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Gilman Wins "Heart & Soul" Award

Mysterious Galaxy owner Terry Gilman has been honored with the Heart & Soul Award, given by the Women in Business committee of the Manhattan Beach Chamber of Commerce. The award recognizes businesswomen who are professionally successful and give back to the community.

"Terry's contributions are sizable, but always measurable. They don't make headlines, but they make a difference," the Chamber said in its award citation, mentioning Gilman's work with the EveryChild Foundation and her "Ladies, Lunch, and Literacy" fundraisers that link debut authors and local literacy programs.

A Raven for Mystery Lovers

Mystery Lovers Bookshop in Oakmont, Pennsylvania, received the Mystery Writers of America's Raven Award for 2010 at a ceremony in New York City on April 29. The store shared the award with Zev Buffman of the International Mystery Writers' Festival.

"Needless to say, we were thrilled," said Mystery Lovers co-owner Richard Goldman. "We were completely surprised by the Raven." The award, given to non-authors who support and promote the mystery genre, has no nomination process or shortlist, so Goldman and co-owner Mary Alice Gorman had no idea their store was being considered.

Goldman and Gorman made a quick trip to Manhattan to accept their award at MWA's Edgar Awards ceremony, then dashed back to Oakmont to finish preparing for the store's annual Festival of Mystery. "I think the festival was one of the major reasons behind their [award] decision," Goldman said, adding that because the community of authors and customers is what makes the festival a success, he considers the Raven a symbol of their commitment to the mystery genre as well.

Three Booksellers Tell PAMA What They Want

Three New York-area booksellers addressed a room full of publishing professionals at the Publishing Advertising and Marketing Association's (PAMA) "What Booksellers Want" lunch seminar. Margot Sage-EL of Watchung Booksellers, Francine Lucidon of The Voracious Reader, and Stephanie Anderson of WORD were the speakers.

Publishing Perspectives covered the event. The three booksellers discussed their different forms of community outreach, the value of an NPR appearance, and why many of their customers continue to buy and enjoy physical books.

McLean & Eakin Donations Reach $100,000

In April, McLean & Eakin Booksellers reached a milestone: Through its "Ten Percent for Schools" program, the store has donated $100,000 to local schools and organizations.

According to the Petoskey News-Review, the program was started in 1993 by store founder Julie Norcross. For customers who participate in the program, the store donates 10 percent of purchases -- in the form of gift cards -- to a school or non-profit of the customer's choice.

"The customers have really driven the demand for it, because it's a direct reflection of their interests and where they want their dollars to go," said store owner Matt Norcross.

To celebrate the occasion, McLean & Eakin had a party for customers and posted a YouTube video that shows how local commerce and local philanthropy are linked.