for Local Interest Books
"We enjoy getting to know our customers."
Captain Grahame A. Burton, the owner of Harbor Books, says he's seen a lot of changes in the book industry in his 28 years on Main Street in Old Saybrook. Like other booksellers, he sees one of his biggest challenges as trying to compete on price with Amazon and Walmart, particularly for best sellers. Still, he says, with the help of his loyal customers, he has weathered many such storms.
"We rely on our customer's loyalty to the store and work hard to earn their trust. It is gratifying to see that many customers who initially went over to e-book readers, have partially at least, come back to reading hard copy," he says.
The store, according to its website, sells new and used books on a variety of subjects. And it has a focus on nautical books, which makes sense, given Burton's experience in all matters nautical. The store also has a generous selection of books on Katherine Hepburn, who was a lifelong Old Saybrook resident. The store also stocks titles of interest to genealogists, historians, and visitors."We are your source for local interest books," the store says on its website.
The store also is the local supplier of Girl Scout items and specializes in what it calls "townie" clothing.
To celebrate Independent Bookstore Day on Saturday, April 30, Burton says the store plans to give out free novelty bookmarks. As for the future, he plans to keep on doing what the store does best, "providing individualized personal service. We enjoy getting to know our customers and being able to support titles we believe they will enjoy."
Harbor Books is located at 146 Main Street in Old Saybrook. For more information, email Sales@harborbooks.com or HarborBooks@aol.com, visit http://www.harborbooks.com or call 860-388-6850.