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.