Minnesotans Lend Hands to Local Bookseller

by Claire Kirch, PW Daily -- Publishers Weekly, 1/19/2007

The literary community in Minneapolis is rallying around one of their local booksellers, who has been battling leukemia. Gary Shulze, 57, the co-owner, with Pat Frovarp, of Once Upon a Crime mystery bookstore, was first hospitalized in November. He's been in and out of the hospital since and is now scheduled for a bone marrow transplant later this month. Area locals have been doing what they can to make sure Shulze's absence doesn't hurt his store.

Local authors, publishers and sales reps have been helping Frovarp, the store's sole employee, run the 1,200-square-foot location, doing everything from sweeping floors to maintaining Once Upon a Crime's Web site. "About 50 Minnesota authors have offered to help out in any way. We've had more offers of help than we could take," Frovarp said.

Shulze, despite his health difficulties, remains active in the store's operations; he continues to organize the store's annual Write of Spring group reading from his hospital bed. Whether he'll be in good enough health to attend the March 24 event—which will also celebrate the store's 20th anniversary—is another story. "I asked the doctor if I'll be there," Shulze said. "He looked at the calendar and said it's going to be close."