Brooks Sigler, author of Five Finger Fiction, brings this week’s Spotlight on Bookstores. When
Brooks isn’t attending an author event, or Buying Local at RiverRun Bookstore, you may find her writing (she’s currently working on a sequel to Five Finger Fiction and other writing projects) or on Twitter. I hope you enjoy her post about being part of the “shift mob” in Portsmouth; do click on RiverRun’s website to view more photos of the store – including an adorable baby in the famous RiverRun canvas bag!
Among the many charming and wonderful things about RiverRun Bookstore in downtown Portsmouth, NH, is how owner Tom Holbrook and his staff live the BUY INDIE message. Tom is one of the founders of Seacoast Local, which has many goals, none the least of which is encouraging people to support local businesses and artists, so the Seacoast retains its character. The first week of December 2009, Seacoast Local sponsored “Buy Local Week,” and I was part of a Seacoast Local “shift mob.”
No, I did not rush the streets with fellow writers and demand more respect for the SHIFT key. I did, however, attend RiverRun Bookstore’s “Buy Local Week” event on December 2, 2009, where Gesine Bullock-Prado fed the “shift mob” to-die-for baked goods and read from and answered questions about her memoir, Confections of a Closet Master Baker: One Woman’s Sweet Journey from Unhappy Hollywood Executive to Contented Country Baker. “Shift mobs,” potentially “shifting” their shopping from national chains to local stores, descended on a range of local businesses throughout the week, to show their support and keep money and jobs in the community.
Perhaps it was the confections Bullock-Prado offered. Perhaps it was the lighting in the room. Perhaps it was the delight with which Michele Filgate, bookseller and Event Coordinator, met her duties. Though I had already purchased one copy of Confections, something compelled me to buy another. Let it be known, I have yet to leave RiverRun without buying a book.
As an author I acquired a Twitter account. (RiverRun uses a variety of technologies to reach its readers.) Through my interactions with several staff members via Twitter, my bond with RiverRun has grown. I was drawn to events, other authors, friendships, and new books. I refuse to look at the bottom of my RiverRun cloth bag (owning and using one provides a 10% discount) and count all the totals on the receipts I have accumulated since the summer. I would estimate I have spent at least a mortgage payment there. Each of the booksellers has spectacular recommendations, but I never go wrong if I look for Michele or Liberty’s recommendations. We seem to be on the same page. Well, no one could be on the same page as Liberty because she reads as many pages as I eat calories per day.
What mortal woman could resist a fresh-smelling, crisp-paged book? Never mind a signed book! I have attended several signings at the bookstore including those of Alice Hoffman, Katherine B. Howe, and Emily St. John Mandel. Michele Filgate, quite frankly, could probably book Stumpy the Wonder Slug for a reading, and people would fill RiverRun to the lees, but I have yet to attend an event where the crowd did not impress me. RiverRun Bookstore has an intangible quality, which mingles with the location, the staff, the events, and the selection to draw people in from the cobblestone streets.
RiverRun is such a great store. They have an awesome, friendly staff and a wonderfully curated selection of books. Always worth the trip to Portsmouth!
Sounds like a wonderful bookstore. It would be great to find a bookseller to connect with like that.
My husband and I traveled to Portsmouth last year for a concert and stumbled across this book store…and fell in love! Their staff recommendations are amazing! We spent over an hour in the store and left with much less money in our pockets! I wish we we closer…but our bank account is happy that we are not!
Love your blog. I’m a big fan of that bookstore – whenever we are in Portsmouth we make a stop there.
The bond Ms. Sigler has with this bookstore is evident in this post. I’m sorry we are on the west coast. I also like her comment near the end of the post where she gives credit to the patrons of the store as well as owners and staff. A committed reading community can certainly make a big difference.
Next time I’m up north visiting my family…maybe we can make a trip to Portsmouth!
“What mortal woman could resist a fresh-smelling, crisp-paged book? Never mind a signed book!” I confess: not me!
Nevertheless I don´t buy local very often, as there are few bookshops and their selection is not nearly large enough for this book-devouring family (or written in the right language). Alass.
Marie – I’m embarrassed that I haven’t been up there; definitely on my ‘to do’ list for the spring!
Kathy – that’s the personal touch we’re looking for, isn’t it!?
Caitie – what a fun day – a planned concert and a surprise bookstore find. I love having the time to browse and see what jumps into my hands.
sheryl k – I’ll get to RiverRun in 2010. From reading Brooks’ post I can see that I’ve been missing out on something special.
Margot – so true about patron commitment. I think that, unfortunately, the ‘buy local’ movement is simply lip service to some people. I believe “the shift” suggests shifting 10 % of purchases from chains/online stores to local brick & mortar stores. It seems do-able.
Serena – I’ll meet you there
Dorte – Yes, we’ve “talked” about that before. I love to read about the personalities of (and in) all these shops.
I love RiverRun. It’s such a beautiful space, and everyone who works there is lovely. They also have a great online ordering system — I’ve ordered books from them online in the past, even though I live in NYC.
Love Portsmouth, NH; love this bookstore — great post Dawn
It sounds like this bookstore has just what it takes to keep the customers coming back. I love the shift mob idea as well and wish that we had such a devoted group doing all they could to save the indies in our area. This book shop is another place I want to visit!
I plan to stop in the store to and from Maine in 2010.