Terry On Books Blog

The first antiquarian book fair to be held in
Vancouver, British Columbia in nearly twenty
years will be held on Friday, October 15th
and Saturday, October 16th in the basement
rooms of the main branch of the Vancouver
Public Library. Yes, it’s the Roman Forum-
design building on West Georgia between
Hamilton and Homer Streets.

Thirty-three booksellers will be offering out-
of-print and antiquarian books for sale and
you’re certain to find at least a few choice
titles in your particular area of interest. Shop
Friday from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. or Saturday,
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; or attend both days for
the one low price of $5.00.

Here is your opportunity to view, handle
and purchase many special books that you
have only seen described previously on the
Internet. Whether you’re a seasoned collector
or a novice just beginning to build your library,
you will be astounded by the incredible selection
that will be displayed at this premiere event.

So, if you’re a booklover and you have a
yen to accumulate some fine books, mark your
calendar and be sure to attend the first Vancouver
Antiquarian Book Fair of the 21st Century.
Whether you live in B.C. or in one of the nearby
provinces or states, this event may be your very
best reason for an October visit to Downtown
Vancouver.

As one of the exhibitors at Book Fairs in Vancouver
in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, I appreciated
the opportunity to present extraordinary books for
the pleasure of the buying public and fellow booksellers
from across Canada and the U.S. I also have many fond
memories of the camaraderie shared with other
dealers during the fairs and afterwards at dinners
and get-togethers. I’m looking forward to experiencing
this again with bookseller friends I haven’t seen for
sometime. The closure of several shops and more of
a concentration on Internet selling has unfortunately
reduced contact between booksellers and I feel that
this is a sad thing. See you there guys and gals!

Please take some time to visit my website for about
3000 quality books for sale:
www.stillmanbooks.com

Remember, the only book purchase you’ll ever
regret will be the one you didn’t make.

Talk soon.

Over the past few weeks, there has been a decided
increase in the number of visitors to my blog.
I wish to thank everyone who has visited and I
hope you found something useful, or at least
interesting. Again, I’ve only posted a small percentage
of the comments. After deleting the spam mail and
omitting many of the very short complimentary
statements, I’ve tried to post comments that are
slightly different and original.

This whole blog business can be very time-consuming
and because I’ve had many other demands on my
time in the last few months, I apologize for not being
able to devote more time to posting here. I think
there’s a saying something like: “No matter what you
try to do, sometimes Life just gets in the way”.

I hope to get the 5th chapter of my book typed and
onto my website with a link to this blog soon and
get some more book-relevant material on soon as well.
Thank you for your patience.

By the way, I’ve been reading a new ( to me) British
crime novelist, Stuart Pawson. His main character is
DI Charlie Priest, a laid-back, low-key policeman
who kind of grows on you. The mysteries take place
in and around Heckley in Yorkshire. So far, I’ve read
“The Mushroom Man” (1995), “Some by Fire” (1999)
and “Shooting Elvis” (2006) and have enjoyed them.
Check one out if you get a chance.

Please visit my website for over 3000 quality books:
www.stillmanbooks.com

Remember, the only book purchase you’ll ever regret
will be the one you didn’t make.

Originally published in the January 29, 1996 issue
of AB Bookman’s Weekly, a Magazine for the
specialist book world.

Chapter Four: The Used Bookstore.
Doing Business With Dealers

To see this fourth chapter of advice for aspiring first-
timers entering the used-book business, follow this link
to my website:
www.stillmanbooks.com/bookstore4thchapter.htm
Although it is fourteen years old, I think that the advice
in this series of articles is still relevant today.
Therefore, I’ve reprinted the fourth chapter in its original
form, so please keep it in context. Of all the chapters, this
one would probably require the biggest rewrite because
of the advent of the Internet and the changes in the
booktrade that followed.

Four more chapters to follow over the next few weeks.
I hope you enjoy them and perhaps derive some practical
use from them.

Please visit my website for the opportunity to choose
from more than 3000 unique books:
www.stillmanbooks.com

Remember, the only book purchase you will
ever regret is the one you didn’t make.

Talk soon.

Last weekend, April 24 and 25th, I rented two
tables at the Fraser Valley Antiques and Collectibles
Show in New Westminster, B.C.
I took about 500 books, plus a few pictures
and toys. It’s a two-day show and last year I sold
six hundred and thirty-five dollars worth of items.
I had about a hundred more books than last year
and I hoped to have increased sales as well.
Unfortunately, my sales were a disappointing three
hundred and ninety dollars.

I wasn’t the only seller who was disappointed. Of the
hundred and fifty or so vendors, I think only a handful
may have exceeded last year’s totals. Twenty-five
minutes before scheduled closing time on Sunday,
many sellers were packing up…they couldn’t wait to
get out of there!

Attendance was definitely down. Sunday’s always the
quieter day and brings out more lookers than buyers.
This year, it was like having two Sundays.
I took some hundred dollar items, but I think my
highest single-item sale was thirty-five dollars.

It looks like the economy is still somewhat sluggage.
But, I think the other reason–and the more significant–
why we all had a poor weekend was another example
of the increasing trend of seeing fewer collectors.
This phenomenon is and will continue to be a
worrying factor for sellers of books, antiques and
other collectibles.

I don’t have figures, but it’s my observation over the
last year that a lot of older collectors are falling out
of the game, and people in their twenties and thirties
are not stepping up and taking over. The majority
of young people just don’t seem to have an interest
in the traditional collecting fields. I hope that in a
year, or two, or five, we have a bit of a bounceback,
but, like I said, it’s definitely worrisome.

We’ll see what happens in October when B.C.
booksellers hold their first Antiquarian Book Fair
in over fifteen years (19 since the last one in
Vancouver). It could be an encouraging event,
or it could be the booksellers’ last hurrah.
Stay tune for details.

Meanwhile, check my website for a few thousand
interesting books…you might get the urge to
start collecting!
www.stillmanbooks.com

Remember, the only book purchase you’ll ever
regret, will be the one you didn’t make.

Talk soon!

Originally published in the January 15, 1996 issue
of AB Bookman’s Weekly, a Magazine for the
specialist book world.

Chapter Three: Day-to-Day Operations

To see this third chapter of advice for aspiring first-
timers entering the used-book business, follow this link
to my website:
www.stillmanbooks.com/bookstore3rdchapter.htm

Although it is fourteen years old, I think that the advice
in this series of articles is still relevant today.
Therefore, I’ve reprinted the third chapter in its original
form, so please keep it in context.

Five more chapters to follow over the next few weeks.
I hope you enjoy them and perhaps derive some practical
use from them.

Please visit my website for the opportunity to choose
from more than 3000 unique books:
www.stillmanbooks.com

Remember, the only book purchase you will
ever regret is the one you didn’t make.

Talk soon.

I’ve been very remiss in adding new posts to my blog.
2009 was a difficult year, but 2010 certainly looks
rosier and I’ll be making an effort to post more
regularly.

I’ve been pleasantly surprised to see that my old
postings have still been getting a fair amount of
looks, and I thank all those people who have
been tuning in.

I give a special thanks to people who have
offered comments…especially the complimentary
ones! You may wonder why your comments
haven’t been published on my blog. The simple
reason is that I have the power of veto. I must
approve the comment and add it to my blog.
About 50% of comments I receive are from
people who wish to promote their own business
or agenda; some subtly, some flagrantly, and
some, I suspect, have nefarious motives to
entice other readers to their sites. I feel that I
have an obligation to protect my legitimate readers
from these people. (If you are one of these people,
don’t bother submitting your comment because it’s
a waste of your time.)

Of the other 50%, there are a vast amount of
similar opinions–sometimes in practically identical
words. These are mostly complimentary comments
to the effect that the person is happy to have found
the blog, likes the content, and encourages me to
keep writing. I choose to publish only a few of these
comments just to show that I do have some visitors
and they like what they see. Rarely, there are specific
comments on one of the posts…these I do like to
publish.

Coming soon (I know, I’ve promised before) will be
the third chapter of my serialized book from the 1990’s
on starting and running a used bookstore.
Also, I will be writing some of my thoughts on where
booksellers stand now and what the
future of the book business may be.

Please take some time to visit my website for about
3000 quality books for sale:
www.stillmanbooks.com

Many of the pages need an update and that task is
also on the agenda. However, if you find a book
that you would like and it’s on an outdated page,
please inquire about it. More than 80% of the books
listed are still available. And a few dozen new
items have been added recently.

Remember, the only book purchase you’ll ever
regret will be the one you didn’t make.

Talk soon.

I’ve been reading a series of books by Jim Butcher and his
likeable main character, Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden,
a Wizard. In fact, the only professional Wizard advertising
in the Chicago phone book:
“Harry Dresden–Wizard
Lost items found. Paranormal Investigations.
Consulting. Advice. Reasonable Rates.
No Love Potions, Endless Purses, or
Other Entertainment.”

Besides a few odd jobs of exorcisms, ghost removals
and finding lost objects, most of Harry’s income is derived
from work he does with  Lt. Karrin Murphy in the
Special Investigations Division of Chicago PD. Harry and
Karrin have a love-hate relationship from which they
both benefit. Karrin’s group investigates “unusual events”–
unexplainable crimes committed by non-living beings.

Susan Rodriguez is a reporter for the Midwestern “Arcane”,
a tabloid circulated widely from Chicago and specializing in
sensational, and mostly unbelievable stories. But Susan,
friend and sometime romantic interest of Harry Dresden,
believes in his powers as a Wizard and the magical world
that he represents. She’s constantly trying to get the scoop
on some of Harry’s activities so that she can document
them and acquire national syndication for her columns.

In his lab in the basement, Harry keeps a spirit inside a human
skull. Bob, the spirit, is hundreds of years old and supplies
Harry with the recipes for numerous kinds of magic potions.
Occasionally, Harry lets Bob out to seek information for
him from other spirits in Chicago and in Nevernever, the
spirit world.

The White Council, a large group of wizards that Harry is
part of, enforces a code of conduct for all practitioners.
Harry, from time to time, is forced to do things during his
investigations and exploits that put him in the bad graces
of the White Council.

There are lots of comings and goings from Nevernever by
all sorts of creatures, including demons, ghosts, vampires,
werewolves and other shapeshifters. To combat these
antagonists, Harry relies on his staff, blasting rod, a shield
bracelet, a silver pentacle on a silver chain passed down
from his mother, his ability to create “summoning circles”
and make “protective circles”, and a host of energy-creating
incantations and other devices to keep all these beings
at bay and protect his friends. Despite all this, he still
gets knocked around a lot!

I’ve never been much of a reader of horror fiction, or even
a big fan of the majority of fantasy writing, but I admit that
I’m hooked on Jim Butcher’s stories. A customer kept raving
about his books, so when we acquired some in the store,
I had to give Butcher a try. So far, I’ve read the first three
titles: “Storm Front”, “Fool Moon” and “Grave Peril” and
I’m looking forward to reading others.

The atmosphere of the books is reminiscent of the noir
detective fiction of the 1930’s and 1940’s. Dresden’s first-
person narration reminds me of the same droll delivery
of Sam Spade and Philip Marlowe. And Harry Dresden
shares some of the same traits of two of my other favourite
characters, Jack Reacher in Lee Child’s books, and
Repairman Jack in F. Paul Wilson’s books.

Altogether, a unique and enjoyable reading experience,
at least for me.

Please take some time to visit my website for
nearly 3000 quality books:
www.stillmanbooks.com

Remember, the only book purchase you’ll ever
regret will be the one you didn’t make.

Talk soon.

ALL BOOKS ON WEBSITE:
BUY 3-4 BOOKS, SAVE 20%,
BUY 5-6 BOOKS, SAVE 25%,
BUY 7 OR MORE BOOKS, SAVE 35%.
BUY NOW FOR CHRISTMAS AND AVOID PANIC SHIPPING PROBLEMS.
SALE EXTENDS UNTIL DECEMBER 31ST.

Visit my website at:
www.stillmanbooks.com

Remember, the only book purchase you’ll ever regret
will be the one you didn’t make.

Chapter Two: Buying Inventory for a Used Bookstore

Originally published in the October 30, 1995 issue of
AB Bookman’s Weekly, a Magazine for the specialist
book world.

To see this second chapter of advice for aspiring first-timers
entering the used-book business, follow this link to my
website:
www.stillmanbooks.com/bookstore2ndchapter.htm

Although it is thirteen years old, I think that the advice
in this series of articles is still relevant today. Therefore,
I’ve reprinted the second chapter in its original form, with
the exception of a couple of Author’s Notes regarding
dollar figures and popular authors.

Six more chapters to follow over the next few weeks.
I hope you enjoy them and perhaps derive some practical
use from them.

Please visit my website for the opportunity to choose
from more than 3000 unique books:
www.stillmanbooks.com

Remember, the only book purchase you will
ever regret is the one you didn’t make.

Talk soon.

Well, it seems the word is out…yes, my wife and I have
separated after nearly twenty-five years together.
Another bookseller relationship bites the dust! She
decided to cut her losses and move on to a bookless future.

Cops, movie stars and booksellers–those are three
tough professions for relationship longevity. I guess
I was luckier than most, but like all long-term conjunctions,
when they end, it’s hard to accept the finality and the reality.
And it’s a little difficult to get through the sadness, but
most people do, and I guess I will too.

You know what? Concentrating on books helps!
I have most of my inventory shelved again. Funny thing
though…I haven’t bought many new books during my move,
and yet, I find myself with too many books for my shelving.
How’s that happen? Now I need to buy more shelves. Plus
I’ve still got my main storage locker of books to move to a
storage facility closer to where I now live.

I’m doing a show on April 25th and April 26th at the
Queen’s Park Arena off McBride in New Westminster.
It’s called “The Fraser Valley Antiques and Collectable Show”
and I have rented tables #70 and #71 to display and sell
a cross-section of my book inventory, as well as some
toys, prints and ephemera (it’s amazing what I found packed
away in the garage). If you’re in the Greater Vancouver
area that weekend, please drop by and check out the show:
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.
(I could use your money to help pay my new rent.)

So, I’ve been busy unpacking boxes with one hand and
packing boxes with the other; hoping that the books and
things that I’m repacking will be the right stuff for the show.
When the show is over and I have my storage locker contents
transferred closer, I’ll be able to concentrate on obtaining some
new stock and updating my website; so, please, be sure to
check it out in May. I know it’s tax time, but hey, maybe you’re
getting a refund!

I’m still managing the “Jolly Olde Bookstore” in Port Moody
and I’m there Tuesdays to Fridays so please drop in if you’re
in the area. The store is getting better and better, and Brian
and I expect this to be a breakout year. A heartfelt “thanks”
to all you men, women, teens and children who became new
customers in 2008 and so far this year. Keep spreading the word!

It may be six months out-of-date, but my website is still up-
and-running and open-for-business, so check it out when you
have a little spare time:
www.stillmanbooks.com

Talk soon.

Remember, the only book purchase you’ll
ever regret will be the one you didn’t make.