The Power of Used Books

by Paula Gail Benson

I have a friend named Fran Bush who, with carefully selected cohorts, accomplishes the impossible almost every day. No exaggeration.

Don Bush, second from the right, photo by Cindy Kubovic for the Aiken Standard

She and her husband Don, both lovely, genial, retired booksellers, spend their time making the world better for people and animals. They are well known in their home town of Aiken, South Carolina, for their community contributions. Any abandoned or rescued cat or dog can find a refuge at the Bush abode, and likely may become a permanent resident. (Currently, they support six dogs and thirty cats.) In 2017, the Bushs were honored by the local branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) for their leadership.

Fran’s connection with the local AAUW began when, while still working at her bookstore, she donated and collected used books for the annual AAUW Books ‘n Things Fair. She also helped to set up lunch programs with authors (including her dear friends Charles and Caroline Todd--take a look, she’s mentioned in their Bess Crawford acknowledgments) to raise funds for education efforts.

Fran Bush and Amy Conkelton, photo by Dede Biles for the Aiken Standard

This year, Fran and her good friend Amy Conkelton were named co-chairs for the AAUW Books ‘n Things Fair.

Amy is another force for good in the Aiken community. She has been an English teacher and school librarian at Aiken High School as well as caretaker for her mother.

Recently, Amy was sidelined by a severe automobile accident that required five surgeries for shattered bones in both her feet and ankles. Nevertheless, she persevered with planning for the Fair, even while in rehab.

Fran speaks humbly about their involvement in the event. “This is not something Amy or I can take credit for. The Fair is organized by a group of people who know what they are doing and have done it for thirty-five years. The biggest thing I did was to stay out of their way or do something when they needed it done.”

Front Room of AAUW Books 'n Things Fair, photo by Cindy Kubovic for the Aiken Standard

What the group did was collect 80,000 books to sell. In addition, they had a section of “Attic Treasures” that featured clothing, jewelry, household items, Christmas decorations, and other merchandise, including special books (those extremely new or very old that were specially priced). They also operated a food court, where shoppers could take a break and order from a delicious menu.

For the first two days of the event, each hard cover book was priced at two dollars, trade paperbacks were one dollar, and mass-market paperbacks were fifty cents. On the last day, everything was reduced to half price.

On the first day, Don Bush opened the doors early to let shoppers come in out of the rain. They had a record crowd.

Back Room of the AAUW Books 'n Things Fair, photo by Cindy Kubovic for the Aiken Standard

During the three days, approximately 70,000 books were sold. The 10,000 left went to different charities, including the local free libraries, another city’s library, another library’s book sale, a church library, and a church’s book sale (to raise money for a summer school Bible program).

This year’s Books ‘n Things raised $61,249, all of which the AAUW will provide to education projects and for scholarships.

So, you see, it’s not just the power of words, but the power of used books that, even in this age of technology, may make a significant difference.

Thanks, Fran, Don, and Amy. I look forward to seeing you at next year’s event.

Have you experienced the power of used books?

Summer Writing

Photo by Cindy Kubovic for the Aiken Standard

On Thursday before the Fourth of July weekend, I was invited to speak about writing short stories with a group of 4th and 5th graders in the Summer of the Space Challenges camp at North Aiken Elementary School. The school is in the town of Aiken, South Carolina, about an hour from where I live in Columbia.

When I last mentioned Aiken to someone not from South Carolina, he asked me if it were named after singer/politician and second place American Idol contestant Clay Aiken. Actually, Clay is a resident of Raleigh, North Carolina.

 

Photo by Cindy Kubovic

I received the invitation indirectly through dear friends and booksellers, Fran and Don Bush, who have operated Booklovers Bookstore in the area and online for many years. Fran often works with the local schools to encourage reading. Ms. Delorise Childs, who was conducting the summer program, asked Fran if she knew of an author who might be willing to speak with the students. When Fran asked me for candidates, I volunteered.

My teaching experience has been with adults, so in preparation, I revisited two online articles by noted children’s book writers I found last summer when doing the short story series:

Photo by Cindy Kubovic

“Writing with Writers: Mystery Writing” with Joan Lowery Nixon (1927-2003, an American journalist and author for children and young adults) http://teacher.scholastic.com/writewit/mystery/read.htm

“How to Write a Mini-Mystery” by Penny Warner (Agatha Award winner for best children’s mystery and Macavity Award winner for best first mystery) http://www.fictionteachers.com/fictionclass/mystery.html

 

Photo by Cindy Kubovic

These articles provided some excellent guidelines and ideas about how to focus the class.

I used a modification of two exercises I've used in my adult class: writing a six-word-story (to show how words may be used to evoke a picture or feeling) and writing a six-sentence-story (to show the basics of story structure: (1) character, (2) desire, (3) action, (4) conflict, (5) climax, and (6) resolution). I used the familiar tale of Cinderella as an example for a six-sentence-story.

After I talked with the children about what makes up a story, I asked them to write their own. Then, those who volunteered read their stories for the class. Many of the young writers followed the Cinderella model, but what I found intriguing was that they did not hesitate to incorporate features of their own lives into the familiar tale, so that Cinderella and her family took on features and pets their families had.

Photo by Cindy Kubovic

We also read a book that one of the children brought to the class. I had forgotten how lovely it is to have a room full of people riveted to words being read aloud. The whole experience was a true delight for me. I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to participate and for the pictures taken by Cindy Kubovic, who covered the event for the local paper, the Aiken Standard. Following their time with me, the children enjoyed a cookout and got to visit with members of the fire department and see a fire truck. The teachers sent the children home with goody bags, containing bookmarks from me.

Photo by Cindy Kubovic

Following the class, Fran and Don Bush were kind enough to give me a wonderful tour. The city of Aiken, South Carolina, was founded in 1835 and named after William Aiken, the President of the South Carolina Railroad. Railroads are still a recognizable feature of the city and have figured in the history of the area. The tracks run behind the elegant Willcox Hotel, and rumor has it that when he traveled to Hot Springs, Georgia, for treatment, Franklin Delano Roosevelt used an entrance at the back of the hotel to have clandestine meetings with Lucy Mercer Rutherfurd, his mistress, who had married and lived in the Aiken community.

Willcox Hotel

Tracks behind Willcox Hotel

In 2005, in nearby Graniteville, a Norfolk Southern train collided with a parked train, rupturing a car carrying liquid chlorine and creating a poisonous cloud that resulted in nine deaths, two hundred fifty injuries, and more than five thousand persons displaced from their homes for a week.

Rear Entrance to Banksia

Front Entrance to Banksia

Aiken flourished as a health resort and community where the wealthy built winter cottages. Banksia, a former cottage that transitioned to a boarding house for workers at the Savannah River Plant and the first location for the University of South Carolina at Aiken, now serves as the historical society museum. The exhibits on view there provide a treasure trove of information about the city. The Vanderbilts and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor were visitors to Banksia during its cottage days.

During the 1930s and 1940s, Fred Astaire and his family resided in Aiken, and he supposedly practiced dance moves on the steps of the Post Office building.

Former Post Office where Fred Astaire danced on steps

Fran and Don took me to Hopelands Gardens and Rye Patch, formerly residences of the wealthy that have been donated to the city as public parks. We also toured the facilities for thoroughbred racing and polo matches. Aiken is predominantly an equestrian city, with many dirt roads intersecting main avenues to accommodate riders.

Equestrian Statuary

In addition to being excellent tour guides, booksellers, and hosts, Fran and Don are animal lovers who take in many stray or abandoned dogs and cats needing shelter. It was a true joy to meet one of their latest acquisitions. Originally known as “Tiny Mite,” he now has taken on the name “Mr. Underfoot” and become a true bookstore kitten.

Visiting Aiken for the holiday was a wonderful experience. I learned a lot from teaching and listening to the stories the children shared with me. I also discovered that it spurs writing to go to new locations and immerse yourself in unique history and culture. Aiken’s quiet streets, lovely antique stores and shops, excellent cuisine, and bountiful features to explore make it a perfect get away for writers and travelers. I hope you’ll have the opportunity to see it sometime.

 

Fran and Don Bush

"Tiny Mite," now "Mr. Underfoot." Photo by Fran Bush

 What places have you visited that helped invigorate your writing?

Fourth of July Fireworks, Village at Woodside, Aiken, SC

More Equestrian Statuary