Staff Bios

Charlie Leonard purchased the Bookcase in April of 2008, after working as an employee of the store since 1998. In a past life, Charlie was an assistant editor at a computer magazine. He believes he got that job not because he knew anything about computers (he doesn't), but because he could punctuate sentences with some accuracy. However, after about nine months of "cubicle" life (during which the only thing he gained was an appreciation of the comic strip "Dilbert"), Charlie decided to escape to the entertaining halls of academia. He became a middle school teacher. Charlie spent four years teaching English and Vision 21 at Wayzata West Middle School and one year teaching at Hopkins North Junior High School. It was during his teaching career that Charlie accidentally began directing plays -- and discovered the other great passion of his life (besides books, of course). In 2007, Charlie founded Blue Water Theatre Company, a nonprofit youth theatre group whose mission is to build and sustain a theatre community that will provide young actors with opportunities to perform, learn, and experience theatre that is important, meaningful, and life-changing. Blue Water Theatre Company continues to grow, and in its first year alone presented productions of A Grand Night for Singing, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Beauty and the Beast, Spring Awakening, Oliver!, and Carousel. Although extremely passionate about his calling as a teacher, when the opportunity to purchase the Bookcase (and realize a life-long dream) came up in early 2008, Charlie couldn't pass it up. With the help of his grandparents, Charlie became the fourth owner of the store in April of that year. Currently Charlie can be found at the store most days, and rehearsing for Blue Water's latest play most nights. Much to the dismay of his beagle (appropriately named Gatsby), Charlie is rarely at home. Gatsby, however, seems to be just fine hanging out with her grandparents until she gets picked up each evening. Charlie grew up in the Plymouth/Wayzata area, is a 1996 graduate of Wayzata High School, a 2000 graduate of Luther College (B.A. in English), and has completed some graduate work in education from the University of St. Thomas. You can contact Charlie by clicking here to send him an email.

Claire loves books and kids, and loves connecting kids with good books! She says that it is a privilege to work at The Bookcase. It's one more way for her to stay on top of and promote the latest and greatest titles for kids both big and small. When she is not around kids and reading, she enjoys walking, running and gardening.

Nancy Hughes loves books. She loves the way they feel, the way they look, and the words they contain. She particularly loves well-written books, which is why she spent over twenty-five years of her life teaching middle school students how to read, discuss, and write about good literature. Nancy's favorite book genres are mysteries and speculative fiction. She loves really interesting settings, and a mystery has to have a great setting to offer a background against which a crime can occur. Speculative fiction appeals to her because she loves reading books by authors who use their imaginations well. Nancy organizes and leads the Mystery Book Club at The Bookcase, which meets (usually) on the fourth Thursday of each month at 7:00 to discuss offbeat mysteries by new mystery writers. Nancy is happiest when she is introducing a new author to a reader.

Max Radermacher joined The Bookcase in the spring of 2008 to help out with some inventory tasks. Since then he has taken on many projects, including designing the current web site and serving as the web master. You can find him at The Bookcase on many summer nights and most weekends. Max is a student at Wayzata High School, and he is also the technical director for Blue Water Theatre Company.

Candice Schneider has been working in independent book stores for nineteen years, and loves it! Candice has a degree in Finance and Investments, and is the owner of the jewelry company Candice Designs. Candice first started working in the business section at a well-known independent book store in Milwaukee after a car accident. Her manager at the time said she would be in the book business a long time -- and he was right! She continues to enjoy selling and reading books, and designing and selling jewelry.