Thursday, August 30, 2007

Where everybody knows your name...


Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got.
Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot.
Wouldn't you like to get away?
Sometimes you want to go
Where everybody knows your name,
and they're always glad you came ...


Okay, did you hear the ol' Cheers theme song make you think of a local pub? Not me. I heard it today and thought about my local bookstore.

I'm lucky. A lot of people at my local Chapters store (Canuk equivalent to, say, Borders) know who I am and not just 'cause I write books. I buy a lot of books. I buy books for myself, for my kids and as gifts for just about anyone. Every time a friend writes a book (and I've got a LOT of friends who write books), I run out and I buy a copy (even if they give me one). As a matter of fact, I usually buy more than one copy because I always know at least one other person who NEEDS the same book I'm buying for myself :)

I've noticed a lot of the people who work at my Chapters store feel the same way about books that I do. Man, oh man, can we get into some great discussions about what we've read lately. I love it! If my kids are with me they start rolling their eyes and groaning the second someone strikes up a book conversation.

Still, I have to admit that if I had a really great independent mystery book store nearby I'd do a LOT of shopping there. I have a real soft spot for the independents. How can you not with names like Poisoned Pen, Murder on the Beach, The Cloak and Dagger and Grave Matters? The names alone beg you to drop everything and buy a mystery book!

So do you buy books online these days? Or are you, like me, well known at your local bookstore?

4 comments:

B.E. Sanderson said...

I buy online when it's something specific I want, and I know it's not likely to be on the shelves nearby. Of course, the closest things I have to a bookstore in town are the grocery store, the department store and the thift shop. I have to drive an hour to get to a real bookstore. It's a haul, so while the employees do recognize me, they don't know actually know my name.

Rachel Vincent said...

We have no local bookstore. How sad is that? I actually have to go downtown to buy books in person. ;-(

Lori Devoti said...

Hi! I saw your post on the Harlequin loop and stopped by to check out your trailer. I'm glad I did--your book looks great. :) I'm going to but it on my To Buy list--at my local Borders.
I buy online and locally. Can't say I do one more than the other--it just depends. But I love Borders Rewards program and that they are so supportive of romance, so I shop there as much as I can.
Lori
http://www.loridevoti.com

Wendy Roberts said...

b.e., if I had to drive an hour my trips to a bookstore would be pretty rare.

Rachel, how far is "downtown" for you? Is it an hour journey like b.e.?

Hi Lori, thanks for following me from eHar and for your comments on my trailer :) By the way, I loved Love is All You Need!