SassyJacks Books

How did you get started in bookselling?
I have been a book lover my entire life and to my way of thinking, a natural extension of that is buying and selling books. I had always dreamed of having my own book store, but it seemed an impossibility. One day, while searching the net, I stumbled on a site that said I could "sell my books here", so, out of curiousity, I got to checking prices of the books out of my own library. Well, I was hooked from that moment on! Now, I really do have my own book store and I can't think of anything in this world I would rather be doing.

Bookselling is not the easiest way to make a living. What keeps you doing it?
Thats easy! The thrill of the hunt! Working for myself and filling my customers needs and wants. Building a great reputation as a bookseller is important and challenging at times. I learn something new everyday and being surrounded by books is a dream come true.

What is your specialty? How did you choose it?
My largest specialty is out of print childrens books and I didn't choose them, they chose me. I came across a fantastic source for childrens books and had to learn about them as I went. So now, it seems my "specialty" is childrens books, which actually is a good thing as I'm not tempted to keep any for myself! However, I do keep a wide variety of other subjects on my shelves.

Do you collect anything besides books?
I use to collect antiques, especially pewter, but now it seems all I have time to collect are books, bubble wrap, mailers and lots of paperwork!

Do you have a shop pet?
I don't have the traditional "cat in the window" because my Jack Russell, Yorkie and Black Lab would never speak to me again.

What is the most unusual book you ever bought?
I have a childrens book from Australia called "Chicken in the Middle of the Road" about a chicken that got hit by a truck when it tried to cross the road. Hilarious!

Do you have any legendary stories you tell about incidents in your store or as a bookseller?
Only that it still never ceases to amaze that almost everyone, when they come in, asks "Have you read all these books?" Now, I say "Why, yes, don't you read a lot,too?"


What are your favorite books, or your recommendations?
I collect and read often most of the "New thought" writers from the early part of the 20th century. Florence Scovil Shin, Emmett Fox, Robert Collier, etc. Although the "New Thoughts" are actually very "Old Thoughts" dating to pre-Christian history, there seems to have been an explosion from around 1880-1930 of terrific writers and highly respected leaders of like mind such as Abe Lincoln, Ben Franklin, Emmerson, Thoreau, Henry Ford,etc. I find it fascinating and enjoy reading about them.

- Roxanna Martin, SassyJacks Books

The views of the author, expressed above, are not necessarily those of the Advanced Book Exchange.