A recent trip to Bards Books reminded me of why books still hold such a fascination even as electronic devices continue to edge books out of the popularity circle. Speed, convenience and light weight are great, but it is difficult to compete with the cozy feeling a book lover like me gets from rows and rows of neatly shelved, gently used or new books.
The old-fashioned, welcoming atmosphere of floor to ceiling books was a plus for me when I arrived at Bards last Saturday. The big surprise was that it seemed the store's square footage had increased three or four times the size it was when I first discovered the central Phoenix store several years ago.
Every truly great book store has friendly staffers who assure that book buying customers can find what they want in the aisles of shelves laden with books. Bards staff person of the day was Roy. He was customer friendly without smothering the lookers and buyers moving between the books and two book signings going on in different parts of the store.
Authors Gloria Petersen, a protocol expert, and Nancy Hicks Marshall, an attorney and novelist, headlined the signings. Petersen, who invited me to her signing, focused on the first two books in her four-book series. The Art of Professional Connections books detail the ins and outs of protocol, how it can help cinch business deals and ultimately result in the higher earnings that can come from making the “right” connections. The Hicks Marshall novel, A Dry Hate, tells the story of the “toughest sheriff in America” and his quest to rid the Valley of the Sun of illegal immigrants.
Both books created lively conversation which the authors probably hope will turn into “buzz” that turns into more buyers of their books. Success to both authors; in the meantime, however, this book lover already feels a bit lucky to rediscover Bards book store and find that it is bigger and better than ever.