Happy Birthday, Mystery Lovers Bookshop!

Happy Birthday, Mystery Lovers Bookshop!

By Kathy Sweeney f/k/a Rebecca the Bookseller

Last Friday, October 31st, Mystery Lovers Bookshop turned 18!  Old enough to vote - and in some places, drink.

The annual celebration was made more special by the appearance of some great authors:  Marcia Talley, Ellen Crosby, Donna Andrews and Tori Carrington (who is really the husband and wife writing team of Lori and Tony Karayianni, who brought home-made baklava - yum!). As always, the staff was superb, the customers loyal and generous and the fund-raising for Beginning With Books was great.  

In the crowd were our own Peach and her daughter, pictured here with me dressed as the old school Penguin (which, as a neighbor pointed out, could, with the addition of a glass of booze, also be W.C. Fields).

Mystery Lovers bookshop was founded by Richard Goldman, your basic braniac banker - who, no lie, scares me with how much he knows - if I ever went on Who Wants to Be A Millionaire, he'd be my lifeline, and Mary Alice Gorman, community organizer extraordinaire and one of the finest people I have ever known.  Neither had experience in retail, and neither knew much about the publishing business - but that's ancient history now.  Today, many people consider them to be the godparents of mystery writers and readers everywhere.  I've had more or less a front row seat for the past several years, and I gotta tell you, I am always surprised at how many authors, publicists, editors and other bigs at the publishing houses seek them out for counsel and advice.

The Bookshop is one of the very few independents left standing.  Why are independent bookstores important?  So many reasons, but here is a big one:  They give authors a start, and they continue to support them.  These days, where if you don't get on a Costco warehouse pallet, or the sanctified blessing of the single big kahuna who buys for a big box store, your chance of making it is slim.  Mystery Lovers, and other stores like them, are the ones left for all the other great authors who don't happen to make the New York Times best-seller lists - although, Mystery Lovers does report to the NYT, so even the best-sellers come back.

I didn't realize, until I got to know so many authors, that signings are not always full of people.  I've been spoiled by Mystery Lovers, where we always have people not only come to see our authors, but know and buy their books.  One reason is that the Bookshop is phenomenal at hand-selling - a nearly lost art in sales of any kind.  Ask any of the authors who have been to the Bookshop - and signed the bathroom wall - and they'll tell you.  The bathroom wall?  Damn straight.  In fact, you can see a very cool panoramic view at the Pittsburgh Post Gazette's website: www.post-gazette.com/pg/08308/924693-429.stm

I could go on and on, but instead, I'll just ask you to check out their website at www.mysterylovers.com ,to consider buying your next gift - for a new baby, a friend who is sick, a birthday or the holidays - from Mystery Lovers.  The new Gift Guide just hit the streets, and it's online  - www.mysterylovers.com/books/gift_guide/ - in all its colorful glory.

Happy Birthday, Mary Alice, Richard, Buff, Margo, Judi, Kathy, Alison, Vicki, Allison, Natalie, Sarah and Tanya (the great staff) and Uncle Guy, Jean, Steve, and the rest of the MLB Family.  Many more!

Coming this weekend on TLC:

Saturday, Ramona shares her correspondence with Daniel Craig!

Sunday - guess who's afraid of snakes?  Our own Nancie the Gun Tart!

Comments

[toni mcgee causey]

Happy birthday to all of you at MLB--one of the true champions in the industry. I had an absolutely fabulous time signing last spring when we were all at RT, and Richard and Mary Alice are incredible. May you all have many amazing years of growth and happiness to come.

[Peg H]

Happy Birthday MLB!

[Harley]

Happy Birthday to one of the truly great indie bookstores! I'm ordering today.

And you're not going to want to miss this weekend, folks. Trust me, you'll laugh, you'll cry . . . and you'll know just what to get Nancie and Ramona for Christmas this year.

[mary alice at mystery lovers bookshop]

I cannot thank Kathy and you all enough for the support thru the years. Now that we are in an economic slump, we need you all more than ever to shop for all your bookselling needs....not to mention games and the largest selection of jigsaw puzzles.....all tested! Do go to the website and find the best chronological list for your favorite series too.
Please support your Independence...buy your books from an independent bookseller at www.mysterylovers.com

Thanks, mary alice

[Becky Hutchison]

Happy Birthday MLB! And thanks for supporting all authors, novice and experienced!

So Kathy, who were Marcia and Donna supposed to be with the big black hats? (Hopefully I'm not asking about an obvious representation.)

:-)

[William Simon]

To MLB, Mary Alice and Richard-

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! May the next 18 years surpass the previous...:)

I grew up in bookstores like yours, and an independent bookstore is indeed a thing of beauty....

[Laura (in PA)]

Holy cow, Kathy - love the costume, you look adorable. Nice to see Peach and daughter, too. :)

I didn't get to see the actual store, because the signing for RT was elsewhere, but I'd love to see it next time I'm in the area. Since my reading tastes tend strongly toward mysteries, I'm sure I'd be crazy about the store. My dream job is to run, or at least work in, an independent bookstore, and I know how unlikely that is, because they're so hard to keep in business.

We have a few in our area that I try to do my part to keep in business. The wonderful Chester County Books and Music Co., which is the biggest and most wonderful independent bookstore I've ever seen; the smaller Trappe Bookstore not too far from my house, and of course, my pilgrimages to Turn The Page Books in Maryland, owned by Nora Roberts' husband, Bruce Wilder. (Well, OK, my contribution probably isn't too important to that last one, but I love to go and meet up with my girls.)

I seek out bookstores everywhere I go - they're my version of crack. Congrats to Mystery Lover's Bookstore - what a fun anniversary date to have!

[Nancy Martin]

I made my decision to start writing mysteries while standing in MLB.--That's how contagious the enthusiasm is in the store. Thank you, Mary Alice, for a career change that's made me much happier than sex---er, on paper, that is.

Ramona's been writing to Blond Bond???

[Elaine Viets]

Happy birthday, MLB. One big reason my Dead-end Job series went from paperback originals to hardcover? Mary Alice gave me first-rate advice and showed my sales figures to the publisher. Would Amazon do that?
I owe MLB big-time.
Also, local book stores hire local people, pay local taxes, recommend authors who suit your reading style, and help you find speakers for your events. Plus, they like to talk about books.
Support your local bookstores, because they support you in ways you never consider.

[Joyce Tremel]

Congratulations Mary Alice and Richard! Here's to many, many more years!

[Peach]

Man do I look sozzled in that pix. My unnamed daughter (Julie) looks beautiful as always, but she thinks she looks ugly.

We had a wonderful time at the the birthday party. We arrived early and did our major shopping before most of the attendees arrived. Of course my daughter kept seeing more books and kept going and buying more throughout the evening.

Donna and Marcia were dressed up for Halloween. Donna had a black shawl to complete her outfit. Marcia's outfit was completed by a small clip on black crow which spent part of the evening perched on her shoulder.

I can't attest personally to the Baklava, but Julie said it was the best she'd ever eaten. I could see the honey dripping with each bite.

We always have a good time when we go to a Mystery Lover's event and the birthday bash was no exception.

[bea]

Happy Birthday to MLB! Looking forward to my next visit, as I always find wonderful Christmas gifts at the store. Sometimes the best gifts are for me, but that's a secret.

[Annette Dashofy]

I am so bummed that I missed the bash. I intended on coming, but life had other plans for me. HOWEVER, I will be in there tomorrow to do some Christmas shopping.

Happy Birthday, Mary Alice, Richard, and all the crew!

[ArkansasCyndi]

Happy Birthday! One of these days, I will make it in person to MLB!

[Kerry]

If I ever get to Pittsburgh, I'm headed straight for that store! I order online fairly regularly and have always received the absolute best, personalized customer service in the known universe. And I love that the website is set up to let you browse series chronologically - a must for anal-retentives like me!

Hmmmm. . . now that I think of it, my new son-in-law (how nice that sounds!) is from Pittsburgh, and rumor has it his folks will be putting together some kind of bash up there soon. What a lovely excuse!!!:)

[jodilisle]

I do most of my mystery book shopping from Mystery Lovers Books and from Murder by the Book in Houston. And, I don't live in either city. But, believe me when I say the service and selection from independent bookstores is far above that of any chain bookstore. Thanks to TLC, I found both of these wonderful stores. Someday, I hope to actually make it up to MLB to browse real live shelves of books but right now I make do with on-line browsing. Congrats MLB! And thanks for being there for me and others just like me. Jodi in Dallas

[Karen in Ohio]

Happy birthday, MLB! I'm so envious of all you Pittsburghers, to have such a wonderful store close by. We have Joseph Beth, which is a cross between indie and chain (only a few locations), but they do very little hand selling, sadly. The few employees are too busy ringing up sales and shelving books to answer many questions, it seems. It's a lovely store, but does not specialize in mysteries, although they do have lots of signings and talks, and all kinds of cool events.

Kerry, I can relate on the chronological thing! It's so much more fun to read a series in the right order.

Mmmm, baklava!

[Debby]

Happy Birthday, MLB!

I agree with my girl, Laura (in Pa). My first experience with a bookstore was Chester County Books and Music in West Chester. It was great as I was living just across the street! Over the many years, I have gotten to know the staff, to the point where they see me coming and hide...not really. LOL!

I remember the first signing that I went to. I think it was 1998...and it was for Nora Roberts. Honest, there were probably only about 20 of us there, and we stood right at the registers...inconceivable now.

I do love independents as they are more personal and willing to assist with everything. Hopefully, Laura and I will manage a road trip to Pittsburgh sometime, so that we can actually get to MLB as we didn't make it there during RT...just the church signing. :)

[storyteller Mary]

Happy Birthday! -- another reason to visit Pittsburgh!

Meanwhile, Elaine is coming to St. Louis next week!! -- and miracle -- the Post-Dispatch today has an announcement of the Thursday benefit at Schlafly on page C2! Shall I save it for you?

[michele]

Happy Birthday, MLB! I've been blessed to know Mary Alice and Richard since my first book came out, and they have been the very definition of supportive. The time I've spent in that store and in their company has been a joy. These are not only people who know and love books. These are plain great people!

Happy returns and many many more!

XOXO--Michele

[Tom]

Happy birthday,
Happy birthday,
Happy birthday,
All of you!

[storyteller Mary]

Hoppy birdies, two ewes.