Today we’d like to introduce you to Anna Questerly.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Anna. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
At the beginning of each semester, students and parents rush into Dog-Eared Pages bookstore to stock up on the assigned reading for their upcoming classes. Many times, the teacher required the students to have a specific book and its designated ISBN. Chances are we’d have a one or two of the needed copies, but nowhere near the 20-30 copies necessary for each class. Many times, the book was out of print so we’d order a used copy, and more times than not we’d receive the wrong edition if the seller didn’t list it properly.
Two years ago, we decided a collection of paperback classics, with wide margins for notation, in an easier-to-read format was needed and began Comfortable Classics Publishing. We’re excited to launch in October and the books will be available in bookstores and online.
We spent a lot of time in design and we love the way they look on the bookshelf, but one of the aspects we’re most excited about is the way people can use the Comfortable Classics collection to create a literary legacy.
Has it been a smooth road?
LOL. When is building a business ever smooth? Initially, I thought this would be a six month to launch project. After all, it wasn’t like we had to write the books. Most of these titles are in the public domain and we assumed it would be a simple process of copying and pasting into our template. It wasn’t until we had about a dozen proofs ready that we found out that many of the online texts were either duplicating or missing entire chapters. Piecing together what was missing was daunting. It’s not like you can simply read it and know what’s missing.
We ended up comparing each book to ones we had at Dog-Eared Pages which had been around for decades and sometimes had to go to up to three different sites to get the entire text or even type it from scratch.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Comfortable Classics at Dog-Eared Pages Bookstore – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
We opened our parent company, Dog-Eared Pages in 2008. We’re one of the last bookstores in the Valley. We carry new, used, and rare books. I guess we’re best known for having an enormous selection of fiction, non-fiction and children’s books tucked into an impossibly small space. One reviewer compared us to the ever-expanding tent in Harry Potter.
We hold a lot of community events here for readers, writers, artists and even work with a few alchemists.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love the people in Phoenix. I haven’t had the opportunity to travel much, and it’s almost as if the entire world eventually makes its way to Phoenix and to our bookstore. Every winter we get to meet people from all of the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, Japan, and all over. Then, during the summer, it’s just us locals trying to stay cool and hydrated in our 115 degree oven.
Contact Info:
- Address: 16428 N. 32nd Street,
Suite 111,
Phoenix, AZ 85032 - Website: http://www.dogearedpagesusedbooks.com
- Phone: 6022835423
- Email: melanie@dogearedpagesusedbooks.com
Getting in touch: VoyagePhoenix is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
