Saturday Double-Header
Leaving Duluth, as I have so many times, always tugs at my sinews and thoughts. The ascent of Thompson Hill lifts before your vision for a last minute the wonder of the scene on arrival: Duluth and the Lake Superior basin expanding to the northeast horizon’s magnificence.
From Thompson Hill
Farewell, Duluth, and on to the prairies and rivers of the plains.
THE DOUBLE HEADER – Buffalo / Stillwater
If this were a contest it would be a tie. Both stores are wonderful and come December, they will look like versions of the bookstore in heaven. The towns have history, water, a tight community, and the best bookstore for miles around.
At Buffalo (note the & Coffee which is important as you’ll see) I was greeted by Macy who offered my COFFEE LATTE and later by Loren an up and coming actor. The coffee bar at the rear “brings ‘em in” and the bookstore “keep ‘em busy.”
Look through the bar and see the lake. Now who wouldn’t want their bookstore/coffee bar combo to have a view of a Minnesota lake (different from CA / Nevada lakes in that all are bounded by trees)
At Buffalo Books & Coffee the patrons are amazingly forward – several just bustled right to my table to demand LISTENER. Deb Lefevre, Susi and staff must have done their promotion. 
We sold LISTENER to dairy farmers, mystery readers, friends-without-money who had willing friends-with-money. And there were lots and lots of them. Thanks to Deb, Susi, Macy and Loren. What a bookstore Buffalo Books and Coffee is.
The Valley Bookseller is no rival – the stores bound either side of the Twin Cities (Minneapolis and Saint Paul) along the north – and is equally skilled and friendly. Here locals are fewer though I heard quite a few claim to be a member of their reader’s club. Tourist jammed the sidewalks and the riverfront enjoying the sunny Saturday, but they also mixed with Stillwater-ites and books inside. Right now the focus of the space is the wonderful bird cage: 
When remodeling starts – adding The Daily Grind, a coffee company from down the street – the birds, sadly, will have to leave, so browsers will check out scones instead of nuthatches. GO IN NOW to see the birds and pick up LISTENER while there.
At The Valley Bookseller I met Jill Bisker, FINDING THE WAY BACK, my double header partner:
And dozens of enthusiastic readers, Mare and Quentin, the Dr. Gabor family, and author-professor-Icelander Bjork Nordfjord (not pictured) who is teaching “hard-boiled-detective” literature at St. Olaf.
Two last notes on The Valley Bookseller the staff, particularly Kathy who first greeted customers then led them directly to me, is wonderful, and, second, the view out the rear windows is of the St. Croix river. Come December two notable Minnesota bookstores will boast (and roast) coffee behind books. 
Stop in and see for yourselves.
