What books recently rocked my world: Nothing Left To Burn by Jay Varner (suck-up alert), Room by Emma Donoghue, Innocent Monster by Reed Farrel Coleman, and Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King.

.

Best damn events we’ve hosted: I would have to say our events with Jane O’Connor and Fancy Nancy are among our favorites.  Although hosting Sean Kenney, the LEGO Master, was very cool, too.  All of our events are the best damn events because we put our all into them.
.

Most entertaining author we’ve hosted: We loved hosting Jeannette Walls.  Jeannette spent time before the event with members from our book club and was so genuine in her appreciation of being with over 350 readers of her books.  We’ve had a few authors that are lower on the scale of charm (call me); however, 99.99% are all very cool.

.
Strangest question a customer has ever asked: “I see that your wi-fi has a password, can you share it? I like to comparison price shop.” I also love the question that always comes up at author events: “I bought this book at B & N, may I get it signed”? Take a guess what my response was to both of these.

What makes our neighborhood and customers awesome: Clinton is a small community and knowing the names and faces of so many of our customers is one of the greatest joys for our staff.  Of course, our four-legged canine customers are favorites and they love the treats that we keep for them behind the counter.  On occasion, I am even the recipient of a bottle of some very fine vodka.

.
I promise you won’t find this at any other store: A hand-sewn, full-sized quilt depicting a book with the shop’s name, presented to Harvey when he purchased the book shop nearly 8 years ago.  The ladies from Kindred Quilts, a local shop in town, presented it.  It’s a treasure.  Also: Chiplets, liver treats for dogs, are always plentiful.

If I weren’t selling books, I’d be: Prior to becoming a bookseller I worked in the human services for nearly 20 years.  If not selling books, I would return to working with those in need.  My graduate degree is in Human Services.  Although at one time I thought I could never go into politics because of the skeletons in my closet, I may rethink that given the political climate these days.  I have inhaled but I’ve never dabbled in witchcraft. Somewhere out there is a video of me mooning a motorcade (I’m the one the quarters were bouncing from).  I don’t think these offenses would keep me from office.

.

Books that changed my life: The Beautiful Room Is Empty by Edmund White, The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff, and Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon are just a few.  I’d like to think that any book I devote a part of my life to would have some impact.  All of the books I’ve read have changed me in some way.

.
Top three authors, living or dead, I’d invite to my dinner party: Armistead Maupin, Oscar Wilde, and Jon Muth.  Armistead because Tales of the City is my all time favorite series, Oscar because I would love to talk about what it was like for him, and Jon because there is nothing he has done that is not beautiful.

.
Top three songs on the soundtrack to my life: Funny, I’ve had the soundtrack for my services when I leave this life planned out for years.  Here are my top four: “Scarlet Begonias” by the Grateful Dead, “Diamond Dogs” by David Bowie, anything by Parliament-Funkadelic, and of course, “Don’t Stop” by Fleetwood Mac.

.

My last meal request: Having grown up in the land of Pennsylvania Dutch cooking, my last request would be cabbage and noodles.  You have to fry the cabbage in mega mounds of butter, combine it with prepared Mueller’s extra-wide egg noodles and refry together….YUMMMMM….now I am so hungry for it.  I may need to ask my sister to make some so she can invite me over.  I don’t cook.