Picky Books

Interview with Ian McCullough of Picky Books

When did you get started in bookselling?

In the 1980s while I was in high school, I found a first edition of Deities and Demigods on my local library's sale shelf. Even then, I knew it was worth something so I put it up for auction at a local gaming convention in the Detroit area and made $20 for my $1 investment. Later I got a job at Powell's City of Books and eventually was hired into the used book buying department, but I first scouted a book in high school.

What drew you to bookselling?

The variety. I'm not a specialist intentionally and I love having interesting books in all fields.

Did you have any mentors in becoming a bookseller?

The used book buying department at Powell's had about 25-30 people typically and when you start, all of them are mentors. My strongest mentor values his privacy greatly so I won't name him, but he was by far the best buyer I've witnessed or heard of. It's easy to know which first editions are valuable, it's a lot harder to know with Time-Life western hardbacks are good, or which Maeve Binchy romances sell. He taught me to value books I didn't personally like, which is important in bookselling as you learn to respect more readers.

What are your specialties as a dealer?

I like vintage mass markets, science fiction, academic works - especially scientific and technical books, and I have a deep knowledge of the Modern Library. That said, I try to buy in all fields.

What's the most amazing book you've ever sold?

Well, Powell's had a huge volume of books to see as a buyer, so that presses a lot of awe out of you as a bookseller. But I'd have to go with the true first hardcover edition of Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde from Scribner's. "Follow the flag" is wrong in this case as the American issue preceded the British issue. I see the asking price has about tripled since then, but I was happy to sell it.

What is your favorite part of being a bookseller?

The independence of not having a supervisor or an HR department. But more seriously, it's being surrounded by artifacts of knowledge and human achievement. Even a mediocre books is a big accomplishment for the author.

Do you have an open storefront or have you in the past?

Nope, but hope to have one in the future.

If so, do/did you have any bookstore pets?

I don't think I would have a bookstore pet although I adore cats and dogs. Animals exclude customers who are allergic or phobic.

What is the funniest / strangest / scariest thing that ever happened in your store?

I had a customer threaten to beat me up after work for not buying their books. They were on drugs, so it didn't feel particularly threatening as they were in really bad physical shape and I was young and strong at the time.

What is your favorite bookshop (other than your own)?

In the Cleveland area, I like Book Brothers and Loganberry. Both are fine independent shops filling their niche very capably. In the Detroit area I'm a fan of Toadvine Books and Book Beat.

What do you personally like to read? Collect?

I mostly read science fiction and fantasy, but I'm a bookseller, not a book collector.

What's your favorite book you personally own? Would you sell it, if the price were right?

I have a first edition of Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash which is available in the four digit range.

What one book would you buy if price were no object?

I don't have a white whale book I'm looking for and let us be clear - price is always an object.

If you were stranded on a desert island and could bring three books, what would they be?

Surviving on a Desert Island for Dummies The Complete Idiot's Guide to Thriving on a Desert Island Escaping Desert Islands for the Complete Klutz