Each year the Victorian-era town of Clinton, N.J., pays tribute to
Charles Dickens on the two days after Thanksgiving with events that
include thespians in the street acting out scenes from A Christmas Carol,
horse-drawn carriage rides, roasted-chestnut vendors, a visit from
Father Christmas, and other festivities. "It's the kickoff to the
holiday season," said Clinton Book Shop proprietor Harvey Finkel.
In addition to participating in events sponsored by the Clinton Guild, among them Dickens Days and an upcoming Candlelight Night, Finkel is hosting an extensive roster of in-store gatherings this month.
The store holds events year-round, but there are several reasons Finkel plans an ambitious line-up in December. One is to increase foot traffic in the store during the holiday shopping season. Another is the opportunity to send out press releases and garner mentions of the store in local publications. And it's also a chance for authors to sign stock. "People buy autographed books like crazy at the holidays," said Finkel, who expects the titles promoted by author appearances to be among the season's top sellers.
These include The Mr. & Mrs. Happy Handbook: Everything I Know about Love and Marriage by Steve Doocy (who will appear at the store with Mrs. Doocy), Home to Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani, A Bit of Earth: Preserving Childhood, History, and a Sense of Place by Gordon Thomas Ward and the coffee table books The Bridges of Central Park and Hunterdon: A Celebration of Communities.
On December 14, the evening of the town's Candlelight Night celebration, the Clinton Book Shop will host two local writers at an open-house style reception: Vince Cardarelli, author of Toward Serenity: Strategies to Attain Emotional Stability, and John Gattuso, editor of Talking to God: Portrait of a World at Prayer.
A surprise to Finkel is that the store's bestselling trade paperback this year is a debut novel by a local, unknown author, The Richest Season by Maryann McFadden, who has had two signings at the Clinton Book Shop and will be back in January to visit with the store's book club.
As for other books proving popular for gift-giving, it's a mixture of bestsellers and handsells, Finkel said. The River of Doubt by Candice Millard, Manhunt by James L. Swanson, Blood and Thunder by Hampton Sides and From Baghdad, With Love by Jay Kopelman are some of his handselling favorites. He cites From Baghdad, With Love's heartwarming and uplifting story as a particular draw.
The books in the Weird N.J. series are a hit with customers no matter the time of year, Finkel said, "and they do even better at the holidays." Merry Christmas, Curious George is the frontrunner in the popular children's holiday book category. Bad President is merchandised on the counter next to the humorous Bush Cards: The Second Term, and the small size of both items makes them popular choices for stocking stuffers. "And we're in a Republican territory here," noted Finkel.
Tonight the Clinton Book Shop is gearing up for Ladies Night Out with romance authors Eloisa James, Kathleen O'Reilly and Dee Davis. To inspire holiday shopping, the store will offer "surprise discounts." At the register, customers draw a slip of paper from a bowl and receive the designated percentage off their purchases. The quarterly Ladies Night Out events, which always feature several authors, draw about 70 attendees, many of them repeat customers. Along with hors d'oeuvres and desserts, "we provide wine," said Finkel, "which could be a draw."--Shannon McKenna
In addition to participating in events sponsored by the Clinton Guild, among them Dickens Days and an upcoming Candlelight Night, Finkel is hosting an extensive roster of in-store gatherings this month.
The store holds events year-round, but there are several reasons Finkel plans an ambitious line-up in December. One is to increase foot traffic in the store during the holiday shopping season. Another is the opportunity to send out press releases and garner mentions of the store in local publications. And it's also a chance for authors to sign stock. "People buy autographed books like crazy at the holidays," said Finkel, who expects the titles promoted by author appearances to be among the season's top sellers.
These include The Mr. & Mrs. Happy Handbook: Everything I Know about Love and Marriage by Steve Doocy (who will appear at the store with Mrs. Doocy), Home to Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani, A Bit of Earth: Preserving Childhood, History, and a Sense of Place by Gordon Thomas Ward and the coffee table books The Bridges of Central Park and Hunterdon: A Celebration of Communities.
On December 14, the evening of the town's Candlelight Night celebration, the Clinton Book Shop will host two local writers at an open-house style reception: Vince Cardarelli, author of Toward Serenity: Strategies to Attain Emotional Stability, and John Gattuso, editor of Talking to God: Portrait of a World at Prayer.
A surprise to Finkel is that the store's bestselling trade paperback this year is a debut novel by a local, unknown author, The Richest Season by Maryann McFadden, who has had two signings at the Clinton Book Shop and will be back in January to visit with the store's book club.
As for other books proving popular for gift-giving, it's a mixture of bestsellers and handsells, Finkel said. The River of Doubt by Candice Millard, Manhunt by James L. Swanson, Blood and Thunder by Hampton Sides and From Baghdad, With Love by Jay Kopelman are some of his handselling favorites. He cites From Baghdad, With Love's heartwarming and uplifting story as a particular draw.
The books in the Weird N.J. series are a hit with customers no matter the time of year, Finkel said, "and they do even better at the holidays." Merry Christmas, Curious George is the frontrunner in the popular children's holiday book category. Bad President is merchandised on the counter next to the humorous Bush Cards: The Second Term, and the small size of both items makes them popular choices for stocking stuffers. "And we're in a Republican territory here," noted Finkel.
Tonight the Clinton Book Shop is gearing up for Ladies Night Out with romance authors Eloisa James, Kathleen O'Reilly and Dee Davis. To inspire holiday shopping, the store will offer "surprise discounts." At the register, customers draw a slip of paper from a bowl and receive the designated percentage off their purchases. The quarterly Ladies Night Out events, which always feature several authors, draw about 70 attendees, many of them repeat customers. Along with hors d'oeuvres and desserts, "we provide wine," said Finkel, "which could be a draw."--Shannon McKenna