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!