Rocky's Most Excellent Year!

It was my intention to do an end-of-year post about the ups and downs of my little business, Rocky's Mountain Books. Somehow the Universe decided to cut me some slack in one area of my life, as Rocky's just keeps growing. In the past month alone, Rocky's shipped 70 ORDERS! This was no easy task during the holidays, considering the dirty looks and groans of customers in line behind me at the Post Office as they watched me dump 20 large envelopes on the counter

But by some happy coincidence, Rocky's also hit a DOUBLE in the last week. Drum roll please....Rocky's Mountain Books (the online store), hit 700 SALES! As if this news were not enough to go dancing into the aisles of the blogosphere, Rocky's Mountain Books (the blog), hit 800 PAGE VIEWS! For a blog that published its first post a little over four months ago, that is just incredible!

And, not to be greedy, but in a perfectly symmetrical world I could report 90 positive, five-star feedbacks for Rocky's store, but the count's been sitting at 89 for two weeks. Honestly, can't people take one minute out of all their holiday revelry to leave me positive feedback?

Kate Winslet

Seriously, it did take a lot of hard work and determination on my part to get here. But, as I humbly accept these two honors there are some people I really need to thank. So in typical award show style, big shout-outs and hugs to: my daughter, Kate, who gave me the idea; my good friend, Linda Morris, who is one of the smartest women I know and who kicked my butt in the right direction on more than one occasion; all my Facebook Friends who put up with my harassment and still supported me; Corey Colombin, author and friend, for allowing me to 'use' her as my first Featured Author.

Finally, a big thank you to my husband, Marc, for putting up with a household overrun by books and shipping supplies for months and still asks, "But are you MAKING ANY MONEY?".... Still not sure what the exact answer is to that, dear, but in case you haven't noticed I sure am having fun!
 

The Holidays Are Over...Now What?

We've begun the slow slide into that dark and dreary time of year when it's often a case of just hanging in and getting through it. As I'm writing this, my East Coast friends are hunkered down against the first big winter storm of the season, and most of the rest of us will soon be in the same position.

Rocky's wants you to know we care about your downtime and figured that this is a perfect time to remind you that you can go just about anywhere in a book. So you just stay where you are and read on. I've tried to assemble a few suggestions for activities by way of Rocky's books (providing links to purchase as usual), but to a great extent these are just some ideas to get you thinking on the outer side of the cubicle container when it comes to indoor activities. If you want to purchase one of these books, that's okay too.

PLAY WITH CLAY:

The Art of Jewelry - Polymer Clay, by Katherine Duncan Aimone
If you love making jewelry, you should give polymer clay a try. "Poly clay" has come a long way since the early days of tiny Fimo figures. There are several different brands now available, and it's possible to make some really stunning jewelry as well as functional 3-D pieces. In this book, Katherine Duncan Aimone not only provides a sound basis for understanding polymer clay and its properties, but she also walks you through several jewelry projects from basic to more complex. This tutorial helps you to understand the tools, equipment and other materials that can be combined to create treasures of all sorts.

TAKE A NEW TRIP AROUND THE OLD WORLD:

Travel Guide to Europe 1492, Ten Itineraries in the Old World

We all know what was happening here in 1492, but did you ever wonder what was happening there, in Europe? What was life like in the cities? How did people manage travel? Did they travel? And if they did, where did they go and how long would it take to get there?

Lorenzo Camusso, a noted Italian historian and author of this book, creates ten itineraries for travel in fifteenth century Europe and vividly depicts the sites, sounds, and characters you might have met on your journey.

SIT DOWN AND WORK OUT:

In preparation for your exhausting couch journey through the streets of old Europe, you might want to consider warming up with the ultimate in-home workout guide, The Couch Potato Workout, 101 Exercises You Can Do At Home. Joel M. Press, M.D.has compiled 101 exercises that will help motivate you and burn off a few of those Christmas cookies at the same time. Destined-to-be workout classics like, "Reading the Paper", the "Shower Neck Stretch", and "Toothbrush, Knees Bent" are not likely to turn you into a finely-tuned physical specimen, but they will show you that you have limitless opportunities throughout your day to strengthen your body and provide a greater sense of well-being.

There's lots more, so stay tuned. I don't want to overwhelm you all in one post, and I figured ending with Couch Potato Exercises is challenging enough. Lean forward, reach for the remote. Now repeat...

Merry Christmas to All...

For all my Friends near and far, a little Holiday silliness to say Merry Christmas and thanks for all the support and encouragement! (Scroll down a bit and click the 'Play' button)

A Note From Rocky's About Holiday Shopping/Shipping

The leftovers are packed away, taking up way too much space in your fridge...at least they are in mine (sadly, the entire US military did not show up as anticipated). The Thanksgiving glow is already fading into the frenzied Christmas* shopping mode (*insert appropriate holiday). This is a good time to mention a few things about ordering and shipping from Rocky's Mountain Books to facilitate timely delivery of your gift books.

Rocky's has been passing along ideas for gift books on this blog, and providing links to our product pages for easier ordering. If you spot something you like and proceed to the ordering part of the process with Amazon, don't be deterred by the long shipping lead times! Amazon has a tendency to over-inflate shipping times, especially for book resellers like Rocky's.

Fear not, and don't freak out when you see a lead time of 7-14 days! Firstly, the Evergreen P.O. is magical. I don't know how they do it, but I've sent books to Australia that were received in five business days. Secondly, if you ARE concerned and don't want to stress out about getting your package on time, CONTACT ME IMMEDIATELY VIA EMAIL! Rocky's Mountain Books Email
 
I like my relationship with amazon so won't go into detail, but there are ways around this problem so you need to contact me DIRECTLY if you see a book in Rocky's inventory that you absolutely positively have to have ASAP. Simple as that. Now relax, sit back, and order up some holiday book lovin' from your favorite online seller, Rocky's Mountain Books!

Got Dogs? More Holiday Inspirations for Dog Lovers!

If you've followed Rocky's blog for any amount of time, you've probably figured out that I'm a dog lover of the first order. So it should come as no surprise that I'm drawn to books about dogs. For the fun of it, I just checked, and Rocky's has at least 10 in inventory right now. I know your time is valuable so I'm just going to list them with a brief condition description and a link to the specific product page. If you have questions about a specific book, please do not hesitate to ask! 

(To purchase from Rocky's, click title link below, then click on 'Add to Cart' button on right side of product page)

Dog Joy: The Happiest Dogs in the Universe       SOLD OUT

 by the Editors of Bark

Do you love happy dogs? Do pictures of cute, happy, cuddly dogs make you smile and feel good. This book does all of that. Excellent condition with only minor surface scuffing on dust cover.

Dogwise, The Natural Way to Train Your Dog
by John Fisher

Binding is uncreased and pages are tight and clean. Very clean overall, minor scuffing on cover.

Anti-Aging for Dogs: A Longevity Program for Man's Best Friend
by John M. Simon, D.V.M.

Light shelf wear on hard cover. Very tiny dent on bottom of binding edge; binding is uncreased. Pages tight and clean.

Caninestein: Unleashing the Genius in Your Dog 
by Betty Fisher and Suzanne Delzio
Subtitle: 100 Activities to Measure and Enhance Your Dog's Intelligence
Very clean. Normal, light shelf wear on cover with clean tight pages and binding.



Cesar's Way, by Cesar Millan
Subtitle: The Natural Everyday Guide to Understanding and Correcting Common Dog Problems
Slight bend to front cover at top corner. One page creased on top corner. Clean and tight.

Bone Appetit, by Suzan Anson
Subtitle: Gourmet Cooking For Your Dog
Moderate scuffing on cover. Slight bend at bottom edge. Pages clean.

How to Raise a Jewish Dog
by Boca Raton Theological Seminary told to Ellis Weiner & Barbara Davilman
Absolutely hilarious. If you have a dog you will love it, Jewish or not.
Slightly worn on cover edges. Turned edge on bottom cover corner. Clean pages and binding.

 

Walkin' the Dog: Denver

Pocket-sized guide, featuring 43 of the best dog walks in and around the city

Excellent condition, Like New

Natural Dog Care, by Celeste Yarnall, Ph.D.
A Complete Guide to Holistic Health Care for Dogs explores every
aspect of holistic care for our canine companions.
Very good, clean copy in like-new condition.

Got Cooks? Holiday Inspirations...

If you like to eat well and are fortunate enough to love (or even really like) someone who loves cooking, Rocky's has a great gift idea for you!

In the culinary arena, there's one publication that stands out above the rest. Cook's Illustrated is the crown jewel in the necklace of culinary publications. If you don't know WHY, check out their own description at Cook's Illustrated. Every recipe is put through its paces by their chefs and tasters. Cook's is 100% ad free with artful illustrations, equipment reviews and how-to articles.
 
When I came across these Cook's Illustrated Annuals, hard bound in green cloth with gold lettering, filled with lush images of steamy plates of goodness, I had a dilemma on my hands. The books beckoned, "Keep Me, Read Me, Love Me". But, with a tinge of regret I decided to send them out into the world to be read and loved by another. 


Cook's Illustrated Annual, 1999 - SOLD!
Cook's Illustrated Annual, 1997
Cook's Illustrated, 1996
Cook's Illustrated, 1994

 
Each one of these delicious volumes contains a year's worth of Cook's Illustrated magazine. The chefs at CI test every recipe repeatedly until they are confident of providing you with foolproof results. Success with recipes like "Rustic Free-Form Apple Tartlets" and "Dried Cherry and Stout Sauce" is within every cook's grasp.

Just like the little basic black dress, the individual issues are a classic, and neither the information nor the instructions will get stale as the years pass.Reasonably-priced and in excellent condition, one or all of these will be a treat to give and receive!


(To view detailed  product information and/or purchase, please click on title of the book)

My "Perfect" Lemony World

"In a perfect world..." is an intriguing phrase. Collectively and individually, we are imperfect. To a degree, that's a good thing. Because (A) it gives us something for which to strive and (B) wouldn't this be a boring place if there were no greater level to achieve and no higher calling to beckon us?

Thankfully, there's much to aspire to and many opportunities for change and growth all along the rocky path of life. You may be wondering why Rocky is waxing so philosophical today; in a blog captioned, "It's All About the Books" one could reasonably conclude that there would be some bookish connection here. Not exactly.

Rocky's Mountain Books is still working hard, gathering new inventory and,selling books like mad. But I am  going through some difficult personal times. Usually, I write when I'm motivated to do so, and at this moment (and no doubt in future ramblings) the emotions and feelings exposed in the personal areas of my life are bound to bleed through.

But there are also wonderful things happening and much joy yet to be squeezed, squoze or squizzin out of my momentarily lemony life. I'm a bookseller. I love that part of my life and hope I can do it for a long time. But meanwhile, I'll be over here making lemonade...

Finally, A Lazy Sunday...

After weeks and weeks of being on an endless treadmill of "work, work, work", I finally, FINALLY indulged myself in an extremely slothful day. It's been me and the dogs alone, all day. Me, on the sofa reading. Chloe tucked in next to me or,alternately, begging for a piece of cracker; Teeka sitting passively by my side..

My friend, Kim Rowley*, mentioned that she'd just finished reading the late Stieg Larsson's 'The Girl Who Played With Fire'. I'm slightly embarrassed to say that I've had his books (Girl With A Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest) pass through my inventory at least a dozen times. As luck would have it, I'd just picked up a slightly battered copy of "The Girl Who Played With Fire".

I've been reading "Fire" since Saturday at about 4 PM. I'm now more than halfway through the book (about 450 pages), and I am totally engrossed. As I'm reading, I'm also doing some research into the life of Stieg Larsson, which is a drama unto itself. Without a doubt, his personal story lends itself to the mystery. So captivating...I'll blog more later, but wow, wow and WOW.

*Kim Rowley, Author of Primal Whispers

New New Books!

Rocky's Mountain Books is an online seller of gently-used books, but every so often I get to add unused books to my inventory. Last week I was lucky enough to connect with several brand-new, unread copies. If you're looking for gifts for the holidays, check out these competitively-priced NEW books
 
(Click on the title to get more info. To purchase from Rocky's, click on 'Add to Cart' on the product detail page)

The Power by Rhonda Byrne, author of The Secret: "The Secret revealed the law of attraction. Now Rhonda Byrne reveals the greatest power in the universe -- The Power to have anything you want".

Dune Road, by Jane Green, author of (The Beach House and Promises to Keep): "A warm, witty, and gloriously observed meditation on the challenges of starting over".

The Flying Carpet of Small Miracles, by Hala Jaber: Hala Jaber is a correspondent for the Sunday Times of London. Follow her travels to Baghdad and to a children's hospital where she meets two little girls, Zahra and Hawra, orphaned during a 2003 missile strike. She soon learns that there is more than one way to love and raise a child and more than one way to become a mother.

The Dead Lie Down, by Sophie Hannah, (author of Little Face and The Wrong Mother):  "Set in London's vibrant art scene and featuring the return of Sergeant Charlotte "Charlie" Zailer and DC Simon Waterhouse, The Dead Lie Down is a sophisticated, sinuous novel of psychological suspense."

This Is Not A Book, by Keri Smith, (author of Wreck This Journal): When is a book NOT a book, or All  The Things You Can Do With A Book Besides Read It

Wreck This Journal, by Keri Smith: Journal-Challenged? Know you should journal but don't/can't/won't? You'll love this subversive but fun little anti-journal...

Tooting My Own Horn

Rocky's Mountain Books has been operating since March, 2010. As of today, I've sold 530 books, and while that's reason enough to pat myself on the back, the number alone doesn't tell you anything about how I run my business.

I'm an absolute pit bull about customer service, so the even greater achievement is fulfilling all these orders while maintaining a 5-Star, 100% Rating with amazon.com. The five stars are nice, but the 100% is the grail (so to speak) of amazon feedback ratings. The 100% is based on several standards established by Amazon for sellers. It represents complete satisfaction of all my customers in the areas of shipping speed, number of returns/refunds, and of course positive feedback. On average, Amazon sellers can expect feedback from only about 10% of their customers. So Rocky's is doing a little better than average with 58 positive feedbacks. The GREAT news is that the feedback is all positive! I mean, nobody hesitates to complain when service is bad, right? But these folks are compelled to write GOOD reviews. Which makes me think they're pretty pleased with the service to take the time to leave feedback.

Bookselling has become an intensely competitive business, and every Tom, Dick and Terry is selling used books online. I can't speak for the way other sellers do business. I can only tell you that when you're shopping Amazon with ANY bookseller, check feedback and look carefully at the Condition rating. Amazon has strict guidelines about rating a book for Condition. For instance, a book that is 'slightly used' cannot be listed as 'New'. That doesn't stop some sellers from crossing the line and giving it a New rating anyway, hoping you won't read the fine print.

Now Rocky's is poised to make some major changes and improvements. Addition of a website will assist with coherently categorizing an inventory of almost 1,000 books. Expanding into marketing and promotion will benefit my bookselling as well as assist self-published authors in gaining exposure and good press through social media networking. I'm proud to look back and see the positive results of my efforts to build a solid foundation for the next step. Clearly, something great is happening with my business...TOOT TOOT TOOT.

Big changes are coming to Rocky's Mountain Books! We are still committed to being a Five-Star online book seller, offering a wide selection of well-priced new and used books. Click on the link to check out our current offerings and ever-expanding inventory.

At the same time we're growing and changing, responding to what we see as a niche that needs filling. A new website and expanded blog pages. Promotional services for self-published authors. Things are changing rapidly and we're responding.

It would be appropriate to say, "stay tuned", but you don't have to do anything but sit and watch what happens next. I'll do the rest of the work.

(Meanwhile, view our current inventory of new and gently-used books at Rocky's Mountain Books)

For the Love of a Rescue Dog

My sweet love of a rescue dog, Teeka, is about 12 years old. We got her when she was about six (with rescues, birth dates are sketchy) . Adopted  from our local rescue organization, Evergreen Animal Protective League, she was with a family in transition. They were moving out of state and could not take her.

When we first met, Teeka was very responsive. The owner said, hopefully, "Ohh, she really likes you". But it didn't take long for me to understand that Teeka had issues. I could pet her head, rub her ears, and even got a 'kiss' on the first visit. But if I moved my hand beyond the middle of her back, toward her hindquarters, she would growl and snap. When I tried to touch her paw I got the same reaction.

But I spent a few hours with her that day and I saw something else there. She wanted to be loved. She was A Good Dog. A sweet dog. A dog with a big heart but a bad start in life. Whatever she'd experienced, I knew she didn't deserve it. She has a scar across her snout. When she looks at you with her beautiful brown eyes, there's a permanent ugly scar on her eyeball. I know it doesn't bother her, but it makes me sad every time I see it. Who could hurt such a beautiful, loving and trusting face?

She's so so much more secure now, but still touchy in certain areas. The only time I can give her a belly rub is late at night if she happens to be sleeping on her back.. Even then, I'm very tentative. Grooming is an event that requires patience, and she's become much more accepting but there are still places I can't touch without upsetting her.

But, without a doubt, my life would not be the same without her. She is devoted to her family. She's a dog with a soft loveable center but a hard candy shell. There are still times when she'll snap if I forget the boundaries, but almost immediately she paws at her nose and then looks at me as if to say, "I'm sorry. I know that was uncalled for. It's just who I am". There is not an ounce of real hostility in her. About a year ago, a dog came into our yard and she sat there while the guy chomped on her neck. I physically had to pull him off her.

So, if you love dogs and have the ability to do so, please, please consider fostering or adopting a rescue dog. There is so much love in their hearts. But sometimes you have to be patient and search to find it because Love is not something they're used to receiving. It's worth the time to get to that place in their hearts. Every one of them are worth it.

Locally, contact Evergreen Animal Protective League or Denver Dumb Friends League.

....And You Thought You Knew Everything About Beer!

Another gift book suggestion from Rocky's Mountain Books. This time it's about Beer..the hoppy nectar of the gods. A kegger wouldn't be the same without beer, and there are times when a good, cold, fresh brewski is complete nirvana.

So you'd think there wouldn't be much to say about a book titled, A Taste for Beer, by Stephen Beaumont. Turns out that, to a beer aficionado, there's A LOT to say. "Beer is the smoky richness of a porter and the crisp bitterness of a pilsner. It is the warming depth of a doppelbock and the fruity tang of a wheat beer, the reflective complexity of a barley wine and the foresty charm of a best bitter".

The author talks about the gentrification of beer over the years as handcrafted brews continue to gain popularity. He offers recipes for cooking with beer, and we're not talking just stews and soups. Yummy recipes like Pork and Yam Ragout with Caribbean Stout. He shows you that beer does have a place at the dinner table with careful consideration to "beer pairing". Nice book for anyone who likes beer. Or cooking with beer. Or cooking while drinking beer. You get the idea.

(To view more details, click  A Taste for Beer. To purchase from Rocky's click on the 'Add To Cart' button of the detail page)

More Gift Ideas: Quilts, Quilts, Quilts

Rocky's Mountain Books is showcasing gift ideas for the holidays. They're coming whether you're ready or not!

Not everyone's a quilter but every one who is seems to have a seventh sense about combining colors, textile and design. Most of us know a quilter, and these gift suggestions are for them. Big, beautiful books with bold colors and designs that will bring joy to a quilter. Three books, all by one of the Doyennes of Quilting, Yvonne Porcella.

Six Color World, by Yvonne Porcella, her seventh book, offers techniques as well as patterns for wonderful quilts and wearables, and continues with sugggestions for experimentation with the process of fabric painting and working with color.



Art & Inspirations, by Yvonne Porcella, her fourth book presents a retrospective of Yvonne's career. The beautiful, vivid images highlight her use of color and imagery in weavings, wearables, and quilts. 


Learn more about Yvonne's artistic journey from her early career as a weaver and maker of wearable art to her present passion for creating art quilts.

A Colorful Book, by Yvonne Porcella. In this beautiful volume, Yvonne provides a window into her own personal expression of color. The book is divided into groupings of some of her favorite color combinations.

The informational portion of the book includes fabric painting and simple strip-piecing techniques Yvonne uses to design garments or quilts.




(To view more details and/or purchase any of these books, click on the title of the book above. That will take you right to Rocky's page. Click on the 'Add to Cart' button to complete the purchase)

Sunday Crusader

Another great holiday gift idea:  The Crusades, The Illustrated History is a big, richly illustrated book that would make a great gift for anyone interested in learning more about the history of the struggle between Christianity and Islam in the Near East. It provides a basis for understanding many modern day conflicts, from the Balkans and Lebanon to Palestine and the War on Terror.

The book contains a wealth of information, but is broken down into short, manageable sections filled with illustrations of beautiful ancient artifacts and maps. Contributors are all university professors of medieval history. It is a book that you will go back to again and again in tryinig to make sense of the complicated religious history of the region.

(To view product details, click on the following link: Crusades, The Illustrated History . To purchase, click on the Add to Cart button on the same page).

My Best Day!

500 Sales as of today for Rocky's Mountain Books!

Wow! Thanks to everyone for all your support and good wishes!!

Three Months and Counting...

You know it's that time of year...the stifling heat of summer is slowly giving way to the changing season. Then one Saturday morning you wake up, look at the calendar and say, "Holy Gift Giving, Batman! Christmas is only three months away!"  Yes, gift-giving season is upon us, and Rocky's Mountain Books wants you to know that we're here to help!

Over the next couple months I will showcase books from  Rocky's inventory that I've specifically selected for gift-giving purposes. In most cases these are very gently-used...books that I would feel comfortable giving or receiving. My 'Condition Notes' are honest and straightforward, and I encourage you to check them (as you should do when making ANY amazon.com purchase). Do keep in mind that I generally only have one copy of a particular title, so don't hesitate too long in clicking the 'Add to Cart' button. Once it's gone, it's...well, it's gone!

Dog Joy, The Happiest Dogs in the Universe is a wonderful compilation of photos categorized by 'Laughers', 'Adventurers', 'Waterdogs', 'First Friends' and more. We all know someone who'd love this book. There's a certain unique joyfulness about dogs and that's why we love them so. There are hundreds of photos of happy dogs, and opening just about any page is guaranteed to make you smile. Yoda's one of my personal favorites...

(View and purchase this book by clicking on the Title and then clicking the 'Add To Cart'  button on the same page)

Dare To Dance The Tide

I love this photo, taken recently at beautiful Evergreen Lake. Beyond the obvious, there is a LOT going on in this photo. There's a man and his dog taking a nice leisurely paddle on a quiet little lake. But I can't get my dog to stand on the scale at the vet's office...these guys made at least 4 loops around the lake and that dog never moved. Mutual trust and faith.

You see a man, who's fit, completely confident and at ease with his physical abilities. Clearly this team has done this before. They're working well together (the man's working, the dog's cooperating) and each knows their proper place. The man is all business, but relaxed enough with his level of competence in the task at hand to enjoy the beauty of his surroundings. Preparation.

What you can't see and don't realize (unless you're familiar with Evergreen Lake), is that this team is dangerously close to the edge of the spillway. Now we're not talking Niagara Falls here, so it's not like they're going to any second get swept over the edge. But still, despite the serene nature of the setting they are skimming along the very edge of danger. Risk.

This picture embodies many of the elements at work in starting a business. Putting yourself or your product out their for the world to see involves a certain Risk. In order to sell your product or service, you obviously have to lay the groundwork through Preparation. Believing in yourself and your ability to be successful requires Faith.

As I sit here pondering my next steps with my own little business, this line from The River keeps coming to mind:

So don't you sit upon the shoreline
And say you're satisfied
Choose to chance the rapids
And dare to dance the tide.

- Garth Brooks, The River

Think Desolation. Think sub-zero (sub-human) temperatures. Think blinding blizzards and harsh living conditions....

Sound a little like last winter on the east coast? Not hardly. Go back farther in time and head south, WAY south...the South Pole to be exact, early in 1912 to Robert Falcon Scott's "doomed quest for the South Pole".

Many great books have been written about this failed expedition, and  Rocky's Mountain Books has three of them: (to find out more about these books, click on the title; to purchase click on the 'Add to Cart' button on the top left of the book detail page)

• Scott's Last Expedition - The Journals, by Robert Falcon Scott: Scott's personal, detailed, journal entries of his observations and experiences up to his last entry on March 29, 1912.
• The Coldest March, by Susan Solomon: Since the time of Scott's expedition, his competence and ability to carry off the mission has been debated by scientists and historians. Susan Solomon, a Senior Scientist at NOAA uses meteorological data and her scientific knowledge and understanding of the Antarctic to shed light on the staggering struggle endured by the expedition.

• Cherry, A Life of Apsley Cherry-Garrard, by Sara Wheeler: Apsley Cherry-Garrard was the youngest member of Scott's last expedition. He wrote his own riveting account of the expedition, The Worst Journey in the World. As part of the team that was to meet Scott upon his "victorious" return from the South Pole, Cherry-Garrard was hampered by the impending winter and brutal temperatures. The following spring he was part of the search party that discovered the bodies of Scott and the remaining members of the expedition only 12 miles to the south of the original search. This is  authorized biography of Cherrry-Garrard "brings to life this great hero and gives us a glimpse of the terrible human cost of his adventures".

I guarantee reading any or all of these books will make you feel about the miserable weather next January!

Happy Mail, Happy Customers

Internet commerce will teach you very quickly that fulfillment is the lifeblood of doing business. Rocky's Mountain Books can market and sell, but the actual shipping of books becomes the essential link between a successful sale and a satisfied customer. 

I've considered online mailing/postage options, but it seems I do everything on the internet any more, and I need a little of that human touch.  I found the answer in my lovely little Post Office in Evergreen. I realize that the difference is...people. The good, kind and customer-service oriented people at my Post Office. Yes, I said the Post Office. Postal workers. Happy postal workers. Smiling. Helpful. Indefatigable.

This speaks to me in a very clear and loud voice...Do Unto Others. They work hard...I work hard. They have long hours ...I have long hours. They do the best they can and so do I. There's a real, live collective conscience in this town. An energy that is the essence of good karma and a positive approach to life.

So, back at the Post Office, sometimes you wait. But you're not the only one and the interaction with others is the key for me.  I see people I know well...people I barely know, but recognize. We talk as we wait. Then there are the wonderful people behind the counter. The postal workers. I know them by name and always give them a smile and a big thank you, no matter how long I've waited, and that positive energy is always returned.

I get LOTS of positive feedback about the "Fast Shipping!", "Arrived before expected"! Good Postal Karma? Who knows. As far as I'm concerned what goes around comes around.

Keep on Reading!

Michelangelo and Long Plane Rides

"He sat before the mirror of the second-floor bedroom sketching his lean cheeks with their high bone ridges, the flat broad forehead, and ears too far back on the head, the dark hair curling forward in thatches, the amber-colored eyes wide-set but heavy-lidded."...so begins one of the classic biographical novels of our time, The Agony and the Ecstasy by Irving Stone.. First published in 1961, this Special Edition has been released in honor of the 500th anniversary of Michelangelo's, David.

Dealing with used books, I find all sorts of little mementos. Used as bookmarks, they each tell their own little story about the books former owner. In this massive tome (776 pages), I found the stub of a boarding pass. There's nothing like a good book to take the edge off a long plane ride so I see lots of them. It's a little window into the life of the former owner. Was it being read by a man or woman? Where were they coming from or going to? Was there a significance to their choosing that book at that specific time?

I was delighted to see that this particular boarding pass was from a flight originating in Rome, headed to Dulles. Of course! I pictured a woman who visited Rome with her husband (she was traveling as 'Mrs.') and was swept away by the magnificent art and architecture of that ancient city. As she was leaving, she wanted to have one more memento to help keep the spirit of her adventure alive, even if only for a few hours on the flight home. The real world sparked her interest, and a book filled in the missing pieces.

Because that's what books do. They take us into another world, the world the author builds for us. It's a world we can always visit, that's always there for us to sink into for as long or as little as we like.

(You can find this book at Rocky's Mountain Books, The Agony and the Ecstasy, by Irving Stone and  purchase by clicking on the 'Add To Cart' button on the left side of the page)

Happiest Baby

I really wish I'd had this kind of resource when my daughter was an infant. The Happiest Baby on the Block, by Harvey Karp, M.D. contains a lot of great information to help you understand when and why your baby cries. This goes way beyond "colicky babies" and really illuminates not only the reasons behind why, but remedies for stopping (or at least calming) your baby. I survived 6 months of mind-numbing, late-night-into-the-morning crying and could not seem to find a solution. You don't have to do that. You can find a great used copy of this book at Rocky's Mountain Books, www.amazon.com/shops/rockysmountainbooks

Welcome Friends!

Welcome to Rocky's Mountain Books Blog! I'm a bookseller, and my shop can be found at: Rocky's Mountain Books. My goal is to create a blog that contains book reviews, comments, and a good dose of humor.  I've always loved looking at, holding, smelling (weid, I know) and immersing myself in books. Rocky's Mountain Books has afforded me the luxury of creating a business doing something I love - sharing books.

With this "new" tool, I will be able to do one more thing that I love, which is writing about my love of books and words. I'm sure to meander a bit off topic here and there, but I hope it's always fresh and interesting to the reader. If it encourages you to look at my store and maybe even make a purchase, well that's a good thing too! Thanks to all the great people who've encouraged me to take this path. You asked for it!