Last year, the store started doing offsite events. The trading cards are produced by The Booksmith, one for each author event. Bachardy sketched the Hollywood elite he knew and lived among with his partner of 33 years, writer Christopher Isherwood. It was a special event. It's a very gossipy book, and it's selling well.
Internet sales are tremendous.
At this point, the cards are taking on a life and story of their own, according to Gladysz. The Wall Street Journal recently called to get copies. Customers order books and specifically request the trading cards. The time and place of the event is on every card, and trading cards are prominently promoted at the store's front counter. There's a history here.