Are You An “Aggressive” Bookseller?

I love how ideas for posts just pop into my head!

I was chatting on Twitter about two instances this weekend when I “sold” two books in the kids section of Barnes & Noble. Let it be known: I am not a paid bookstore employee. In case number one, three mothers were looking at 14 Cows for America, which B&N had displayed right on the main shelves in the children’s section. The mothers were flipping through the book and discussing how wonderful the book sounded. So, in a flash, (I think I need a superhero costume!) I flew right in and gave them several reasons why they should buy that particular book.  They walked (no, they didn’t run!) away  and I presume they purchased the book and weren’t just trying to find an escape route.

Situation 2, same bookstore (we were there for a while!): A boy, age 11, was looking for a book along the lines of Harry Potter.  It was just his luck! I just recently finished a book that fits that criteria: Bran Hambric by Kaleb Nation! I know for a fact he purchased that book, because just a few minutes later I spotted him outside in the mall, sitting in an armchair, absorbed in that very book.

If I see someone picking up a book that I loved, I have no problem in rushing over and commenting about the book. I find I do this more often with children’s books.  I, admittedly, get very excited about great kids books. Perhaps this is due to my son’s reluctance with reading (and his new-found love of reading!).

So, are you an aggressive bookseller? And when I say agressive, I don’t mean physically.  Perhaps it should say “enthusiastic/extroverted”? Do you walk up to complete strangers and recommend a book to them? Do employees at certain bookstores give you the evil eye when you enter a bookstore because they know your “history?” Or would you just prefer to be left alone when browsing through the stacks?