Seems it was only yesterday we were popping the corks and dusting off our 2013 party glasses. Alas, another year has come and gone, and what do we here at BookPeople have to show for it? How do we measure a year in the life of a bookstore? Why, in instagram photos, storytimes and Supreme Court Justices, of course.
2013 Free In-Store Events:
- 154 storytimes
- 168 book club discussions
- 258 in-store author events
2013 Bestsellers:
1. My Beloved World by Sonia Sotomayor
2. Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls by David Sedaris
3. The Son by Philipp Meyer
4. Austin Breakfast Tacos by Mando Rayo & Jarod Neece
5. Quiet by Susan Cain
6. And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini
7. Week in a Day by Rachel Ray
8. Goodnight Austin by Allison Amador
9. Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson
10. Tenth of December by George Saunders
See all of our 2013 Bestsellers
Fun Fact: The #1 selling book in our Children’s section in 2013 was Goodnight Austin, a self-published title by local authors Allison Amador & Tammy Stanley.
THE HIGHLIGHT REEL:
Sonia Sotomayor
On January 23, 2013 we hosted one of the largest events in store history when Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor appeared here to speak about and sign her bestselling memoir, My Beloved Country. Thousands of people showed up at our front door to hear her speak. One of our favorite memories from the night: The little girl who asked Justice Sotomayor to, “Say hello to Mr. Obama, please.”
Penguin Book Truck
As part of our partnership with Penguin Books at the Texas Book Festival, we spent a few days getting to know the very large, very in charge, bright orange Penguin Book Truck. The Saturday of the TBF was one of Ben’s first days on staff and he proved his bookselling prowess by standing in front of that truck improvising book-related witticisms to call out to passersby. For hours. You’re all right, Ben. By the time it was all said and done, we did not one, not two, but THREE different events with the truck before it headed to Miami.
Jonathan Lethem Gets a Billboard
Because Jeffrey Eugenides does not get to have all the fun, we gifted Jonathan Lethem his own billboard. Dissident Gardens is a terrific novel and deserves it.
A Gift Card Older Than Some Of Our Booksellers
A customer came in with a 25 year old gift card. Her 1988 certificate was completely valid. Because, like diamonds, a BookPeople gift card is forever.
John Aielli, Mayor Leffingwell, Ray Benson & Owen Egerton Were All Really Good Sports
These guys with hearts of gold donned Waldo hats to help us celebrate Find Waldo Local 2014. Aielli’s instructions for finding his desk: “Two aisles down and to the right. Look for the monkey.”
We Made Our First Foray Into India
Our fearless leader Steve B. journeyed across the seas to India this year and came back with a lofty new goal: expand BookPeople to India by 2036.
The Crayons Quit
Our storytime crayons got a hold of the new picture book illustrated by Oliver Jeffers, The Day the Crayons Quit, and staged a protest.
We Started (and Stopped) Selling Sardines in the Cafe
We Met:
We Launched Words Across the World
In partnership with Random House, the Austin Independent School District, World Altering Medicine and local author Shana Burg, we launched Words Across the World, a program with the mission of expanding literacy in Austin and Malwai, Africa, and sending much-needed medical supplies to a community in Malawi. We’re fundraising for Words Across the World through the end of January. There’s still time to make a donation!
We Posed With Books
Thank you for your support! You’ve made 2013 a year to remember here at BookPeople. Cheers to all the books we’ll read in 2014!
BookPeople 
Someone kept and used their gift certificate after 25 years?!?! That’s amazing. Good on you for honouring it. I think a lot of stores would have not taken it.