Joanne Sinchuk, who founded Murder on the Beach, Delray Beach, Fla., in 1996, told the Palm Beach Post that "for her the most challenging aspect of owning an independent bookstore is keeping up with how the business has changed over the past 20 years."
"We used to sell books, now we sell entertainment," she said. "Author signings are a major source of income. Internet sales are 30% of our business and independently published authors are selling as well as the traditional New York published authors."
In 2007, she sold the bookstore to BookSmart Enterprises, but is still the manager and involved with the organization of literary events. The Post noted that having a niche bookstore "may seem limiting in its ability to please readers who cater to different genres besides mysteries and thrillers. But Sinchuk doesn't see this as an obstacle."
"The chain stores may have breadth of inventory, but we have depth," she said. "If you love mystery, suspense and thrillers, you come here. Our booksellers are very knowledgeable and can make recommendations based on what you like to read."