Your Guide to Behind the Scenes at Stuart Ng Books (12.31.23)

 Start here to learn how to use this blog..... You are about to explore SNB adventures from my (Amy's) perspective ... Stuart's website links to this blog, but Stuart does NOT write these posts. This "Your Guide" posts updates monthly.

For the latest news on Stuart Ng Books, you can follow SNB on Facebook or Twitter. To receive Stuart's email newsletter (with lots of exclusive offers) use this link from the SNB website: http://stuartngbooks.com/join-our-mailing-list.html
For info on ordering books, and a website chock full of our extensive inventory, start at the homepage for  SNB: http://stuartngbooks.com/

Welcome to the realm of Bride of Bookseller. The posts are all written by me. This blog exists to educate and entertain by sharing resources that can benefit artists.

It takes talent and commitment to thrive as an indie artist. But it also takes balance and fitness. No one talks to artists about this truth: You have to be well enough.. physically.. mentally..emotionally...financially... to get your work done. At the same time, so many artists struggle with chronic conditions that impact their productivity. No wonder artists are stressed. Many posts on the blog here offer possible solutions.... and celebrate the traits all the best artists share: (button below from Alaska Robotics http://alaskarobotics.com/)

Scroll down this "Your Guide" post  and you'll discover background on the blog (SNB and BTS backstory)....

These links will take you to posts with expanded topics....

1)  POSTS ON INDIE ART LIFE -- PROTECTING ARTIST RIGHTS and SELF-CARE TIPS
INCLUDES LINKS TO 2020 COVID-19 POSTS

http://stuartngbooks.blogspot.com/2023/05/your-guide-to-bts-indie-art-life-artist.html

2) SNB -- CONVENTIONS AND WENDLING CONNECTION 

http://stuartngbooks.blogspot.com/2023/04/your-guide-to-bts-2-conventions-and.html

3) ART LIFE -- RESOURCES AND EXHIBITIONS

http://stuartngbooks.blogspot.com/2023/03/your-guide-to-bts-3-art-life-resources.html 

4) SCIENCE THEMED POSTS

http://stuartngbooks.blogspot.com/2023/04/your-guide-to-bts-4-science-themed.html

5) ATTRACTIONS NEAR SNB TORRANCE STORE

Like Wilson Park! With its wheelchair and stroller accessible tree house. The Farmers Market on Tuesday and Saturday Mornings. Tons of family friendly amenities.

http://stuartngbooks.blogspot.com/2023/04/your-guide-to-bts-5-attractions-near.html

6) HORSE OF COURSE

http://stuartngbooks.blogspot.com/2023/04/your-guide-to-bts-6-horse-of-course-4723.html

7) POSTS FROM 2011 --MOST ACTIVE YEAR ON THE BLOG

http://stuartngbooks.blogspot.com/2023/04/your-guide-to-bts-7-posts-from-2011.html

8) OTHER POPULAR TOPICS/POSTS

(includes posts on DreamCon; LA Printer's Fair; Tim Burton exhibiton at LACMA in 2011)

http://stuartngbooks.blogspot.com/2023/04/your-guide-to-bts-8-other-popular.html

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SNB and BTS BACKSTORY

For the origin of the SNB logo, see this post: http://stuartngbooks.blogspot.com/2015/07/snb-logo-origin-story.html

Stuart Ng Books is very small business in Torrance, CA. Our niche is books on illustration, animation and comic art. Our wonderful, loyal patrons are artists, students and collectors in these fields.
We started in the genteel era of hands-on bookselling, before the internet. We were mentored by colleagues, some of whose stores folded under the pressures from Amazon. We weathered the transition to websites. Stuart worked hard to build a brand in this tough business environment.  Our bookstore started as a printed mail-order catalog. I say "our" bookstore because it was just the two of us for years. We had a book room in the house for inventory. The dining room table was the packing station for mail orders. I was the voice on the phone, processed orders, and schlepped boxes to the post office. But it's called Stuart Ng Books for a reason. Once the books started earning their way and moved into a store location, I was ready to segue into BTS (behind-the-scenes) mode.

Sales are still mostly mail order. Stuart ships books all over the world.  In addition to our website and Torrance store location, we sell books at conventions and the occasional special event expo or festival. Scroll down for links for convention appearances. Here are two examples of expos/festivals:
https://stuartngbooks.blogspot.com/2019/05/snb-at-ncsfest-may-17th-19th.html
https://stuartngbooks.blogspot.com/2014/11/vis-vis-french-bande-dessinee-meets-la_26.html

Stuart is a man on a mission. He is always on the job: in constant search for great books and artists. He is known for discovering treasures during his annual trip to France to attend the festival in Angouleme, Europe's largest comic art convention. It was a chance to meet Claire Wendling and see her exhibition at the Angouleme festival in 2005 that launched Stuart on this adventure. He has attended the festival every year since then (except the Covid years -- 2021-2023). The times I went with him are in posts on the blog for Jan/Feb of those years. Stuart doesn't speak or read French; he selects his inventory strictly for the art. He's the visual one. I'm more verbal. I took some French lessons... so now I can try to talk with people there (and order more than a ham and cheese sandwich at the cafes).

When Stuart launched the business full-time in 1997, we had no idea we would become a world-wide resource for books in our field. When I married Stuart... a LONG time ago.. I had no idea I would also be marrying a small business (we didn't meet in business school.... but that's another story). Where we find ourselves now, all these years later, is a creative place that keeps us both engaged with artists. Stuart Ng Books has exhibited at San Diego Comic Con for over 20 years. For 2020, Stuart planned to open a small retail location in Burbank. Covid quashed that.  In the last year or so, he's looked at different locations, but either the location or the lease fell apart. If you have any location suggestions, please contact him directly.

Our patrons seek out Stuart at conventions and online. They buy books from him because his "eye" and expertise are a bonus they value. Part of the fun of Stuart Ng Books is how we get to facilitate connections and inspiration. We get to see the artistic process in action. We steward the passing of cherished books from the reference libraries of artists who are masters in their field into the hands and creative spirit of a next generation. I try to remind us of all this on the days when our "What is the Matrix" question haunts us: Can a little book business survive in the internet age? Stay tuned ....

I started my blog in 2008 as a way to share topics I discussed with friends and patrons who visited us at conventions. I also use the blog to share trips to exhibits and shows we attend that artists might find inspiring.
See "FAQ," "Stewardship" and "Legacy Books" for posts about bringing YOU the benefits of a devoted rare bookseller in world where mom and pop bookstores are themselves becoming endangered!

HELLO WORLD -- 120+ and counting

For a complete list of the 122 countries that have visited the blog, check out this Aug 11, 2011 post: "Hello World.."  http://stuartngbooks.blogspot.com/2011/08/hello-world-please-leave-comment.html And one final stat -- as of August 2023, the blog has tallied over 600,000 all-time page views.