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Because all the stylish publishers are doing it...

  • Jan. 4th, 2008 at 9:45 PM
Book Four
Fantagraphics Books did it, when they opened a storefront and gallery.

Then Drawn & Quarterly followed suit, with their own Librarie Drawn & Quarterly.

And now Coppervale has done the same: introducing Crossroads Books & Gallery.

And I'm sure that the other publishers' reasons for doing so were and are excellent. As for us, it came down to a number of factors: 1) No real bookstore (or kids' bookstore, or comics shop) in almost 100 miles in every direction; 2) lots of local demand for my own novels, which resulted in lots of drop-ins at the Studio to buy books; and 3) did I mention there were no bookshops closer than Flagstaff?

Oh, there are a couple of decent used shops - but no place to buy NEW books. Or comics. And certainly no place that had books that were signed, or rare. And so, a deal was negotiated by my family involving an historic country victorian house, on the main drag, across from the museum, next to the local steakhouse, and halfway between my house, and the Studio - and Crossroads Books was born.

The website is still being developed, and MANY more books by all my friends are being added; and the gallery portion of the shop is coming this spring. But for now, it's a nice community resource. There are new children's and YA books; and new and used SF and Fantasy and comics and graphic novels. We even have an old-fashioned spinner rack. And it's a good place to point folks tp who'd like signed copies of my books.

So, if you are looking for a place to get the books and prints I write about on my journal, bookmark the site; and if you're passing through Eastern Arizona, stop in and say hello. We'll be happy to see you.

(Pictured: The new signage; the bookshop; one wall of the children's room - which has taller, fuller shelves now!)






Comments

( 47 comments — Leave a comment )
[info]lisa_marli wrote:
Jan. 5th, 2008 05:14 am (UTC)
How wonderful. A Good Bookstore is always a fantastic. Makes me jealous I don't live closer. Oh, well, that's what the internet is for. :D
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[info]coppervale wrote:
Jan. 5th, 2008 05:18 am (UTC)
It's shaping up. We have a main new room (with fireplace), that also had rare books in the original built-in cabinets; the children's/YA room; then upstairs are the gallery, the comics room, and the SF/F room.

This spring we're putting a topiary maze in the front yard.
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[info]anghara wrote:
Jan. 5th, 2008 05:18 am (UTC)
VERY cool.

Will you be stocking mine...? [grin]
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[info]coppervale wrote:
Jan. 5th, 2008 05:19 am (UTC)
But of course!

(And maybe I can talk you into doing some bookplates to include in books on the online store?)
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[info]anghara wrote:
Jan. 5th, 2008 05:24 am (UTC)
Gimme a proper mailing address to send 'em to and the amount you would like and i can pop some in the mail this week... [grin]
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[info]coppervale wrote:
Jan. 5th, 2008 05:28 am (UTC)
Awesome!

Send to:

Crossroads Books
c/o Coppervale
P.O. Box 1459
Taylor, AZ 85939

I'll check with the manager on what we've got ordered of your stuff (encouraged by your pal Alex, I should add), but a couple dozen would be great!
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[info]anghara wrote:
Jan. 5th, 2008 05:32 am (UTC)
They will be on their way very shortly!
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[info]jimhines wrote:
Jan. 7th, 2008 08:20 pm (UTC)
Very nice! Would you be interested in goblin bookplates as well, by any chance? (Once I get another batch printed...)
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[info]coppervale wrote:
Jan. 9th, 2008 06:32 am (UTC)
Yes. Those would be great, man. Thanks so much!
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[info]jimhines wrote:
Feb. 10th, 2008 08:53 pm (UTC)
After a few communication snafus with the printer, I finally got the bookplates back, and will be mailing them this week.
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[info]allykatt wrote:
Jan. 5th, 2008 05:27 am (UTC)
oh, it's just fabulous!
how perfect!

and a topiary maze ... you're killing me here!

me and the tiny men totally need to plan a driving tour of az. i'm sure you're between me {oklahoma} and their grandma {jerome}!
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[info]coppervale wrote:
Jan. 5th, 2008 05:29 am (UTC)
Well, we figured the kids would need something to unwind them after they get out of the rocket that's going in the parking lot.
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[info]tltrent wrote:
Jan. 5th, 2008 05:48 am (UTC)
Oh, lovely! Why is it not closer to my part of the world? Seems like a little bit of my perfect heaven...
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[info]coppervale wrote:
Jan. 5th, 2008 06:01 am (UTC)
Should have seen it with the Christmas Tree!
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[info]tltrent wrote:
Jan. 5th, 2008 06:07 am (UTC)
Oh, btw, I believe mine editrix is sending you a prezzie. ;)
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[info]coppervale wrote:
Jan. 5th, 2008 06:21 am (UTC)
Yes...?

Well, thank you!
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[info]tltrent wrote:
Jan. 5th, 2008 01:58 pm (UTC)
Mine editrix of course being [info]slwhitman. ;)

Have now scribbled down Crossroads near the top of the must-visit list if I ever make it across the Mississippi again...

Edited at 2008-01-05 01:58 pm (UTC)
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[info]goraina wrote:
Jan. 5th, 2008 06:05 am (UTC)
Awesome! It's totally a dream of Dave's and mine to open up a store someday.

If I'm ever in the area, I'll have to visit!
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[info]coppervale wrote:
Jan. 5th, 2008 06:07 am (UTC)
LOL - that would be keen. You both have lots of fans here. (Myself and daughter Sophie, foremost!)
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[info]klwilliams wrote:
Jan. 5th, 2008 06:12 am (UTC)
That's my dream store. How very cool.
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[info]coppervale wrote:
Jan. 5th, 2008 06:20 am (UTC)
The dream store part is hand-selecting the rare books - and making sure they stock some of the things that inspired ME as a writer and artist.

In a small way, that's me paying it forward.
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[info]kspyoda wrote:
Jan. 5th, 2008 06:33 am (UTC)
ROAD TRIP!
I need to schedule some time off this summer and make a road trip down to see your store (Northern CA to Arizona shouldn't be too bad of a drive...)
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[info]coppervale wrote:
Jan. 5th, 2008 07:00 am (UTC)
Re: ROAD TRIP!
It's not too bad. I've done Fresno to here in eleven hours.
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[info]kspyoda wrote:
Jan. 5th, 2008 07:06 am (UTC)
Re: ROAD TRIP!
I will just have to make sure I take some time off work and enjoy the drive!

See you on the 16th at Kepler's!

(Is it noon or 4 pm?)
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[info]coppervale wrote:
Jan. 5th, 2008 07:17 am (UTC)
Re: ROAD TRIP!
I think the school stuff is around noon - so I'm supposed to be at the store 3:30 and later. But it can't hurt to call them and ask!
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[info]purdypiedad wrote:
Jan. 5th, 2008 07:13 am (UTC)
The place just screams "Fantasy and Fairytales Inside!" I absolutely love it.
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[info]coppervale wrote:
Jan. 5th, 2008 07:18 am (UTC)
I don't think we'd started on it when Charlie and Rae were here... but the yellow was all my idea. (It was faded cobalt pale blue before...)Pretty much announced to the whole community something interesting was happening.
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[info]purdypiedad wrote:
Jan. 6th, 2008 06:05 am (UTC)
If I ever get to buy my dream home (which happens to be in your neck of the woods), I'm so gonna have to play at your store.

The yellow was right on.
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[info]tbclone47 wrote:
Jan. 5th, 2008 07:20 am (UTC)
That is ultra-cool!! Congratulations. I'm jealous. :) Of course nowadays, my office looks like a bookstore with multiple copies of Fairwood books.
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[info]coppervale wrote:
Jan. 5th, 2008 07:23 am (UTC)
It was almost a necessity. The Studio is a really visible place (it's the largest historic building in town, as it was one of the original churches here), and we had people coming in every day for my novels.

Let's just say Larry McMurtry isn't a bad role model for this kind of thing..

;)
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[info]slwhitman wrote:
Jan. 5th, 2008 07:35 am (UTC)
Very nice. I've been to Taylor once--an old roommate of mine was from there and her mom lived in Winslow. So I had to, by rights, sing the Eagles, of course.

Looks like a very cozy shop!
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[info]coppervale wrote:
Jan. 5th, 2008 07:40 am (UTC)
It's just about right... and we have use of the museum across the street for signings.

So far, so good!
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[info]jlundberg wrote:
Jan. 5th, 2008 12:03 pm (UTC)
Yay cool bookstore! When A Field Guide to Surreal Botany is ready, I'd love to send you some copies.
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[info]coppervale wrote:
Jan. 5th, 2008 02:22 pm (UTC)
I'd say that would get a display spot on one of the mantles... :D
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[info]jlundberg wrote:
Jan. 6th, 2008 01:04 pm (UTC)
Sweet! Thanks, man!
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[info]ravena_kade wrote:
Jan. 5th, 2008 04:03 pm (UTC)
Very nice =) I can't imagine living with a bookstore near me...never mind for 100 miles. I work in Boston and the big Borders book store on the first floor of my work building has become my winter time haunt on the days when the temps drop into the single digits.
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[info]janni wrote:
Jan. 5th, 2008 04:26 pm (UTC)
Very cool!

(What sorts of things are you interested in carrying? Because I actually am driving distance from you, have a middle grade mystery out now and a dark YA fantasy coming out in about a year, and would be happy to swing up there and sign either, as appropriate. :-))
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[info]booksbynight wrote:
Jan. 5th, 2008 04:47 pm (UTC)
As, always, my dear, EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

Permission to link on my WordPress blog?
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[info]coppervale wrote:
Jan. 6th, 2008 10:05 pm (UTC)
You betcha!
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[info]allaboutm_e wrote:
Jan. 5th, 2008 05:02 pm (UTC)
Welcome to the business!
:: Note to self -- stop scanning the shelves to see how many titles you recognize. ::
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[info]coppervale wrote:
Jan. 6th, 2008 10:05 pm (UTC)
LOL - there are a lot more in those shelves NOW...
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[info]scribblerworks wrote:
Jan. 5th, 2008 07:59 pm (UTC)
Ah! New sign! Looks better now! ;)

(For other readers - I've been inside! It is nice and cozy!)

And a topiary maze! Now THAT is worth a return visit all in itself! (Even at the prospect of 9 to 10 hours on the road. Heh.)
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[info]coppervale wrote:
Jan. 6th, 2008 10:10 pm (UTC)
It'll be in the corner around the sign.
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[info]adeluca wrote:
Jan. 6th, 2008 05:41 pm (UTC)
Oh, I'm so there. Later this year.

And, maybe there will be some room to stock CD's, Live DVD's and coloring/activity books for the kiddies. . .? :o)

Right on brother. Looks great.
Alex
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[info]coppervale wrote:
Jan. 6th, 2008 10:06 pm (UTC)
CD's and Audiobooks are the start; and we have an activity center in the kids' room (and beanbag chairs).
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[info]lmarley wrote:
Jan. 7th, 2008 08:37 pm (UTC)
This looks wonderful, and what a perfectly charming building! Would you like some bookplates?

My alter ego, Toby Bishop, could also send you some.
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[info]marlyat2 wrote:
Jan. 9th, 2008 12:17 am (UTC)
What won't you do next?

I am rarely jealous... But I have been wanting a topiary maze in the backyard for ages! No, no. I am not jealous. Really not. I suppose I shall have to settle for a bottle tree.

What a splendid thing to do, and how lovely for the children in your area.
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( 47 comments — Leave a comment )