Band on the Run Drops Loot in Flagstaff

You'd think people would have had enough of silly love songs, but with only 175 signed limited-edition copies of Paul McCartney's new book, “Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run,” Bright Side Bookshop owners Annette Avery and Lisa Lamberson believe that's not the case.

And what's wrong with that? Nothing at all, says Avery. “It's a win for Bright Side, a win for the collector who bought it and a win for three Flagstaff non-profits.”

Last fall, the bookstore received one of the rare editions offered by publisher WW Norton & Company. Bright Side paid $1,500 to receive the book, along with the freedom to sell it. “We had never done anything like this before,” Avery said. “Some bookstores had an auction, some had a raffle, some named a price and waited for a buyer.”

The book arrived, sealed in a box within a box, Avery said. “And it wasn't just the book.”

The special deluxe edition included a translucent blue vinyl of “Wings: The Definitive Collection,” an oral history with interviews from band members, family and friends documenting the band's journey and musical reinvention in the 1970s. It also came with memorabilia. The book was written with historian Edward “Ted” Widmer. The foreword was written by the former Beatle.

The Bright Side owners announced that the book was for sale on the bookstore's website. Interested parties were redirected to the landing page on the day the exclusive books went on sale. Avery and Lamberson are offering their book at a minimum bid of $3,500. However, bidders had the option to “buy it now” for $7,500. Two early bids meet the minimum requirement. Then someone else came in for a $7,500 outright purchase.

“We were excited and decided we would share the revenue with the community,” Avery said.

Bright Side chose to donate money to two non-profit organizations that promote America's First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and freedom of the press. “These are values ​​we hold dear,” Lamberson said.

They donated $3,000 to KNAU, Arizona Public Radio, an affiliate of National Public Radio. “When Annette told me about Paul McCartney's book and that Bright Side wanted to donate the proceeds from the sale to KNAU, we felt so lucky,” said Cory Sheeley, KNAU Director of Development. “With the loss of funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, we're seeing community members and local businesses stand up like never before to say, 'Public radio matters to me and to my community.' Annette and her team are the 'audience' in public radio and KNAU is honored for their support.”

Avery and Lamberson also donated $1,000 to Friends of the Flagstaff Library, a nonprofit organization that supports the Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library with funding for programs and materials.

“We used the leftover money for new chairs for the bookstore and donated our used chairs to the Flagstaff Mountain Film Festival,” Avery said.

“We thought this was a cool mix of local and global connection: from McCartney's legendary career to meaningful impact here in Flagstaff,” Lamberson said.

“I'd like to think that all parties involved benefited, from Paul McCartney to the publisher who printed the book, the highest bidder, three local non-profit organizations and Bright Side Bookshop, who was able to purchase new chairs for in-store personal events,” said Avery. “Just a win-win for everyone.” FBN

Bright Side Bookshop is located at 18 N. San Francisco St.

Thanks to photo: Bright Side Bookshop owners Lisa Lamberson and Annette Avery say they were thrilled to have the opportunity to purchase a limited signed edition of Paul McCartney's new book, “Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run.”