Once Upon a Crime

Every now and then I will dedicate a blog to someone in the crime fiction industry that deserves some recognition.  Today I am proud to give a shout out to Once Upon a Crime owners Pat and Gary.  I first met them when I owned Booked for Murder.  We only ever talked via email, but I could tell they were incredibly kind and dedicated book people.



http://www.onceuponacrimebooks.com/



When I moved up here to the Twin Cities, I made sure to make a trip to OUAC as soon as I could.  They have such a fantastic store.  And finally meeting Pat and Gary in person was lovely.  Pat acts like my mom, chiding me to eat more or to take better care of myself, but that is Pat and I wouldn't want her any other way.  She genuinely cares for her customers - it feels like a big family. 

This year, Pat and Gary are being honored at the Edgar Awards.  They are receiving the Raven Award, which is for outstanding achievement beyond the realm of creative writing.  They will receive the award on April 28th.

Inker Jessie Chandler and her book at Once Upon a Crime's Write of Spring 2011



Outstanding achievement?  You better believe it.  Pat and Gary go out of their way to support authors in any way that they can.  Each year they host a Write of Spring event where 40 Minnesota authors are showcased.  They host 6-10 author events a month.  They read voraciously and handsell like the mad.  And they are succeeding in a time when the book world is a little shaky.  How do they do it?  Love of the store, for their local authors and community and for the larger crime fiction community. 

If you are ever in the Twin Cities, make sure you stop in and see for yourself.  I would bet you'll walk out with a armful of books and a huge smile on your face.  I always do!

Write of Spring

Every year since 2002, on the first Saturday of spring, Minnesota's premier mystery bookstore, Once Upon a Crime, holds its annual Write of Spring. Pat and Gary, the owners of Once Upon a Crime, bill their store as "informal, low-tech, and happy to provide the best customer service around." The Write of Spring epitomizes this attitude.

Over 60 authors were present, hanging out in one-hour shifts to talk to, meet with, and sign books for fans and aspiring writers. Many of us blur the line between fan and author when we find ourselves standing between the likes of William Kent Krueger and Laura Childs while chatting with Ruth Jordan about the future of the mystery genre. All this in a tiny store no larger than my dining room and kitchen combined, no cover charge, no pretension.

For me, this is what independent bookstores are all about. You have camaraderie, connecting, employees who can give you an exhaustive answer to the question, "If I like this book, what other books would I like?" Once Upon a Crime, whose motto is, "For a Good Crime, Call," also hosts book groups and writing groups as well as putting on weekly signings.

Pat and Gary, who incidentally got married in their store two years as Gary battled leukemia, put as much effort into supporting emerging authors as the bestsellers. I remember setting up my first signing at the store, for May Day, which came out in 2006. My ego was bruised from trying to set up events at larger stores. I expected more of the same from Once Upon a Crime, but Pat's email response to my request read something like this: "May Day was a hoot! You let us know what day and time you want to set up a signing, and we'll make it happen. In the meanwhile, I ordered 40 copies of your book, so stop by and sign stock. Looking forward to meeting you!"

Hunh? She'd not only read my book but had ordered copies of it? If you've dealt with Once Upon a Crime, I know you've had a similar experience. They're champs in the mystery field, the unsung underdogs who connect readers directly with writers, and vice versa. And I bet they're not the only ones out there. What's your favorite indie, and why?

(The photos are, starting with the top one and working down: Pat, co-owner of the store, along with a children's book author; a writer of books, Lori L. Lake, and William Kent Krueger--one of the best mystery writers out there; Ellen Hart and Michael Allen Mallory. I apologize for not knowing the names of two of the authors pictured. I'm lame that way.)