Children's Trifecta -- Solomon Screech Owl and Flying Pants take off -- Sunbury Press bestsellers

MECHANICSBURG, Pa. - Feb. 5, 2015 - PRLog -- Sunbury Press has released the bestsellers list for January, 2015. The late Beth Lancione's Solomon Screen Owl Goes to the Galapagos was #1, followed by Solomon Screech Owl's First Flight. Lola James claimed the third spot with Flying Pants. All were childrens books benefitting from Children's Day at the Sunbury Press Store.

About Solomon Screech Owl Goes to the Galapagos:
In the second of Solomon Screech Owl’s stories, Sollie travels, with help from some whales, to the Galapagos Islands, where he meets birds that seem very different from himself. As he gets to know them better, he comes to understand that they all have more in common than he first thought.

About the author & illustrator:
Beth and Kathy, with their husbands Mel Lancione and Gary Haney, visited the Galapagos Islands in 2005 and saw, at very close range, all of the fascinating creatures that Sollie encounters in this book.

Beth said, “A fellow traveler once told me, ‘If you go only one place in your life, go to Galapagos.’ I agree. I’ve been to many other places, but Galapagos is my favorite. I definitely wanted to show Sollie, and all of our readers, the wonders of these special, unique islands.”

Kathy said, “The Galapagos Islands are home to some of the earth’s unique birds and animals. There are few places in the world where you can have an upclose and personal interaction with wild creatures.

The Blue-Footed Boobies captured our imaginations, along with the iguanas, tortoises, and many other birds. We want to share our love of Galapagos with you.”

SUNBURY PRESS - Bestsellers for January, 2015 (by Revenue)
Rank  Last Month  Title  Author  Category
1  --  Solomon Screech Owl Goes to the Galapagos  Beth Lancione  Childrens
2  --  Solomon Screech Owl's First Flight  Beth Lancione  Childrens
3  --  Flying Pants  Lola James  Childrens
4  4  As the Paint Dries  Carrie Wissler-Thomas  Art History
5  --  Jesus the Phoenician  Karim El Koussa  Relgious History
6  --  Shadows in the Shining City  John Cressler  Historical Fiction
7  2  Geology of the Mahanoy, Mahantongo and Lykens Valleys  Steve Troutman  Earth History
8  9  Call Sign Dracula  Joe Fair  War Memoir
9  11  Amelia Earhart: The Truth at Last  Mike Campbell  History
10  NEW  Beagle Tales 5  Bob Ford  Pet Humor
11  --  Petrified  Tanya Reimer  YA Fiction
12  1  Pit Bulls  Anthony Julian  History
13  --  Going Home  Sharon Marchisello  Thriller Fiction
14  18  Winter of the Metal People  Dennis Herrick  Historical Fiction
15  --  Emeralds of the Alhambra  John Cressler  HIstorical Fiction
16  3  Visions of Teaoga  Jim Remsen  YA Fiction
17  --  The Trevorton, Mahanoy and Susquehanna Railroad  Steve Troutman  History
18  --  Tulpehocken Trail Traces  Steve Troutman  History
19  --  The Phoenician Code  Karim El Koussa  Action Adventure
20  --  Whimsy and Wry  Guy Graybill  Literary Fiction

Sunbury Press had its best January ever, up nearly 3x from last January, and 4.5% from December. It was the first time in 5 years that January sales topped December. Hardcover books grabbed the top 4 spots in the bestseller rankings, dominated by the Children's category. Trade paperback sales were double hardcover sales, and remain the most popular format. EBooks have slipped to third, amounting to only 5% of all sales. Hardcover sales were over 6x the eBook sales. EBook sales were up over last month, however, by nearly 20% thanks to price increases implemented after Christmas.

The three children's books were helped by the standing-room only Children's Day event at the Sunbury Press Store -- more successful than the 10th Anniversary Party with Keith Rommel, Brahm Gallagher, and Bang. Ten Percent of all sales from that day were donated to help the Lanciones following the death of Beth, the author of the Solomon Screech Owl series, and her husband Mel. As the Paint Dries, Carrie Wissler-Thomas's history of the Art Association of Harrisburg, co-authored by Michael Barton, held at #4 due to demand at the Art Association. Karim El Koussa's Jesus the Phoenician (#5) and The Phoenician Code (#19) took two spots on the list due to export orders to Lebanon. John Cressler's due, Shadows in the Shining City and Emeralds of the Alhambra grabbed #6 and #15 due to author events. Steve Troutman's Geology of the Mahanoy, Mahantongo and Lykens Valleys held at #7 thanks to author activities. Troutman also charted at #17 with The Trevorton, Mahanoy, and Mahantongo Railroad and #18 with Tulpehocken Trail Traces. Joe Fair's Vietnam memoir Call Sign Dracula climbed the rankings to #8 thanks to author appearances. Mike Campbell's Amelia Earhart: The Truth at Last inched up to #9 due to continued national media attention for the search for the aviatrix's plane. Beagle Tales 5 debuted at #10 thanks to Bob Ford's following. Petrified, the YA novel by Canadian Tanya Reimer, returned to the chart at #11 thanks to sales north of the border. Tony Julian's Pit Bulls, available in both trade paperback and hardcover, slipped to #12 following a strong Christmas showing. Sharon Marchisello's Going Home grabbed lucky #13 thanks to sales in the Southland in advance of her events. Winter of the Metal People, by Dennis Herrick, moved up to #14 thanks to author activities. Jim Remsen's Visions of Teaga slipped to #16. Guy Graybill's Whimsy and Wry rounded out the list, thanks to author activities.

The company released five new titles during the month of January

SUNBURY PRESS – New Releases for January, 2015
Malaformed Realities Volume 1  Thomas Malafarina  Thriller Fiction
Beagle Tales 5  Bob Ford  Pet Humor
Courting Doubt and Darkness  J. M. West  Thriller Fiction
The Bookseller's Secret  Catherine Jordan  Thriller Fiction
How to Achieve Peace of Mind  Dorsman & Davis  Mindfulness

For a list of Sunbury's best-sellers, please see the Sunbury Press web site:
http://www.sunburypressstore.com/BESTSELLERS_c3.htm
For a complete list of recent and upcoming releases, please see:
http://www.sunburypressstore.com/COMING-SOON_c47.htm