On the Outskirts of the Publishing Industry | Interview with Bookstore Manager

This is an interview with Zach Happel.

Tal: First, why don’t you introduce yourself!

Zach: Hello, my name is Zach; I am 38 years old, and I have been working at Books & Greetings since it opened in 2007. I have been the manager officially for the past few years.

T: What book got you into reading?

Z: I wouldn’t say one book got me into reading.  I would also be surprised if that is the case for anyone really.  I grew up in a divorced home with my mom who would often drop us off at our grandparents’ house.  My uncle was a Marvel Comics collector so I would say comic books first piqued my interest, but it was the illustrations which hooked me first, not the words. My mom would do the motherly version of let’s make a deal: “You read this biography on Abe Lincoln, I’ll let you go to Joker’s Child to get some comics.”  I hated the required reading but loved my comics, so reading was strongly fostered in the home, so all credit goes to my mother and grandmother. 

T: Why did you decide to work in the literary and retail industry?

Z: I was in a dark place, and one of my dearest friends told me she had heard about an independent bookstore opening 5 minutes away! I am not a corporate/office person, so the idea of working for a “dying” sector that I personally cared about felt like the job picked me.

T: What are daily tasks that you have while overseeing a bookstore?

Z: Everything!!!!! I am the sole book buyer. I ring people up. I recommend books. We are also a gift store as very few indies can survive on only books, so I will put displays together. I also handle emails, set up Eventbrite pages for book signings, and write proposals for potential book signings; it goes on, it’s never boring.

T: As an indie bookstore in North Jersey, you are well known for bringing in authors for events. How are you able to get so many celebrity signings? 

Z: This didn’t happen overnight, and a lot of credit must go to my boss, Kenny, who also wanted this store to host events.  The process is the publishers send out every season on Edelweiss called author grids - authors who are available for touring, from debut authors nobody knows to icons. You write proposals making your case why you’d  be a great stop and hope they send them.  You also usually start with smaller events, and when the publishers see you can handle them, they get better and better. It took a good two years before we had our first multi-hundred-attended book signing.

T: What is your current read, your favorite read, and one book you think everyone should read?

Z: My current read is nothing. I work retail during the holidays in an indie, I have no time or energy to read, ironically.

That’s like asking a parent who their favorite child is.  It’s Blood Meridian. In my opinion it’s the best American novel of the past fifty years. 

That’s a much harder question. On a personal level I would say Meditations by Marcus Aurelius or Tao te Ching. Great non-dogmatic books for those seeking some form of oneness or stillness without the organized religion stuff. My safe answer would be my favorite children’s book, Harold and the Purple Crayon; it's the best children’s book about imagination, and adults could always use a reminder.

T: Do you have any last comments about your role in the literary industry/book’s journey we didn’t go over or any pieces of advice for people wanting to enter the book retail world?

Z: I would say the most dangerous thing threatening the book industry and this nation by proxy is boys, teens, and men not reading.  Our customer base is almost entirely female.  Young boys will read up till 9, 10, 11, then stop and never pick it up again.  Any aspiring authors hearing this? There isn’t a hole in the market, there is a chasm.