Village Books Blog

When the Words Won't Come Out Right

This week, Village Books welcomes guest blogger and author Amy Foster. Amy's debut novel is When Autumn Leaves, which is now available. Her first foray into writing was as a lyricist for songs by Josh Grobin, Michael Buble, and Andrea Bocelli. She will be at Village Books on Friday, November 13, 7:00pm.

I really used to think that I had it down when it came to words. Before I started writing seriously, I did some serious reading. And then after I became a lyricist, I was able to manipulate the language to such a degree that it often felt like I was playing Sudoku with words. You have 14 syllables to say "I really miss you" (in an interesting way) and it has to rhyme with "eh." Plug it in. When I started writing fiction, I learned that writing without context, as one must with lyrics, served me well. I could say more in a single sentence, then some writers say in a page. Basically I thought I was pretty darn clever.

Then, I began to do publicity for When Autumn Leaves, my first novel. My trial by fire began with Canada AM (Canada's version of the Today Show). I did a lot of hair flipping and nervous laughter, but the words did not come as easily as they used to. In fact, many of them literally flew out of my mouth without even passing my brain first. My book is not complicated. It's easy to read, and meant to be fun and escapist. But I still have yet to master the perfect pitch for it. After I end up explaining the premise, it sounds a lot more complex than it really is. And more than a couple times, I accidentally implied my father was illiterate. Oops.

And then there are the radio tours. You begin at 4 a.m. and do literally 20 in a row. Half the time I have no clue what I'm saying. Am I even speaking English? I went back and listened to the last one I did, the last after 15 before. I go from being this smart, interesting, fairly articulate person to a someone whose air time is filled with "Ummmms," "I means," "I feel likes" and "I guess." 

Being able to write, even under pressure is one thing, being articulate at a dinner party or a fancy function is another. But being articulate after a 12 hour press day, or on your 25th interview--that is a whole different bag. I don't know if I'll ever master that one. People in the press and elsewhere have said my ditziness is charming. Ditzy? I'm not ditzy! I'm nervous and tired. So just when I believed I had the whole word thing down, I have to start all over again. I want people to find me interesting and accessible, but I don't want to come off as stupid. Now I find I need an entirely new language to deal with this entirely new set of parameters. More words, but a different arrangement. I'm hoping it's just practice and a question of getting used to it. Fingers crossed.

What's Love Got to Do With It?

This Saturday, November 7th is the first annual National Bookstore Day--a day devoted to bookselling around the country. What does that have to do with you? Well, first off, we're celebrating it by having a 10% storewide sale and giveaways (woo-hoo)! Second, I ask that you take a moment to seriously consider what Bellingham would be like if we lost Village Books or Henderson or Michael's or Eclipse or any of our other local bookstores. Sure, if Village Books closed, I'd be out a job, but I would find another one. I have more invested in this store than that, though. When I moved back to Bellingham from North Carolina this past May, I returned to Village Books (I was the Events Coordinator prior to heading to the East Coast). Many people questioned my decision of returning to VB, asking if I felt like I was backpedaling. My answer was (and still is) a resounding "no." Although my job in NC was in book publishing, I so badly missed the atmosphere of the bookstore. I missed knowing what other books were out there, I missed having access to all those books, I missed being part of something so closely tied to the community and so willing to let staff run with their creativity. I was elated when Chuck and Dee so warmly welcomed me back.

Bookstores are quirky and the staff tends to be even quirkier (you should see what a bookselling conference is like. Let's just say some of my favorite memories are with booksellers...and let's be thankful those memories weren't captured on film). Even amid the great migration toward Kindles and Sony Readers and the declarations that "books are dead," I love this business. I hope all of you know how fortunate we are to have Chuck & Dee heading up this crazy ride known as Village Books. Instead of digging their feet in and refusing to change their ways, they reinvent the store over and over and over again (see: Espresso Book Machine and the soon-to-be-introduced Symtio e-books). In a time when indie bookstores are crashing all around us, Bellingham still has Village Books (and Henderson, Michael's, Eclipse, et als.) So, even though Saturday is a day to celebrate bookstores, I see it as a way to celebrate perseverance in an industry that is so volatile. GoooOOOOO BOOKSTORES!

-Lindsey

The sensual pleasure of food

The texture. The bite. The aroma. Not to mention that my dog, Sam, likes to park himself on a rug in the kitchen and watch me cook, that is when I make it up from the couch where I'm reading about exquisite pastries that make me want to get up and bake them or wander into one of Bellingham's great bakeries.

Here are some of my favorite books to read and peruse when I want to cook, bake, or just luxuriate in the possibilities of what I could pop into my mouth.

Confections of a Closet Master Baker by Gesine Bullock-Prado

Babycakes by Erin McKenna

Frank Stitt's Bottega Favorita by Frank Stitts

America's Best Lost Recipes by Cook's Country Magazine

Food and Booze: A Tin House Literary Feast


--Sheri

But Does It Contain Wizards?

I recently told a friend that I had begun reading The Magicians by Lev Grossman and he replied "Do let me know what you think of the book, from your perspective not steeped in sf/fantasy." He's right. I typically . . . mostly . . . alright 98% of the time cannot stand sci-fi/fantasy. That's most evident when sheer panic arises when I'm approached by a customer and asked to recommend something from that section. I tried reading the first Harry Potter. I really did. It just wasn't for me. Actually, I'm so resistant to those genres (they are two separate ones, correct? Kidding! I'm kidding! I think.) that when my friend introduced even the possibility of The Magicians being fantasy, my opinion changed. Do I really want to read this? Even as I carry on through the book, I find myself asking, "Is this too much fantasy for me? Am I getting my usual sci-fi/fantasy heebie-jeebies?" To be fair, though (perhaps I need to whisper this): I am enjoying the book. There, I said it. I AM ENJOYING THE MAGICIANS!  Actually, I'm finding myself as intrigued with the story as I was while reading The Secret History (now THERE'S an amazing book!) This inner conflict ("I hate this genre, but I like this book") has me thinking--what have I missed out on by closing myself off from certain types of books? What amazing pieces of writing exist that, simply because of a dragon or perhaps a robot alien thingy on the cover, I have overlooked? I mean, perhaps I don't need to delve into The Wheel of Time series, but maybe it wouldn't hurt to check out American Gods. Don't hold me to that, though. I'm not ready to commit. I mean, I love zombie reads. That counts for something, right? But my endeavor with The Magicians does beg the question: What have I been missing? And really, I suppose, the same could be asked of you.

--Lindsey

The Anti-Aging Process

Recently I've found myself involved in numerous conversations about favorite children's books. Perhaps these talks are the result of the surge in young adult fiction (most recently, of course, being the Twilight series). One thing I've noticed--bringing up kid's books with a group of adults causes an immensely different reaction than say, bringing up religion or politics. Rather than heated arguments, people let out exclamations of "Oh my god! I LOVE that book!" or get wide-eyed with excitement and wave their arms wildly, practically jumping up and down like a 5-year-old (maybe that's just showing the true maturity of my friends). Now that I think about it, these recent conversations are the result of the upcoming release of Where the Wild Things Are (Chills! Chills, I tell you, from the trailer alone! SO excited for the movie!) A beloved book of so many of our own youths is being made into what looks to be an amazing movie. Huzzah! My absolutely favorite kid's book is and always will be The Monster at the End of This Book, narrated by none other than Grover. Know this one? If not, you need to set aside 2 minutes to read it (plus you can say you read an entire book today). My mom used to read this book to me, doing the most fantastic Grover impression she could conjure. And no matter how many times we came to find out who the monster at the end of the book was (I won't spoil it for you), I still held my breath as the brick wall crashed down and the ropes shredded apart at the turn of each page. And my mom, such an amazing mom she is, would be just as shocked as I was when the monster was revealed. I get so excited when I sell someone that book. I tell them my own story and, quite often, they've had a similar experience as a child. Few things can so quickly transport adults back to their childhood like their favorite book as a child. Think about it--what is your favorite children's book? Do you remember how you felt when you read your favorite book as a child? Are you smiling right now just thinking about it? When is the last time you sat down and read ________? Maybe today's a good day.

--Lindsey

Dave's Evening with Anne

A few years ago, the book group of which Dee and I are a part read Anne Lamott's Traveling Mercies.  It was a very popular read for the group and the discussion was lively and satisfying.  It was one of my favorite books that year.  Now, Village Books' own Dave Wheeler, weighs in on his own fascination with Lamott and her work on his blog, Tongue-tied Poetics.  

John Marshall Shares Memories in Last P-I Column

Yesterday was a sad day for book coverage in the Northwest and for the newspaper business as well.  As the Seattle P-I fades into memory, John Marshall, considered one of the best book reviewers in the country, posted his last column.  It, like all of John's columns, is entertaining and insightful.  And, I promise I'd call your attention to it even if he had not cited us in the column as his "Fave booksellers."

Holiday Colors: Green to be Re(a)d

Our friend Christian Martin of North Cascades Institute and a frequent contributor to the Cascadia Weekly offered his gift selections in "A Gift Guide for the Greens on Your List" which was posted today on Crosscut.com.  Read it here.  And, Village Books has all of these books and more.

Elegant Variation on Another Village Books

The Elegant Variation is an exceptional literary blog and you don't have to accept my word for that.  The Guardian lists it in its top ten, Forbes includes it in its Best of the Web and Los Angeles Magazine considers it a top L.A. blog.  In a recent post there's mention of a namesake bookstore--Village Books in Pacific Palisades.  The store, like many indie bookstores, is struggling. Read the TEV post.

A Heady Day Among Philanthropists

Yesterday was an amazing day.  Dee and I accepted, for Village Books, the 2008 Outstanding Philanthropic Small Business Award for Washington State.  The ballroom at Seattle's Sheraton Hotel was packed with about 1200 people who came to celebrate National Philanthropy Day.  The Association of Fundraising Professionals gives annual awards in seven categories--individual philanthropists, corporation, foundation, family, organization, young philanthropist and, our category, small business.  There were many touching moments during the presentations. The positive atmosphere in the room was a great antidote to the constant barrage of bad news of late.  Especially uplifting and hope inspiring was the award given to Anders Crabo and Colin Flynn, now college freshmen, who as Sehome High seniors raised more than $14,000 and created a youth philanthropy fund at the Whatcom Community Foundation.  Isn't it great, young people teaching other young people about the importance of philanthropy?  There were about 60 folks from Whatcom County in the audience which reminds me how thankful we are to everyone who has supported our vision of building community, one book at a time.