At Title Wave Books in Anchorage, Alaska, it's not unusual to be
standing in the checkout line next to local mystery scribes Sue Henry
and Dana Stabenow--or perhaps the state's governor. "We're such a
neighborhood community store even though we're really large," said
co-owner Julie Drake of the 33,000 square foot location. "It's got a
real hometown feel. But Alaska is kind of like one big small town
anyway."
Drake stated that "sales are strong, but we can't pin it on any one specific thing. We don't seem to have a big national title selling this year." Rather it's regional books that are the frontrunners this holiday season, led by the success of the Double Musky Inn Cookbook: Alaska's Mountain Cajun Cuisine.
"It's our only five-star restaurant in the state," said Drake of the Double Musky Inn, and the cookbook is the first from restaurateurs Bob and Deanna Persons. Alaska Northwest Books was caught short and ran out of stock when the culinary tome was published in July. "When they reprinted, we bought every copy they had," Drake said. "It has been huge." The book is displayed in the store's Alaska section, and the store "pre-wrapped" copies in Christmas paper. "People love it because it's an instant gift," Drake commented.
Title Wave's array of local author appearances this month is aiding holiday sales; three events take place this week. Tomorrow night's theme is "Murderer's Row" and features Tom Brennan, author of Cold Crime: How Police Detectives Solved Alaska's Most Shocking Cases; Stan Jones, author of Shaman Pass: A Nathan Active Mystery; and Mike Doogan, a former Anchorage Daily News columnist and newly elected to the state House of Representatives, who has penned the mystery Lost Angel. (Title Wave is a sponsor of Bouchercon 2007, which will be held in Anchorage.) Also signing this week at Title Wave is poet Anne Coray, author of Bone Strings and Soon the Wind, and Cindy Dyson, author of the debut novel And She Was.
Gift cards are popular. The store offers Book Sense cards, but they're outsold by ones specific to the store. "We have them pre-loaded and ready to go so customers don't have to think of amounts," said Drake. "That way we don't have to actually process them at the registers."
A table display at the front of the store is boosting sales of staff picks, and employees have an added incentive to handsell their selections. Whoever sells the most of his or her pick receives two gift cards: one for use at Title Wave and another for the café located in the store, which is operated by Alaska coffee company Kaladi Brothers. Drake's pick is the 75th anniversary edition of Joy of Cooking. Other staff favorites include The Zombie Survival Guide, The Darwin Awards 4 and the collection Good Poems edited by Garrison Keillor.
Isabel Allende's novel Inés of My Soul is one of the national books selling steadily at Title Wave. Nonfiction titles include The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson, who "always does really well for us," said Drake. Other favorites are Thomas Friedman's The World Is Flat, America: Teacher's Edition by Jon Stewart and the Daily Show and titles from the Onion like the recently-published Homeland Insecurity: The Onion Complete News Archives, Volume 17. Drake expects the latter two titles to do even better the week between Christmas and New Year's when college kids are home on break and making use of gift certificates.
Sidelines "are really strong for us," said Drake, who owned a toy store before becoming a bookseller. Children's puzzles, games and growth charts are particularly popular, while the Spud Gun and the Marshmallow Shooter will be showing up as stocking stuffers for older kids (and grown-ups). The store has also sold thousands of calendars already.
Title Wave shoppers looking to take a break yesterday were treated to live music performed by a husband-and-wife duo, and last week customers were entertained by carolers and a flute choir. During December, the store continues its roster of weekly and monthly events such as book clubs, Scrabble and chess clubs, and a writer's group. "We do it because this can be a stressful time of year," said Drake, "and to have that sense of normalcy and quiet respite as a community gathering place is, I think, really important."
Fostering a sense of community is paying off is spades for Title Wave Books. "We've had a great season. Our sales are up over last year," Drake said. "Customers are being friendly--and no Grinches yet!"--Shannon McKenna
Drake stated that "sales are strong, but we can't pin it on any one specific thing. We don't seem to have a big national title selling this year." Rather it's regional books that are the frontrunners this holiday season, led by the success of the Double Musky Inn Cookbook: Alaska's Mountain Cajun Cuisine.
"It's our only five-star restaurant in the state," said Drake of the Double Musky Inn, and the cookbook is the first from restaurateurs Bob and Deanna Persons. Alaska Northwest Books was caught short and ran out of stock when the culinary tome was published in July. "When they reprinted, we bought every copy they had," Drake said. "It has been huge." The book is displayed in the store's Alaska section, and the store "pre-wrapped" copies in Christmas paper. "People love it because it's an instant gift," Drake commented.
Title Wave's array of local author appearances this month is aiding holiday sales; three events take place this week. Tomorrow night's theme is "Murderer's Row" and features Tom Brennan, author of Cold Crime: How Police Detectives Solved Alaska's Most Shocking Cases; Stan Jones, author of Shaman Pass: A Nathan Active Mystery; and Mike Doogan, a former Anchorage Daily News columnist and newly elected to the state House of Representatives, who has penned the mystery Lost Angel. (Title Wave is a sponsor of Bouchercon 2007, which will be held in Anchorage.) Also signing this week at Title Wave is poet Anne Coray, author of Bone Strings and Soon the Wind, and Cindy Dyson, author of the debut novel And She Was.
Gift cards are popular. The store offers Book Sense cards, but they're outsold by ones specific to the store. "We have them pre-loaded and ready to go so customers don't have to think of amounts," said Drake. "That way we don't have to actually process them at the registers."
A table display at the front of the store is boosting sales of staff picks, and employees have an added incentive to handsell their selections. Whoever sells the most of his or her pick receives two gift cards: one for use at Title Wave and another for the café located in the store, which is operated by Alaska coffee company Kaladi Brothers. Drake's pick is the 75th anniversary edition of Joy of Cooking. Other staff favorites include The Zombie Survival Guide, The Darwin Awards 4 and the collection Good Poems edited by Garrison Keillor.
Isabel Allende's novel Inés of My Soul is one of the national books selling steadily at Title Wave. Nonfiction titles include The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson, who "always does really well for us," said Drake. Other favorites are Thomas Friedman's The World Is Flat, America: Teacher's Edition by Jon Stewart and the Daily Show and titles from the Onion like the recently-published Homeland Insecurity: The Onion Complete News Archives, Volume 17. Drake expects the latter two titles to do even better the week between Christmas and New Year's when college kids are home on break and making use of gift certificates.
Sidelines "are really strong for us," said Drake, who owned a toy store before becoming a bookseller. Children's puzzles, games and growth charts are particularly popular, while the Spud Gun and the Marshmallow Shooter will be showing up as stocking stuffers for older kids (and grown-ups). The store has also sold thousands of calendars already.
Title Wave shoppers looking to take a break yesterday were treated to live music performed by a husband-and-wife duo, and last week customers were entertained by carolers and a flute choir. During December, the store continues its roster of weekly and monthly events such as book clubs, Scrabble and chess clubs, and a writer's group. "We do it because this can be a stressful time of year," said Drake, "and to have that sense of normalcy and quiet respite as a community gathering place is, I think, really important."
Fostering a sense of community is paying off is spades for Title Wave Books. "We've had a great season. Our sales are up over last year," Drake said. "Customers are being friendly--and no Grinches yet!"--Shannon McKenna