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Author Events Drive Sales, Selling 800 “Girl on Train” copies

6/12/2026

31 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Murder by the Book hosts over 200 author events annually, producing roughly one-third of its sales.
Owner McKenna Jordan says the store sold 800 copies of Paula Hawkins’s *The Girl on the Train* after bringing her from the UK.
Staffer Chesli Lobue Zimmerhanzel added horror titles, helping the shop survive hurricanes, the pandemic and Amazon by staying community-focused.

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Story summary

Murder by the Book hosts over 200 author events annually, producing roughly one-third of its sales.
Owner McKenna Jordan says the store sold 800 copies of Paula Hawkins’s *The Girl on the Train* after bringing her from the UK.
Staffer Chesli Lobue Zimmerhanzel added horror titles, helping the shop survive hurricanes, the pandemic and Amazon by staying community-focused.