Cyberflanerie: Internet Book Shopping Edition

The Norton Book Sofa

October and November were intense... no more books for me, Santa, but oh, do I want some of these Brodart book covers... (Why didn't I start buying and using them sooner?!?!)


The Norton book sofa: perfect for rare book collectors.

So whimsical: KnobCreek Metal Arts bookends on etsy.

A well so deep it must go to China: bodaciously great source of antiquarian books (and used whatnot) at www.abebooks.com

Not sure how to get started with rare book collecting? ABC for Book Collectors by John Carter  and Nicolas Barker. 

And do buy Leslie Pietrzyk's novels! P.S. Highlights of her recent talk for the Writer's Center's Leesburg First Friday series on writing short fiction and long fiction here.

Books, books, books! Bookman's Log!

For Baja Buffs and soon-to-be-Baja Buffs: Miraculous Air: Journey of a Thousand Miles through Baja California, the Other Mexico. 

The rest of the gang is here.

P.S. I'll be posting my top 10 reads for the year in the next couple of weeks. Last year's, topped by Sara Mansfield Taber's lyrical Born Under an Assumed Name, is here.

COMMENTS

Harry Crosby and Baja California's Magnificent Cave Paintings

Some years ago, as part of my research for my book on Baja California, Miraculous Air, I had the honor of interviewing the great photographer, and cave art and Jesuit mission historian Harry W. Crosby. I have more respect than I can say for his work: his deep research, painstaking documentation, and splendid photographs, have fundamentally changed and vastly enriched our understanding of the peninsula. Among his many works are: Tijuana 1964; Antigua California; and The Cave Paintings of California. Crosby has kept a low profile in recent years, but tomorrow, Thursday, February 24, he will be speaking in San Diego about the cave art. If you are in the area, or anywhere near the area, be sure to go.

Here is the announcement that came to me from his publisher, Sunbelt:

As a writer and as a historian, Harry W. Crosby’s extensive explorations and archival research have established him as one of the foremost authorities on the colorful past of the Californias. On February 24, 2011 at 6:00 pm, he will make a rare appearance at Adventure 16 to share the lifetime of knowledge he possesses on the pre-historic cave murals of the Baja California Peninsula. His presentation will be based on his highly acclaimed book The Cave Paintings of Baja California.

A celebrated octogenarian, Harry Crosby rarely schedules public events to promote his many publications. For this occasion, he has partnered with good friend John D. Mead, President of Adventure 16, in hopes that they might remind travelers of the lately overlooked beauty that can be found south of the border. Discover Baja travel agency will also be in attendance to educate on safe travel practices through Mexico.

The evening will begin with a wine and cheese reception, followed by Crosby’s presentation, and concluding with book-signing. Several specialty books on Baja California will also be available at Adventure 16 exclusively during the event including classics like Backroad Baja, which contains several maps that are one-of-a kind, and The Camino Real and the Missions of Baja California, which is partially authored by Harry Crosby.

Crosby’s presentation will include a slide show with pictures from the dramatic cave murals of the Baja California peninsula. His research on the topic began in 1967 when he was commissioned to provide the photographs for The Call to California, requiring him to ride over 600 miles on mule back on Baja’s El Camino Real. The trip piqued his curiosity and led to another decade of interviewing ranchers of the remote mountains. Exploring with local guides he found over 200 previously undiscovered murals and rock art sites, which he documented in The Cave Paintings of Baja California.

1997 saw the publication of a completely revised and expanded edition of Crosby’s The Cave Paintings of Baja California, which garnered praise from readers, critics, and book clubs. The books popularity led to subsequent reprints in 2001 and 2010. His years of field and archival research into Early California history also yielded such works as Antigua California, the now standard history of Spanish California’s first 70 years, and Last of the Californios. Released in 2001 were his first novel, Portrait of Paloma, and a book of his early photography, Tijuana: 1964.

WHO: Harry W. Crosby
WHAT: Presenting on the Cave Paintings of Baja California
WHEN: Thursday, February 24, 2011 @ 6:00 pm
WHERE: Adventure 16 4620 Alvarado Canyon Road San Diego, CA 92120-4390

---> No guest-blog post this Wednesday, but be sure to check the archive which includes posts on Baja California and/ or Mexico by Stephanie Elizondo-Greist, Michael Hogan, David Lida, Graham Mackintosh, Greg Niemann, Isabella Tree, and many more.

Guest-blogger Greg Niemann on his Baja Books, Big Brown, and Five Favorite Websites

To date, "Madam Mayo" has hosted Baja Buff writers Graham Mackintosh and Jennifer Silva Redmond. Now it's a trio with Greg Niemann, who is not only one of the most prolific of the Baja Buff writers, but also the author of a fascinating book on the history of UPS, Big Brown. I'll let him tell you how we met. Over to you, Greg!

I met C.M. Mayo in San Jose del Cabo while we were both promoting our Baja books. Because I feel that Miraculous Air is one of the best Baja books written, I later took her writing seminar in Mexico City this past January and continued to be impressed with her knowledge and writing ability. When she asked me to guest blog, I really didn’t know what she meant, nor exactly what a blog was, so I read a few other on-line blogs and offer this. Sometimes an old dog can learn new tricks. Thanks, Catherine.

My vast myriad of interests is partially reflected in my writing. After publishing two books about Baja California, Baja Fever and Baja Legends, one might assume my future books would be somehow connected with that Mexican peninsula. After all, my colleague Graham Mackintosh now has four Baja books and a host of fans. My own Baja publicity and marketing has long been set up, in place, and effective. In fact, Sunbelt Publications expects to do a third printing of Baja Legends this year.

Another Baja book from me would almost be expected. Too easy! Somehow, I always take the hard way. Just like in my real estate investing I have sometimes worked harder for not heeding the experts. For example, they said to have all your properties in the same general area. Mine are scattered all over the place, necessitating multiple vendors, plumbers, maintenance workers, gardeners, etc. Maybe I got deals, but I created headaches at the same time.

For my third book, my interest shifted to the desert oasis of Palm Springs, California. My curiosity about the place led to Palm Springs Legends, now already in its second printing. Of course, it opened a new chapter of distribution, retailers, libraries, bookstores, gift shops, signings, presentations, and media, but I said I didn’t want it too easy.

Before becoming an author, I had retired from United Parcel Service after 34 years and spent most of that time editing company publications. Knowing the worldwide company would be 100 years old in August 2007, and knowing no one had written about the huge shipping firm, well, I felt somebody had to. I got busy. It took the finding of a bright, hard-working agent in Sally Van Haitsma of Castiglia Literary Agency who really believed in the project, and several years of hard work, but my fourth book became a reality. The result is Big Brown: The Untold Story of UPS, published by Jossey-Bass, an imprint of Wiley & Sons. Potential readership suddenly leapfrogged from regional to worldwide audiences. Now I really had to scramble to market the book. With Wiley’s assistance and direction, and hands-on involvement from my agent, it too is already in its second printing, and rights have been sold to Korean and Chinese publishers.

What’s next? Who knows; for my Baja fans, well I do have a few stories that have never been published. But I’m also working on several other projects right now, and I’m not sure which one will muscle its way to the forefront. I will venture this, it most likely will not be easy.

As far as my favorite web sites, I do check some specific-to-me sites, including some for UPS retirees, real estate, the stock market, the Outdoor Writers Association of California (OWAC), or even fishing sites. For example, I like to know when trout are stocked nearby. Some of my sites require membership. Thought I’d share some of my favorite web sites that are more general in nature. The popular web sites I’ve listed here, however, are probably no great revelation to many of you.

#1. Wikipedia
We all have spell checks and thesaurus capabilities on our software these days, but when I’m busy writing, really creating, I seem to constantly pull up Wikipedia, the on-line dictionary. It’s awesome. It seems to have everything. If you’re writing an article about Cocaine, for example, just pull up Wikipedia, type in Cocaine and take your pick from history, pharmacology, use of, types of, or whatever it is you want to know. Real helpful.

#2. Abebooks
My wife and I both use this site regularly. If we’re traveling and don’t want to lug books around, we’ll write the info down and order the book from AbeBooks when we get home. Over 13,500 booksellers have 110 million books listed, and they’re listed by price, condition, edition, etc. Hard-to-find used books and bargains can usually be found.

#3. Baja Nomads
To keep my finger on the Baja pulse, so to speak, I do regularly check the Baja Nomad Forum, run by Doug Means. Unlike other Baja forums, this one is used a lot, with much new input added each day. Over 6,500 worldwide members have made over a quarter million posts covering 22,000 Baja topics. I personally don’t take the time to post, but keep up by reading it.

#4. Amazon
I check Amazon constantly to see how my books are doing, either by reviews and sales. You can see how a book is selling in relation to all books, or compared to others in the same category, updated hourly. In addition, you can order any book you can think of, and then some. We use it a lot.

#5. Zillow
Where was this site back in the 1980s when I was calling realtors from corner phone booths? Just type in an address and get an instant appraisal, info on comparables, neighboring homes, etc. A real helpful tool, and usually pretty accurate, especially in mid-price ranges. Certainly enough to give you a ball park number before you consider a purchase or sale.

--- Greg Niemann

--->For the archive of Madam Mayo's guest blog posts, click here.