Recently, I dropped into one of my favourite haunts in Uxbridge and asked a member of the staff if she had a copy of the new book by Philippa Gregory. After a quick dash to the non-fiction section, she retrieved Normal Women: Nine Hundred Years of Making History. She recommended it, something I always appreciate from staff members at Blue Heron Books. In fact, as I left, I offered the best compliment I could think of at the time.
“Lots of women making history at this establishment,” I said. And I meant it.
In Dr. Gregory’s nearly 700-page treatise, the author doesn’t focus on the obvious handful of heroines in British history – Elizabeth I, Agatha Christie, Florence Nightingale or Margaret Thatcher – but rather the legions of women who competed in jousts, designed ships, mills and houses, or enlisted in the armed services.
The Los Angelos Times critic commented: “You’ve devoured her novels, but now Gregory shows off chops as a historian,” which is partly why I was curious to read the book. Some of her subjects were criminals, others worshipped disparate gods, cooked, nursed, invented, campaigned for women’s rights and some were notable for the things they built. And that was the reason for my compliment at the Blue Heron doorway.
Last Saturday afternoon, scores of folks from the book industry – authors, publishers, sales reps, editors, and graphic artists – but most importantly a legion of satisfied book buyers visited 62 Brock St. W. to thank Blue Heron for 35 years of selling us books.
With the holiday season fast approaching, the store was already buzzing with gift-buyers, but even more of us dropped by to pay homage to the owners (past and present) and staff for three and a half decades of bringing the best in printed literature into our lives. And not just via the books themselves.
Blue Heron owners and staff have led the industry (twice winners of the Canadian Booksellers Association Libris Award for Independent Bookseller of the Year) for dreaming up ways to tweak our reading interest with “Books and Authors Night,” “Books ‘n’ Brunch” events, and the annual “Book Drunkard Festival,” not to mention pop-up events that motivated the entire community.
“I remember the night we launched the Harry Potter book,” recalled current owner Shelley Macbeth. “People were dressed in character. There was a mist in the air that night. It really was magical.”
In the middle of the celebration last Saturday afternoon, several of us gathered the three women who’ve owned and operated Blue Heron over those 35 years to take a picture. Barbara Pratt (1989-2000), Marilyn Maher (2000-2011) and Shelley Macbeth (2011 to the present) gathered around an ornamental blue heron and reflected on their connection to authors, readers and the three different store locations.
“The day we moved from down the hill to the current address,” Marilyn Maher recalled, “there was a steady stream of people, our customers, carrying shelving, furniture and boxes of books, every single item treated with utmost care.”
It’s not every day that writers get the chance to express gratitude for the gift of having a neighbourhood bookstore so dedicated to putting their books into the hands of fans. Among those who travelled to thank the women who’ve guided Blue Heron, Susan Deepam Wadds said, “I’d just laid out the research to work on my current novel, but decided it was more important to be here.”
Celebrated historical fiction author Susanna Kearsley agreed. “When I heard about the anniversary, I dropped everything,” she said. “This place is foundational.”
As a writer, I owe some of my most satisfying moments to the Blue Heron staff, and not just because they’ve dedicated an eye-level shelf to most of my wartime histories. Barely a week goes by when they call and invite me by to specially inscribe a copy for a dedicated or curious customer.
Most of the time, I dash right there so that I can meet the person and get feedback on something I’ve worked on for years. Blue Heron understands the unique sinews that connect writer and reader. No reward gives greater satisfaction than hearing first-hand what words on a page have meant to others.
Among those who visited the store for anniversary festivities last Saturday afternoon, I met a couple from Pickering visiting the store for the first time. “We came to see what this was all about,” they said.
“And, what do you think?” I asked.
“Extraordinary event. Extraordinary people here.”
“Yes,” I agreed. “Dr. Gregory would be proud. Definitely not normal women running Blue Heron Books. And I hope they always will.”