That Time I Worked at Barnes and Noble

+ December 2023 updates

Once Upon a Time, I was a 15-year-old in need of pocket money for new jeans from the Buckle (RIP) (just kidding, I google’d and they’re still going strong).

About half of my friends scooped custard at Michael’s and the other half served bottomless fries at Red Robin, but I was already kind of snobby and knew there was only one store I could actually spend that much time in.

I worked at the Barnes and Noble in East Towne Mall for two years, mainly shelving picture books. It was way more boring than I’d imagined but as far as high school jobs go, it wasn’t half bad. I still remember that I made $7.15 an hour, an absolute fortune compared to my friends, and you could actually borrow books for up to five days, which I took full advantage of.

But my least favorite part of that gig was the Saturday mornings I had to work author events.

You’d think author events were glamorous, with long signing lines and fascinating conversations. And occasionally, they were. I honestly can’t even remember who it was, but we probably had 5-6 big name authors visit on book tour over that time. I, the lowly teenager, was not selected to work those shifts. No—I was usually staffing the local author events coordinated by the author themselves.

You guys. Torture does not begin to describe it.

The chairs we’d arrange. The folding table the author would sit at. The pile of books they’d bring. The anxious smiles as customers walked by, half-glancing with curiosity before walking away.

The majority of book events I had to work had exactly *0* attendees. (Why did we keep agreeing to host them, you might ask? The answer: why not? It didn’t cost the store anything, and the author almost always guilt-bought books before leaving.) I always felt so, so bad for this author, who’d poured their heart into a book and took all of the time to throw an event with no adoring fans. Even then, my wildest dream was to write a book, so I was ridiculously impressed with any and all authors and made sure to tell them so. But that doesn’t mean I didn’t feel the embarrassing sting of an empty event. They felt bad. I felt bad. The manager felt bad. The customers walking by felt (kind of) bad. It was just…bad.

So that’s why I was secretly almost-kind-of-a-smidge-okay with it when my first two book launch parties were canceled due to the ‘rona. The haunting image of an empty book event has scarred me for life. Some authors like Erin Bowman are brave enough to throw an empty book event and live to tell the tale, but I’m not typically one of them.

Then, I had so much fun at our Rachel Riley party. And it wasn’t empty! People came! Yes, half of them were related to me, but I care not! It was such a delight to bring gift bags and snacks and celebrate with some of my favorite people.

So, here we are: throwing not one, but two launch events for The Funeral Ladies of Ellerie County. If you’re local, I would absolutely love to see you at one (or both!) If not, I’ll have come full circle with my 15-year-old self and there’s something kind of funny about that, too.

Mark your calendars!

3/12/24: Come celebrate the launch of Funeral Ladies of Ellerie County at Books and Company in Oconomowoc, WI at 6:00 PM! Goodies, gift bags, and giveaways will ensue.

3/26/24: Join us at the Waterford Stillhouse in Waterford, WI, at 6:30 PM, where I’ll be the featured author in the very popular Cocktails and Conversation series! I’ll be sipping a cocktail, answering your questions, and signing books.

You guys—New York Public Library named What Happened to Rachel Riley as one of its best books of 2023. I’m humbled, honored, and itching to rewatch Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

The book was also named to the Texas Library Association’s Lone Star List and was nominated for Nebraska’s Golden Sower Award. Eek!

If you want to read more middle grade written by me, I have good news for you—Take It From the Top, my next MG book, releases in September of 2024! There will be more information coming ASAP, but for right now, just take this little nugget: Two former besties at a theater camp in the Northwoods land the leading roles in Wicked. The problem? “Loathing” doesn’t even begin to cover it.

And lastly, a book I’ve loved lately for…

Kids: Auntie Claus by Elise Primavera will always be a favorite this time of year! I also can’t wait to snuggle up with my littles and read The Gingerbread Doll by Susan Tews, one of my favorites from childhood.

Middle graders: OK, I read Between Shades of Gray by Ruth Sepetys based off someone’s recommendation this month and here’s what I’ll say: I absolutely loved it, and it is absolutely not a middle grade book. I think since it’s older it probably gets grouped in “children’s fiction” the way Sarah Dessen and Judy Blume and Gail Carson Levine all used to be in the same bookstore section, but this is at least a YA. It follows the story of a Lithuanian girl and her family who get banished to Siberia in the 1940s. It’s incredibly graphic and dark. Stunning, though!

Adults: I just finished The Overstory by Richard Powers and loved its winding prose, environmental message, and hopeful tone.

Thanks for reading along!

-Claire-