I’m pleased to welcome author Mariah Stewart to She Is Too Fond of Books today, with a lovely spotlight on a special bookseller at Chester County Books & Music.
Mariah Stewart is the award-winning New York Times bestselling author of twenty-nine (yes, 29 – wow!) novels of contemporary romance and romantic suspense. When I read the publisher’s synopsis of her most recent book, Almost Home, I was hooked (scooped?) as soon as I saw the words “ice cream!” Take a peek at her book blurb, then scroll down to read Mariah’s guest post about CCCBM:
When she was young, Steffie Wyler always knew exactly what she wanted to do with her life: 1. Make ice cream. 2. Marry the coolest boy in town. 3. Live happily ever after. These days, Steffie is the proud owner of One Scoop or Two, a wildly popular ice cream parlor. But the cool guy left town right after high school, before they could scratch the surface of their mutual attraction to see what, if anything, lay beneath. Steffie’s made a great life for herself in St. Dennis, but true love has never come knocking.
Wade MacGregor left for college in Texas and remained there to start a successful business with his best friend, Robin Kennedy, but he’s always felt something was missing. Then life throws him a curveball: A third partner has robbed the company blind, and Robin has died—but not before entrusting Wade with a precious secret. Now back in St. Dennis, Wade’s determined to do whatever it takes to protect his friend’s legacy—and to figure out, once and for all, if the sparks that fly whenever he’s with Steffie are just temporary fireworks or the lights in the window leading him home.
I’ve been blessed to have good relationships with several independent bookstores. There’s Browseabout Books in Rehoboth, DE, (a great store with terrific people – I love to do book signings there, and I love Rehoboth!). A few years ago, I had a great signing at Mystery Lovers Bookstore in Oakmont, PA – again, wonderful owners and staff and just the best customers. There’s the Trappe Book Center in Collegeville, PA – a gorgeous new store with a super staff of book sellers. But if I had to pick one independent book store that’s closest to my heart, it would have to be the Chester County Books & Music in West Chester, PA.
The first time I signed at CCBM, I met the amazing Joe Drabyak, an extraordinary man and bookseller who loved books the way I love books, the way booklovers love books. His enthusiasm for those books for which he was an advocate – and there were many – knew no bounds. I swear, that man could have sold me just about anything – and often did. I never left that store – even after my own book signings – without a heavy bag of books that he’d pulled from the shelves where they displayed “Joe Picks”. I’d be on my way out the door, and he’d stop me. “Hey, Mariah, have you read this one?” and off we’d go, him recommending, me buying.
One time a few years ago, when I stopped in just to see what was new on the shelves, he caught me on my way into the store. “Did you see the
new display I set up for my favorite local authors?” he asked. I hadn’t. He then proceeded to show me a stand-alone bookcase that held my books between the shelves dedicated to Lisa Scottoline and Mark Bowden. I was so flattered and proud that he considered me worthy to be counted among his favorites that I could barely squeak out a thank you. He held up a copy of one of my older books, The President’s Daughter, and told me that was his favorite of mine, the one he recommended to his customers. I don’t know how many copies of that book he sold, but I do know that every time I came into the store, that book was on the shelf.
A few years ago, I named a character – the police chief in Mercy Street – after Joe, and he delighted in telling me that several other authors had done the same. It was obvious that I wasn’t the only writer who knew and loved this guy.
While my first book signing at CCBM had been arranged by my publisher, subsequent signings were set up by Joe and I directly, and he never missed one, not even when he hadn’t worked that day and had to drive back to West Chester for the event. So when I showed up for a signing one night last year and Joe wasn’t there, I had a terrible feeling, one so dark that I couldn’t even bring myself to ask anyone where he was. A few weeks later, I learned he’d been diagnosed with cancer. It seemed that it wasn’t long after that he was gone, and everyone who’d ever crossed his path mourned his loss. Many of us still do.
It was months before I went back to CCBM, but last month I agreed to meet some friends there for Lisa Scottoline’s signing of her new book, Save Me, which she dedicated to Joe. One of the staff greeted me and asked me when I’d be in to sign again. I mentioned that I’d have another book out at the end of September, and he told me to be sure to set something up. I didn’t mention that I’d had a book out a few weeks earlier, or that I’d thought about calling to set up a signing, but just couldn’t bring myself to make the call or send the email.
Chester County Books & Music is still a great bookstore with a terrific staff, and it will always be a haven for true booklovers. But it’s impossible to walk through the door and not expect to see that gentle, soft-spoken man with the easy smile – so easy to imagine that he’s still there, selecting his picks for inclusion on those special shelves and waiting to press just the right book into your hands.
So, in addition to being an impressive “Spotlight on Bookstores” post, this is a tribute to a wonderful bookseller who has passed away. You may have read these notes about Joe Drabyak in ShelfAwareness last summer.
This guest post was written as part of Mariah Stewart’s TLC Book Tour with Almost Home. Visit other stops on the tour to find reviews, guest posts, interviews … maybe even a giveaway!
Joe sounds like he was the type of bookseller that every bibliophile would love to know. I am sorry to hear that he is gone. Great post today, Dawn!
This bookstore looks lovely honey!
Joe sounds like a wonderful person who touched a lot of lives in the best of ways. What a wonderful post and way to remember such an enthusiastic booklover and friend.
Thanks for sharing your memories of Joe and the best of another bookstore.
Joe was an awesome guy….the perfect bookseller. He loved books! He is the one who introduced me to Mariah….literally and figuratively.
This is right next door…love it. Would be great to see you here Rebecca for round 2:)
zibilee – Yes, this is a very special post!
Rebecca – indeed!
Serena – I never met Joe, but do remember reading tributes to him after he passed.
Debby – thanks for dropping by and sharing your memories of Joe and priase of Mariah.
doreen – I hope you get to visit Chester County Books!
Thanks for featuring Ms. Stewart in your spotlight series – I always love hearing where certain characters got their names.