JULY 10, 2009 - WOW!  When we first conceived of an online bookstore back in March, we didnít think of all that went into it.  It isnít our first business, and it isnít our first time selling books on the internet.  But ten years on eBay and over two years on Amazon did not quite prepare us for this.

Mostly it has been a learning experience.  We have been spending a great deal of time with a computer programmer (or a website developer, or something like that), who does not speak ìbooksî.  I have learned to speak books fluently, but I am barely literate in computer.  It made for some interesting conversations (and confusions).

At any rate, after learning several new computer programs (and teaching books to one programmer), we have solved the problems and are now at the GRAND OPENING--our Launch Day!

The original goal was to list 1,000 books (out of an inventory of over 10,000 that is growing daily).  We did not quite make it.  The initial launch will be about 800 titles, with more added as quickly as I can get them listed. 

One of the big plusses of this new venture is that I have already had the chance to speak (in internet terms--email) with several of our new readers and customers.  In the old days, when eBay was young, and not corporate, a transaction could mean a brief or lengthy correspondence between a buyer and seller.  The two got to know each other a bit, and a ìsaleî or ìpurchaseî became more interesting and valuable. 

I once sold a book to a buyer in Houlton, Maine.  My father was stationed in Houlton at the end of World War II at a Prisoner of War Camp.  The family has a photo album from Houlton--mostly of Mom and Dad--they apparently did not allow pictures of the camp itself.  It was also the source of many stories.  The buyer was a young man who did not know that there had been prisoners of war in his home town.  He checked--the local historical society confirmed that the POW camp was now the municipal airport.

The moral of the story is:  If you have any questions or comments, please let us know.  We are actually people. 

We will not refer you to a ìHelpî program on the computer.  We will not give you answers from a canned program that we read from our computer.  And we are not corporate employees earning minimum wage who are paid to recite such nonsense.

If we can help you, we will.  If there is something you are interested in or looking for, let us know.  We would like to be of service--now and down the road, a few years from now.

At any rate, please browse the site.  Check for new books regularly--more will be added every day or so.  Our comments will be offered on this blog section of the site.  Keep in touch!

Lenny