Category: My books

Oconaluftee Visitors Center

While visiting bookstores and other retail establishments that sell books in the mountains of North Carolina a couple of weeks ago, I made a point to stop by the Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s Oconaluftee Visitors Center near Cherokee, North Carolina.

I hoped to find my vintage postcard book, The Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, on the shelf there, but it was not there. I was pleased, though, to get to meet Ila Hatter, a volunteer with Great Smoky Mountains Association, the 501(c)3 organization that operates the bookstore/gift shop at the Oconaluftee Visitors Center. I recognized Ms. Hatter from seeing her on UNC-TV (North Carolina public television.) She is a medicinal plant expert. It was a pleasure to meet her.

I told Ms. Hatter about my book and she told me how to e-mail the buyer for the Great Smoky Mountains Association. I did that when I returned home, and I hope to see my book on the shelves in all the GSMA gift shops on my next trip to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

My sister and I joined the Great Smoky Mountains Association and hope to get to take advantage of some of the programs the association offers throughout the year. Even if we don’t, though, we like knowing our membership dues help preserve the national park and provide educational opportunities for others.

You can learn more about Great Smoky Mountains Association by visiting the organization’s website at http://www.smokiesinformation.org.

Lake Junaluska Scenes in My Book

Weekend before last we took time out from visiting bookstores and publicizing my vintage postcard book, The Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, to attend two performances by the Lake Junaluska Singers at the United Methodist Church Conference Center at Lake Junaluska, North Carolina.

Welcome Sign at Lake Junaluska, NC.
Welcome Sign at Lake Junaluska, NC.

The Lake Junaluska Singers performed in Stuart Auditorium. Since I had researched the building and written about it in my book, it was nice to get to enjoy two concerts there.

Stuart Auditorium, Lake Junaluska, NC.
Stuart Auditorium, Lake Junaluska, NC.

The bell at Lake Junaluska, which I wrote about in my book, is between Harrell Center (where the bookstore is located) and Stuart Auditorium. It was donated in 1920 to call conference attendees to meetings in the auditorium.

The bell at Lake Junaluska decorated for Christmas 2014.
The bell at Lake Junaluska decorated for Christmas 2014.

I also wrote about Memorial Chapel at Lake Junaluska in my book, so I was glad to finally see it for myself. The chapel was constructed in 1949 in memory of members of the Methodist Church, South, who served in the armed forces during World War II.

Lake Junaluska's Memorial Chapel.
Lake Junaluska’s Memorial Chapel.

The lake at Lake Junaluska is beautiful any time of the year. It was named for the Cherokee chief who served in that capacity in 1838 when the United State government ordered the removal of the Cherokee people to the Oklahoma Territory.

Mountains and Stuart Auditorium reflected in the 200-acre lake at Lake Junaluska.
Mountains and Stuart Auditorium reflected in the 200-acre lake at Lake Junaluska.

A different kind of bookstore in Asheville

After leaving the Biltmore Estate on December 12, 2014, I went to downtown Asheville and visited Battery Park Book Exchange and Champagne Bar. I knew my vintage postcard book, The Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, had been available there since the week it was released in August.

My book on the shelf at Battery Park Book Exchange & Champagne Bar in Asheville, NC.
My book on the shelf at Battery Park Book Exchange & Champagne Bar in Asheville, NC.

Battery Park Book Exchange and Champagne Bar is an intriguing combination of old and rare books and hot-off-the-press books shelved and otherwise displayed on and around interesting pieces of furniture. There are cozy little areas where friends can meet for drinks and quiet conversation and chairs in corners where readers can sit and escape into the pages of a good book.

Western North Carolina section at Asheville's Battery Park Book Exchange & Champagne Bar.
Western North Carolina section at Asheville’s Battery Park Book Exchange & Champagne Bar.

Seven copies of my book were on a shelf in the Western North Carolina section, a copy was on display on a table with several other Arcadia Publishing books, and one copy was on display on an end cap across from one of the bars! Wow!

My book on display with three other Arcadia Publishing books at Battery Park Book Exchange & Champagne Bar.
My book on display with three other Arcadia Publishing books at Battery Park Book Exchange & Champagne Bar.
My book on an end cap across from the bar at Battery Park Book Exchange and Champagne Bar. Great location!
My book on an end cap across from the bar at Battery Park Book Exchange and Champagne Bar. Great location!

Battery Park Book Exchange and Champagne Bar is located in the Grove Arcade. I included a postcard of the Grove Arcade in my book. It has quite an interesting history. It was built by Edwin Wiley Grove, who also built The Grove Park Inn. He made his fortune selling Grove’s Tasteless Chill Tonic.

Entrance of Battery Park Book Exchange & Champagne Bar at The Grove Arcade in Asheville.
Entrance of Battery Park Book Exchange & Champagne Bar at The Grove Arcade in Asheville.

The Grove Arcade fills a city block at 269,000 square feet. It opened in 1929 with shops and offices. The federal government took over the building during World War II, but in 2002 it was restored to it’s original beauty and elegance and is again home to a variety of shops and offices. After researching it while writing my book, it was a thrill last Friday to get to see the building and enjoy several of the stores there.

One of the Grove Arcade entrances.
One of the Grove Arcade entrances.
Peering through the glass into Battery Park Book Exchange & Champagne Bar from inside the Grove Arcade.
Peering through the glass into Battery Park Book Exchange & Champagne Bar from inside the Grove Arcade.

As the sun was setting over the Blue Ridge Mountains, we (my sister/trusty photographer and I) returned to Lake Junaluska for the night and a performance of Handel’s “Messiah” by the Lake Junaluska Singers and an orchestra.

What a wonderful day!

Book available at Biltmore Estate someday?

I visited The Book Binder’s Shop and the Shop at the Gate at the Biltmore Estate. My book, The Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, was not being sold there, although other Arcadia Publishing books were. I followed up with the buyer and hope my book will be sold there soon.

Lion at The Biltmore House, all decked out for Christmas. I had my picture taken with this same lion in 1964 or 1965 while on a school field trip.
Lion at The Biltmore House, all decked out for Christmas. I had my picture taken with this same lion in 1964 or 1965 while on a school field trip.

Beautiful Lake Junaluska

We arrived at Lake Junaluska late on Thursday afternoon. Lake Junaluska is a conference center of the United Methodist Church. My vintage postcard book, The Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, includes many images from the conference center. After checking in, we visited the bookstore in Harrell Center.

Lake Junaluska Bookstore is in the Harrell Center.
Lake Junaluska Bookstore is in the Harrell Center.

I was pleased to find copies of my book on the shelf in the bookstore.

The Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina on the shelf at Lake Junaluska Bookstore.
The Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina on the shelf at Lake Junaluska Bookstore.
Section in Lake Junaluska Bookstore where my book and other books published by Arcadia Publishing were displayed.
Section in Lake Junaluska Bookstore where my book and other books published by Arcadia Publishing were displayed.

We had tickets to attend the Christmas portion of “The Messiah” that evening in Stuart Auditorium. It was a thrill to see the auditorium after researching its history for one of the vintage postcards in my book. The auditorium was originally green, so I was surprised to discover it is now a white building.

Stuart Auditorium at Lake Junaluska Conference Center in 2014.
Stuart Auditorium at Lake Junaluska Conference Center in 2014.

The Lake Junaluska Singers performed with back up from other singers and an orchestra that was made up of musicians from Asheville, Black Mountain, and Appalachian State University. It was a wonderful evening and a relaxing way to end a very busy day of traveling and visiting bookstores.

Stuart Auditorium and the mountains reflected in Lake Junaluska.
Stuart Auditorium and the mountains reflected in Lake Junaluska.

Blue Ridge Books – Appropriate Place for My Book!

Our next stop in Waynesville, North Carolina last Thursday was Blue Ridge Books. What better name for a bookstore selling my vintage postcard book, The Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina?

Blue Ridge Books, 152 South Main Street, Waynesville, NC.
Blue Ridge Books, 152 South Main Street, Waynesville, NC.

I knew Arcadia’s sales rep had placed the book there in August, so I was eager to see it on the shelf and thank the owners face-to-face. (I wrote letters to all the stores in which the sales rep sold the book the week it was released.) I found two copies of my book in the Western North Carolina section of Blue Ridge Books.

Western North Carolina section in Blue Ridge Books, Waynesville, NC.
Western North Carolina section in Blue Ridge Books, Waynesville, NC.

I introduced myself to Christine, one of the Book Associates. She asked me to autograph my books and then asked if it would all right if she added them to the “Autographed Books Make Great Gifts” table near the front of the store. “Of course!” That was a no-brainer!

Proud author with her book on the "Autographed" table at Blue Ridge Books.
Proud author with her book on the “Autographed” table at Blue Ridge Books.

By then, Jo Gilley, one of the store owners had come out front, so I got to meet her and thank her for selling my book.

Such experiences are encouraging and gratifying.

Snow and Ice on the way to Waynesville

We enjoyed the scenery as we drove from Brevard to Waynesville, North Carolina last Thursday. It had snowed the night before and a dusting of snow remained in the shaded areas beside US-276. Some exposed rockfaces were encased in ice, while some had long icicles hanging from them. We took time to stop and visit Looking Glass Falls, one of my favorite waterfalls in our state.

Looking Glass Falls, beside US-276 in Pisgah National Forest in Transylvania County, NC is 60 feet high.
Looking Glass Falls, beside US-276 in Pisgah National Forest in Transylvania County, NC is 60 feet high.

There are two views of Looking Glass Falls in my vintage postcard book, The Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.

Icicles at Looking Glass Falls.
Icicles at Looking Glass Falls.

It was a cold but bright sunny day. I love driving on curvy mountain roads. US-276 is a good one. It was a great day!

Ice-covered exposed rocks in Looking Glass Creek.
Ice-covered exposed rocks in Looking Glass Creek.

We visited Mast General Store on North Main Street in Waynesville, North Carolina. No visit to Mast General Store is complete without a trip to the candy section. You pick up a basket and select how much of each wrapped candies you wish to purchase. You pay by the pound of candy; it’s all the same price. In addition to current popular candies, they sell some old-fashioned candies that were all the rage in the mid-20th century.

Mast General Store on North Main Street, Waynesville, NC.
Mast General Store on North Main Street, Waynesville, NC.

I was happy to find my book on display and for sale at Mast General Store. I hope it’s available at all their locations in western North and South Carolina.

My book displayed at Mast General Store in Waynesville, NC.
My book displayed at Mast General Store in Waynesville, NC.

Highland Books in Brevard, North Carolina

Our next stop last Thursday after lunch in Saluda was Highland Books in Brevard, North Carolina. What a nice independent bookstore in this college and tourist town. I was thrilled to find two copies of my vintage postcard book, The Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, on the shelf in the regional books section!

Highland Books in Brevard, NC
Highland Books in Brevard, NC

I got to meet the bookstore owners, Peggy and Tim Hansen. They asked me to autograph my books and then Peggy affixed “Autographed Copy” stickers on the front covers and put a “Signed by the Author” sign on the shelf.

Janet, signing copies of her book at Highland Books in Brevard, NC.
Janet, signing copies of her book at Highland Books in Brevard, NC.

They were really nice people. I was glad I got to thank them personally for making my book available in their store. I could get used to this!

My book on the shelf at Highland Books in Brevard, NC.
My book on the shelf at Highland Books in Brevard, NC.

Check in tomorrow to see where we went next.

Like me on Facebook: Janet Morrison, Writer

Fireside Books and Gifts in Shelby, NC

I set out last Thursday on a fabulous weekend in the mountains of North Carolina. It was a combination trip for business and pleasure. Thursday was almost exclusively dedicated to publicizing and marketing my vintage postcard book, The Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. It was a crisp, clear winter day. Conditions couldn’t have been better for the busy day I had planned.

Fireside Books and Gifts in Shelby, NC
Fireside Books and Gifts in Shelby, NC

My first stop was Fireside Books and Gifts in downtown Shelby, North Carolina. Carrie, there, was very friendly and gracious. When I introduced myself and showed her my book, she immediately said, “I’m expecting two copies of it to arrive today.” Needless to say, I was thrilled that she had heard of the book and had already placed an order!

Fireside Books and Gifts is a nice independent bookstore in the county seat of Cleveland County. Shelby area residents are fortunate to have such a good bookstore.

It was encouraging to start the day with such a positive experience.

With my sister/trusty photographer in tow, my next stop was for a hamburger at Ward’s Grill in Saluda. Ward’s is adjacent to Thompson’s Store, which is the oldest grocery store in operation in the state of North Carolina. Founded in 1890, it has been in operation for 124 years!

From Saluda, it was on to a bookstore in Brevard. Stay tuned!

Not one single sales gene!

Making “cold calls” at bookstores and other stores that might sell my book is not my idea of fun because I was born without one single sales gene. It is difficult for me to enter a store and introduce myself and my book. Perhaps it will get easier with practice. I am much happier at the keyboard writing. That’s probably true of most writers, but promoting one’s book is part of the job.

I told my friend, Kay, that I was not cut out for life in the fast lane. She didn’t miss a beat and came back with, “Maybe you should of thought about that before you wrote a book!”

If you’ve been following my blog over the last week, I don’t want to leave you with the impression that my book was on all the bookstore shelves in the mountains. I visited several bookstores that had not heard of my book, The Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. That was not a surprise.

Eastern National operates the gift/book shop at the Folk Art Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Asheville. There were a couple of Arcadia Publishing books available there, but mine was not one of them. The cashier said they will “probably have it eventually.” He said it has to be approved for sale by the national office, the regional office, and then the local office. I’m hopeful my book will be for sale there by spring. Winter is a slow time for tourists on the Blue Ridge Parkway, so spring will be good.

The woman at Fountainhead Books in Hendersonville was not very encouraging, but gave me the owner’s business card and told me to have Arcadia contact the owner directly. I did that when I got home, and Arcadia is following up with Fountainhead.

The Fountainhead Bookstore in Hendersonville, NC.
The Fountainhead Bookstore in Hendersonville, NC.

Joy of Books is the other bookstore in Hendersonville. The woman there was upbeat. She has never ordered books from Arcadia, but she has ordered from History Press and she knew that the two companies recently merged. I’m hopeful that she will order my book.

Joy of Books in Hendersonville, NC.
Joy of Books in Hendersonville, NC.

All the contacts I make while promoting The Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina will serve me well if I get to write additional vintage postcard books for Arcadia Publishing and when I get my historical novel published. The title I’ve given that 98,000-word manuscript is The Spanish Coin. Someday….