Although December sales at Booked for Murder in Madison, Wis. (Shelf Awareness, December 11, 2008), were down from the same period in 2007, owner Sara Barnes was pleasantly surprised by the noticeable number of new customers. "Maybe the flavor of the times has people more inclined to search out the fun and unique independents," Barnes said. Along with cozies like Eggs in Purgatory by Laura Childs and Mrs. Malory and a Time to Die by Hazel Holt, puzzles were popular gifts, something Barnes attributed to a renewed interest in "more old-fashioned, affordable family fun." The hardcover standout at Booked for Murder was Steve Berry's The Charlemagne Pursuit.

Page-turners by P.D. James, Anne Perry and Rita Mae Brown garnered holiday sales at Mystery Lovers Bookshop in Oakmont, Pa. (Shelf Awareness, December 10, 2008). So did non-suspense titles like The Fallingwater Cookbook and The Heinz Tomato Ketchup Cookbook, both of which have a regional connection, and the pop-up books Brava, Strega Nona!--a hit with collectors--and Birdscapes. A sample copy of the $60 Birdscapes, which includes recordings of bird songs, "really got attention," said store co-owner Mary Alice Gorman. "You would hear these wonderful bird calls all over the store." Shoppers continued to show up between Christmas Day and New Year's Day, and a higher number of gift certificates than usual were redeemed that week.

This year Gorman plans to focus more on merchandising. A new window display showcases a snow globe (made by a staffer who is a former art teacher) and books with "snow" and "winter" in the title--among them the children's story The Snow Globe Family, which helped inspire the display. A prominent in-store display promotes books tying in to the upcoming presidential inauguration, such as Dreams from My Father and The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama, biographies of FDR and other former commanders-in-chief and the children's anthology Our White House, which has an introduction by Pittsburgh native David McCullough. Also part of the display are two mugs, one for Democrats ("I Have a Dream") and one for Republicans ("Make My Day"). When filled with hot liquid, the electoral map on the mugs turns either blue or red. The frontrunner? The Democratic-themed mug, of which Mystery Lovers has sold several hundred.

The Tales of Beedle the Bard was the top seller at Nicola's Books in Ann Arbor, Mich. (Shelf Awareness, November 25, 2008), followed by Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World and the mystery Three Bags Full, a favorite handsell. Overall sales were down 8% in December, with a 5% decrease for books. Sweet-toothed readers were satisfied, though: chocolate sales were up over last year. Store owner Nicola Rooney attributes the downturn partly to the lack of an especially popular local interest title with a high price point, such as last year's Bo's Lasting Lessons co-authored by the late University of Michigan football coach Bo Schembechler.

Changes Rooney is making this year include a slight reduction in store hours and eliminating some radio advertising. She also plans to do more targeted outreach to customers who are already listed in the store's database as well as to addresses provided by newcomers associations. "If someone is moving, it's a chance to get them to change their shopping habits," Rooney noted. Steven Rinella was at the store this week to promote American Buffalo, and next month Nicola's will host historian Alison Weir. A full lineup of author appearances won't begin for several weeks because of continuing concerns about snowstorms, which hindered holiday shopping. Said Rooney, "We try not to do too many events in January and February because the weather is still so unpredictable."

The three days before Christmas were busy ones at Capitol Book & News Company in Montgomery, Ala. (Shelf Awareness, December 22, 2008), "but we lacked the one big blowout day we usually have," said owner Thomas Upchurch. The store ended the year with a 1% decline in holiday sales. Upchurch is "cautiously pessimistic" about prospects for 2009, given the possibility that the economy might worsen in the coming months. "On the other hand, we're planning a trip to New York for BEA in May," he said.--Shannon McKenna Schmidt