Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Baker Street Books is Closing in April

I discovered this on Sunday, when I went in to Baker Street Books to buy a copy of Tamora Pierce's "Bloodhound," the second book in her excellent Becka Cooper series. I am heartbroken about it, and would love to have the money to buy the place.

Baker Street Books in Black Diamond, Washington, owned and operated in a historic bank building by Bob Charles, will be closing for good on April 15, 2012. There will be a half-off all books sale starting on March 1.
The bookstore is a landmark in Black Diamond, and the only bookstore within shouting distance of Maple Valley and Covington, both of which have no bookstore to call their own, unfortunately. Baker Street carried new and used books, and was a meeting place for many book groups and musicians. As to why the store is closing, Mr Charles said "I can't sell enough books to keep the lights on and pay the rent, it is as simple as that." Phone 360-886-2131. Website www.bakerstreetbooks.net

Then I read this in Shelf Awareness this morning:

Queen Anne Books for Sale

Patti McCall, co-owner and then owner of Queen Anne Books
http://www.shelf-awareness.com/ct/uz3642037Biz12704923, Seattle, Wash., for the past 14 years, is putting the store up for sale. In an e-mail to customers, she cited
the death of her husband last year, saying, "I am eager to move on and
discover what the next stage of my life will hold. I initially believed
I would continue to be a bookseller but, because the business is
changing so much, I have realized the store requires more than I can
give right now."

She called her time at Queen Anne Books "an amazing ride.... After a
couple hundred book club meetings, four amazing Harry Potter parties,
countless author events and 14 Holiday Magics, I have decided it is time
to turn over Queen Anne Books to a new owner--someone who will bring
fresh energy and ideas to a business undergoing a radical and exciting
transformation."

The store's lease is up in October, but there is a five-year option.
Interested parties should contact former co-owner Cindy Mitchell at
QueenAnneBooks@queenannebooks.com. Please use "Cindy" in the
subject line.

Another bookstore I'd buy if I had the money, to save it from closing down. It just kills me that bookstores in this highly literate area are dropping like flies this far into the recession.

Here's something a bookstore in Eastern Washington is doing to stay relevant and open:

When Oscar Met Indie: Encore's Book-to-Film Survey

The booksellers at Encore Books
http://www.shelf-awareness.com/ct/uz3642037Biz12681853,
Yakima, Wash., love movies, "but we love books more. Every year the
Academy honors the actors and directors and everyone else involved in
movie-making, but they almost never recognize the books... and the
beloved characters in those books... that make so many of their films
possible."

To address this oversight, Encore has created a book-themed Academy
Award ballot http://www.shelf-awareness.com/ct/uz3642037Biz12681854--based on the
Oscar nominations in six categories--and is asking voters to choose the
books and characters they deem Oscar-worthy, with one cautionary note:
"When voting, please remember to vote based on the book, not the movie."
The Oscar polls close at midnight February 25 and results will be
unveiled the following day on Encore's Facebook page
http://www.shelf-awareness.com/ct/uz3642037Biz12681855

Finally, some good news, two of my favorite authors, Sharon Lee and Steve Miller,(the Liaden Universe books) just won a well-deserved award at this year's Boskone Convention:

Maine science fiction and fantasy writers Sharon Lee and Steve Miller are pleased to share the news that they are recipients of the 2012 Skylark Award.
Presented by the New England Science Fiction Association at the annual regional science fiction convention Boskone, the Skylark -- formally The Edward E. Smith Memorial Award for Imaginative Fiction -- is presented to some person, who, in the opini...on of the membership, has contributed significantly to science fiction, both through work in the field and by exemplifying the personal qualities which made the late "Doc" Smith well-loved by those who knew him. Given since 1966, previous recipients include Sir Terry Pratchett, George R.R. Martin, Anne McCaffrey, Jane Yolen, and Isaac Asimov. The Winslow writers received the award in person at a surprise ceremony at Boston's Westin Waterfront, Saturday, February 18, with 1990 Skylark winner Jane Yolen attending and sharing her take on the care and feeding of the award.

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