Confessions of a Curious Bookseller(36)
To the estate of Mark Twain:
I do not doubt that you have heard of my store and me in the Mark Twain circuit recently. If your head has been in the literary sand for the past two months, then I have included the news article regarding my bookstore and its specialty in Mark Twain literature. Without getting too deep into the bookstore (it is all included in the article), I will cut to the chase, as I imagine you are extremely busy and have very little time to read letters from strangers.
I have a proposition for you. Though I have sold many of my books, I still have an enormous number of Tom Sawyer books that have not yet been purchased. This is no reflection of the unpopularity of my store, but perhaps these incredible pieces of history could be even more valuable with the stroke of your pen.
Would you help me in this endeavor by putting your pen to them, increasing their value and making them pieces of history and collector’s items? My idea is this: If you were to come down to Philadelphia, I would put you up in the Best Western (a fine hotel near the art museum), or alternatively you may stay with me in my apartment. I will create a workstation in the back office of the bookstore where you may sign your name and stamp “Official Mark Twain Collector’s Item, Authenticated by the Estate of Mark Twain.” I will purchase the stamp.
Thoughts? If you agree to this, you will collect 10 percent of the profits sold on each book. Regardless of copyright date, I will value each book at no less than one hundred dollars, which means that for each book sold you will walk away with at least ten dollars. We have about eight hundred of these books, so you could stand to make, at the worst, $8,000!
Please consider this and respond as soon as possible.
Thank you for your time, and happy New Year!
Best,
Fawn Birchill, Owner, The Curious Cat Book Emporium (a The Adventures of Tom Sawyer specialist store)
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BOOK SIGNING!
Starting in February, the Curious Cat Book Emporium, located in beautiful West Philadelphia, will give the Philadelphia community a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet the estate of Mark Twain. Books signed by the estate will be sold through February, but the time in which you can meet the estate member(s) is limited; therefore, you may purchase tickets in advance by calling the number below. Tickets will be going fast, so ACT NOW!!
Ticket Price: $15 for a five-minute Meet the Author’s Estate on February 8 and 9. (Tickets are nonrefundable under any circumstance.)
Book Price Range: $100 and up
Store Hours (Extended through February): 8 a.m.–8 p.m.
Event Hours: 6 p.m.–9 p.m.
Coffee/snacks provided for purchase
From: Sam Asimov
Sent: Wed, Jan 9, 2019 at 8:17 AM
To: Fawn Birchill, Staff
Re: Sales Numbers
Hi Fawn,
What about starting a blog about your store? It will drive interest, and it might give people a chance to see another side of you, the store, and Butterscotch that they don’t normally see. Thoughts?
Sam
From: Fawn Birchill
Sent: Wed, Jan 9, 2019 at 9:58 AM
To: Staff
Re: Sales Numbers
Dear Sam,
Though Angela has already won the gift certificate, I do like this idea as well. Can you please help me set that up? I know very little about blogging, but it might be a good way in which to drive interest, like you said. How is the Parrot going? Have you started?
Thank you for your suggestions,
Fawn, Owner
From: Fawn Birchill
Sent: Wed, Jan 9, 2019 at 9:59 PM
To: Staff
Subject: Gala Event
Dear Staff,
Upon closing the store tonight, I discovered that someone had put a poster on our door advertising Mark’s gala event. Surely I know it wasn’t one of you, but please let me know which one of our turncoat customers did this so that I can reprimand them. Or perhaps maybe Mark snuck over when we weren’t looking and put it up? On second thought, I believe that to be more likely.
And let me just ask: How did he get sponsorship from phillysmallbiz.com and every nonprofit in the city? This nobody, who appeared out of the woodwork, seems to have connections like the mob. Watch your backs, everyone.
Sincerely,
Fawn, Owner
PHILLY LOVE FINDER
Butterscotch,
Would you be interested in a date?
Mr-Pants
PHILLY LOVE FINDER
Mr-Pants,
What would a date consist of in your book? I will admit that it’s been a long time since I’ve been on what anyone would define as a date.
Also, is that scrap metal in the back of that pickup truck in your photo?
What does your alias mean? Does the hyphen suggest that you are without pants, or is that just because Philly Love Finder does not allow one to use periods in one’s username? I haven’t tried myself.
Butterscotch
PHILLY LOVE FINDER
Butterscotch,
How about Afghan? It’s very savory. Lots of spinach, rice, and tender meat. It’s some of my favorite food in the entire world. What do you think? Feeling adventurous?
And yeah—that’s my art project in the making. I use scrap metal and whatever various crap I can get my hands on.
Mr-Pants
PHILLY LOVE FINDER
Mr-Pants,
I have never had Afghan food before, but the way you describe it, it sounds lovely. When and where?
You make art out of scrap metal!!?? I would just LOVE to see that!